Feed a Crowd With These Christmas Dinner Menu Ideas

By Mary Claire Lagroue

Updated October 13, 2020

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If your Christmas dinner brings 20, 40, or even more folks together under one roof, you know that the menu has to be, well, crowd-pleasing. To help you plan your feast, we've gathered recipes for Christmas appetizers, entrees, sides, and desserts all geared to feed a holiday houseful and keep spirits bright and stomachs satisfied. Tip: You can use the servings setting to adjust the number up or down to suit your crowd.

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Spinach Pinwheels

Credit: smartt

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"Three simple ingredients with great results! Even when they're messy to cut, they still end up looking pretty decent and tasting wonderful," reviewer cookntaste says. "This is a keeper."

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Baked Brie with Quebec Maple Syrup

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"Made this once for an appetizer at our Christmas family dinner, and now I have to bring it every year!" -- TFULL

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Vidalia Sweet Onion Dip

Credit: lutzflcat

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"Absolutely loved the recipe. Made this for a Christmas Day appetizer, and everyone loved it -- from ages 15 to 85. Sweet, creamy, and delicious," writes home cook Loves2Bake.

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Jimmbo's Garlic Knots

Credit: Christina

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Transform a can of refrigerated pizza dough into your family''s new appetizer obsession with olive oil, garlic, Parmesan, parsley, and crushed red pepper.

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Cranberry Dip

Credit: pomplemousse

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"This recipe is a great addition to a Christmastime appetizer buffet —simple to make and pleasing to the eye. Easy and delicious, it's just what I'm looking forward when things are so busy," says Stacy Peterson of this 32-serving Cranberry Dip.

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Roasted Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes

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Though the recipe serves eight, you can easily cook five times the amount. "I made enough for 40 servings. There was none left!" – hcg

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Tom Szaller's Great Pan or Bird Stuffing

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"I tend to try a new stuffing recipe every year," reviewer REDDRAGONQUEEN76 says. "But I'll tell you something, I tried this one for the first time this year. Next year, I am going to use the same one. This is the best dressing ever."

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Broccoli Cheese Bake

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Large holiday gatherings should include a few casseroles for guests to pick and choose from, like our simple but delicious Broccoli Cheese Bake.

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Sweet Potato Streusel Casserole with Coconut

Credit: Christina

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"This was named 'best sweet potatoes ever' at our Christmas dinner," home cook Kate says. The recipe serves 12, so consider doubling (or tripling!) this favorite.

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Grandma's Green Bean Casserole

Credit: Allrecipes Magazine

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"Absolutely delicious. I made this for Thanksgiving for the first time, and it was demanded that I also make it for Christmas! Even family members who don't usually like green bean casserole were going for seconds and thirds," says Brenda Sawyer Adamson, who found that frozen french-cut green beans work as well as canned.

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A Simply Perfect Roast Turkey

Credit: mrs.americanhorse

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Fill an 18 lb. turkey with pre-made stuffing for a main that feeds a lot of people, without a lot of effort.

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Fennel Seed Spiked Pork Roast

Credit: Carla

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"One of the best pork roast recipes I have ever tried!" -- Laurie Passini

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Turducken

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"Wonderful! I am from Louisiana and have had these before but never actually made one myself. It does make it easier to buy the turkey, chicken, and duck already deboned. Then you can make this recipe your own by using your favorite stuffing and spices, though it is hard to beat the original Cajun spices," reviewer Beeje writes.

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Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Onions

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To feed a crowd, just double the recipe and cut the pork tenderloins into thin slices. Other mains will face stiff competition when on the same table as this subtly sweet recipe.

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Honey-Orange Glazed Ham

Credit: Lela

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Slather a pre-cooked whole ham in a sweet, spiced glaze, and it's fit for a feast.

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Lemon Pie Bars

Credit: KGora

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Bring the zing to the dessert table with these tart, sweet bars.

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Best Toffee Ever - Super Easy

Credit: Frances

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Though several of our home cooks give this toffee as a Christmas gift, it would be a delicious addition to Christmas dinner, too.

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Mini Cheesecakes I

Credit: Rebecca from LA

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"I made these for Christmas and they were super good. I also took the advice of other members and did variations. I used crushed Oreo cookies for the crust and added cocoa powder to some, and I used raspberry jam for others... Everyone loved them!" -- Popo

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Eggnog Thumbprints

Credit: Kelly

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"I have been searching for the perfect eggnog cookie recipe for six years, and this is by far my favorite," home cook Awestphal says of this recipe that makes up to 50 cookies. "The dough comes out beautifully."

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Peppermint Meringues

Credit: Amy

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"People loves these because they are light, fluffy, and just melt in your mouth. My dad couldn't get enough of them at Christmas." -- Dana Lawson

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By Mary Claire Lagroue