26 Easy Christmas Lunch Ideas

These easy Christmas lunch ideas keep the middle of the holiday cozy without stealing the show from dinner! From French onion soup and a winter steak salad to ham and Swiss sliders, a spinach puff pastry Christmas tree, and a pan of baked ziti, there’s a Christmas lunch menu here for a quiet day at home or a full house.

My top pick for Christmas Day is the Ground Beef Noodle Casserole. It tastes like a cheesy baked spaghetti, and you can layer it the night before so it’s ready to bake. Most of these simple Christmas lunch recipes can be made ahead too, so pick a soup or salad, one warm main, and one board, and lunch is ready while the wrapping paper is still on the floor!

Christmas Lunch Soups and Chili

Classic French Onion Soup

Soup with a cheesy toast lid feels special with very little work. My homemade French onion soup simmers caramelized onions in beef stock with white wine and thyme, then goes under the broiler with Gruyère. The soup base keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days, so on Christmas I just reheat it and toast the bread.

Broccoli Cheddar Soup in a Sourdough Bread Bowl

Serving soup in bread turns it into the whole meal, and you get to eat the bowl. This sourdough broccoli cheddar soup simmers broccoli and carrot in a light cheese sauce made with sharp cheddar. Make the soup up to 2 days ahead and fill the toasted bowls right before lunch, or skip them and set out crusty bread.

Italian Wedding Soup (Slow Cooker One-Pot)

Tender little meatballs and pasta make this soup filling enough to stand on its own. My crock pot Italian wedding soup starts with frozen meatballs, carrots, celery, and chicken broth, and the spinach and small pasta go in near the end. Start it first thing in the morning and it’s ready by lunch with almost no hands-on time.

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

Creamy chili makes a cozy change from the usual holiday spread. This white chicken chili slow cooks chicken with white beans, corn, and green chiles, then cream cheese melts in at the end. It’s one of my go-to family dinners, and it freezes well if you hold back the cream, so you can make it the week before.

Winter Salads for Your Christmas Lunch Menu

Winter Steak Salad with Brussels Sprouts and Pomegranate

Hearty enough to be the main dish, this salad keeps lunch light but filling. My winter steak salad tops arugula with seared steak, sautéed Brussels sprouts, carrot ribbons, pomegranate seeds, and lime peanuts in a sweet chili soy dressing. I use lean round steak because it’s budget-friendly, and the red and green look right at home on a holiday table.

Christmas Wreath Salad with Mozzarella and Pomegranate

This one doubles as the centerpiece. My arugula Christmas wreath salad rings baby spinach and arugula with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, olives, cucumber, and pomegranate seeds, then finishes with basil and balsamic glaze. I arrange everything except the basil and dressing ahead, cover the platter, and keep it in the fridge until lunch.

Christmas Pasta Salad

Pasta salad is served cold, so it can be done before the oven gets busy. This Christmas Pasta Salad from Recipes From A Pantry tosses rotini with salami, baby mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, and green olives in a roasted red pepper pesto. The red and green mix-ins make it look festive with zero extra effort.

Arugula Beet Salad

Roasted beets and oranges bring bright winter color to the table. This Arugula Beet Salad from The Wholesome Spoon layers arugula with roasted beets, orange segments, goat cheese, walnuts, and fresh dill, then adds a honey Dijon red wine vinaigrette. Set it next to a rich ham or casserole for something fresh and light.

Christmas Lunch Sandwiches and Sliders

Jalapeño Holly Chicken Salad

Chicken salad sandwiches let everyone build their own plate. My copycat of the Chicken Salad Chick Jalapeño Holly mixes shredded chicken with mayo, sour cream, celery, and pickled jalapeños for a little kick. It tastes even better after a few hours in the fridge, so make it the night before and pile it onto croissants at lunchtime.

Easy Ham and Cheese Crescent Rolls

Warm, buttery rolls with ham and cheese disappear fast on a holiday. These crescent rolls with ham and cheese wrap Black Forest ham and Swiss in crescent dough, then get a garlic butter brush and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. You can assemble them up to 24 hours ahead and bake them while the soup heats.

Party-Perfect Ham and Swiss Sliders

One tray of sliders feeds a whole table. These baked ham and Swiss sliders layer honey ham and Swiss on Hawaiian rolls, then bake under a brown sugar Dijon butter with everything bagel seasoning. They’re one of the recipes I keep in my back pocket, and they’re a smart way to use up leftover Christmas ham.

Apple Grilled Cheese with Turkey

Grilled cheese and soup is a classic lunch for a reason. This Apple Grilled Cheese with Turkey from Well Plated layers sharp cheddar, deli turkey, tart apple slices, apple butter, and sage on whole wheat bread. It cooks in a skillet in minutes, so you can make sandwiches to order next to any soup on this list.

Ranch Chicken Rollups

Kids can grab these with their hands, no plates needed. These Ranch Chicken Rollups from The Cookin’ Chicks roll shredded chicken, ranch dressing, and Italian cheese inside crescent dough, then bake at 400°F for about 20 minutes. The recipe makes 8, so they’re an easy add to a holiday lunch spread.

Smoked Salmon Bagel Sandwich

For a fancier lunch with no cooking at all, go with smoked salmon. This Smoked Salmon Bagel Sandwich from Mom Life Home layers cream cheese, smoked salmon, and grated mozzarella on a bagel with red onion, greens, and tomato. Each one takes about 10 minutes, which makes it handy for a small Christmas lunch for two.

Christmas Day Lunch Recipes: Casseroles, Quiche and Ham

Ground Beef Noodle Casserole

A pan that goes straight from the fridge to the oven makes Christmas Day so much easier. My noodle casserole with ground beef uses lean beef, wide egg noodles, and a quick tomato sauce layered with cheddar, and I love that the middle layer of cheese melts right into the noodles. One 9×13 pan feeds 8.

Easy Baked Ziti

Five ingredients and one baking dish make this an easy pan for a busy holiday. My baked ziti with ricotta mixes ziti with marinara, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan and bakes until bubbly. Assemble it up to 24 hours ahead, then let it sit out while the oven preheats. Cottage cheese works in place of the ricotta for more protein.

Brown Sugar Glazed Pineapple Ham

Glazed ham is the simplest way to make lunch feel like a holiday. This spiral ham with pineapple needs just three ingredients: a bone-in spiral ham, canned pineapple slices, and brown sugar. It bakes while you set the table, and the leftovers are perfect for the sliders and quiche on this list.

Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese

From-scratch cheese sauce makes this one worth the extra few minutes. My creamy mac and cheese stirs elbow macaroni into a cheddar and Gruyère sauce with a little smoked paprika, then bakes under a Parmesan panko topping. It serves 8 and works as a main for the kids or a side dish next to the ham.

Ham and Swiss Quiche

Quiche stretches leftover ham into a whole new meal. This Ham and Swiss Quiche from My Rad Kitchen bakes eggs, heavy cream, diced ham, Swiss cheese, and sautéed onion in a 9-inch pie crust. Slice it into wedges and serve it with a green salad for an easy Christmas brunch or lunch.

Salmon Spinach Quiche

Smoked salmon makes this quiche feel a little dressed up. This Salmon Spinach Quiche from The Lavender Apron fills a tart crust with cooked or smoked salmon, spinach, eggs, cream, and fresh dill, then bakes for about 30 minutes. The crust can be blind-baked a day or two ahead, and there’s a crustless option too.

Stuffed Shells

Jumbo shells look impressive but are simple to put together ahead. These Stuffed Shells from Spend With Pennies are filled with ricotta, spinach, Parmesan, and herbs, then baked in marinara under mozzarella. Assemble the pan ahead and refrigerate it until you’re ready, adding about 10 minutes to the bake time if it goes in cold.

Alfredo Lasagna with Spinach

White lasagna is a nice change from red sauce on Christmas. This Alfredo Lasagna with Spinach from VegTasty layers no-boil noodles with a homemade butter, cream, and Parmesan sauce, spinach, and mozzarella, with no ricotta needed. It’s meatless, so it works well when you have vegetarians at the table.

Slow Cooked Italian Beef Cheek Ragù

Want one dish that simmers on its own all morning? This Slow Cooked Italian Beef Cheek Ragù from The Pasta Project braises beef cheeks with soffritto, red wine, beef broth, rosemary, and cloves until they fall apart, then tosses them with tagliatelle. Make the ragù the day before and just boil the pasta on Christmas.

Christmas Lunch Buffet Ideas: Boards and Appetizers

Healthy Charcuterie Board (Easy Snack Board)

Setting out a snack board lets everyone graze while the main dish finishes. My healthy snack board mixes whole grain and almond crackers, light cheeses, turkey pepperoni, fruit, veggies, and baby dill pickles. I arrange it up to 4 hours ahead, keep it covered in the fridge, and add the crackers right before serving so they stay crisp.

Candy Cane Caprese Board

Fresh tomatoes and mozzarella are a bright break from all the rich holiday food. My candy cane caprese appetizer lines up sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil in a big red-and-white candy cane, then finishes with olive oil and balsamic glaze. I slice and arrange it up to 4 hours early and keep it covered in the fridge.

Spinach Puff Pastry Christmas Tree

Every buffet needs one warm, flaky appetizer, and this one is shaped like a tree. My puff pastry Christmas tree wraps a cheesy spinach dip filling of cream cheese, mozzarella, and Parmesan in puff pastry, then twists the branches and bakes it golden. It serves 12, so it covers a full house.

How to Plan a Christmas Lunch That Won’t Spoil Dinner

When a big Christmas dinner is coming later, keep your holiday lunch ideas on the light side. Here’s how I balance it:

• One soup or salad: plan about 1 to 1½ cups of soup per person, or one platter salad for 6 to 8.
• One warm main: a 9×13 casserole or a single quiche feeds 6 to 8, so one pan is plenty for most families.
• One board or appetizer: set it out first so everyone can snack while the main bakes.

Christmas Eve lunch ideas work the same way. Lean on the soups & sandwiches that day and save the ham and the cheesy pans for the bigger holiday meal.

Make-Ahead Christmas Lunch Plan

The simple Christmas lunch ideas here are the ones you can mostly finish before the holiday. This is the order I’d follow:

• 2 days before: make the soup base for the French onion or broccoli cheddar and refrigerate it.
• The day before: assemble the baked ziti, stuffed shells, or noodle casserole, cover, and refrigerate. Mix the chicken salad and the pasta salad.
• Christmas morning: start the slow cooker soup or chili, and arrange the snack board or wreath salad up to 4 hours ahead.
• An hour before lunch: bake the casserole, giving it extra time if it’s cold from the fridge, and warm the soup.

You’ll want leftovers back in the fridge within 2 hours (USDA leftovers guide). That way nothing sits on the buffet all afternoon.

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