If you are like me, you want the holiday meal to be special, traditional, and absolutely delicious—but you also want to actually enjoy the day with your family, not be stuck in the kitchen. This year, we are hosting a big crowd! We have 13 people coming for dinner, ranging from my sweet little 2-year-old great-nephew all the way up to my parents.
Posts on this site may contain brand partnerships, promotional content, or affiliate links. I may earn a commission or fee if you click a link or purchase through these recommendations at no additional cost to you.
I headed to Acme Fresh Market tonight to grab my ingredients, and I have to tell you, I was absolutely floored. I know prices have been high everywhere lately, but Acme has some incredible sales this week. I was able to get everything for this traditional feast for 13 people for under $65 without even trying!
I was so impressed by the savings that I knew I had to share my menu plan with you immediately. This is not a sponsored post, I just like sharing good deals.
If you want a stress-free Christmas day, here is the menu I’m making. The best part? Almost all of this can be prepped up to 3 days ahead of time!
The Star of the Show: Apple Stuffed Spiral Ham
We are skipping the turkey this time and going with a traditional spiral ham. I actually developed this recipe and created a video for Acme Fresh Market a while back as part of my work for AkronOhioMoms, and it is a winner every time.
It is a fun and delicious twist on a standard ham. Plus, right now at Acme, you can clip a digital deal to get the Spiral Sliced Ham for just $.99/lb. That is a steal!
Get the Recipe: Apple Stuffed Spiral Ham
The Best Creamy Mashed Potatoes
You cannot have a Christmas dinner without mashed potatoes. I love this recipe because it is incredibly creamy and flavorful. The secret ingredient? Sour cream. It makes the texture just perfect.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Parsley Mashed Potatoes
Prep Tip: You can peel and chop your potatoes 3 days in advance—just keep them submerged in a bowl of cold water in the fridge so they don’t turn brown!
Sheet Roasted Root Vegetables
I love root vegetables, especially during the holidays in Northeast Ohio. This is such a pretty dish to put on the table because of all the colors. While I usually love getting veggies from the Huron Farm, I didn’t plan ahead this time, so I’m using the great selection I found at the grocery store. I’ll skip the potatoes since I’m already make two kinds. It is healthy, hearty, and looks stunning on a platter.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Roasted Root Vegetables and Potatoes
Fresh Candied Sweet Potatoes
This is a total showstopper! Both the kids and adults go crazy for this one. Please, do yourself a favor and skip the canned yams. Making it fresh is so easy and tastes a million times better.
The marshmallows get beautiful and puffed up in the oven—just remember to add them at the very last minute so they don’t deflate before you serve them! I haven’t captured a good pic for this recipe yet because they deflate so quickly and I only make them ON holidays, but I’ll try to take a pic this Christmas!
Get the Recipe: Best Candied Sweet Potatoes
Prep Tip: You can boil and slice the sweet potatoes and make the glaze 2-3 days ahead. On Christmas day, just assemble, reheat, and add the marshmallows!
Cranberry Orange Relish
This is my absolute favorite side dish. Honestly, I could eat bowls full of this! I always have to make 3 or 4 batches because everyone wants to take some home as leftovers. It is fresh, zesty, and cuts through the richness of the ham perfectly.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish
Prep Tip: This actually tastes better if you make it a few days early because the flavors have time to meld together.
A Decadent Dessert: Eggnog Crème Brûlée
I wanted to make something classy but manageable this Christmas. This Eggnog Crème Brûlée is so decadent and feels very fancy, but it is surprisingly simple to make. It screams “Christmas!”
Get the Recipe: Easy Eggnog Crème Brûlée
