Marye Audet from Restless Chipotle

Easy and non-traditional? One thing I’ve always wanted to do (but haven’t had the courage to) is have nothing but an array of desserts.

No turkey or ham or roast beef, no broccoli or pineapple casserole… literally nothing but the most gorgeous, droolworthy desserts I can find.

On a second table I’d have a beautiful champagne/ mimosa bar with a variety of fruit and juice.

And I guess I’d need a third table with Alka-Seltzer and Peptobismal, right?

42 – Sufganiyot:

Maddie Reich from The Jewish Vegan

My family has a tradition of ordering Chinese food on Christmas Eve, but if I wanted to surprise them with a home cooked meal, I would go with breakfast for dinner.

I would go all out with pancakes, vegan bacon, sausage, and eggs, and a fruit salad.

This year, Christmas falls during Hanukkah, so we would also have Sufganiyot – jelly-filled donuts – with our breakfast-for-dinner feast.

43 – Homemade Chinese Food:

April from Mama Loves Food

We like homemade Chinese food (fried rice, sweet and sour chicken, veggie chow mein) for Christmas dinner 😊

44 – Spinach Gnudi:

Sonali Ruder from The Foodie Physician

You’re going to love these delicious Spinach Gnudi!

Made with ricotta cheese and spinach, these soft, pillowy dumplings are deceptively easy to make.

Gnudi are similar to gnocchi but are made with ricotta cheese instead of potato.

Serve them on a bed of homemade tomato sauce for the perfect family-friendly Christmas dinner.

45 – Pernil:

Jessica Segarra from The Novice Chef

In our home, Christmas dinner is always a Puerto Rican feast with a gorgeous Pernil at the center of our table.

While it takes a while to marinate and roast, it’s a lot of hands off time, so it is surprisingly easy to make!

Of course we always have all the sides to go with Pernil, including Arroz Con Gandules, Maduros, Tostones, and Ensalada de Conditos.

Don’t forget a glass of the best Coquito to celebrate properly! ¡Buen provecho!

46 – Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole:

Holly Nilsson from Spend With Pennies

A Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole is perfect when you need to feed a crowd first thing in the morning or Xmas dinner.

Eggs, sausage and hashbrowns are layered in a casserole dish, topped with cheese and baked to a gooey golden brown.

There’s more: Homemade Lasagna is a classic recipe that every cook should have in their rotation.

47 – Stuffed Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp:

Marjory Pilley from The Dinner-Mom

Stuffed Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp with cream cheese and jalapeños is an easy and impressive appetizer.

Besides that, Bavette Steak that’s pan seared on the stovetop is tender, juicy and takes minutes to cook. Easy recipe with impressive results for Xmas.

48 – Southern Fried Chicken:

Sharon Rigsby from Grits and Pinecones

If I had to choose a dish that my family would be delighted to have for Christmas dinner instead of our traditional ham, it would have to be Southern Fried Chicken.

It personifies the South, and it’s one of our favorite meals.

Covered with a thick, crunchy, and flavorful crust, this iconic and versatile dish is as perfect for a holiday dinner as it is for tailgating or a summer picnic.

49 – Instant Pot Korean Short Ribs:

Sue from My Korean Kitchen

Our family enjoys a lamb roast for Christmas, but being Korean, I love to add some Korean flair to the meal with Instant Pot Korean Short Ribs.

The meat falls off the bone and is so succulent and flavorful. The vegetables cooked together are just as splendid.

50 – Crockpot Ham:

Samantha Skaggs from Five Heart Home

This amazing Crockpot Ham is the BEST slow cooker ham recipe.

It’s cooked in pineapple juice with a brown sugar glaze featuring Dijon, balsamic vinegar, and honey for an EASY holiday dinner that practically makes itself.

Here’s more:

The non-traditional-for-Christmas enchilada casserole features all-natural ingredients like salsa verde, green chiles, and a creamy homemade sauce for the great flavor of chicken enchiladas without the work of rolling them.

51 – Stuffed Mushrooms:

Emily Leary from A Mummy Too

I’d serve these delicious Christmas stuffed mushrooms.

They’re filled with walnuts, cranberries and goat’s cheese and they make a perfect vegetarian alternative on Christmas Day.

They’re designed to make any vegetarian at your table feel like they’ve lucked out!

No sad veggie sausage for them!

They’ll be able to enjoy gorgeously flavourful mushrooms with a perfect balance of crispy, smooth, sweet and mild festive flavours.

52 – Red Chicken Pozole:

Yvette Marquez-Sharpnack from Muy Bueno Cookbook

As a Mexican-American I would make an easy, not traditional, but traditional Mexican Christmas dinner:

• Mexican Shrimp Cocktail for an appetizer
• Red Chicken Pozole for dinner
• Mexican Hot Chocolate to drink
• Adnd Buñuelos for dessert.

All these dishes are pretty economical and very easy to make!

53 – Kale Soup:

Stephanie Jackson from Daily Appetite

Surprise your family with this easy Kale Soup Recipe that is ready in 40 minutes.

Not only the rich flavors but the rich colors of this soup give off festive Christmas vibes.

Loaded with smoked sausage, baby potatoes, beans, and kale.

This hearty soup is a meal all on its own.

54 – Honey Garlic Pork Chops:

Marsha Cook from Simply Savoury Meals

These Honey Garlic Pork Chops are deliciously juicy and tender that are glazed in a sweet honey-garlic sauce.

Made in just under 30 minutes, this recipe is the perfect EASY non-traditional Christmas dinner addition!

55 – Italian Panna Cotta:

Sabine Venier from Also The Crumbs Please

If I didn’t have time to cook up a traditional Christmas dinner with all the bells and whistles, I would serve Instant Pot Short Ribs with baked potatoes and carrots and panna cotta for dessert.

In fact, I made this last year and everyone was talking for days about how delicious it was and how perfect it was for the occasion.

I think Christmas is about spending time with family and having a good time and as long as the food is good and made with love almost anything would be accepted by my family.

56 – Roasted Cranberry Chicken:

Rebecca Taig from RebeccaTaig

A delicious non-traditional Christmas dinner idea would be my Roasted Cranberry Chicken.

This one-pan meal is made with crispy tender chicken thighs seasoned with fresh herbs, and tangy cranberries, paired with roasted potatoes, carrots, and parsnips.

Simple yet elegant, this meal will impress all of your guests and can be made in under 1 hour.

57 – Jamaican Jerk Chicken:

Mike Hultquist from Chili Pepper Madness

If I was able to surprise my wife with a non-traditional Christmas dinner this year, I’d love to make Jamaican Jerk Chicken, as it’s a dish we both love.

Mine uses a nice and spicy marinade, and I’d love to grill it, because now we live further south – we moved to the Charlotte area a few years back – I can grill all year long!

I know she would love it, the dish and the surprise.

58 – Spinach Quiche:

Maria Vannelli from She Loves Biscotti

Make your Christmas dinner party festive but also delicious and effortless this year with a spinach quiche!

This easy, non-traditional Christmas dinner idea doesn’t require any crust, so it’s simple to make and has plenty of freedom over specific ingredients.

Pair it with a seasonal salad to make it extra merry!

Ideally suited to intimate family gatherings and festive feasts, it will put everyone in the holiday spirit without all the fuss.

59 – Stuffed Acorn Squash:

Katie Trant from Hey Nutrition Lady

I love to make this easy and delicious Stuffed Acorn Squash recipe for Christmas dinner.

It’s a great vegetarian option or a fun side dish that everyone can enjoy.

60 – Quick Crab Roll Recipe:

John Vargo from Berly’s Kitchen

Holiday cooking can be a daunting task.

Sometimes we break away from the norm to create a quick, non-traditional, Christmas dinner the whole family can enjoy.

Best of all, the recipe takes about 10 minutes to prepare.

Our quick crab roll recipe feature delicate jumbo lump crab meat, creamy dressing, fresh lemon juice and just the right amount of crunch to create the perfect seafood feast!

Don’t forget to add sides like cucumber tomato salad or jalapeno bacon mac and cheese.

61 – Dumplings:

Erika K from Pancake Princess

With many helping hands, dumplings are an easy thing to quickly assemble, cook and serve.

It’s a fun family activity and so delicious!

62 – Roasted Rack of Pork, Beef Prime Rib, and Crab Imperial:

Dennis Littley from Ask Chef Dennis

As the world changes, non-traditional Christmas dinners are actually becoming more popular with families, and dishes representing their cultural heritage are the perfect way to celebrate the holiday season.

For Italian families, Lasagna and Frutti de Mare are delicious choices and offer a sense of comfort when served.

From the viewpoint of this Restaurant chef, non-traditional dishes were always part of my holiday menus.

Dishes that are usually reserved for dining out are great choices any time of year but tend to be extra special over the Christmas Holidays.

You could always find offerings like Roasted Rack of Pork, Beef Prime Rib, and Crab Imperial.

These are premiere restaurant dishes that aren’t difficult to make and a perfect for the holidays.

63 – Creamy Wild Rice Soup:

Brooke & Emma from Savor the Flavour

Serve your family and loved ones our best creamy wild rice soup.

It will make your whole house smell like bacon and wild rice soup.

It’s yummy, earthy and so cozy to serve on a cold winter’s night.

Best of all, you can make it the day before, so Christmas dinner is ready in a snap!

64 – Filet Mignon or Ribeye:

Amy Sandidge from A Red Spatula

Our traditional Christmas dinner is always filet mignon or ribeye with mashed potatoes and tons of sides.

If I were to throw a non-traditional dinner for my family and friends, it would be tamales with fresh salsa and chips.

It is a favorite meal we don’t have often.

My crew would be really excited about this change!

65 – Italian Wedding Soup:

Amanda Tynis from The Kitcheneer

My family is actually pretty non traditional and bringing over a large pot of Italian Wedding Soup with Crusty bread was such a great memory growing up in a large Italian family.

I think this easy soup is hearty yet healthy bowl with a warming broth, chicken, tiny meatballs, herbs, and stirring in an egg at the end.

SO good and to me screams Christmas dinner.

66 – One Pot Sausage & Tomato Linguine:

Jessica Kostka from Cooking in My Genes

A favourite dish of mine is my One Pot Sausage & Tomato Linguine which makes the perfect, easy Christmas meal to share with family and friends.

You can cook it in one pot and it’s packed with flavour from the fresh herbs.

I’d pair it with a simple arugula salad dressed with lemon juice and olive oil and some crusty bread to dip in the sauce – you’re entire meal is set.

67 – Pulled Pork Chalupa:

Ashley Elizabeth from Sweetpea Lifestyle

If I want to surprise my family with an easy and non-traditional Christmas dinner idea, I’m going with Quick and Easy Pulled Pork Chalupa!

This recipe has been in my family since their Texas days, and it’s a family favorite anytime of the year!

Now, if you wanted to be extremely simple, we’ve done Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup, too!!

68 – Ground Beef Taco Dip:

Deb Clark from Bowl Me Over

Are you tired of the same old Turkey Dinner? Who says you have to be traditional?

Instead of sticking with the basics, why not make this amazing Chicken Spaghetti Recipeinstead?

It’s filled with saucy noodles, tender chicken and it’s a family favorite!

If you’re looking for the perfect appetizer to start the meal make Ground Beef Taco Dip.

Then you’ll just need a bag of chips and a great salad. Happy Holidays from all of us at Bowl Me Over!

Happy Holidays!

This Christmas, make something your family will never forget. From traditional roasts to tacos and pasta, there’s a dish for everyone.

And with the help of Legend cookware, you can be sure that all your food will turn out great!

So get creative, have fun in the kitchen and enjoy delicious meals this holiday season.

The Legend team wishes you a Merry Christmas!