So you're on hosting duty? Make your holiday meal the best by incorporating one or a few of these recipes. From apps to desserts to the main meal, we've got your holiday spread covered with these tasty eats. Our only warning is that people are going to ask you for the recipes.
Roasted Olives and Feta
Two refrigerator staples come together in the most delicious way for roasted feta and olives. It's the easiest, most crowd-pleasing appetizer going. Get the recipe: Roasted Olives and Feta
Apple, Sweet Potato And Sausage Breakfast Skillet
Your new favourite breakfast hash is here! The flavours of sweet potato, chicken sausage, apple, onions and cinnamon work so well together. Skipping this apple, sweet potato and sausage breakfast skillet recipe almost seems criminal. Get the recipe: Apple, Sweet Potato and Sausage Breakfast Skillet
Rocky Road With White Chocolate Drizzle
Typical rocky road is a classic combo of chocolate, marshmallow and nuts. This version ups the ante with a delicious, sweet rendition that includes the likes of honeycomb, dried fruit, cookies and more. It's extra in all the right ways. Get the recipe: Rocky Road with White Chocolate Drizzle
Cider-Bacon Brussels Sprouts with Apples
Caramelized with crispy bacon and sweetened with apples and apple cider, this easy-to-make recipe is sure to be a hit—expect it to convert even the most unenthusiastic Brussels sprouts eater. It comes together quickly and has all the elements of a great side dish—hearty veggies studded with crispy, salty bacon, sweet apples and crunchy pecans—and it's ideal for your holiday table. Get the recipe: Cider-Bacon Brussels Sprouts with Apples
Basic Bread Stuffing
This basic bread stuffing is easy to toss together as you prep the turkey. If you decide not to stuff the bird and instead bake the stuffing alongside, it will only need to cook for about an hour, so you can do this after you’ve got the turkey in the oven. Get the recipe: Basic Bread Stuffing
Mini Tourtière Pot Pies with Gluten-Free Pastry
Tourtière is a delicious, traditional French Canadian dish, but it can be time-consuming and not always allergen-friendly. These mini tourtière pot pies are quick, easy and gluten-free. Get the recipe: Mini Tourtière Pot Pies with Gluten-Free Pastry
Creamy Seafood Mac and Cheese
This seafood mac and cheese can be made using any kind of seafood, from chopped whitefish or salmon to shrimp, scallops, crab or lobster. It's creamy, has some peas and a great mix of sharp, flavourful cheeses. Get the recipe: Creamy Seafood Mac and Cheese
Roast Chicken
Sometimes a turkey is too much. So if you're looking for a low-fuss, low-effort meal with major impact, you need to learn to roast a chicken. Roasted chicken with potatoes and vegetables is a one-pan wonder that will come through in the clutch over and over again. Get the recipe: Roast Chicken
Potato Latkes
If you're never tried potato latkes, they’re like warm hug from a beloved friend or family member. Who doesn't like fried potatoes? Get the recipe: Potato Latkes
Roasted Cauliflower with Charred Lemon-Herb Pesto
If you're a fan of savoury, garlicky sauces (hummus, tzatziki, that kind of thing), this pesto is going to be right up your alley. We've paired it here with a full head of roasted cauliflower, to be served as a gluten-free side to your favourite holiday main, but it would also be delicious tossed with your favourite pasta. Get the recipe: Roasted Cauliflower with Charred Lemon-Herb Pesto
Epic Sticky Toffee Pudding
Sticky Toffee Pudding is one of Jamie Oliver's favourite childhood desserts. This one is made in a baking dish for ultimate ease. Alcohol, in this case, whisky, doesn't fully cook out, so if you're making this delicious dish for a younger crowd, forgo the booze. It will still be delicious. Get the recipe: Epic Sticky Toffee Pudding
Squash and Sweet Potato Gratin with Greens
For this squash and sweet potato gratin, butternut squash and yams team up with greens sautéed in garlic to make for a delicious, nutritious take on the traditional gratin. Get the recipe: Squash and Sweet Potato Gratin with Greens
Slow Salmon with Citrus and Herb Salad
Slowly roasting an already fatty fish in even more luxurious fat (here, olive oil) makes it nearly impossible to overcook; plus, you can flavour that oil with whatever you fancy: spices, herbs, citrus, chiles, which will flavour the fish, which is why you’re here. Get the recipe: Slow Salmon with Citrus and Herb Salad
Balsamic Roasted Vegetables
Who could resist a platter of roasted veg with balsamic vinegar and briny feta? We know that we can't. Get the recipe: Balsamic Roasted Vegetables
Apple Cinnamon Biscuit Buns
But what if you took cinnamon buns and made them quicker to produce by combining fluffy and flaky biscuit dough with an apple pecan cinnamon filling? These blessedly easy and delicious apple cinnamon biscuit buns satisfy the need for swirly cinnamon flavour in a flash. Get the recipe: Apple Cinnamon Biscuit Buns
Pizza Beans
Just trust us when we tell you that if you have a holiday potluck to attend, Pizza Beans should also be attending with you. Get the recipe: Pizza Beans
Make-Ahead Scalloped Potatoes
Yukon Golds are the go-to all-purpose potato, but you can use any yellow-fleshed variety for these scalloped potatoes. You don't have to peel the potatoes, but if you’d prefer a perfectly smooth dish, then go right ahead. It won’t change the cooking time and will, of course, still be delicious. Get the recipe: Make-Ahead Scalloped Potatoes
Portobello Boats with Rosemary-Lentil Crumble and Balsamic-Apple Glaze
Not only is this dish a fast vegan protein option, it’s also bursting with all kinds of crunchy, chewy textures and savoury flavours from the rosemary, parsley and garlic. Don’t forget the Balsamic-Apple Glaze, which takes just a couple of minutes to stir together; its tangy sweetness makes everything pop, so be sure to have it on hand. Get the recipe: Portobello Boats with Rosemary-Lentil Crumble and Balsamic-Apple Glaze
Ginger Chai Logs
This creamy cookie log is pure genius; a spiced version of the classic chocolate wafer cookie log. The ginger chai log is softened by whipped cream and garnished with candied ginger. This easy recipe makes a perfect dessert for holiday gifting or entertaining. Get the recipe: Ginger Chai Logs
Classic Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce will keep for days in the fridge, and needs only to be pulled out and placed on the table. There are several ingredients you can toss in to make your cranberry sauce unique: try simmering a sprig of fresh rosemary, a bit of grated fresh ginger, a chopped orange or grapefruit, or a few stalks of chopped rhubarb along with the cranberries, swap red wine or port for some of the liquid, or add a glug of balsamic vinegar or Grand Marnier as it simmers. Get the recipe: Classic Cranberry Sauce
Classic Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin pie needs time to set; make it ahead to avoid cramming it into the oven alongside a turkey, or trying to bake while everyone’s eating. Get the recipe: Classic Pumpkin Pie
Sesame Challah Monkey Bread
Balls of (not overly sweet) challah are rolled in butter, cinnamon sugar, and a very lightly toasted sesame mix before getting packed into a Bundt pan so it develops a deeply sweet caramelized shell as it bakes. Then you sit around the table and pull it apart with your fingers. A solid win. Get the recipe: Sesame Challah Monkey Bread
Sticky Overnight Cinnamon Buns
When you have a special morning planned, it’s nice to take care of some of the prep the night before; yeast breads in particular can take time, but refrigeration slows the rise enough to keep the dough overnight. And fresh bread baking in the oven provides the best possible welcome to guests as they come in the door. Get the recipe: Sticky Overnight Cinnamon Buns
Eggplant Parmesan
The true way to make eggplant Parmesan, according to those with grandmothers from the Old Country, is to use Pecorino Romano cheese—Parmesan’s sheepier, saltier cousin. Mozzarella is traditionally forbidden, but, because mozzarella cheese is so stretchy and excellent, this recipe includes it in two forms. Restaurant-style eggplant Parm is this-a-way. Get the recipe: Eggplant Parmesan
Creamy Cauliflower and Onion Gratin with Sesame Bread Crumbs
Potatoes are out (only temporarily) and cauliflower is in. This gratin smothers thick slabs of the tender veg in a creamy sauce and lots of cheese. The bread crumb studding is optional, but a highly delicious addition. Get the recipe: Creamy Cauliflower and Onion Gratin with Sesame Bread Crumbs
Labne with Sizzled Scallions and Chile
This is a very high-brow version of ranch dressing. There's scalliony chile oil that gets sizzled with cilantro stems (or chives) and swirled into thick, lemony labne. Serve it with veggies or grilled bread. Get the recipe: Labne with Sizzled Scallions and Chile
Dry-Brined Turkey
This is turkey magic. It looks spectacular and is always the centrepiece of the table. Dry-brining is much less complicated than wet-brining since you don’t need a vessel in which to submerge a turkey and keep it cold. It is absolutely critical that you use kosher salt for this, preferably Diamond Crystal. Regular salt is too fine and will permeate the fibres of the turkey, ruining everything. No pressure, though. Get the recipe: Dry-Brined Turkey
