When it comes to the holiday season, nothing brings family to the table quite like an extravagant feast! With simple Christmas dinner ideas for a large group, you can wow the crowd, without ever feeling overwhelmed. The time of year to gather over nostalgic family recipes, the holidays also give home cooks an opportunity to try new things and show off their kitchen savvy.
This year, head into the holidays armed with a plan that will get you through every event. With recipes for starters, mains, grain sides, and desserts, RiceSelect® sets you up for your most delicious holiday table yet. Quick to prepare yet reliably delicious, these dishes are perfect additions to any menu and can be mixed and matched with ease. We also provide a day-before plan that’s designed to make the day-of as seamless as possible. With a little organization, you’ll be able to enjoy the party as much as your guests!
This Christmas, make dishes that cover every craving and that ensure nobody goes hungry. Invite the family, your friends, co-workers, and more, and settle in for a holiday to remember.
How to plan a simple Christmas dinner for a crowd
Once you have your final headcount, start planning the perfect Christmas dinner for a crowd. First, select a few make-ahead starters. Then, choose a showstopping main and two or three grain-based sides that can be served family-style. Don’t forget a couple of crowd-pleasing desserts! Finally, if some guests have special dietary needs, be sure to include dishes that they can enjoy.
Make-ahead starters and appetizers
Nothing says welcome like serving guests a delicious bite and something to sip on the minute they enter a room. Get your party started off on the right foot, with make-ahead Christmas dinner starters that are delectable and easy to share.
Rice and Cheese Spread
Made with RiceSelect® Texmati Rice, this eye-catching, retro party classic is heartier than most. Zippy and luxurious, thanks to plenty of cheddar and a slew of seasonings, it’s a welcome first bite when served with crackers or crunchy vegetables. Make this no-cook recipe ahead of time.
Sausage and Sage Arancini
Get a head start on any get-together by making the sausage-rich risotto needed for these golden snacks. Since the RiceSelect® Arborio Rice dish has to rest for a minimum of six hours before you can finish this recipe, these cheesy, crisp arancini are an ideal make-ahead dish.
Wild Rice and Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
Savory and satisfying, these RiceSelect® Royal Blend® Rice-stuffed mushrooms are delicious as a passed hors d’oeuvre (if made with smaller mushrooms) or a sit-down starter. A boon to busy hosts, they can be completely prepped ahead of time, then popped in the oven just before guests arrive.
Chicken Salad Puffs
Elegant and easy, this dish pairs homemade choux puffs with creamy, chicken and RiceSelect® Jasmati Rice salad. Save some of the unfilled choux puffs to serve for dessert, filled with pastry cream, whipped cream, or chocolate mousse!
Showpiece mains that do the work for you
Some recipes demand too much of a host, whether it's frequent basting, constant stirring, or just a flurry of complicated steps. For a meal that guests—and their host! —will enjoy, focus on these straightforward Christmas dinner ideas for a large group. Some of these dishes are hands-off, spending most of their time in the oven. Others come together on the stovetop, freeing the oven for other items.
Royal Stuffed Pork Loin
RiceSelect® Royal Blend® Rice morphs into a comforting stuffing (and bonus side dish!) in this first-class recipe. Blended with aromatics, herbs, cranberries, and broth, every bite is a warming, festive treat.
Moroccan Spiced Roast Chicken with Pearl Couscous and Chickpea Stew
In this triple-threat dish, RiceSelect® Pearl Couscous, ras el hanout-spiced chicken, and roasted vegetables make a memorable pairing. Rich, sweet, and spicy, this is for hosts who want Christmas dinner menu ideas that double as eye-catching centerpieces for their holiday tables.
Red-Wine Braised Duck with Royal Blend® Rice
In this celebration dinner, duck is braised in spiced red wine, then served over RiceSelect® Royal Blend® Rice. Though this dish requires plenty of cooking to become tender and succulent, most of it is hands-off, leaving you free to accomplish other tasks—like enjoying your own party!
Lamb Shanks with Lemon Couscous
Gather your ingredients, and very little will stand between you and this straightforward dish. With braised lamb shanks over a bed of fluffy, herb-flecked RiceSelect® Couscous, it’s one of our favorite easy Christmas dinner ideas, and it practically cooks itself!
Wine-Poached Halibut
This year, gather the family around an eye-catching dish of stovetop poached fish, celeriac purée, and RiceSelect® Texmati Rice mixed with bacon and sautéed greens. Lighter than other main dishes, this one is extremely elegant and tasty enough to still feel festive.
Tri-Color Pearl Couscous with Langoustines
The ultimate showstopper, this ouzo-kissed dish is also incredibly easy to make! Ready in less than an hour, this dish features langoustines and RiceSelect® Tri-Color Pearl Couscous dotted with briny feta cheese and mint. For a dish that will literally turn heads, flambé it just before bringing it to the table.
Pumpkin Sage Risotto
Turn seasonal fall vegetables into the ultimate vegetarian dishes. Whether you go with a mushroom risotto, or this luxe version, made on the stovetop with RiceSelect® Arborio Rice, pumpkin, aromatics, herbs, and plenty of Parmesan cheese, these restaurant-quality dishes make delicious sides or mains. When making this dish for vegetarians, omit the pancetta and use vegetable broth.
Family-style rice and couscous sides
Every wonderful meal includes complementary sides that bring a burst of color and flavor to the table. For dishes that are brimming with flavor and will keep every guest satisfied, opt for rice- or pasta-based sides. Easy to scale for larger groups, these require very little last-minute work.
Holiday Couscous Salad
A dish that’s so festive it has the word “holiday” in its name, this salad is colorful, flavorful, and perfect for grand get-togethers! A no-oven side made of RiceSelect® Couscous, shredded Brussels sprouts, pecans, cranberries , and bacon, it’s brightened with a zippy maple and mustard vinaigrette.
Roasted Seven-Vegetable Couscous
The season’s peak produce morphs into a stunning vegetarian main in this colorful recipe. Inspired by Moroccan cuisine, the blend of caramelized spiced veggies, tahini za'atar dressing, and seasoned RiceSelect® Couscous is for hosts looking to dazzle with non-traditional Christmas dinner ideas.
Jeweled Rice with Dried Fruit and Nuts
Wow a crowd with this Persian-style RiceSelect® Texmati Rice centerpiece seasoned with saffron, dried fruit, nuts , and pomegranate. Similar to a pilaf, this dish can be served alone, or with grilled fish or meat.
Something sweet to finish
Before sending guests on their way, embrace the holiday season with delicious desserts designed to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth.
Jasmati Coconut Lime Rice
Stray from tradition with a dessert that brings the bright flavors of the tropics to your holiday table. A make-ahead pudding that can be portioned into containers, then added to a dessert buffet, this silky sweet features fragrant RiceSelect® Jasmati Rice cooked with sugar and coconut milk until creamy, rich, and plush. Lime zest and toasted coconut are non-negotiable garnishes.
Peach Curd Raspberry Rice Pudding
Fresh and festive, this rice pudding appeals—even after a heavy meal. RiceSelect® Arborio Rice makes it luxuriously creamy, with delicately sweetened peach curd and berries bringing balance to every bite.
Crème Brûlée Rice Pudding
A must-try Christmas dish, this caramel-coated RiceSelect® Jasmati Rice pudding is the ultimate kitchen flex. Made ahead, it’s easy enough for anyone to master and requires just a few minutes of last-minute prep. Plus, it’s silky, creamy, beautiful, and feels like it came from a fine-dining restaurant!
Arborio Silk Torte
Classic holiday flavors—including cinnamon, vanilla, orange, and liqueur—infuse every morsel of this stunning torte. A recipe that can easily feed 10-12 guests, this one is an entertaining no-brainer.
Cinnamon Rice Fritters
Start frying these tasty tidbits, and your guests might migrate to the kitchen, following the delectable scent! Serve these dusted with icing sugar, with jam, chocolate sauce, or your favorite sweet dip.
Your day-before Christmas game plan
What’s the secret to a great event? Starting with a foolproof plan! Instead of leaving prep until the day of your dinner, get a head start with this day-before plan.
- On your menu, include dishes that can be prepped beforehand. For example, arancini are made with day-old risotto. Couscous and quinoa for salads can also be made the day before your event. Make dressings, rice pudding, dips, and cheese spreads and store them in the refrigerator until you need them.
- Set out serving bowls, platters, spoons, and forks so that you’ll be ready to dish things out as they’re ready.
- Set the table as far in advance as possible. Make sure you have enough chairs, napkins, and place settings. If not, ask friends or family to lend you what you need.
- Ensure a smooth day-of by planning a menu that includes no-cook dishes as well as some that are cooked on the stovetop and others that are cooked in the oven. Though stews and braises can be reheated before they’re served, try to cook seafood or risotto at the last minute.
- Remember to use a meat thermometer to check that proteins are cooked to a safe temperature.
- Since you’re likely to have leftovers, sort through your containers before guests arrive. Make room in the fridge and, after dinner, enlist some help portioning and storing leftovers safely in the fridge. Make sure to reheat any leftovers to a temperature of 165°F (74°C) before digging in!
