Christmas is approaching fast, and you're busy—time to plan. It's a day for family, not spending time in the kitchen. Here are my top recipe recommendations for a simple, smaller holiday that will make your celebration easier while helping you avoid leftovers for days.
Table of Contents
These are my favorite holiday recipes; while most of the recipes on this site are smaller and easy to make, here are some of the more "special" recipes for a smaller Christmas. We hope you will enjoy the holiday with your family.
Gatherings are ready-made for food safety issues and leftovers at the party. Let's plan for food safety and get it right. Check out the USDA Food Safety recommendations.
Small Breakfast Recipes
A great breakfast is a beautiful way to start the holiday morning, but you want to avoid being stuck at the stove away from the family fun. Let's do something special with very little work that needs to be done on Christmas morning.
Small French Toast Casserole
French Toast Casserole is a classic, easy, make-ahead recipe for holiday breakfast or brunch. It's a simple small-batch recipe for overnight French toast casserole for two or a crowd. I assemble it the night before in an 8X8 pan, then on Christmas morning, I top it with melted butter and cinnamon sugar and bake.
Small French Toast Casserole
Small Cinnamon Coffee Cake
With the great taste of Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, this quick and easy Cinnamon Coffee Cake recipe has it all, from buttery and tender cinnamon-swirled cake with carmalized streusel topping and a sweet glaze. An 8X8 small batch recipe that is simple to make smaller or bigger, it is the perfect breakfast, brunch, or dessert recipe for a holiday or everyday.
Small Cinnamon Coffee Cake Recipe
How to Cook Bacon in a Convection Oven
The easiest way to cook crispy bacon is in a convection oven on aluminum foil for easy cleanup of the bacon grease. Use standard or thick-cut bacon to make great crispy baked bacon for breakfast or other uses.
Convection Oven Bacon
How To Cook Sausage in the Oven
The best and easiest way to cook crispy and juicy breakfast sausage patties or links is in the oven. We always bake breakfast sausage patties or links, Italian sausages, or other full-size sausages for perfect sausages every time without the mess.
Bake Breakfast Sausage Patties
Smaller Main Dish Recipes
These recipes are for special and memorable meals that will keep you out of the kitchen and manageable leftovers.
Small Ribeye (Boneless Prime Rib) Roast
A ribeye roast, also known as a boneless prime rib roast, is a classic entrée for holidays and other special meals. With a garlic butter crust and delicious, juicy meat, this recipe is perfect for smaller gatherings but can easily be scaled for larger crowds. A bone-in stand rib roast can also be used.
Small Prime Rib Roast Recipe
Oven Roasted Turkey Breast—The Easy Way
Learn how to oven-roast a turkey breast the easiest way, with crispy skin and juicy, tender meat. With these easy, step-by-step photo instructions, anyone can bake turkey breasts perfectly.
Oven Roasted Turlkey Breast Recipe
Small Crock Pot Ham with Brown Glaze
This small crock pot ham with a brown sugar glaze is perfect for any occasion. The brown sugar blends with honey, pineapple juice, and spices to create a delicious, moist, and tender glazed boneless ham that is ideal for small households or as a second meat for holidays.
Small Honey Glazed Ham Recipe
How to Cook Filet Mignon in the Oven (Pan-Seared & Oven-Finished)
Juicy, tender filet mignon cooked at home with the classic pan-sear and oven-finish method. Ready in under 20 minutes—perfect for any special meal.
How to Cook Filet Mignon
Pan Seared New York Strip Steak (Oven Finished)
Learn how to cook a perfect New York strip steak by searing in a hot skillet and finishing in the oven. Juicy, tender, and beginner-friendly.
Pan Seared Strip Steak
Side Dish Recipes
Complete your holiday meal with some tasty side dishes. Here are some excellent choices that will round out the holiday feast—all easy to make or make ahead.
Cheesy Potatoes with Real Potatoes
This old-fashioned cheesy potatoes with real potatoes recipe is the from-scratch version of funeral potatoes before frozen hash brown potatoes and cans of soup. If you haven't tried the original, you will find a world of difference in taste and texture. It is perfect with Easter ham, BBQ brisket, and, yes, funeral luncheons.
Cheesy Potatoes with Real Potatoes
Broccoli Slaw Salad
Broccoli Slaw Salad has great crunch and flavor. It has broccoli slaw salad, veggies, almonds, and rice noodles. The homemade dressing is a delicious touch.
Broccoli Slaw Salad Recipe
Baked Green Beans with Bacon
Baked Green Beans with Bacon are the perfect side dish with any meal—an easy green bean recipe with brown sugar, garlic, bacon, and tender green beans.
Baked Green Beans with Bacon
Old Fashioned Scalloped Potatoes
You can easily make this old-fashioned scalloped potato recipe with tender potatoes and a creamy sauce, just like Grandma would. It's a small-batch recipe that easily scales down to make scalloped potatoes for two or doubles to serve family size.
Old Fashioned Scalloped Potatoes
Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
This caramelized Parmesan roasted cauliflower recipe will become your favorite way to cook cauliflower. Using fresh or frozen, it makes a great hot baked side dish.
Roasted Cauliflower
Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole
Make the holidays complete with an Old-Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole. This easy, traditional recipe starts by baking sweet potatoes and ends with a pecan brown sugar topping or the alternate classic marshmallow topping. It is a creamy holiday classic that we enjoy every holiday season.
Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
Easy Dinner Rolls
This easy dinner roll recipe is ready in an hour. You can serve delicious homemade yeast dinner rolls that are the perfect addition to any meal. Soft and fluffy, these easy yeast rolls will become a family favorite. Make a full recipe for the whole family or a small batch half recipe for smaller needs.
Dinner Roll Recipe
Dessert Recipes
Let's get a sweet ending to the family feast. You want a memorable dessert to top off the day. All of these recipes are guaranteed to satisfy.
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Small Batch Apple Crisp (Only 3 Apples Needed)
This easy apple crisp recipe uses just 3 apples and simple pantry ingredients—no oats. Small batch and beginner-friendly, perfect for two or a small family.
Apple Crisp
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake or Cheesecake Bars
This easy Chocolate Chip Cheesecake recipe can be made as a whole cheesecake or, as we prefer, impressive Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars. It is simple and almost foolproof, using cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, and an Oreo crust. Please try our go-to recipe for parties or take-a-dish occasions.
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake and Bars
Small Crock Pot Apple Crisp
This small-batch crock pot apple crisp recipe is simple to make and one of the best homemade apple desserts with crispy oat topping and apple pie flavor. It is versatile; use half the recipe for a mini apple crisp for two in a 2-quart crock pot or double it in a full-size slow cooker for a crowd.
Crock Pot Apple Crisp
Holiday Candy
Homemade candy is great around the house for the holidays and makes terrific house gifts.
Crock Pot Chocolate Peanut Clusters
Chocolate Peanut Clusters are easy to make in your crock pot, microwave, or stovetop. Use four ingredients for the best nut clusters—nuts, chocolate chips, almond bark, and Bakers chocolate to boost the quality. Nothing says love like a gift of delicious homemade candy, so give them your best.
Chocolate Peanut Cluster Recipe
Easy 5-Minute Chocolate Fudge
This easy, foolproof 5-Minute Chocolate Fudge recipe only needs 3 ingredients—sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, and your choice of chocolate chips plus optional additives. Perfect for holiday gifts, parties, or snacks.
5-Minute Fudge
Crock Pot White Chocolate Almond Clusters
Super easy and delicious white chocolate almond clusters are the perfect gift for the holidays or for any special occasion. Simple with these step by step photo instruction for the perfect white chocolate candy.
White Chocolate Almond Cluster Recipe
🐕For the party animals
Don't forget the dog treats.
Low-Fat Homemade Dog Treats—Healthy & Delicious
Low Fat Homemade Dog Treats are the perfect low-calorie treat for your dog. With only five ingredients, your dog will love the peanut butter and pumpkin taste. Much healthier than commercial treats—any veterinarian would approve.
Low Fat Dog Treat Recipe
Have a great holiday.
Molly, Lilly, Wifo, and DrDan
Editor's Note: Originally Published December 20, 2017. It is one of my recurring posts that will be updated and republished about this time yearly
Dolores jacklin says
At 95 I'm still cooking with the help of the slow cooker, air fryer/oven and your recipes to make my life interesting.and healthier. My grown sons still get an occasional meal when they see the larger slow cooker on the counter. Thanks and blessings to you. Dolores
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Dolores,
You have made my day. This is exactly the purpose of the blog—to make living small easier and more enjoyable.
Thanks for the note, and have a joyous holiday season.
Dan
Catherine says
Aloha Dr. Dan, Wifo, Molly and Lilly,
Happy Holidays to All My husband and I Love your recipes. It’s just
the two of us so I Love crock pot recipes. Everything I have made
of your recipes is super great. Wishing you a Safe Holiday Season
Aloha Catherine and Ric
Jerri says
Merry Christmas, DrDan! I just wanted to say thank you for your efforts in the kitchen to give us great and simple recipes with your tips on making them work!
Leslie says
I have used your menu ideas and recipes for several years, my family thinks I am a foodnetwork star. Thank you for all your hard work
DrDan says
Happy Holidays to You
Dan