Description
Celebrate the holidays with this Super Easy Christmas Menu featuring a delightful mix of appetizers, main courses, and sides perfect for entertaining 8 or more guests. Highlights include a 3 Minute Festive Brie appetizer, juicy slow cooker turkey breast with gravy, your choice of brown sugar or maple glazed ham, or a Christmas baked salmon. Complement these with creamy cheesy potato bake or a refreshing lemon potato salad, wild rice salad, a fresh side salad with dressing options, bread with butter or olive oil, and finish with a rich easy chocolate fudge cake for dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Appetizers
- 1 wheel Brie cheese (for 3 Minute Festive Brie)
- Crackers for dipping, as needed
Main Course
- Turkey breast (approx. 4-6 lbs) for slow cooking
- Brown sugar (for glazed ham)
- Maple syrup (for glazed ham)
- Ham (8 lbs) for glazing
- Salmon fillet (around 3-4 lbs) for Christmas baked salmon
Sides
- Potatoes (4 lbs) for cheesy potato bake or lemon potato salad
- Cream (1 cup) and cheese (2 cups shredded) for potato bake
- Fresh lemons (2) for lemon potato salad
- Wild rice (2 cups uncooked)
- Mixed salad greens or leafy greens (for side salad)
- Cherry tomatoes (2 cups, halved)
- Fresh basil leaves (1/2 cup, torn)
Dressings
- Balsamic dressing, store-bought or homemade (1/2 cup)
- French dressing, store-bought or homemade (1/2 cup)
- Italian dressing, store-bought or homemade (1/2 cup)
Bread and Dipping
- Store-bought bread (1 loaf or equivalent rolls)
- Butter or olive oil for dipping (1/2 cup)
Dessert
- Ingredients for Easy Chocolate Fudge Cake (flour, cocoa powder, sugar, eggs, butter, baking powder, milk, vanilla extract as per your preferred recipe)
Instructions
- Prepare 3 Minute Festive Brie: Arrange the Brie cheese on a serving platter and serve with crackers for dipping. This simple appetizer can be prepared just before serving for freshness.
- Cook Turkey Breast: Place the turkey breast in a slow cooker with your preferred seasonings and cook on low for 6-8 hours until tender. Prepare and heat gravy to serve alongside.
- Glaze Ham: Choose either the brown sugar glaze or maple glaze. For brown sugar glaze, mix brown sugar with mustard and vinegar; for maple glaze, combine maple syrup with mustard and spices. Brush over ham and bake in the oven until heated through and caramelized, approximately 1-2 hours depending on size.
- Prepare Christmas Baked Salmon (optional): Season salmon with herbs, lemon, and olive oil. Bake in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for 20-30 minutes until cooked through.
- Make Potato Side: Choose between cheesy potato bake or lemon potato salad. For cheesy bake, layer sliced potatoes with cream and cheese, bake at 350°F (175°C) for 1 hour. For lemon potato salad, boil potatoes until tender, cool, then toss with lemon juice, herbs, and dressing.
- Cook Wild Rice Salad: Cook wild rice according to package instructions, cool, and combine with diced vegetables and a light dressing.
- Prepare Side Salad: Toss leafy greens, halved cherry tomatoes, and torn basil with your choice of balsamic, French, or Italian dressing.
- Set Bread and Dipping: Place store-bought bread on the table with butter or olive oil for guests to dip.
- Serve Dessert: Prepare your easy chocolate fudge cake according to preferred recipe and serve as the final course.
Notes
- Slow cooker cooking times may vary depending on the size of the turkey breast; always ensure the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F (74°C) for safe consumption.
- Both ham glaze options can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated until needed.
- The potato side dishes can be made a day ahead, refrigerated, and reheated or served cold (in the case of potato salad).
- Wild rice salad is versatile and can include nuts or dried fruits for added texture.
- Choose dressings based on personal preference or guest dietary needs.
- Chocolate fudge cake can be baked a day in advance and stored properly to maintain freshness.
