While Christmas is a truly beautiful time of year to come together, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s stress-free. With holiday decorating, gift shopping, traveling, and more, creating an elaborate holiday feast isn’t always an option during the season. That’s why Grandma learned long ago to take advantage of quick additions to the Christmas menu. With these last-minute holiday recipes, you don’t need to write off a whole day to cook a meal that will leave your loved ones satisfied. Check out these simple, delicious last-minute holiday recipes that are Southern grandma-approved.
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
This appetizer is so easy you hardly need a recipe, and it only requires three ingredients and lots of toothpicks.
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Even if you’ve never heard of this Junior League dish, you’ll be a fan of it soon enough. Like a cross between creamed spinach and a dip, you can serve it as an appetizer or a side dish.
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Just liked Grandma always did, you likely have all of the ingredients on hand to make this easy snack at all times, so you can easily throw it together at the last minute.
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Retro in the best kind of way, this cheese ball will be the hit of the party, no matter where you bring it. Blue cheese, Cheddar, and Worcestershire sauce make it extra savory.
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Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
Peanut butter, chocolate, butterscotch, and Rice Krispies come together to make a no-bake cookie that will be a welcome addition to parties and cookie tins.
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Dane Tashima; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Southern Living staffer Ivy Odom says this tangy vegetable relish is a must on her family’s Thanksgiving table: “Perched unassumingly in the middle of a sea of rich, starchy sides, it was a welcome addition of texture, flavor, and color.”
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Whether for breakfast, as a snack, or as a side dish, you can never go wrong whipping up a batch of sausage balls when company is coming.
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland
This old-fashioned recipe is a keeper for several reasons: you can make them ahead, they are made with frozen meatballs so you don’t even have to roll them, and they serve 10—perfect for a holiday gathering.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Need an easy dessert that makes plenty for a party? These layered no-bake bars are the answer to your prayers. The combination of coconut, vanilla cream, chocolate, and a graham cracker crust is very sweet, so you can cut them into small squares.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Everyone loves a potato dish, and these party potatoes make for a simple and delicious side that all will enjoy. With just 15 minutes of active time and less than 10 ingredients total, this recipe is sure to be a keeper.
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Antonis Achilleos, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
If your holiday meal isn’t complete without a dish of creamy, fruity fluff salad, this cranberry version with grapes and pecans will be a hit.
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Cornbread casserole is a warm and fluffy dish that Southerners look forward to every holiday, and this recipe simplifies it for an easy and quick addition to your Christmas spread.
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
No matter what holiday you’re celebrating in the South, you’re sure to find a plate of deviled eggs. This recipe is a tried-and-true classic that will absolutely be a hit this season.
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
There’s nothing easier than a no-bake dessert, and these peanut butter cornflake cookies are a sweet, crunchy, gooey confection that take little effort to concoct.
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Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Caleb Clarke
This human-only snack will be gone fast when it hits the table. This tasty treat involves Chex mix covered in chocolate and peanut butter and topped with powdered sugar for a simply sweet side.
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Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn
Ham is associated with the holidays, and these ham and cheese sliders are an easy way to add it in to your holiday spread. Toasted and seasoned to perfection, these sandwiches will go quick.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
While Brussels sprouts tend to be a hit or miss, these crispy roasted Brussels sprouts are a perfect way to win over anyone at your holiday party. With just five ingredients and 15 minutes of active time, these are great for a last-minute side dish.
Ham and Potato Soup
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Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
This warm and customizable soup is the perfect side to serve on a chilly holiday evening, and the leftovers keep well in the fridge (if you happen to have extra by the end of the night!).
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
The hardest part of making this addicting appetizer is waiting for these buttery pecans to come out of the oven. This recipe is a simple way to elevate the classic Christmassy nut.
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Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Dump cakes are among the easiest desserts to make, and this caramel apple dump cake adds a delicious flavor perfect for a chilly day.
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Saltines are staple in plenty of Southern recipes, and this toffee recipe truly lets them shine. The saltine crackers provide a perfect base for the delectable chocolate-and-sugar concoction.
Credit:
Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
A fan-favorite holiday side, mashed potatoes are an unspoken requirement on any holiday spread. This recipe is a simple classic that takes less than 25 minutes of active time to make.
Credit: Iain Bagwell
While sweet potatoes are the more common orange root veggie on a holiday spread, these spiced carrots might just take spot number two. With only five minutes of active time, you’ll have a quick and delicious side dish ready to go with little effort.
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Trick your guests into thinking you spent all day on this stunning, rich dessert. This chocolate trifle uses all store-bought ingredients to make a delightful dish for any chocolate lover.
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Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Sausage balls are a Southern holiday classic, and this recipe uses cream cheese to make them delectably fluffy and tangy for your guests to enjoy.
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Straight from the Southern Living December 1993 issue, these rum balls are a holiday classic that provide a nice (and boozy!) change of pace to a holiday cookie platter.
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Another dish that’s suitable for both breakfast and dinner, hashbrown casserole is easy to make and will always disappear quickly.
Dining and Cooking