14 easy main courses for Christmas
Christmas doesn’t have to be complicated. With these 14 easy main courses for Christmas 2025, you can put something special on the table without spending endless hours in the kitchen. Whether you’re going for a luxurious meat dish, a flavorful vegetarian option or something with fish: these recipes are effortless to make, but still have that wow factor. This way, your Christmas (in 2025 too) is guaranteed to be a party!
Sound familiar? Probably. You’re looking forward to the holidays, but feeling stressed because you don’t know what to make. We feel you! That’s why we’ve already done the legwork for you. We have easy main courses for you in every category. Whether you’re going for a festive chicken, a cheesy casserole or an Asian congee with fish; each one is a festive dish for a deliciously simple Christmas dinner.
Easy main courses for Christmas
1. Lamb meatballs
Lamb meatballs just the way we like to eat them. Spicy, juicy and full of flavor. Serve them with fresh Turkish bread, saffron orzo and a spoonful of tart Greek yogurt. Delicious with a fuller-bodied red wine.
2. Orange chicken
A chicken on the table—isn’t that always festive? This orange chicken is a perfect mix of sweet, fresh and savory. The tender chicken gets a delicious glaze from the orange sauce, making this dish not only easy but irresistibly tasty too. Perfect as a main course for a Christmas meal.
3. Sea bass with caper butter
Don’t be put off by the word capers. We know, they’re certainly not everyone’s favorite, especially when you put them straight from the jar into your mouth. But salty-sour capers elevate so many dishes. The same goes for dishes with white fish. This sea bass with caper butter is pure enjoyment. The juicy fish pairs perfectly with the fresh and savory caper butter. An elegant dish that’s easy to prepare and sure to impress your guests.
4. Paccheri with burrata
These paccheri (large tube-shaped pasta) with burrata are comfort food at its best! The creamy burrata melts beautifully over the al dente pasta tubes and, together with the sauce, creates a wonderfully creamy and rich flavor. This simple yet luxurious dish from Italian cuisine proves that you really don’t need to make things complicated to serve something fantastic.
5. Roast Christmas goose
This roast Christmas goose by Jamie Oliver is a true holiday classic. And believe us, it’s really easy to make. The only difficult thing about this dish is having to wait to eat it. The juicy meat and crispy skin make this dish a real showstopper on your Christmas table. If you’ve never eaten roast goose before, this is the ultimate opportunity. Perfect for sharing with family and friends during a festive dinner.
6. Strata with cheese, spinach and tomato
Let’s be honest: everyone loves an easy main course with lots of melted cheese, right? This strata with cheese, spinach and tomato is the perfect combination of savory and light. With layers of bread, vegetables and creamy cheese, it’s comfort food that’s both easy to make and festive at the same time.
7. Ribeye
Carnivores will be truly happy with this one. A perfectly cooked ribeye is a real treat for meat lovers. Beautifully crisp on the outside and wonderfully juicy inside, this steak is everything you could want from a good cut of meat. Once again, thanks to Jamie Oliver. Serve with your favorite side dishes. Feel free to fire up your Airfryer for some fries.
8. Pumpkin risotto
Risotto with pumpkin and roasted garlic is a wonderfully simple dish with the perfect balance. Thanks to garlic roasted in the oven—such a magical ingredient that makes everything taste better. And another great thing about risotto: making it is a relaxing task. While everyone has just finished the appetizer, you can enjoy a moment of calm in the kitchen as you finish the risotto—mise en place is half the work!
9. Fish congee
Fish congee is a delicious and easy Christmas recipe, ideal for a festive meal with an Asian twist. The creamy rice porridge pairs perfectly with the tender fish. Simple, flavorful, quick to get on the table and a welcome change from a Christmas classic.
10. Truffle pasta
Some ingredients seem to shout “celebration!” and truffle is certainly one of them. Its aroma alone sends us into raptures. This truffle pasta is therefore the ultimate treat for truffle lovers. Simple to make but full of flavor. The creamy sauce with (good!) truffle oil makes it a luxurious dish without too much fuss.
11. Tagine with white fish
This super-quick tagine with white fish by—there he is again—Jamie Oliver is perfect for a flavorful yet effortless Christmas. The combination of spices and tender fish gives the dish an exotic twist. Ideal for a festive dinner without spending hours in the kitchen!
12. Orzo carbonara
We’re fans of orzo. It’s just a little more special than pasta, which makes it perfect as an easy main course for Christmas. The creamy sauce and burrata make it wonderfully smooth, while the orzo adds a pleasant bite. No difficult ingredients, just a lovely meal everyone will devour.
13. Noodles with steak
These quick noodles with steak are exactly what you’re looking for when you’re short on time but still want to make something delicious for Christmas. The steak cooks quickly and the noodles soak up the flavorful sauce beautifully. Easy, quick and packed with flavor—what more could you want?
14. Gnocchi with Parmesan cream sauce
Gnocchi with Parmesan cream sauce is the ultimate comfort dish for the holidays. The soft gnocchi in a creamy, cheesy sauce create that wonderful, warm Christmas vibe you’re craving. It’s quick and easy to make, yet still feels special enough for a festive dinner. Perfect for a relaxed Christmas Eve, without any fuss!
