6 Delicious and Easy Christmas Dinner Ideas for Two

[{"selector":"#anim-cf5a1a4f-9271-42a7-ad83-d8ad5be3e689","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ebfb7179-2408-4655-9dca-fc0605cb610d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 407.59146%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":250,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] See more

Side: Fried Brussels Sprouts with Lemon, Parmesan, and Breadcrumbs. Main: Slow Cooker Red Wine Sunday Ragù Pasta Dessert: Flourless Chocolate Cake (with Mocha Whipped Cream)

Delicious pasta, savory Brussels sprouts, and a creamy, dreamy flourless chocolate cake? A pretty ideal menu (if I do say so myself, as the person who paired these dishes together). The day before, make your flourless chocolate cake. It needs plenty of time to chill before you serve it (only a couple hours, but you don’t want to feel stressed, right?).

The mocha whipped cream can be made the day before as well but preferably not too early. The day of, start with your sauce, which will spend plenty of hands-off cooking time in your slow cooker. Then, while your sauce finishes off, you’ll have plenty of time to focus on frying your Brussels sprouts and pulling the meal all together.

Appetizer: Prosciutto, Pear, and Arugula Rolls. Side: Simple Sautéed Greens Main: Lobster Ravioli

At first glance, this might seem like it’s a tricky menu. Homemade lobster ravioli? But don’t fret, you’re not making any fresh pasta for this recipe and everything can come together without too much fuss.

Make the filling for the ravioli ahead of time to help cut down on last-minute stress (or even the ravioli themselves—Alex from The Defined Dish advised in the comment section that you can simply cover them with plastic wrap so that they don’t dry out!).

Slice your pears right before you put your appetizer together to keep them freshest. Finally, cook your greens while your ravioli simmers—neither take very long.

Side: Smoky Maple Brussels Sprouts and Carrots Main: Instant Pot Whole Cauliflower Piccata Dessert: Vegan Red Velvet Cupcakes and Bourbon Vanilla Buttercream

Looking for a vegetarian main that will still be a show-stopper? A whole roasted cauliflower never disappoints. This one is seasoned with delicious, savory spices and a sauce reminiscent of chicken piccata. Because you’re cooking your cauliflower in an Instant Pot, it cooks quickly.

Prep your cauliflower, but don’t start cooking until you’re nearly ready to sit down to eat. The cupcakes can be made the day before so you’re not spending your whole holiday in the kitchen. Make sure that you leave plenty of time so that the cupcakes are completely cooled when you ice them.

If they’re not, the icing will melt off the cake (not really the look you were going for). Then, when you’re ready to make dinner, roast your Brussels sprouts and carrots and then finish with your cauliflower once the veggies are almost cooked (or even once they come out of the oven).

Cocktail: Holiday Negroni Appetizer: French Onion Tartlets Main: Maple Mustard Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner

Start the day before with the filling for your onion tartlets. Pop that in the fridge—one less thing you’ll have to do tomorrow. Then, the day of, mix up the cocktail and fill your pastry shells for the tartlets. Since the main dish is a sheet pan meal, you’ll even have a bit of time for a snack break before making dinner.

Side: Green Beans with Bacon Breadcrumbs Main: Garlic Peppercorn Crusted Beef Tenderloin Dessert: White Christmas Cranberry Layer Cake

Beef tenderloin is one of those dinners that looks impressive but isn’t actually all that difficult to make. Though this recipe technically serves a crowd, you can cut down the recipe on the website (it’ll do it automatically!) by adjusting the number of servings you want.

Make sure to do that if you’re just cooking for one or two. Since this menu includes a layer cake, that’s where you’ll start. You can make and fully assemble your cake the day before. Then, the day of, start with the beef tenderloin.

You’re going to need to let the beef sit out for a bit to come to room temperature, so don’t get started right before you’re hoping to eat. Leave yourself extra time. Make sure you have a meat thermometer handy—it’s the only way you can be absolutely sure if it’s cooked to your liking.

While the meat is cooking, you’ll have a little time to prep your green beans. Finish your green beans while the meat is resting, then slice and serve.

Cocktail: Mrs. Claus Cranberry Whiskey Cocktail Side: Harvest Fall Salad Main: Sheet Pan Herb Roasted Turkey and Cranberry Pecan Stuffing

If your family traditionally eats turkey and all of the fixings on Christmas Day, you don’t have to completely scrap that tradition this year if you don’t want to. Opt for a turkey breast and this sheet pan turkey and stuffing situation to get all of those flavors you love without the work of a full roast turkey with all of the sides.

Start with the star of the show and get that turkey and stuffing in the oven. While your turkey is roasting, you’ll have plenty of time to make your salad. Finish with a festive, seasonal cocktail to tie it all together and make dinner all the more celebratory.

more

25 Detox Drinks That’ll Make You Feel Better than Ever 32 Easy Finger Food Recipesto Feed a Crowd 32 Delicious Dinner Ideas for Tonight See More See More See More

6 Delicious and Easy Christmas Dinner Ideas for Two

Side: Fried Brussels Sprouts with Lemon, Parmesan, and Breadcrumbs. Main: Slow Cooker Red Wine Sunday Ragù Pasta Dessert: Flourless Chocolate Cake (with Mocha Whipped Cream)

Option 1

Option 1

Option 1

Appetizer: Prosciutto, Pear, and Arugula Rolls. Side: Simple Sautéed Greens Main: Lobster Ravioli

Option 2

At first glance, this might seem like it’s a tricky menu. Homemade lobster ravioli? But don’t fret, you’re not making any fresh pasta for this recipe and everything can come together without too much fuss.

Option 2

Make the filling for the ravioli ahead of time to help cut down on last-minute stress (or even the ravioli themselves—Alex from The Defined Dish advised in the comment section that you can simply cover them with plastic wrap so that they don’t dry out!).

Option 2

Slice your pears right before you put your appetizer together to keep them freshest. Finally, cook your greens while your ravioli simmers—neither take very long.

Option 2

Side: Smoky Maple Brussels Sprouts and Carrots Main: Instant Pot Whole Cauliflower Piccata Dessert: Vegan Red Velvet Cupcakes and Bourbon Vanilla Buttercream

Option 3

Looking for a vegetarian main that will still be a show-stopper? A whole roasted cauliflower never disappoints. This one is seasoned with delicious, savory spices and a sauce reminiscent of chicken piccata. Because you’re cooking your cauliflower in an Instant Pot, it cooks quickly.

Option 3

Prep your cauliflower, but don’t start cooking until you’re nearly ready to sit down to eat. The cupcakes can be made the day before so you’re not spending your whole holiday in the kitchen. Make sure that you leave plenty of time so that the cupcakes are completely cooled when you ice them.

Option 3

If they’re not, the icing will melt off the cake (not really the look you were going for). Then, when you’re ready to make dinner, roast your Brussels sprouts and carrots and then finish with your cauliflower once the veggies are almost cooked (or even once they come out of the oven).

Option 3

Cocktail: Holiday Negroni Appetizer: French Onion Tartlets Main: Maple Mustard Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner

Option 4

Option 4

Side: Green Beans with Bacon Breadcrumbs Main: Garlic Peppercorn Crusted Beef Tenderloin Dessert: White Christmas Cranberry Layer Cake

Option 5

Beef tenderloin is one of those dinners that looks impressive but isn’t actually all that difficult to make. Though this recipe technically serves a crowd, you can cut down the recipe on the website (it’ll do it automatically!) by adjusting the number of servings you want.

Option 5

Make sure to do that if you’re just cooking for one or two. Since this menu includes a layer cake, that’s where you’ll start. You can make and fully assemble your cake the day before. Then, the day of, start with the beef tenderloin.

Option 5

You’re going to need to let the beef sit out for a bit to come to room temperature, so don’t get started right before you’re hoping to eat. Leave yourself extra time. Make sure you have a meat thermometer handy—it’s the only way you can be absolutely sure if it’s cooked to your liking.

Option 5

While the meat is cooking, you’ll have a little time to prep your green beans. Finish your green beans while the meat is resting, then slice and serve.

Option 5

Cocktail: Mrs. Claus Cranberry Whiskey Cocktail Side: Harvest Fall Salad Main: Sheet Pan Herb Roasted Turkey and Cranberry Pecan Stuffing

Option 6

Option 6

Start with the star of the show and get that turkey and stuffing in the oven. While your turkey is roasting, you’ll have plenty of time to make your salad. Finish with a festive, seasonal cocktail to tie it all together and make dinner all the more celebratory.

Option 6

more

Read