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. Your family still needs to eat lunch on Christmas Day, especially if all they’ve had is candy from their stockings. We know: You want to save room for the gorgeous Christmas feast you’re going to eat that night. But the last thing Mama needs is a bunch of hangry family members showing up for dinner. To hold the family over and keep you sane, we pulled together some of our favorite ideas for Christmas 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.
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Our savory twist on the classic Czech pastry is the perfect lunch bite with a simple green or fruit salad. Smoky sausage and Cheddar cheese pair for a perfectly satisfying meal.
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.
Southern Living
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.
Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos
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.
Antonis Achilleos
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.
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
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.
Greg DuPree
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.
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.
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke
Prep these easy slow-cooker sandwiches the day before so you can throw them together for lunch and not miss a second of Christmas Day with your family.
Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke
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.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
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.
Iain Bagwell
Use whatever citrus fruit you grab at the grocery store in this colorful, fresh salad. It will be a bright, fresh addition to the table.
Photo: Lee Harrelson
Lasagna is a popular dish to serve around the holidays, and what better time to bring out an easy lasagna than at Christmas lunch?
Southern Living
When in doubt, a hearty breakfast casserole with a handful of ingredients is a surefire way to have a happy crowd. Make it easy by assembling the night before and refrigerating until after Santa’s delivery.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
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.
Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox
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.
Micah A. Leal
Start Christmas lunch with a festive twist on classic spinach dip. Use puff pastry to turn the party dip into a jolly, edible tree.
Southern Living
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.
Hector Manuel Sanchez
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.
Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer
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.
Jennifer Causey
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.
Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch
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.
Southern Living
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.
Greg DuPree
This quick, seasonal pasta recipe is on the table in 30 minutes and will satisfy everyone at the table. Serve a tossed salad or fruit on the side, and dig in.
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox
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.
Southern Living
This Southern favorite open-faced sandwich is a crowd-pleaser for even the crankiest Christmas crowd. The creamy Mornay sauce and plentiful bacon are sure to bring cheer to the table.
Victor Protasio
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.
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
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.
Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham
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.
Jennifer Davick
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.
Hector Sanchez
This beautiful flatbread starts with store-bought pizza dough, but the fresh toppings keep it light. Bottled balsamic glaze adds a sweet finishing touch.
Hector Sanchez
Set out a timeless cheese ball and everyone can snack until dinner time. This version uses feta and cream cheese. Shape it into a Yule log for a festive presentation.
Greg DuPree
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.
Photography and Styling: Karen Rankin
These sliders are perfect for feeding a crowd on Christmas. Plus, they’re ready in under 30 minutes.
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
This salad is the refreshing break your day of feasting needs. It takes just minutes to prepare but still packs in loads of flavor.
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.
Antonis Achilleos
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.
Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
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.
Greg DuPree
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.
Hector Manuel Sanchez
These mini quiches can be made up to two days ahead of time. And since they’re served at room temperature, you can let them sit before serving, no other cooking is required.
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Have lunch ready in 15 minutes with this light and easy dish. Don’t skip the pepper jelly dressing. It adds sweetness and spice.
Jen Causey
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.
Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Combine salsa and refried beans to help keep the toppings in place in this loaded nacho recipe. Mexican chorizo, hot sauce, and jalapeno create levels of heat and flavor.
Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Roasting the lettuce caramelizes it and makes for an elegant presentation. Embellish store-bought dressing to save time. No one will know it’s not homemade.
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos
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.
Greg DuPree
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.
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner
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.
Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Rishon Hanners, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck
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.
Hector Manuel Sanchez
This cheesy baked pasta topped with crunchy breadcrumbs will be a hit at your holiday gathering. Look for pre-chopped, bagged kale to save time.
Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch
A light lunch doesn’t have to sacrifice flavor. This salad hits sweet, tangy, and zesty notes with port-infused dried cherries, navel oranges, goat cheese, and walnuts, and it’s still easy to make.
Jen Causey
Have this classic casserole waiting in your freezer for Christmas lunch so you won’t skip a beat in your dinner prep.