Christmas morning is such a whirlwind. Between opening presents from Santa, attending church services, and preparing for the big Christmas dinner, it’s easy to overlook one thing: lunch. These festive recipes are either super quick or make-ahead to help you out after a hectic morning and before the day’s main culinary event at dinner. With these Christmas lunch recipes, you won’t miss a second of the holiday with your family.
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Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Speaking of simple salads, our light Christmas salad is perfect as a side or even on its own. This recipe is all about the toppings: tangy cheese, sweet and savory pecans, and fresh fruit, all dressed in a lightly sweetened vinaigrette that has a touch of warmth from cayenne pepper.
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Make Christmas lunch a festive snack that everyone can pick on before the main dinner event with this cheeky pull-apart bread recipe. It’s easy to make thanks to a can of pizza dough, and you can make any shape that suits you.
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Whether your crew wakes up in time for breakfast, brunch, or late lunch, this shrimp and grits casserole will satisfy them. There’s plenty of shrimp gravy to go around, so let everyone dig in.
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Macaroni and cheese is always a crowd-pleaser. This delicious pie version is easy to whip together. Add in roasted broccoli for an easy, complete meal.
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Ham biscuits are a timeless, anytime-of-day party food. Make the biscuits ahead and freeze them until you’re ready for a fresh-from-the-oven meal.
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Convenience products like frozen vegetables and canned tomatoes help you quickly prepare a lunch that tastes like it’s been simmering all day. You can make this ahead and warm it up before serving.
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Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
Barbecue and pizza merge in this fantastic mashup meal. Make the pork ahead of time, and you’ll have a lunch that makes everyone happy.
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This isn’t your average lox bagel. Made with savory slow-cooked salmon and fresh herbed cream cheese, your family will love these pretty bagel sandwiches.
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These bite-sized mushroom pies are perfect served alongside deviled eggs and other party appetizers for a light and casual Christmas lunch. Make them ahead and pop them in the oven just before lunch.
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Lasagna is a popular dish to serve around the holidays, and what better time to bring out an easy lasagna than at Christmas lunch?
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A cup of warm soup is comforting for a cold Christmas Day but won’t fill the family up too much before dinner. This slow-cooker soup means you have more time to spend with loved ones.
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Have the cheese puffs ready in the freezer to put together this presentable but easy old-school luncheon recipe. The Ham Salad is a great way to use any leftover Christmas Eve ham.
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Every holiday meal could use a pretty seasonal salad to start. This classic combines apples, celery, grapes, and pecans in a light dish that won’t take away from the feast.
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This cozy casserole is the ideal make-ahead dish to have on hand throughout the holidays. Assemble the day before and keep refrigerated until you’re ready to bake.
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These quick, flavorful sandwiches are easy to put together while you work on dinner dishes. Make the sandwiches ahead of time and wrap them individually for an easy-to-grab lunch.
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We’d enjoy this comforting one-dish meal any time of day. Made in one pan, this recipe couldn’t be easier. Just top the creamy sausage filling with frozen biscuits and bake.
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This winter salad showcases the best and brightest of the season. It’s also a great palate cleanser in between morning pastries and Christmas dinner.
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Our hot chicken salad takes the classic combination of chicken, mayo, and celery and adds a tasty explosion of flavors. Crushed potato chips create a crispy topping.
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Make a big batch of beef stew the day before and enjoy it for lunch on Christmas Day. Cut up a chuck roast instead of buying stew meat for the best flavor.
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This is our Test Kitchen’s new favorite way to make brunch ahead for a crowd. This dish is sure to be on everyone’s wishlist for holidays to come with its cheesy egg custard and caramelized onions.
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These buttery pastries are filled with a dreamy combination of ham, Gruyere, thyme, and honey mustard. Make them ahead of time for an easy Christmas lunch.
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Meatballs never disappoint. Instead of serving with spaghetti, try these sliders for a lunch spread. They’re cooked in the slow cooker, so they can be hot and ready for serving time.
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This hearty soup will warm you up on chilly holidays. The toasted bread bowls add a nice touch, but you can skip them if you don’t have time.
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Salads don’t have to be boring. This bright and crunchy salad made with apples, pecans, and shaved Brussels sprouts makes a lovely lunch on Christmas.
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These sliders are perfect for feeding a crowd on Christmas. Plus, they’re ready in under 30 minutes.
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This salad is the refreshing break your day of feasting needs. It takes just minutes to prepare but still packs in loads of flavor.
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Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
A tray of baked brie and dippers is always a welcome sight for hungry guests. Serve with crackers, apples, or even biscotti.
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Satisfy your holiday crew with a pan of loaded pork nachos. They come together in minutes. You can use leftover pork or pick up a container from your favorite barbecue place.
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This recipe is great for a gathering because every guest can customize their own bowl. Set out a variety of toppings like black beans, charred corn, and avocado, and let everyone help themselves.
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This delicious crusty sandwich couldn’t be easier. Pesto, tomatoes, rotisserie chicken, and fontina cheese are all you need to layer between your bread. If you don’t have a panini press, use a heavy cast-iron skillet as a makeshift press.
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This is our go-to fruit salad recipe, but for a festive spin, use only green and red fruit. Finish with honey-sweetened orange juice and fresh mint.
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Both kids and adults will rave about this creamy homemade tomato soup. Top it with Cheddar or serve it with your favorite grilled cheese sandwich.
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Your slow cooker does all of the hard work to make these delicious pulled pork sandwiches. Douse them with Carolina-style vinegar sauce, and top with pickles and onions.
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These meatballs are ready to serve in 30 minutes. The cranberry sauce gives these a holiday twist. A jar of jalapeno pepper jelly spices things up.
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In 30 minutes, this hearty one-pan casserole is ready to serve. It’s easy to put together, tastes great, and there’s plenty for everyone, perfect for hosting.
Dining and Cooking