Easy Christmas Dinner For Spoonies

Does the idea of having to host an elaborate festive dinner make you want to hide until the holidays are over? I’ve been there, and found the perfect solution: an easy Christmas dinner for spoonies, exhausted parents, and overworked professionals.

No matter who you are, or why you want to simplify your holiday meals, I’ve got your back!

A Four-Course Dinner Without the Exhaustion

What if I told you it’s possible to prepare a four-course dinner that will look like you went all-out, when in fact you hardly lifted a finger? Sounds too good to be true?

Yes, that’s because it’s not quite as easy as that, but I promise you this: with these recipes you can host a glamorous dinner without wiping yourself out.

Let’s have a look at what I’ve got in store for you.

The recipe for the Cucumber-Salmon Roll-Ups turned out to be a right pain in the arse to make. Definitely not spoonie-friendly. But… I came up with a super-simple alternative: cucumber slices topped with hummus and a cherry tomato, a sliver of smoked salmon, or a piece of sugared ginger (or anything else you like). Quick, easy, elegant.

The other three recipes—including free printable recipe cards—are already available on the blog. And as a bonus, I’ll even suggest wine pairings, so you won’t have to worry about that either.

A Simple Christmas Menu That Works

A Spoonie myself, I know how hard the holidays can hit. Especially when you’re parenting young children, or juggling a demanding job. 

Over the years, I tried everything: from just having the incredibly easy, traditional Dutch boerenkool met worst (neither festive nor elegant, but healthy and filling), to working myself into a weeklong flare over creating and hosting an elaborate 5-course dinner for the entire extended family. (Would not recommend.)

Finally, I came up with a workable plan: easy, yet luxurious dishes that can either be prepared ahead or will only take a few minutes to prepare. Bonus points for recipes that hit both criteria. 

This low effort Christmas dinner is a perfect match.

Three out of four courses can be made ahead, and the main course takes only 15 minutes to prepare—and can be kept warm in the oven while you’re enjoying your appetiser and soup.

My friends, it doesn’t get much easier than that.

Easy Christmas Dinner Recipes

Without further ado, let’s jump in. Below are the recipes for this year’s low effort Christmas dinner. Use them all, or pick and choose. The choice is yours.

1

Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup

Five minutes of prep, a handful of veg, and the slow cooker does the rest. This clear vegetable soup is light, comforting, and utterly effortless. The perfect choice for a low-effort Christmas dinner.

Printable recipe card

2

Gluten-Free Creamy Pasta with Chickpeas & Spinach

This easy gluten-free pasta toss is packed with flavour: sautéed mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, spinach, chickpeas, and a generous handful of thinly sliced garlic, stirred through with (pant-based) cream cheese for irresistible creaminess.

Printable recipe card

3

Dutch Stoofperen—Slow Cooker Version

These soft, spiced stewed pears turn a deep festive red and need almost no effort. A stunning Dutch classic made with everyday ingredients.

Printable recipe card

Optional Sides For Your Festive Dinner

If you’ve got the time and energy to spare, you might even want to serve one or both of these side dishes with the main course. While not strictly necessary, it will up the wow-factor by a notch or two.

Here are a few optional, low-effort ideas:

Wine Pairings for Your Low Effort Christmas Dinner

If, like me, you enjoy a good glass of wine with your festive dinner, here are some suggestions that won’t break the bank—without having to sacrifice taste.

Variations and Alternative Dishes

Vegan, vegetarian, other dietary needs, or food sensitivities… I want to make sure all my readers will find something they can enjoy this Christmas. And—while I’m aware I may not succeed for the full 100%—that won’t stop me from at least trying. Below are some alternatives for you to choose from.

Cucumber-Hummus Roll-Ups

For my vegan and vegetarian readers, I’ve provided an absolutely mouth-watering alternative for the cucumber-salmon roll-ups: cucumber-hummus roll-ups with roasted bell peppers or sundried tomatoes. 

No vegan, but still prefer these over the salmon ones? No problem. Actually, I wouldn’t blame anyone for having both; I might just do so myself. If energy levels allow, of course.

Pasta With Spinach and Bacon

A festive pasta dish for the meat-eaters among us. It’s been many years since I last had bacon, but I remember the taste well enough. Salty and smokey, it would be a great substitute for the chickpeas in the original pasta dish. Just slice the bacon into thin strips and sauté them with the onion, garlic, and mushrooms, before adding cherry tomatoes and spinach. After that, simply follow the original recipe. Success guaranteed!

Boozy ABC Pudding

Think Dutch Stoofperen is too much trouble? Or maybe you couldn’t get the right pears (it happens), or you’re allergic…

No worries, I’ve got the best, most decadent ABC Pudding recipe for you. Includes a non-alcoholic variation, too.

Zero-Spoon Dessert: Sorbet

Don’t have the spoons to make a Christmas-worthy dessert? No worries!

Just put a nice big tub of lemon sorbet on your Christmas grocery list, and serve a scoop of sorbet in a glass bowl, drizzle coffee syrup, Baileys, or Licor 43, and garnish with an After Eight.

What’s Your Festive Dinner?

Will you be making any of these dishes this Christmas? If you do, tell me in the comments, and let me know how it turned out. I’d love to know.

This post is part of the mini series The Gentle Art of Winter Cooking, a celebration of spoonie-friendly, easy, and nourishing dishes that provide warmth and comfort on cold days.

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