Christmas Menus For Every Budget

As you plan your Christmas feasts, be inspired by our holiday dinner menus ideas, one comfort food, recession-chic meal, and the other an over-the-top-indulgent feast.

 

 

A Comfort Food, Recession-Chic Menu:

A festive four-course meal that won't break the bank.

 

Green Salad with Blood Oranges and Avocado with a Champagne Vinaigrette

From The Daily Meal

Making a festive salad isn't hard if you start with a basic salad dressing and add two brightly colored garnishes.

 

Beef Stew with Carrots, Corn and Potatoes

From The Daily Meal

A hearty warm main dish that is perfect to serve all winter long.

 

Cornbread

From The Daily Meal

This slightly sweet cornbread is the perfect accompaniment to a stew; serve the stew on top, or use your cornbread to mop up every last bit.

 

Farmhouse Carrots from The Sprouted Kitchen

From The Daily Meal

While roasting carrots brings out their inherent sweetness, this recipe adds a bit more flavor with herbs, honey, and cider vinegar.

 

Chocolate Mousse

A decadent dessert that won't break the bank, or have you slaving in the kitchen all day. Garnish with peppermint candy canes for a festive touch.

 

 

Over-the-Top Indulgent Feast:

If you have guests to impress, or are simply looking for a new challenge to tackle this Christmas Eve, why not cook a whole goose?

 

Foie Gras 

A decadent appetizer to splurge on only once a year.

 

Étoile's Deviled Quail's Eggs with Caviar

From The Daily Meal

Petite deviled eggs are the perfect vehicle for caviar. For an easier alternative that is just as decadent, serve buckwheat blinis with sour cream and caviar.

 

Champagne Cocktails and Eggnog

From The Daily Meal

Any holiday party would not be complete without either of these festive drinks.

 

Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Marcona Almonds and Pecorino

From The Daily Meal

Shaved Brussels sprouts are tossed with crunchy Marcona almonds and salty pecorino for an unusual variation on a green salad.

 

Butternut Squash Cavatelli with Grilled Mushroom en Papillote

From The Daily Meal

These handmade cavatelli, flavored with garam masala and sherry, are comforting by themselves. The mushrooms, grilled in packets, add a wonderful earthy quality.

 

Roast Goose

From The Daily Meal

This classic Alsatian dish, served with caramelized apples, is a classic Christmas dish in France.

 

Bûche de Noël

From The Daily Meal

A classic French dessert, also known as a Yule log. Chocolate génoise is filled with chocolate pastry cream and rolled into a roulade. It is then topped with a coffee buttercream and combed for a faux bois texture.