19 Make-Ahead Christmas Dinner Recipes

A make ahead Christmas dinner means most of the cooking happens over the days before, so December 25th is mostly reheating, roasting one main, and actually sitting down with everyone.

This is my Christmas dinner lineup, a main course beyond turkey, sides that hold well, and desserts that are better made a day or two ahead. Most of it can be prepped or fully cooked before Christmas morning.

Christmas dinner does not have to repeat Thanksgiving. This list leans into that.

A Main Beyond Turkey

Christmas is the night for something a little more special than another whole bird.

Herb Crusted Beef Tenderloin

An elegant roast with a balsamic herb crust and a horseradish butter finish, a showpiece main for a special dinner.

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Photo credit: whitneybond.com

Best-Ever Honey Glazed Ham with Brown Sugar and Mustard

A honey glazed ham with brown sugar and mustard, an easy centerpiece with very little hands on time.

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Slow Cooker Mississippi Pork Roast

A Mississippi style pork roast cooked low and slow in a tangy, buttery gravy, mostly hands off in the slow cooker.

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Holiday Baked Salmon with Pomegranate Glaze

A whole baked salmon fillet with a sweet and tangy pomegranate glaze, a seafood centerpiece that looks festive with almost no fuss.

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Photo credit: willcookforsmiles.com

Herb Crusted Beef Tenderloin Roast

A garlic and herb crusted beef tenderloin roasted until fork tender, an elegant meaty centerpiece for a smaller table.

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Photo credit: lingeralittle.com

Chimichurri Steak with New York Strip

Pan seared New York strip steak topped with a bright, herby chimichurri sauce, a faster meaty main for a smaller crowd.

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Photo credit: theyummybowl.com

Sides That Hold Well

Assemble or fully cook these ahead so the oven is only busy with the main course on the day.

Scalloped Potatoes

Creamy sliced potatoes baked in a milk and broth sauce, lighter than an all cream version but just as rich tasting.

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Photo credit: spendwithpennies.com

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

Brussels sprouts roasted hot until the edges caramelize, then tossed with crispy bacon, a green vegetable that converts skeptics.

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Photo credit: theendlessmeal.com

Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole (Without Marshmallows)

Sweet potato casserole with a pecan streusel instead of marshmallows, assembled ahead and baked fresh.

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Garlic Green Beans

A quick garlic green bean side, done in one pan on the stove in minutes.

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Carrots In Air Fryer

Carrots glazed in honey and finished in the air fryer, an easy side with almost no cleanup.

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Fluffy Dinner Rolls (Bread Machine or By Hand)

Soft dinner rolls that bake ahead and freeze well, then warm through in foil right before dinner.

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Desserts Made a Day or Two Ahead

All three of these are better once they have had time to chill and set.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Roll

A pumpkin cheesecake roll that slices cleanly once chilled, make it a day ahead and forget about it.

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Rustic Apple Galette With Caramel Sauce

A rustic apple galette with caramel sauce, good at room temperature so there is no last minute reheating.

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Individual No Bake Cranberry Cheesecake Jars

Individual no bake cranberry cheesecake jars, ready to serve straight from the fridge.

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4 Ingredient Christmas Oreo Truffles

Four ingredient Christmas Oreo truffles, rolled and dipped a day or two ahead and kept chilled until serving.

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Reindeer Chocolate Bark Recipe

Christmas chocolate bark broken into shards, made well ahead and stored at room temperature until the table is set.

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No-Bake Biscoff Cheesecake with a Chocolate Twist

A no bake Biscoff cheesecake that needs the fridge more than the oven, set a day ahead on cookie butter.

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Peanut Butter Bars

No bake peanut butter bars with a pretzel crunch, sliced and chilled ahead so dessert is already handled.

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Tips for a Make Ahead Christmas

• Pick one main, not two – a beef tenderloin and a ham on the same table is a lot of protein and a lot of oven juggling for one meal.
• Reverse sear a beef tenderloin for the most even doneness – roast it low until just under your target temperature, then sear the outside hard right before serving.
• Bake casseroles the day before and reheat covered at 325°F – low and covered brings food back to temperature without drying out the top.
• Chill cheesecake desserts overnight, not just a few hours – they slice much cleaner once fully set, which matters more for presentation than flavor.
• Let the main course rest before carving – resting a roast for fifteen to twenty minutes keeps the juices in the meat instead of on the cutting board.

Make Ahead Christmas Dinner Questions

How far ahead can I cook a beef tenderloin?

The tenderloin itself is best cooked fresh, but you can season it and let it sit uncovered in the fridge overnight, which helps the crust form. Sauces like a horseradish butter can be made several days ahead.

Can I fully bake scalloped potatoes ahead and just reheat them?

Yes. Bake it until the potatoes are about done, cool completely, refrigerate for up to two days, then reheat covered in a 350°F oven until hot through, about thirty minutes.

What should I absolutely cook fresh on Christmas Day?

The main course and anything meant to be crisp, like the top of a casserole or the crust on a beef roast. Everything else on this list can be at least partly done ahead.

Pick one main, prep the sides over the days before, and let the desserts sit in the fridge doing their thing. Christmas dinner gets a lot calmer that way.

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