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From decorating your Christmas tree to shopping for a one-of-a-kind gift for that special someone, there are plenty of things that you can do to prepare for the holidays—and that includes making certain parts of your annual feast ahead of time. That's why we rounded up 35 festive make-ahead holiday recipes that you can start now and serve later.
These recipes range from appetizers to desserts, with plenty of entrées and side dishes, too. Mains, such as lasagna or beef stew, are classics in the make-ahead genre, but you might not have considered making mashed potatoes the day before the meal—or realized that you can (and should) make crème brûlée for your family feast before the big day arrives. Even better? Follow our festive recipes, and get a head start on the fun.
Twice-Baked Potato-and-Raclette Casserole
Cut prep time in half by roasting the potatoes for this make-ahead holiday casserole; they need to be cool enough to handle anyway. From here, they're mashed with a rich combination of butter, sour cream, cream cheese, and raclette cheese.
Butternut Squash Soup with Coconut Milk and Ginger
There are many reasons to love soup—it feeds a crowd, is a great way to make use of seasonal produce (such as butternut squash!), and is easy to prepare. But perhaps our favorite part is that it can be made ahead and reheated anywhere, anytime.
Classic Beef Stew
This is the quintessential winter dinner. Our version of beef stew—made with beef chuck, frozen pearl onions, carrots, and Yukon Gold potatoes—is a total classic.
Grandma's Bolognese
Inspired by your grandmother's best meat sauce, our version combines dried porcini mushrooms, pancetta, ground beef, and ground pork for a hearty, flavorful pasta topping.
Sausage-and-Kale Stuffed Shells
This is one of our genius make-ahead, freeze-ahead recipes—and it feels like an extra-special comforting meal to serve to your family during the holidays.
Cranberry-Satsuma Relish
A unique combination of fresh cranberries and satsuma mandarins—a semi-seedless citrus species—creates a delightful make-ahead holiday relish that you can serve alongside turkey, beef, or pork tenderloin (or any other spectacular main).
Pork Wellington with Prosciutto and Spinach-Mushroom Stuffing
Instead of the usual Beef Wellington, why not surprise—and surely delight—your family with this pork version made with both tenderloin and prosciutto? You can prepare the pork Wellington up through step three in advance so all you need to do is bake it before dinner.
Brandied Figs
Looking for an easy and elegant dish to serve alongside a charcuterie board? Try this make-ahead, three-ingredient recipe for poached figs, which get a hint of sweetness from sugar and brandy.
Shrimp and Crudité Platter with Two Sauces
Poach your vegetables and shrimp, stir your sauces, and assemble the platter ahead of time and when your loved ones arrive, this show-stopping appetizer will be ready.
Lasagna with Meat Sauce
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Brie Goldman
A total crowd pleaser and a make-ahead marvel—that's how we would describe this lasagna. You can brown your meat and assemble the entire casserole ahead, then pop it in the oven just about an hour before dinnertime.
Colcannon Shepherd's Pie
On a cold winter's night during the holiday season, nothing is quite as satisfying as shepherd's pie. This Irish-inspired dish is loaded with ground lamb, carrots, peas, and onions and topped with mashed potatoes enriched with kale.
Orange-Braised Brisket
The beauty of braising meat such as brisket is that you can set it and forget it. In this recipe, the brisket bakes with an assortment of spices including garlic, coriander seeds, oregano, orange wedges, and triple-sec until it becomes fork-tender and so flavorful.
Cornbread Stuffing with Pancetta and Scallions
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Stuffing is a seamless, easy side dish for the holiday season. You can get a head start on this recipe by making our classic cornbread and baking it until the cubes are crisp and dry. Or, assemble the entire stuffing in advance and then reheat it right before serving.
Pull-Apart Garlic Bread
This make-ahead holiday recipe is a labor of love—but the swirly, twirly pattern, buttery flavor, and sprinkling of garlic and herbs throughout the bread is worth the effort.
No-Knead Plum Focaccia
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Wedges of plum bring a festive touch of sweetness to this homemade bread that's sure to go fast.
Mini Beef Wellingtons
Everything tastes better in miniature! These individual beef Wellingtons are as delicious as they are adorable. Everything but the final baking can be done up to two weeks in advance.
Italian Seafood Salad
Get one of the dishes for your Feast of the Seven Fishes out of the way early. You can make this salad with squid, shrimp, mussels, and crab up to eight hours ahead.
Cannoli Dip
We've deconstructed the traditional Sicilian pastry into a creamy dessert dip and cannoli "chips." Both components can be made up to 12 hours in advance and stored in the fridge.
Raw Swiss Chard, Cabbage, and Brussels Sprout Salad
Add some freshness to your holiday table with this bright, crunchy salad. It's one of those rare options that gets better as it sits, so you can toss it up to an hour before guests arrive.
Maple-Whipped Sweet Potatoes
A staple of holiday meals, airy, whipped spuds get an extra dose of flavor from maple syrup. This buttery dish can be made up to two days in advance and warmed over a low flame on the stove (make sure to stir constantly to keep the potatoes from sticking to the pan).
Roasted-Carrot-and-Beet Tart
Using store-bought phyllo dough helps this colorful vegetable tart come together in a flash. Bake it the night before your holiday party and store at room temperature.
Roasted Beet and Potato Borscht
Our take on the classic Eastern European soup is served hot and keeps for three months in the freezer. All you have to do on the day of the holiday party is thaw, reheat, and add garnishes.
Cheddar-and-Gruyere Crackers
Let your guests nosh on these cheesy crackers while you put the final touches on dinner. You can make and freeze the dough up to three months ahead. Try our fig-and-almond version, too!
Sweet-and-Sour Korean Cocktail Meatballs
Gochujang, a spicy fermented Korean chili paste, turns up the volume on this classic finger food. The meatballs can be formed up to a day in advance.
Sage Braid
Serving homemade bread at your holiday party is totally doable if you have this recipe in your back pocket. The formed bread can be made up to a month in advance and stored in the freezer.
No-Bake Chocolate-Eggnog Crème Brûlée
This dessert has maximum holiday flavor and is a no-fuss, no-bake wonder that's already portioned. Just take if from the refrigerator 30 minutes before you serve so it's not too chilled; that would mute the flavors.
Cherry-Raspberry Semifreddo
Not only is this holiday dessert recipe sweet as can be, it's also a favorite for home cooks, since it can be made up to three days in advance. Use fresh or frozen fruit for juicy flavor and bright red color.
Poached Pears with Saffron Whipped Cream
Poached pears are an easy, elegant end to a special holiday dinner. The fruit first cooks in a citrus-spice liquid, then soaks for an additional two hours (and up to three days); you can serve them with freshly made whipped cream at the drop of a hat.
Dairy-Free Chocolate-Raspberry Cake
Cakes are the ultimate special occasion dessert, especially during the holiday season. This luscious combination of chocolate layer cake with a rich buttercream frosting and a sprinkle of fresh raspberries on top is picture-perfect and absolutely delicious.
Baked-Alaska Tree
Guests will be amazed when you place this indulgent chocolate dessert on the table—and you'll be amazed at just how easy it is to make. Use your favorite ice cream flavor; we prefer the combination of chocolate and peppermint for the holiday.
Chocolate-Mousse Parfaits
We think this chocolate mousse is the ultimate make-ahead dessert for the holidays. It's ready when you need it, is already portioned, and tastes sublime.
Vanilla Pudding Pie
A subtly spiced white-chocolate vanilla pudding fills the chocolate wafer cookie crust in this make-ahead holiday dessert.
Eggnog Semifreddo Genoise Cake with Meringue Frosting
When else are you going to pull out this show-stopper? This vertical-layer cake alternates tiers of genoise with a nutmeg-and-rum-scented semifreddo and can be made a day in advance. Just make sure there's enough space to store it in your freezer!
Lemony Snow Pudding with Tarragon Creme Anglaise
Seeking an unusual holiday dessert? Look no further than this sophisticated (and gluten-free!) winter sweet. Both the citrusy, meringue-like pudding and tarragon-infused creme anglaise can be made up to two days ahead.
Citrus-and-Spice Cheesecake
Jewel-like grapefruit and orange segments and a fragrant blend of ginger and allspice take classic cheesecake to new heights. Make it the night before your holiday party and collect compliments on the day of.
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