Today we’re sharing our third Christmas Eve dinner post with you. Christmas Eve dinner is something we all look forward to. Some of us plan it weeks in advance, while others suddenly realize the day before that it would be nice to cook something special. No matter which category you fall into, we believe this post will help you decide what to prepare and how to plan your time so everything runs smoothly and stress-free.
Just like in 2023 and 2024, we’re sharing our favorite ideas for Christmas Eve dinner again this year — a mix of well-tested, tried-and-true recipes and a few brand-new ones created especially for this season. We’ve also included a vegetarian option for everyone who doesn’t eat meat. Alongside the recipes, you’ll find an example of our own Christmas Eve menu and a day-by-day prep plan, so you don’t feel overwhelmed on December 24th. And as a little extra treat, we’ve added bonus content at the very end: ideas for a Christmas breakfast, which we believe should be something truly special — a little indulgence for both body and soul.
This is our third Christmas Eve menu so far. This year, we’ll be hosting for the fifth time — essentially since our first son Adam was born, and now there are five of us in total. From experience, we can confidently say that Christmas Eve dinner is absolutely doable with a baby or with slightly older children. And of course, if you’re hosting on your own or as a couple, the organization becomes even easier.
Now, let’s get started! The ideas are designed so you can fully personalize the dishes and adapt them to your own tastes and the preferences of your loved ones. All vegetarian and meat-free recipes are clearly marked below.
If you’d prefer to follow our lead completely, you can also use our Christmas Eve menu for this year, which we’ll be preparing ourselves.
We’d absolutely love to see what you create — feel free to share photos of your dishes with us on social media or send them directly to [email protected].
CREATE YOUR MENU
APPETIZER
When it comes to the appetizer, we like to have it already on the table when guests arrive — it instantly sets a warm and welcoming tone for the evening. We always choose something that can be prepared in advance, so there’s no rushing back and forth in the kitchen at the last minute. We keep the starter light and balanced — the goal isn’t to fill everyone up, as soup, the main course, and dessert are still to come. This way, there’s just enough to enjoy, while everyone stays perfectly hungry for the main event.
These are our favorites:
- Crostini with prosciutto and figs (on our 2025 menu)
- Steak Tartare (on our 2025 menu)
- Radicchio Risotto (coming soon)
- Baked Camembert (vegetarian)
- Beetroot hummus (vegan)
- Chicken Liver Pate
- Steak Tagliata
- Simple Charcuterie Board
- Fried Mozzarella Balls with Cherry Tomato Sauce (vegetarian)
- Octopus Salad
SOUP
Even though we already enjoy a small bite with the starter, soup is always more than welcome. Kids usually love it, and even if they’re eager to run off and play, they’ll almost always eat at least the soup. It’s comforting, warming, and nourishing — truly food for both the body and the soul.
Below, we’re sharing our favorites.
- Potato Leek Soup (on our 2025 menu)
- Cream of Mushroom Soup
- French Onion Soup
- Garlic Soup with Croutons
- Beef Broth Soup
- Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
MAIN DISH
And now we come to the star of the evening — the main course. For us, this is always the most important, the most elaborate, and of course the most festive part of the meal. We usually prepare two meat-based main dishes, but if you’re hosting more guests, adding a vegetarian option is always a great idea. Our favorite version is included below.
The dish can be prepared in advance, which makes it ideal for holiday entertaining. Fish-based main courses are also a wonderful choice, and you’ll find some of our favorites in the selection below.
Our favorites:
- Pork Wellington
- Thin Sliced Round Steak with Onion Sauce (on our 2025 menu)
- Turkey roulade with prosciutto (on our 2025 menu)
- Pierogi (vegi) (coming soon)
- Beef Roast (coming soon)
- Slow Roasted Pork Belly
- Steak Diane
- Roasted Stuffed Whole Chicken
- Beef Braciole (Stuffed Beef Rolls)
- Braised Short Ribs
- Pork Medallions with Apples and Onion
- Beef Meatloaf with Eggs
- Salt Crusted Branzino
- Baked Octopus with Potatoes
- Rice Stuffed Tomatoes (vegetarian)
- Eggplant Parmesan (vegetarian)
SIDE DISH
We like to go for a combination of light, vegetable-based sides and more hearty, comforting sides, such as potatoes or štruklji. Side dishes should always be well balanced, with at least one perfectly complementing the main course. We usually prepare two sides along with one refreshing salad — you’ll find all our ideas below. And yes, they’re all vegetarian-friendly!
Our favorites are:
- Mashed Potatoes and Peas (on our 2025 menu)
- Roasted Smashed Potatoes (on our 2025 menu)
- Baked Vegetable Frittata
- Slovenian Cheese Dumplings
- Best Mashed Potatoes
- Orange Glazed Carrots
- Olive Focaccia
- Buckwheat Stir Fry with Vegetables
- Swiss Chard with Peas and Spinach
- Slovenian Cheese Dumplings
SALADS
Salads bring a much-needed touch of freshness to the Christmas table, which is why we believe at least one salad is almost essential. We usually don’t serve more than one, as there’s already plenty going on with the rest of the menu. We always choose a salad with a distinct autumn–winter vibe that can be prepared in advance — something stress-free yet still vibrant, fresh, and full of flavor.
This year’s favorites:
- Bacon Caesar Salad with Apples (on our 2025 menu)
- Colorful Cabbage Salad
- Autumn Panzanella Salad
- Olivier Salad
- Kale Quinoa Salad with Sweet Potato
- Roasted Beets with Mint and Sultanas
DESSERT
And now we come to the sweet finale of the evening. While we absolutely love desserts, we usually keep them a bit in the background on Christmas Eve — there’s already plenty of effort going into the rest of the meal, and we don’t want to overcomplicate things. That’s why we gravitate toward dessert ideas that can be prepared up to two days in advance. We make them, “forget” about them for a while, and then — almost magically — they appear on the table after a generous holiday dinner.
These are our favorites:
- Chocolate Eclair Cake (on our 2025 menu)
- Churros (coming soon)
- Pumpkin Spice Tiramisu
- 2-ingredient chocolate mousse
- Pistachio Chocolate Rolls
- Swedish Cream Buns (Semlor)
- Chocolate Budino
- Berry Pavlova with Whipped Cream
- Christmas Strudel
- Spiced Apple Tarte Tatin
CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST
Christmas morning in our home is always pure magic — especially since we’ve had kids. First come the presents that quietly appear under the tree overnight, then everyone opens their gifts, and finally it’s time for breakfast. According to our taste (and the kids’ too), Christmas breakfast is always on the sweet side. Here we’re sharing a few ideas to make it extra special and turn the morning into something truly memorable.
These are our favorites:
- Rabanadas, or Brazilian French Toast (on our 2025 menu)
- Dairy-free Waffles
- Pumpkin Pancakes
- Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
- Quick Blueberry French Toast
- Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes
- Oven-Baked Kaiserschmarrn
- Old Fashioned Rice Pudding
GUIDE AND TIMETABLE
In the following section, you’ll find day-by-day organization tips along with a practical overview of how we plan and prepare our Christmas Eve dinner.
Sunday (December 21st)
- finalize the selection of dishes for Christmas Eve
- think about table settings and decorations
- check which ingredients we already have in the pantry and fridge
- write a detailed shopping list of everything we still need
Monday (December 22nd)
- go grocery shopping and buy everything we need
- don’t forget to choose drinks (juices, wine, sparkling wine, cocktails)
Tuesday (December 23rd)
- prepare the turkey roulade completely; it will only need baking the next day
- fully prepare the beef steaks in onion sauce and store them in the fridge
- make the creamy custard slices for dessert and keep them refrigerated
- cook the soup, let it cool, and store it in the fridge
- wash the salad, cover it with a damp paper towel, and store it in a container
- prepare everything needed for decorating the table
Wednesday (December 24th) – CHRISTMAS EVE
To make everything even easier, we’re sharing our organization plan by the hour. We recommend setting the table before you start cooking, or assigning this task to another family member. It’s also a great idea to chill the drinks and prepare the serving dishes and glassware ahead of time.
3 PM
- Take the turkey roulade out of the fridge and set it aside.
- Prepare the steak tartare.
3:30 PM
- Boil the potatoes for the roasted potatoes.
4 PM
- Place the turkey roulade in the oven.
4:30 PM
- Prepare the baby potatoes for roasting.
5 PM
- Prepare the Caesar salad.
5:05 PM
- Slice the bread for the appetizer, toast it, and prepare fruit for decoration.
5:15 PM
- Put the baby potatoes in the oven.
- Boil the potatoes for the mashed potatoes and peas.
5:30 PM
- Prepare the mashed potatoes and peas.
5:45 PM
- Prepare crostini with prosciutto and figs.
- Remove the turkey roulade from the oven and set it aside.
- Transfer the soup to a pot and start gently reheating it.
5:50 PM
- Reheat beef steaks in onion sauce.
6 PM DINNER IS SERVED
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We hope you’ll find these tips helpful, and we wish you a truly wonderful holiday celebration.
We’d also love to see your creations — feel free to share photos with us on social media or send them directly to [email protected]
