50 Quick and Easy Holiday Recipes Everyone Will Love
Serve something impressive this holiday season—and still have time for family and friends.
Hosting Made Simple
If you’re anything like us, you’ve made a list (and checked it twice!) and discovered that there’s a whole lot to do during the holidays. From planning appetizers for cocktail get-togethers to baking cookies for Santa, your days are likely filled with plenty of cooking, baking and hosting. That’s why it’s always a good idea to keep a shortcut or two in your back pocket—simple recipes that come together quickly, giving you more time for what’s really important. That’s where these dishes come in. They sacrifice nothing in terms of flavor or presentation, but help you accomplish more in less time. You’ll find impressive mains, crowd-pleasing cocktails and even some easy cookie recipes. Whatever you decide to make, be sure to save a spot on your menu for these miniature cherry pies. They come together in an hour with premade pie crust and canned cherry pie filling but look like fancy, bakery-made confections thanks to the help of a miniature Christmas tree cookie cutter.
Easy Parmesan "Risotto"
The preparation for Ina's parmesan risotto is nearly effortless. Her trick is to cook the Arborio rice and chicken stock in a Dutch oven. They're well suited for long, slow cooking, eliminating the need for constant stirring, which you'll find with most stove top risotto recipes.
Sunny Anderson's Butterflied Cornish Hens with Sage Butter
Sunny's Cornish hens get extra-crispy, flavorful skin when she sears them, roasts them with bacon and bastes them with sage butter. She butterflies them, which means they cook quickly and allow you to get a holiday main on the table in no time.
Roasted Fresh Ham with Cider Glaze
Yes, this ham takes several hours to prepare from beginning to end, but it's certainly simple and requires just half an hour of active prep work. Once you've mixed the brine and scored the ham, the rest is a cinch. Let it sit overnight, then pop it in the oven the next day.