Best Christmas recipes of 2024: mains, sides, drinks and dessert

Don’t panic. Christmas may be creeping up, but we have the recipes to plan your festive menu. We have all your bases covered, from easy Christmas recipes to mains of pork and ham, turkey, lamb, or seafood – and the salads and sides to go with it.

If you’re looking after the main event, turn to our utterly delicious glazed ham recipes primed for lunch or Christmas dinner. Prefer a golden roast turkey? We have roasted whole birds served with cranberry as well as a stuffed turkey roll and a turkey involtini dish for faster Christmas cooks. Plus, plenty of fish and seafood recipes typical of an Australian holiday feast.

Festive salads and sides don’t get overlooked, either. Because as we know, a good salad or potato bake can easily outshine the main event.

To finish your feasting on a (sugar) high, our showstopping dessert recipes have you sorted. As for drinks, there are plenty of Christmas cocktails to keep the party going.

Best Christmas recipes for the ultimate festive feast in 2024

Date, gingerbread and yoghurt naked layer cake with burnt orange caramel — Gingerbread layer cake topped with figs *(Credits: Ben Dearnley)*

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slow cook lamb with rosemary pesto in baking dish.

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Farro risotto with mushrooms, leek and parmesan

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O Tama Carey's braised beef brisket recipe

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Amaretto and cherry-glazed ham with pistachio and herb crust *(Credits: Alicia Taylor)*

Our best Christmas ham recipes to impress

Win over your guests slice by slice with these best Christmas ham recipes.

How to master your Christmas ham glaze — *(Credits: John Paul Urizar (main))*

Christmas ham glazes from Australia’s best chefs

If a ham is the ruler of the Christmas table, a well-made glaze is its crown. Here some of our leading culinary lights share their favourite formulas. It’s brush hour.

Jock Zonfrillo's roast turkey with native herbs and spices — Christmas turkey recipes for your festive feast *(Credits: Photo: Ben Dearnley)*

Christmas turkey recipes for your festive feast

If not during Christmas, then when?

Gin-cured salmon gravlax — How to make gin-cured salmon gravlax *(Credits: Alicia Taylor)*

Stay sane with these make-ahead Christmas recipes

A merry Christmas is a stress-free Christmas with these make-ahead recipes.

Heirloom tomatoes and peaches with white bean and hazelnut tarator *(Credits: Con Poulos)*

Vegetarian Christmas recipes, from snacks through to mains

Because Christmas doesn’t have to be an all-ham affair.

Barbecued lamb in baharat and yoghurt *(Credits: Alicia Taylor)*

The best-ever Christmas roasts (that aren’t ham or turkey)

Sometimes it pays to switch things up a little. So this festive season, why not try a Christmas roast recipe that isn’t ham or turkey?

Slow-cooked lamb shoulder with black garlic and mint persillade on pink dish with white and orange check napkin and two grapefruit palomas with burnt grapefruit and a sprig of rosemary. — Slow-cooked lamb shoulder with black garlic and mint persillade *(Credits: Ben Dearnley)*

34 lamb recipes for Christmas

For gatherings big or small, there’s a festive lamb main for you.

Chefs' best Christmas mains: Jock Zonfrillo's roast turkey with native herbs and spices — Jock Zonfrillo's roast turkey with native herbs and spices *(Credits: Ben Dearnley)*

Top chefs share their best Christmas mains for a memorable feast

Brace for impact.

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When life hands you lemons, make these lemon desserts

Slow-cook recipes for when time is on your side

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

12 easy pork recipes for fast weeknight dinners

Brought to you by Australian Pork

62 perfect prawn recipes for every season

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

22 warming risotto recipes to cause a stir with

Our 12 best beef brisket recipes

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

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French cuisine and classic French recipes to master

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Eggplant tabbouleh salad with grilled peaches and pomegranate *(Credits: Ben Dearnley)*

32 Christmas side dishes that will outshine the main course

Whether you prefer simple and traditional or something with a bit of flair, these are the only Christmas sides you’ll need.

A large plate of figs with burrata, garnished with pomegranate arils and fennel sprigs — Fig, pomegranate and burrata salad with Sherry vinaigrette *(Credits: Con Poulos)*

37 Christmas salads to dress your festive table in 2024

You’ll make a lot of friends with these festive salads.

Best Christmas desserts for Christmas Day - white chocolate, raspberry and pistachio semifreddo — White chocolate, raspberry and pistachio semifreddo *(Credits: Brett Stevens)*

Christmas desserts to end your festive feasting on a high

Be it a traditional pudding, a layered trifle or a pavlova adorned with summer fruit, there’s only one rule: make it unforgettable.

Traditional Christmas pudding with Pedro Ximénez and brown sugar and fig ice-cream *(Credits: Chris Chen)*

11 Christmas pudding recipes

There’s sugar, spice and all things nice. Get ahead with your Christmas dessert preparation and you’ll be rewarded on the big day.

Cranberry, pistachio and almond nougat *(Credits: James Moffatt)*

Bookmark these nougat recipes for Christmas

Soft and chewy or firm and crunchy – the choice is yours.

Sunset Negroni *(Credits: Ben Dearnley)*

36 of the best Christmas cocktail recipes for sipping this season

This is going to be one very merry Christmas.

Prawn and sesame toasts. *(Credits: Alicia Taylor)*

33 of the best recipes for Christmas leftovers

Otherwise known as delicious ways to minimise post-Christmas food waste.

The Gourmet Traveller Team

Gourmet Traveller is Australia’s trusted authority on food, travel and luxury lifestyle, bringing the latest news and trends to life through quality journalism, enticing recipes and evocative photography. For more than 55 years, it has been inspiring and informing Australians with the best in cooking, dining, travelling and shopping. Our critics bring the expertise of years of critical eating, drinking and writing to the table. Plus, as the country’s leading title in the luxury sector, Gourmet Traveller works closely with Australia’s leaders in the travel and hospitality industries to give our readers exclusive access. The Gourmet Traveller legacy is one of trust, prestige and relevance.

Best Christmas recipes for the ultimate festive feast in 2024

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