1Tamales
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS
For many Texans, tamales are quintessential Christmas food. One great thing about tamales is how versatile they are. Savory or sweet. Authentic or trying something new. Everything from chicken mole to quince paste and even Nutella goes great in a tamale. Get your corn husks out this holiday season.
Get the Tamales recipe.
2Beef Brisket
Ethan Calabrese
If the thought of cooking an extra-tender beef brisket brings to mind smoking your cut of meat for hours on end—think again. Our oven-roasted recipe makes preparation so much simpler, without sacrificing on any tenderness or flavor. Preparing beef brisket for your Christmas dinner is a labor of love your whole crew will be thankful for, and fortunately, our recipe cuts down on as much of that labor as possible
Get the Beef Brisket recipe.
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3Pecan Pie
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE
Pecan pie is a staple Christmas pie on my menu every year, and for good reason. That’s why I spent so long testing this recipe, ensuring that it’s the very best it can be (because your holiday spread deserves nothing less). The texture is unbeatable: A flaky, buttery crust, crunchy nuts, and a rich, chewy filling all combine for a perfectly balanced bite.
Get the Pecan Pie recipe.
4Cornbread Dressing
PHOTO: DOAA ELKADY; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON
Classic stuffing is a must-have on the Christmas dinner table. That being said, some years I crave something a little different than the classic side. Enter a southern classic: cornbread dressing. My cornbread dressing has all of the beloved, classic Christmas flavors, plus Italian sausage for a heartier touch.
Get the Cornbread Dressing recipe.
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5Texas Sheet Cake
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE
This chocolate cake is rich, extra-fudgy, and topped with plenty of toasty pecans. It’s a classic dessert for very good reason: it was made for chocolate lovers, and ready in under an hour.
Get the Texas Sheet Cake recipe.
6Pepper Jelly & Cream Cheese Bites
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE
One of my favorite and, quite possibly, the easiest appetizer my mom would put out at a party was a block of cream cheese with pepper jelly. It took her less than 5 minutes to pour some pepper jelly over cream cheese and place some crackers around. It was always a hit. These bites are slightly more elevated without many more steps.
Get the Pepper Jelly & Cream Cheese Bites recipe.
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7Cowboy Caviar
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER
The concept for cowboy caviar—dare I say dip—originated in Texas. In 1940, popular chef and cookbook author Helen Corbitt developed what we now know as cowboy caviar from her curiosity about black-eyed peas. Her recipe was simple: black-eyed peas, onion, garlic, oil, and vinegar. Some call it cowboy caviar; others call it Texas caviar.
Get the Cowboy Caviar recipe.
8Shrimp & Sausage Gumbo
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS
Filled with shrimp, sausage, and the signature seasoning, hearty gumbo the true melting-pot dish that will transport you straight to New Orleans after just one bite. It’s a top-notch comfort food stew centered around a flavorful roux and the holy trinity of Southern cooking: aromatic onions, celery, and bell peppers.
Get the Shrimp & Sausage Gumbo recipe.
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9Pumpkin Empanadas
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON
Christmas pies, beware! Pumpkin empanadas have arrived. Boasting a flaky, buttery crust and a jammy, spiced pumpkin filling, these bite-sized beauties will be a serious contender on any holiday dessert table. They may be small, but they pack BIG pumpkin flavor.
Get the Pumpkin Empanadas recipe.
10Prime Rib
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS
Prime rib is the holiday dinner centerpiece to serve if you’re looking to truly wow. This large-and-in-charge cut of beef not only boasts a show stopping display, but is unmatched in its tender, rich, and buttery flavor. While the size and price point of this cut may seem intimidating, it’s surprisingly easy to make: with a bit of forethought and science, it’s simple to make perfect prime rib, every time.
Get the Prime Rib recipe.
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