What's for Dinner? 24 Recipes to Make in December

By Kelly Vaughan
Updated November 24, 2020
Credit: 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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Credit: 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, such as the Pepper-Crusted Lamb with Roasted Vegetables that's pictured here—it's simple enough to prepare any night of the week, but special enough for a holiday gathering; simply put, it's the back-pocket recipe you need for December. You'll find that the rest of 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.

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. Our 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. Our 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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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Tofu-Tomatillo Stew

Credit: Con Poulos
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Tomatillos, fresh cilantro, and jalapeño peppers bring an intense green hue to this vegan stew. White hominy and extra-firm tofu complete this dinner, which is perfect for meatless Monday.

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Ginger-Peanut Turkey Stir-Fry

Credit: 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.

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Broccoli, Lemon, and Gouda Pizzas

Credit: 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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Instant Pot Turkey Chili

Credit: 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. Using ground turkey makes it slightly healthier than the traditional beef version.

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Beet-and-Dill-Roasted Wild Salmon

Credit: Anson Smart
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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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Lemon-and-Parsley Risotto

Credit: 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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Pork-Meatball Skillet Bake

Credit: 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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Spicy Shrimp Fajitas with Grilled Pineapple Pico

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

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Beef and Broccoli with Black-Bean Garlic Sauce

Credit: Yuki Sugiura
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For an easy, breezy weeknight meal (this one comes together in just 30 minutes total!), prepare our 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

Credit: 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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Vegetable and Black-Bean Fried Rice

Credit: Con Poulos
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Rice and beans are an old standby. Here, they're amped up with cremini mushrooms, red bell pepper, scallions, and hot sauce for a spectacular meatless meal.

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Rice-and-Bean Salad Bowl with Tahini Sauce

Credit: 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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Pasta with Preserved Lemon and Anchovies

Credit: Marcus Nilsson
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After the Christmas festivities have passed (and you've consumed a few too many cookies), make this no-fuss pasta.

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One-Pot Seafood Orzo Risotto

Credit: 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.

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Marinated Beef Tenderloin

Credit: Chris Court
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An all-time Christmas classic, our beef tenderloin is marinated in a combination of Worcestershire sauce, lemon, and garlic. Serve it alongside roasted potatoes or this stunning Garlic-Herb Dinner Roll Wreath.

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Roasted-Vegetable Couscous Bowl

Credit: 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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Eggplant, Pistachio, and Pomegranate Pizza

Credit: 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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Stir-Fried Sweet-and-Sour Shrimp

Credit: Kate Sears
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Apricot jam and fresh pineapple bring fruity flavor to this savory recipe that comes together in just 20 minutes. Garlic, ginger, scallions, and bell pepper cut the sweetness.

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Fish Stew with Herbed Toasts

Credit: 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 a fabulous dinner option. The best part is it that comes together in just half an hour, so there's plenty of time for dinner and celebrations before the ball drops.

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