Holiday Meal Ideas - The Defined Dish - Recipe Round UP (2024)

clayton’s holiday margarita

This is a fun, simple holiday twist on Clayton’s Margarita that is perfectly festive!

espresso martini

This is the perfect pick-me-up to kick off the night, to sip on post-dinner instead of (or with) your dessert. and even for a holiday brunch!

Tequila Espresso-Orange Martini

And for a tequila-alternate to the classic, you’ve got to try this version! Great for pre-dinner drinks or with dessert.

rosemary tequila spritzer

sileo celery salad

This has been in my family for generations and generations on my Mom’s side of the family. Growing up, my mom and her family (who is of Italian descent) would make this celery salad as part of our antipasti platter for every gathering!

olive puffs (page 23 of The Comfortable Kitchen)

I just love these savory bites and they are perfect to make in advance of hosting! You can find this full recipe on page 23 of my latest book, The Comfortable Kitchen.

dairy-free french onion dip

While a full spread of dips, boards, and co*cktails sound great in theory – it can end up being just as much work as the meal. So keep things simple with this Dairy-Free French Onion Dip.

hatch green chile crab dip

Here is a delicious, hot and bubbly Hatch Green Chile Crab Dip with the delightful flavors of Hatch chiles infused in the dish.

chorizo-stuffed bacon-wrapped dates

Delicious and flavorful chorizo, stuffed in sweet dates, and wrapped with crispy, salty bacon — these little bites will wow your guests and your taste buds!

baked feta with olives, sopressata and thyme

I absolutely love this appetizer, and it’s so simple to pop into the oven while you get the rest of your dinner prepared.

Smoked Salmon and Blue Cheese Crostini

Super simple — super flavorful!

cranberry-brie bites

You’ll watch these disappear in no time. In fact, you should just go ahead and make 2 batches of these like my mom does!

bibb lettuce salad with black truffle vinaigrette and mimolette

It’s almost difficult for me to put into words how much I love this salad. It’s so simple, yet so elegant, and it’s just absolutely show-stopping and delicious!

warm bacon vinaigrette salad

Have you ever tried a salad with warm vinaigrette? If the answer is no, it’s time to try this Warm Bacon Vinaigrette Salad.

french onion steak salad

I took the delicious flavors of French Onion Soup and created this French Onion Steak Salad! For your holiday dinner, you could serve exactly like this, or serve with the meat separately with an additional side.

creamy mushroom risotto

Here is a very simple recipe for a Creamy Mushroom Risotto that I know you’ll love for the holidays or special dinner at home, just get those stirring arms ready.

[cassava flour roux] seafood gumbo

This is such a fun celebratory dinner to make over the holidays or on a chilly Sunday for supper. And, once you have the base down– you can really add whatever filling you’d prefer.

the best bolognese sauce

I have a few bolognese sauce recipes out there in the world, but this is seriously The Best Bolognese Sauce and my favorite for special occasions.

bottle of wine braised brisket

This Bottle of Wine Braised Brisket is the perfect main-course when entertaining! While the cook time may be long, the preparation is simple and it turns out delicious every time! It also feeds a very large amount of people and it is a TOTAL crowdpleaser.

herb-crusted beef tenderloin

This is sure to impress and so incredibly simple!

Red Wine Braised Short Rib and Parsnip + Potato Puree

Another great option with wine as the star!

israeli couscous milanese with seared halibut

I’ve taken one of my favorite risotto recipes and turned it into an easy-to-make Israeli couscous version with a perfectly seared halibut.

french chicken with creamy mustard-white wine sauce

This French Chicken with Creamy Mustard-White Wine Sauce is one of those recipes that will make you fall in love with chickenall over again.

apple cider roasted root vegetables

Simple, yet bursting with flavor!

sour cream and onion potato bake

Here is a recipe that combines two of my favorite things: sour cream and onion flavor + mashed potatoes.

caramelized onion scalloped potatoes

These Caramelized Onion Scalloped Potatoes are beyond indulgent and the perfect addition to your holiday dinner or anytime you’re hosting a nice dinner!

twice-baked potatoes with truffle salt and gruyere

Twice-Baked Potatoes are one of those crowd-pleasing, family-friendly side dishes that are great for all occasions.

brussels sprouts au gratin

The Brussels sprouts are simply roasted until golden-brown, then topped in a delicious creamy sauce that I quickly made on the stovetop and sprinkled with some Gruyere cheese!

grain-free pear galette

Here’s asimple yet impressive dessert to elevate your holiday gathering — Grain-Free Pear Galette!

grain-free millionaire’s tart

A Millionaire’s Tart is basically a fancy name for a giant Twix pie — and I’m here for it.

scotcharoos (page 214 of The Comfortable Kitchen)

I have fond memories of these chewy, chocolate-covered rice cereal bars from when I was growing up. You can find this full recipe on page 214 of my latest book, The Comfortable Kitchen.