Our Top 50 Easy Holiday Recipes to Enjoy Anywhere

Whether you’re spending the holidays at home or on the road, there are plenty of easy and delicious recipes you can enjoy with friends and family. We’ve compiled a list of 50 mouth-watering recipes to try this season.

Our comprehensive list includes the best appetizers, salads and soups, main courses, sides, desserts and drinks. Plus, you’ll find bonus recipes at the end to use up those leftovers! For your convenience, we’ve pinned all these top recipes and more on our Holiday Recipes Pinterest board.

Now, let’s dive right into our list!

Easy Holiday Appetizers

Antipasto Skewers

A hand holds a miniature skewer loaded with various goodies over a plateful of the prepared skewers. They include mozzarella balls, sliced sweet peppers, tortellini pasta, folded salami slices, and green olives.

Prep time: 20 mins
No cooking required!

Party Poppers

A bunch of pretty, stuffed sweet peppers are arranged on a white plate. The peppers are orange, yellow, and red, with one green jalapeno pepper sitting in the center of the pepper pile to add a splash of contrasting color. In this easy holiday recipe, peppers are stuffed with a white cream cheese mixture and finished with shredded cheese.

Prep time: ~20 mins (depends on how many you make)
Cook time: 20 mins
Eliminate the cook time by using pre-cooked bacon bits instead of bacon. These festive peppers are make-ahead friendly.

Spicy Brown Sugar Bacon-Wrapped Little Smokies

Little Smokie sausages wrapped in bacon and a brown sugar glaze are arranged on a foil-lined pan. The bacon is held in place with toothpicks.

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 40 mins
This crowd-pleasing recipe requires only 5 ingredients!

DIY Charcuterie Board

Prep time: 10-20 mins
Skip the store-bought basics and make a DIY charcuterie board to impress your guests. It’s completely customizable to your tastes and no cooking is required!

Cranberry Brie Bites

A hand reaches down to grab a Cranberry Brie Bite arranged on a wooden serving tray.

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 11 mins
A savory, sweet, and shareable recipe made with just 5 ingredients

Blueberry Brie Bites

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 20 mins
If you don’t want to overload on cranberries, opt for these Blueberry Brie Bites instead! These are made with 5 ingredients and pre-made mini phyllo shells for easy assembly.

Grilled Peach, Basil and Goat “Cheese” Pizza

A round pizza topped with grilled peaches, basil, and vegan goat cheese sits on a white and gray marble counter top. A slice of the pizza has been cut and is arranged near the rest of the pie.

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 15 mins
Technically, this grilled pizza is a dinner recipe but it could easily become a tasty appetizer for vegetarian and vegan guests.

Best Holiday Salads and Soups

Caprese Christmas Wreath

Mozzarella balls and cherry tomatoes are arranged on a bed of greens shaped as a festive wreath for an easy holiday salad recipe.

Prep time: 15 mins
Healthy, simple, and light. Oh, and did we mention flavorful and festive?

Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad

Prep time: 10 mins

Caesar Wedge Salad with Bacon

Prep time: 15 mins

Roasted Vegetable Winter Salad

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 40 mins

Roasted Sweet Potato Soup

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 28 mins

Butternut Squash, Sausage, and Tortelloni Soup

Prep time: 30 mins
Cook time: 75 mins
This easy recipe might take longer to make but the wait is worth it.

Best Holiday Main Course Recipes

World’s Simplest Thanksgiving Turkey

A browned thanksgiving turkey is plated on a maroon tablecloth to illustrate the results of this simple holiday recipe. To the left of the turkey is a small bowl of cranberry jelly and a gravy boat filled with brown gravy. In the background are a bowl of creamy mashed potatoes and a bowl of baby carrots and sliced potatoes.

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 3 hours (roughly)
This recipe includes “World’s Simplest” in its name, and I can attest to its ease. I had never cooked a turkey (or much of anything) before but the first year after my husband and I got engaged, I insisted on making one for Thanksgiving. Following this recipe, I made a juicy and beautiful, brown bird.

Best Ever Smoked Turkey

A closeup photo of a golden brown smoked turkey being carved. A fork is piercing the juicy white meat of this easy recipe for smoked turkey breast.

Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 8 hours
If you have a smoker, you’ve got to try this simple recipe for the best ever smoked turkey.

Deep-Fried Turkey

Prep time: 30 mins
Cook time: 45 mins
If you want a turkey but hate waiting around while it cooks for hours, deep-frying is another option. This recipe uses Cajun seasonings but you can easily modify to your preference.
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to follow all safety instructions! Frying a turkey is serious business and any misstep can result in serious injury, fire, or even death. If you’re not an experienced cook, move on to something else. You can find additional tips for safely frying a turkey here and here and here.

Cider Roasted Turkey Breast

Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 1.5 hours
Okay, now that we’ve got the whole turkeys out of the way, here’s a perfect and easy recipe for smaller holiday gatherings. Instead of cooking a whole bird, make this easy herb-infused turkey breast. It will feed 2-4 people (depending on how many sides you make to go with it) and only takes about an hour and a half to cook.

Maple Bourbon Glazed Grilled Ham

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 2.5 hours
No oven? No problem! Grill up this delicious and easy holiday ham for your family and friends.

Fall-Off-The-Bone Ribs

A rack of glazed ribs sits on a sheet pan. A basting brush with barbecue sauce is visible in the corner of the photo. These ribs were made in an oven for an easy holiday main course recipe.

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 3 hours
Who says your only options are turkey or ham for the holidays? This raved about recipe for fall-off-the-bone ribs has been shared over 100,000 times and will make for a feast to remember.

Easy, No-Fuss Prime Rib

A prime rib with a crispy brown, herb crust sits on a white plate on a marble counter top.

Prep time: 10 mins
Resting time: 1 hour
Cook time: 1 hr 45 mins
Don’t be intimidated if you’ve never made a prime rib before – this recipe is easy to follow and the directions are simple.

Butternut Squash Stuffed Shells with Sage Browned Butter (Vegetarian)

Four large pasta shells filled with Butternut Squash and green vegetables are arranged on a white plate.

Prep time: 25 mins
Cook time: 55 mins
This beautiful vegetarian pasta can be enjoyed year-round. It’s just as comforting as mac and cheese but much more sophisticated.

Easy Holiday Side Dish Recipes

Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

A large white bowl is filled with creamy red skin potatoes that have been mashed and topped with black pepper. This easy holiday recipe calls for the potatoes to be made in a slow cooker.

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 4 hours
No more boiling and smashing – you don’t even have to peel the potatoes! This easy holiday recipe uses a slow cooker to make creamy, dreamy mashed potatoes without the hassle. Feel free to peel if you want, but these potatoes will come out delicious with the skin on, too.

Corn Casserole

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 55 mins
This easy recipe only requires 5 ingredients for a family-friendly holiday side dish.

Maple Brown Butter Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 20 mins
Budget-friendly, 7 simple ingredients, minimal prep and cook time – it’s easy to see why this is one of our favorite holiday recipes!

Ginger Ale Glazed Carrots

A blue bowl on a wooden table is filled with bright orange glazed carrots garnished with chopped fresh parsley.

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 15 mins
This simple, one pan recipe calls for just 6 ingredients and makes a healthy holiday side dish.

Green Beans and Bacon

Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 20 mins
Everything’s better with bacon – especially these crisp green beans!

Roasted Cauliflower

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 25 mins
The holiday season is filled with rich foods (which we love!) but for a light and healthy side dish, try this easy recipe for roasted cauliflower.

Grilled Butternut Squash with Honey Maple Glaze

Grilled pieces of butternut squash fill a white bowl.

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 25 mins
No kitchen needed – you can grill this delicious side dish!

Grilled Maple Mustard Brussels Sprouts

Several charred skewers of grilled Brussels sprouts are arranged on a long serving plate speckled with color.

Prep time: 20 mins
Cook time: 8 mins
Another easy grilled side dish to add to your holiday recipes!

Creamy Four Cheese Spinach Butternut Squash

A butternut squash is cut in half and filled with a four cheese and spinach mix in this easy holiday recipe. The edges of the cheese filling are browned and a spoon is piercing the squash as if getting ready to serve.

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 40 mins
Butternut squash is abundant this time of year. This simple recipe will impress your guests without taking much of your time away from those holiday gatherings.

Easy Grilled Pineapples

Thick slices of grilled pineapple are arranged on a white serving plate. The edges of the pineapple have caramelized to a deep brown-black color.

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 8 mins
If you like pineapple, you’ll love this easy recipe! Grilling pineapple slices or spears is ridiculously simple. The heat caramelizes their natural sugars making for a sweet side dish OR dessert. Surprise your guests with this unexpected addition to your holiday meals!

Rosemary Pepper Drop Biscuits

Eight drop biscuits are arranged on a parchment paper-lined baking tray.

Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 20 mins
As the name implies, there’s no kneading, shaping, or cutting necessary to make these easy biscuits. Just mix, drop, and bake for fresh bread to pair with your meal.

Top Holiday Dessert Recipes

Classic Pumpkin Pie

A perfect slice of pumpkin pie topped with a dollop of fluffy whipped cream sits on a white plate with a golden rim. The plate is surrounded with fall seasonal decor, including reddish-brown maize and colorful leaves.

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 55 mins
You don’t have to be a professional pastry chef to make a great holiday pie. This Classic Pumpkin Pie recipe requires only 9 ingredients!
Pro tip: cover the edge of your pie with tin foil to prevent it from burning while cooking. 🙂

Slow Cooker Candied Cinnamon Pecans

A crock pot is filled with candied cinnamon pecans.

Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 3 hours
This holiday recipe makes the whole house smell amazing. It’s also very giftable! Just fill a mason jar with Candied Cinnamon Pecans and top with a pretty fabric bow.

Christmas Cookie Dip

Prep time: 5 mins
This easy recipe will make all the kids (and grown ups) smile this holiday season.

No-Bake Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes

Prep time: 1.5 hours
Don’t be intimidated by the prep time for this recipe; it includes letting the treats chill in the fridge. Also, the recipe directions call for a food processor and a stand mixer. If you don’t have these, just place the graham crackers in a plastic bag and use a rolling pin (a wine bottle also works great!) to crush the crackers into crumbs. For the remainder of the recipe, mix the ingredients by hand.

Peppermint Bark Puppy Chow

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 2 mins
This simple holiday recipe is a fun twist on traditional Puppy Chow. It can also double as a yummy gift for neighbors or teachers.

Easy Italian Christmas Cookie s

Round sugar cookies topped with white icing and festive red, green, and white sprinkles are arranged on a white slab. In the background, a cookie cools on a rack and a small bowl of extra sprinkles sits next to it.

Prep time: 30 mins
Cook time: 11-13 mins
Cool time: 30 mins
These festive cookies come together quickly thanks to refrigerated cookie dough and an easy-to-make glaze.

Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie on the Grill

A large cast iron skillet is filled with a chocolate chip cookie. The cookie has browned edges and is topped with a swirl of chocolate sauce. The background is a wooden table with denim fabric and chocolate chips and chocolate chunks nearby.

Prep time: 20 mins
Cook time: 20 mins
Rest time: 1 hour
You’ve probably seen those tempting skillet cookies at countless restaurants, but have you ever made your own? Follow this easy recipe and you can enjoy a gooey, fresh-off-the-grill chocolate chip cookie anywhere!

For more easy campfire dessert recipes, be sure to check out our Pie Iron Desserts post!

Simple Holiday Cocktail & Mock-tail Recipes

Slow Cooker Salted Caramel Apple Cocktail

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 1 hour
One of the best holiday cocktail recipes requires only 9 ingredients. Try these Slow Cooker Salted Caramel Apple cocktails at your next holiday get-together!

Spiced Cranberry Sangria

Prep time: 10 mins
Refrigerate: 3 hours (or until ready to serve)
This easy sangria is made extra festive with cranberry, orange and cinnamon sticks!

Christmas Morning Punch (Non-Alcoholic)

A pitcher and a glass of Christmas morning punch are sitting on a wooden serving paddle. Cranberries and green garnish brighten the tabletop they sit on.

Prep time: 5 mins
Refrigerate until ready to serve
This kid-friendly mock-tail recipe uses a variety of fruit juices and ginger ale.

Champagne Holiday Punch (Alcoholic)

A glass punch bowl is filled with Champagne Holiday Punch. Wedges of cut grapefruit, fresh cranberries, and three cinnamon sticks float on the surface of the punch.

Prep time: 2 mins
Pop some bubbly. Pour. Chill. And serve. It doesn’t get any simpler than this. For a festive touch, garnish with grapefruit slices or cinnamon sticks.

Crock-Pot Hot Chocolate

A white crock-pot is filled with homemade hot chocolate and mini marshmallows.

Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 2 hours
Ditch the dry powered stuff and make this decadent hot chocolate in your crock-pot!

Easy Homemade Eggnog

Two glasses of eggnog sit on a table surrounded by holiday decor, including miniature ornaments and pine cones.

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 15 mins
Chilling time: 2 hours
This classic holiday drink can be made with or without booze so you can choose your level of “jolly.”