This year, it doesn’t have to be that way! In recent years, holiday platters you can order have become popular for a good reason—they save you from endless hours in the kitchen during Christmas. But if you prefer making various delicious dishes yourself, or can’t find the right option to order, no worries.
Whichever applies, it’s smart to pick heavenly dishes that help you save lots of time—because that’s truly the greatest gift! The secret isn’t always just about super quick cooking times—though that’s a bonus—but about choosing meals that mostly cook “on their own” in the oven or pot, leaving you free to focus on other tasks or take a breather.
1. Tarragon Chicken Stew
We make tarragon chicken stew almost every Christmas, and it never disappoints. The most work is chopping chicken breast and peeling veggies like carrots, parsley root, onions, peas, and mushrooms—after that, it’s smooth sailing.
Add ingredients at the right times, season well, and keep the heat gentle so it doesn’t boil too hard. Finally, stir in cooking cream and optionally some pasta (which you can cook separately). Meanwhile, you’ve got plenty of time to wrap gifts or enjoy some festive tunes.
2. Roast Duck
Yes, duck doesn’t roast in a flash. But nowadays, you can find many packaged duck options that just need to go into a heatproof dish—drizzle a little olive oil, season with salt and pepper, add a few garlic cloves, and let it roast away.
For sides, roast some veggies alongside or simply peel and boil potatoes, then serve mashed. A big helping of red cabbage (like apple-flavored) is a perfect match, and you can find plenty ready-made in stores or farmers’ markets.
3. Glazed Ham
While ham is traditionally an Easter favorite here, it’s a beloved Christmas dish in other countries and gaining popularity at our holiday tables too. The great news? Once you mix your favorite glaze, the oven does most of the work—you just need to brush the ham occasionally. That in-between time is perfect for wrapping gifts or relaxing.
4. Roast Salmon with Sweet Potatoes
For a simple yet impressive dish, try salmon—it cooks in just minutes in a pan. Peel sweet potatoes, cut into sticks, sprinkle with salt, drizzle with olive oil, and roast in the oven. Frozen fries work too—just make sure they have as few extra ingredients as possible beyond sweet potatoes!
5. Garlic African Catfish
Speaking of fish, we almost always make garlic African catfish at Christmas. After seasoning, it goes into a roasting bag, and then all you do is wait for it to cook. Serve with mashed potatoes and steamed veggies for a comforting meal.
6. Creamy Potato Salad
For creamy potato salad, just boil potatoes, peel once cooled, slice, then mix with sour cream, mayo, and finely chopped red onion. It’s a fantastic side for meatballs, schnitzel, or the garlic catfish mentioned earlier! It tastes even better chilled overnight, so feel free to prepare it a day ahead.
7. Christmas Meat and Sauerkraut Stew
If you love cabbage dishes but don’t want to make stuffed cabbage, try this tasty Christmas meat and sauerkraut stew. Dice pork or chicken, cook it like a stew with onion, salt, pepper, paprika, and bay leaves. Once the meat is tender, add a generous amount of well-rinsed sauerkraut and simmer for 20–25 minutes (follow package instructions to avoid undercooking). It’s heavenly served with sour cream!
8. Layered Green Beans
More people are choosing vegetarian or vegan lifestyles these days. If your loved ones include those who do, it’s important they don’t miss out at the holiday table. A layered green bean casserole made with plant-based sour cream is likely to be a hit—even among meat-eaters.
9. Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Strips
Bacon-wrapped chicken strips are another fantastic way to whip up a heavenly meal easily. Just slice chicken breast into strips, wrap each in bacon, add garlic if you like, and bake in a heatproof dish. They’re amazing with creamy potato salad and mashed potatoes!
10. Chocolate Chestnut Balls
Last but not least, desserts! Many quick options exist, like shaping chestnut puree into balls, dipping them in melted chocolate, and sprinkling with ground almonds, pistachios, or walnuts. Chill in the fridge for a bit, and you’ve got a batch of delicious chocolate chestnut treats!
Of course, you can make many other delicious treats, but the key is to stress as little as possible over the holiday menu. If spending hours in the kitchen feels overwhelming—which is totally understandable—or you simply want to spend more time on other things, confidently choose dishes that come together quickly or don’t need constant attention!
