What's for Dinner? 22 Recipes to Make in December

By Kelly Vaughan
November 19, 2019
Chris Simpson
Everyone is busy as the year comes to a close. Take the guesswork out of preparing a delicious, family-friendly dinner with our quick (less than an hour!) recipes that are perfect for winter.
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Chris Simpson

In the midst of baking gingerbread cookies, making chocolate fudge, and pouring glasses of eggnog galore, you're still probably asking yourself the very same question: "What's for dinner tonight?" The answer? Comfort foods that will help us stay warm as the temperatures drop. Our recipes serve at least four people and come together in less than one hour, so they're manageable any night of the week. And, as always, Mondays are meatless (with the exception of one remarkable dish to celebrate the start of Hanukkah).

There are a number of very special holidays to celebrate this month. In addition to dinner recipes for Hanukkah, we're also sharing meal ideas for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve. They'll feed a crowd and take just about an hour to prepare, which means that you can make the most of your time with loved ones. The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a long-standing tradition among Italians; this One-Pot Seafood Orzo Risotto is a fabulous weeknight meal that just so happens to feel a little bit extraordinary for December 24th.

With holiday parties happening practically every weekend, we also have several healthy feel-good meals to balance things out during the week. This Ginger-Lemongrass Broth with Noodles, Silken Tofu, and Broccoli is delicious to slurp on during a chilly night. Another healthy dinner recipe is this easy Roasted-Vegetable Couscous Bowl, which is cooked on a sheet pan (always a fan-favorite method!).

Of course, there's plenty of classic, hearty dinner recipes for December, too. This Instant Pot Turkey Chili is simple to prepare and makes great leftovers; we bet you'll love it so much that you'll also want to make it for football Sunday. Another winner is our Lemon-and-Parsley Risotto, which is the perfect foundational recipe if you've never tried your hand at risotto before (and even if you have, its simplicity is charming as always).

Make these family-friendly dinner recipes all month long.

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Ginger-Lemongrass Broth with Noodles, Silken Tofu, and Broccoli

Yuki Sugiura
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Start the month off with a healthy and hearty bowl of soup that's guaranteed to warm your soul. Feel free to substitute vegetable broth in place of the chicken broth to make this meal vegan.

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Roasted Pork Chops with Sweet Potatoes and Apples

James Ransom
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From the seasonal fruit and vegetable pairings to the roasted pork chops, everything about this meal is perfect for cold weather. Searing the pork chops before roasting them creates a golden brown, savory crust.

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Chicken Saltimbocca with Sage

Marcus Nilsson
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Pounding the chicken breasts thinly promises even cooking and wrapping them in prosciutto (with two sage leaves tucked in) forms a flavor blanket that crisps in the pan. Serve with steamed squash and shallow-fried sage leaves—it's a brilliant way to use up a big bunch of the herb.

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Caribbean Fish-and-Pumpkin Stew

Lennart Weibull
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Our satisfying stew is ready in less than an hour—and about half that time is hands-off simmering. We  fast-tracked this low-and-slow classic made with bold ingredients and lean proteins like cod and squash.

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Instant Pot Turkey Chili

Bryan Gardner
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A big pot of chili is filling, warm, and perfect for feeding the family when the weather is cold. This ground turkey recipe is slightly healthier than the traditional beef version.

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Baked Pasta with Cauliflower and Swiss Chard

Julia Gartland
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Leafy, dark green Swiss chard is in season right now, so why not add it to a creamy, cheesy bowl of pasta? Bake the dish in a skillet, which doubles as an easy and attractive serving dish (no need for more dirty dishes!).

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Broccoli, Lemon, and Gouda Pizzas

Yuki Sugiura
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This fragrant pizza is the perfect handheld bite. Broccoli is brightened up with thin slices of lemon and fresh rosemary, and gouda is a wonderful, unique alternative to mozzarella.

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Ginger-Peanut Turkey Stir-Fry

Justin Walker
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It's so easy to make a delicious version of your favorite takeout dish at home. Here, ground turkey is flavored with a sauce made from lime juice, fish sauce, chili-garlic sauce, brown sugar, peanut butter, and ginger. Serve it on top of steamed rice and never pick up the phone again.

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Rice-and-Bean Salad Bowl with Tahini Sauce

Johnny Miller
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Grain bowls are popular for their ability to serve up a variety of colorful, nutritious vegetables, legumes, and herbs. In the midst of heavy comfort food and Christmas cookies galore, this healthy recipe deserves to be embraced.

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Pork-Meatball Skillet Bake

Justin Walker
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A one-skillet dinner not only makes for easy clean-up, but simple prep and presentation, too. Pork meatballs are hand-rolled, then baked with peppers, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and crusty Italian bread.

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Lemon-and-Parsley Risotto

Sidney Bensimon
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Want to become a better home cook? Master an essential dish, such as this simple risotto recipe made with lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, and fresh parsley. It's the perfect dish for a cool Monday evening.

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Spicy Shrimp Fajitas with Grilled Pineapple Pico

Armando Rafael
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It's taco Tuesday! Filled with chipotle shrimp, grilled pineapple, and avocado slices, this tropical bite is very welcome in the middle of winter.

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Beef and Broccoli with Black-Bean Garlic Sauce

Yuki Sugiura
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For an easy, breezy weeknight meal (this one comes together in just 30 minutes total!), prepare this takeout-inspired beef and broccoli stir-fry. We love using skirt steak, which is an inexpensive cut that's easy to cook and super flavorful.

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Crispy Chicken Cutlets

Marcus Nilsson
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Paired with Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes, this all-American meal is definitely going to be popular with your family. The recipe calls for chicken breasts, but feel free to swap in boneless, skinless chicken thighs, which are juicier and more flavorful.

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Pinto-Bean Burgers

Armando Rafael
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These inspired veggie burgers have lots of texture thanks to chopped toasted almonds, roasted red peppers, feta cheese, and pinto beans. Serve with salad or roasted squash on the side, which is in season this month.

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Beet-and-Dill-Roasted Wild Salmon

Chris Simpson
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Celebrate Hanukkah with this absolutely stunning main course. Prepping it only takes 25 minutes, leaving you with plenty of time to spend with family and friends.

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One-Pot Seafood Orzo Risotto

Marcus Nilsson
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In honor of the Feast of the Seven Fishes, which is traditionally celebrated by Italians on Christmas Eve, make this seafood risotto. Squid, halibut, small clams, and shrimp are piled high atop orzo. It serves eight, so there's plenty to go around.

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Roasted Game Hen with Root Vegetables

Johnny Fogg
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Take a departure from the traditional Christmas roast and serve roasted game hen instead. The recipe can easily be doubled or tripled depending on how many people you're serving.

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Pasta with Preserved Lemon and Anchovies

Marcus Nilsson
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After the Christmas festivities have passed (and you've consumed a few too many cookies), make this easy, no-fuss pasta. It's quick to whip up if unexpected guests appear at your front door.

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Eggplant, Pistachio, and Pomegranate Pizza

Roland Bello
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Everything about this vegetarian pizza says holiday. From the contrasting green pistachios and red pomegranates to family-friendly servings, it's a delicious meal to serve in between Christmas and New Year's.

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Roasted-Vegetable Couscous Bowl

Justin Walker
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Looking for something light during the holiday season? This sheet-pan dinner with couscous, cauliflower, carrots, chickpeas, and feta is just the answer.

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Fish Stew with Herbed Toasts

James Ransom
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If you're having a quiet dinner in on New Year's Eve, this simple riff on a classic French bouillabaisse is fabulous. The best part is it that comes together in just half an hour, so there is plenty of time for dinner and celebrations before the ball drops.

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