Thanksgiving is in the rearview, Christmas is looming ahead—it's official, winter is here! December is THE month to get cozy with your meals, so bust out those slow cookers, casserole dishes, and big soup pots. Join us as we deck the halls (and our dinner tables), weather all the holiday hubbub, and celebrate the past year (along with the meals with friends and loved ones that got us through it). We’ve got 40 recipes to help inspire you to make dinner this December—one for every day of the month, and then some.
We’ve included a good mix of entirely new recipes, like our Buffalo chicken Parm and our cranberry-glazed turkey meatballs, as well as some old favorites, like our creamy three-cheese spaghetti, our chicken Alfredo spaghetti squash, and our meatball sub casserole. Craving some serious comfort food? We get it, December and the end of the year can bring up a lot of big feelings for us all. Try our pozole, our chicken pot pie noodle bake, or our —they’re like a warm hug in a meal.
Of course, we’re also taking inspiration from the BIG holidays in December—Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s Eve. There’s no better time to attempt a show-stopping dinner main, like our best-ever brisket, our beef Wellington, or our Puerto Rican pernil. But we also know you’ll be looking for dishes to bring to holiday potlucks and parties, as well as fast meals you can throw together on your way out the door to them. For those busy nights, make our tricolore skillet lasagna, our chicken spaghetti, our vegetarian chili, or our gnocchi stuffing.
Looking to end your year with bang, or want to really indulge before the New Year pressures get to you? Enjoy our best holiday co*cktails, our top Christmas cookies, and our favorite winter desserts while you still can!
1
Vegetarian Chili
This vegetarian chili is still every bit as warm, comforting, and filling as a classic beef chili. Three types of beans do the heavy lifting in the chili and "beef" it up. It's filled with warm spices, and a jalapeño adds a little extra heat too. MMM.
Get the Vegetarian Chili recipe.
2
Chicken Spaghetti
If you didn't grow up with this potluck classic, think , but with chicken and spaghetti...trust us on this one, it just works!
Get the Chicken Spaghetti recipe.
3
Reuben Casserole
The Reuben is a perfect sandwich, so turning it into a casserole is a no-brainer. It takes everything you love—savory, tender corned beef, melty Swiss cheese, tangy sauerkraut, zesty Russian dressing and rye bread—and turns it into a crowd-pleasing, easy-to-assemble dish.
Get the Reuben Casserole recipe.
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4
Giant Skillet Latke
While frying up an endless supply of latkes is part of the holiday fun, this recipe turns the classic into an impressive dish for brunch or a breakfast-for-dinner meal. It’s all the flavor and crispiness of a traditional latke with less oil, in half the time!
Get the Giant Skillet Latke recipe.
5
Carnitas
Almost every culture has its own take on roast pork shoulder, but none are quite like the tender, crispy-edged, and garlic-studded goodness that is carnitas. This preparation of Mexico’s slow-cooked pulled pork is admittedly a bit time-consuming, but trust us–it's worth every single second.
Get the Carnitas recipe.
6
Buffalo Chicken Parm
What happens when you give chicken Parm the Buffalo treatment? You get this: a crispy-on-the-outside, juicy-on-the-inside chicken cutlet smothered in spicy sauce and topped with bubbling cheese. (Plus a drizzle of ranch, if that’s how you like your wings.) 😍
Get the Buffalo Chicken Parm recipe.
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7
Creamy White Bean Tomato Soup
A cross between a classic tomato soup and our favorite white bean soup, this soup is the best of both worlds. It’s rich and creamy with added protein and topped with garlicky croutons. It’s just what a chilly, lazy December night calls for.
Get the Creamy White Bean Tomato Soup recipe.
8
Tourtiere
Originally from Quebec, this savory pie is traditionally made in a “tourtiere” dish and eaten during Christmas. If you're looking for a twist on chicken pot pie to make over the holidays, this is it.
Get the Tourtiere recipe.
9
Gnocchi Stuffing
Stuffing isn't just for Thanksgiving, especially when you make it with gnocchi. Italian sausage provides a lot of extra savory flavor and heartiness to the dish too, making it an easy casual main dish this December.
Get the Gnocchi Stuffing recipe.
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10
Baked Feta Soup
Though we can basically never say no to baked feta pasta, when it's cold outside, we prefer cozy classics like tomato soup. If you're craving the same, this mash-up recipe is the answer.
Get the Baked Feta Soup recipe.
11
Chicken & Dumplings
Shredded chicken and fluffy homemade dumplings (or biscuits, if you like) come together here for the MOST comforting meal ever. Want to make it even easier? Make our instead.
Get the .
12
Hot Honey Chicken & Brussels Sprouts
Looking to spice up your weeknight dinner rotation? Make hot honey chicken and Brussels sprouts. Featuring a simple glaze hacked from a store-bought condiment, this one-skillet meal promises maximum flavor with minimal fuss.
Get the .
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13
Crispy Hash Brown Crusted Bacon & Cheddar Quiche
Here, we took the humble breakfast sandwich and turned it into a silky quiche, then took it one step further with a crispy hash brown crust. It's an incredible holiday breakfast, or breakfast-for-dinner.
Get the .
14
Pozole
Filled with pork shoulder, hominy, and a fair amount of heat, pozole is the cozy comfort food that isn’t shy about its flavor. This is the stew you make when you’re looking to feed (and impress!) a crowd, or need a soup that will warm you up in the dead of winter.
Get the Pozole recipe.
15
Winter Rainbow Panzanella Salad
This winter rainbow panzanella salad is packed with in-season veggies like delicata squash and beets and crisp and crunchy sourdough croutons, and is coated in a tangy grapefruit vinaigrette, making it the perfect way to brighten a gray winter day.
Get the Winter Rainbow Panzanella Salad recipe.
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16
Prime Rib
This large-and-in-charge cut of beef not only boasts a show-stopping display, but is unmatched in flavor. Tender, rich, and buttery, this recipe was made to be served alongside all of the essential holiday sides.
Get the Prime Rib recipe.
17
Tteokbokki: Spicy Korean Rice Cakes
Pungent. Spicy. Savory. Sweet. Tteokbokki is saucy, delicious Korean comfort food in a bowl: captivating to the eye and pleasantly explosive to the taste, it will make you break into a happy sweat that'll keep you feeling cozy this December.
Get the Tteokbokki: Spicy Korean Rice Cakes recipe.
18
Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Meatballs
With a sweet and tangy glaze made with cranberry sauce and thyme- and sage-speckled turkey meatballs, these are great for serving over fluffy mashed potatoes for a low-key December dinner.
Get the Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Meatballs recipe.
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19
Creamy Three Cheese Spaghetti
Sometimes, simple is best, and this spaghetti recipe is proof. Best part? This ultra-creamy and cheesy pasta can be yours in just 20 minutes.
Get the Creamy Three Cheese Spaghetti recipe.
20
Matzo Ball Soup
True Jewish food-philes know that matzo ball soup isn’t just for your Passover feast. For many who love it, it’s the taste of warmth and comfort, perfect for Hanukkah and all winter long.
Get the Matzo Ball Soup recipe.
Camille Lowder
Digital Food Producer
Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.
