Shredded Gingered Brussels Sprouts
Total Time: 25 minutes
Main Ingredients: Brussels sprouts, fresh gingerroot, onion
Level: Easy
It takes a little work to get the Brussels sprouts shredded, but they cook super fast. If ginger doesn’t match your Christmas dinner ideas, try one of the other variations like molasses and Sriracha, cranberry-pecan or even curry. Even people who normally don’t care for Brussels sprouts will ask for a second helping of these. —Recipe contributor James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
Sweet Potato Casserole
Total Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Main Ingredients: Sweet potatoes, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon
Level: Intermediate
This sweet potato casserole is an iconic side dish on Christmas—or is it more of a dessert? Either way, don’t skimp on the marshmallows.Prepare this comforting side dish with the popular marshmallow topping or choose from streusel, fruit, or crunchy toppings. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Roasted Butternut Tossed Salad
Total Time: 40 minutes
Main Ingredients: Butternut squash, baby spinach, dried cranberries
Level: Easy
Healthy salads add balance to all the rich and loaded dishes on a Christmas menu. This one is packed with nutritious veggies, almonds, berries and sweet roasted butternut squash.
This salad makes an easy and special side dish for Christmas dinner, and it’s packed with nutritious veggies, almonds, berries and squash. —Recipe contributor Katie Wollgast, Florissant, Missouri
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DAN ROBERTS FOR Roasted Cornish Game Hen
Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Main Ingredients: Cornish game hens, sage leaves, red potatoes
Level: Easy
If you want an easier bird to roast for Christmas, Cornish game hens hit the mark. Small with a delicate flavor, they cook in less time and look impressive.
If you’re looking for an elegant dinner for two, we suggest these delightful Cornish game hens. As a bonus, the crisp, tasty potatoes cook right alongside the meat. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen.
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Crunchy Broccoli Cranberry Salad
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Broccoli Cranberry Salad
Total Time: 25 minutes
Main Ingredients: Broccoli florets, dried cranberries, sunflower kernels
Level: Intermediate
This bright and vibrant salad combines broccoli florets with cranberries, sunflower seeds, crumbled bacon, and a tangy vinaigrette. Crunchy with a touch of sweetness, it’s a perfect foil to some of the richer dishes (gravy, anyone?) at a traditional Christmas dinner.Growing up, I never liked broccoli, but I’m hooked on this salad’s light, sweet taste. It gives broccoli a whole new look and personality. —Recipe contributor Jessica Conrey, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
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Maple-Sage Brined Turkey
Total Time: 3 hours, 10 minutes
Main Ingredients: Turkey, maple syrup, fresh sage
Level: Intermediate
Maple syrup and brown sugar combined with mustard, sage and other herbs make a dynamite wet brine for your Christmas turkey. Check out our helpful guide for more tips on how to brine a turkey.
When the leaves start turning, it’s turkey time at our house. We use maple-sage brine to help brown the bird and make the meat incredibly juicy. —Recipe contributor Kim Forni, Laconia, New Hampshire
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Cranberry-Orange Bars
Total Time: 50 minutes
Main Ingredients: Fresh or frozen cranberries, oranges, lemon zest
Level: Intermediate
Christmas dinner ideas run the gamut, from drinks to the sweets that end the meal. For the latter, tart cranberry filling on a lemon-scented buttery crust will be a new star on your holiday dessert table. If you need dessert in a hurry, find inspiration with these 30-minute Christmas desserts.
My mother has had this recipe for years. I love it! These bars make great snacks, but can also be served for dessert. —Recipe contributor Margaret Adelman, Bellingham, Minnesota
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Cranberry Cornmeal Dressing Recipe photo by Cranberry Cornmeal Dressing
Total Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Main Ingredients: Yellow cornmeal, Italian turkey sausage, fennel, bread crumbs, dried cranberries
Level: Intermediate
Filled with seasonal herbs and other flavors, this moist dressing is a perfect match for poultry or even pork. The sweet-tart dried cranberries really complement the richness of turkey sausage and cornmeal.
This moist dressing is perfect when paired with poultry or even pork. The sweet-tart flavor of the dried cranberries really complements the dish’s turkey sausage. —Recipe contributor Corinne Portteus, Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Garlic Roasted Brussels Sprouts
DAN ROBERTS FOR Garlic-Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Mustard Sauce
Total Time: 20 minutes
Main Ingredients: Brussels sprouts, garlic, Dijon mustard
Level: Easy
A creamy Dijon mustard sauce turns ordinary roasted Brussels sprouts into one special side dish. Test Kitchen Tip: Look for smaller sprouts as they’ll be less bitter than larger ones.Roasted Brussels Sprouts Tips
Do smaller Brussels sprouts taste better?
With a mild to potent bitter flavor, it’s not hard to believe Brussels sprouts are part of the mustard family. The larger the Brussels sprouts, the more bitter they will be. So, if you’re trying a Brussels sprouts recipe for the first time, go for the small ones.
Why are my roasted Brussels sprouts bitter?
Brussels sprouts have gotten a bad rap simply because they were prepared incorrectly. Many people boil them in water until they turn grey and became mushy (while removing the bitter compounds found in this veggie).
Roasting Brussels sprouts doesn’t remove those bitter compounds, and in fact, it could intensify them. The trick is to roast them until they really start to caramelize. Place them on your baking pan cut-side down to expose as much of the Brussels sprouts to the heat of the pan as possible. Slide the pan into the bottom 1/3 of your oven, which is usually closest to the heating element. Keep an eye on them and stir occasionally, until they become dark brown in spots.
Should you rinse Brussels sprouts before roasting?
Rinsing Brussels sprouts isn't necessary. They aren’t typically a dirty vegetable since they grow on stalks above the soil. You can, however, give them a quick rinse before trimming if you'd like. After washing, trim the core end slightly and remove any bruised or damaged leaves.
Why are my Brussels sprouts soggy?
The usual culprit for soggy Brussels sprouts is cooking at too low of a temperature. Make sure your oven is at least 400° or higher. Also, make sure they are coated in oil. This helps them caramelize and crisp up instead of just getting soft. Stick with oil instead of butter for roasting since butter will add moisture. If you want that buttery flavor, drizzle the cooked Brussels sprouts with melted butter just before serving.
Don’t be afraid to bring out the Brussels sprouts. Mellowed by roasting and tossed with mustard sauce, they may just delight even the most skeptical folks. —Recipe contributor Becky Walch, Orland, California
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Lattice Topped Apple Pie
Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Main Ingredients: Apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg
Level: Intermediate
The filling in this apple pie doesn’t go overboard on the spices, and a lattice top makes a pretty statement on the holiday dessert table. If you’re unsure about the crust, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make a lattice pie crust.
You can’t beat my mom’s yummy apple pie. Pretty as a picture, the golden crust is flaky and the filling has just the right amount of spices. —Recipe contributor Anne Halfhill, Sunbury, Ohio