Christmas day can be one of the busiest days of the year for most families. That’s why it’s important to keep lunch simple. Make-ahead casseroles and festive salads and sides can help round out your midday meal, but having a quick or easy option is the best way to make meal prep a little simpler. One of our favorite no-fuss ideas? A grazing board. If you’re not sure how many people you’ll be expecting for lunch, or if you just want to keep things casual and sort of snack-y, this Mediterranean-inspired spread is your best bet. Start by preparing three quick elements—homemade marinated feta, marinated artichoke hearts and fried halloumi cheese—then surround them with your choice of colorful ingredients and prepared foods like hummus, pickles, crunchy veggies and more.

This quick and easy pasta dish couldn’t be simpler—ready in just 25 minutes, it requires less than ten ingredients to yield a light and flavorful lunch. Simply roast the shrimp on a sheet pan in the oven, then toss with cooked angel hair, melted butter, olive oil and lemon juice. It’s a fantastic lunch that’s easy to whip up but still feels special and celebratory.

If you thought pasta salad was just for the summertime, you obviously haven’t tried this Christmas pasta salad. The vibrant colors from broccoli and red peppers make it extra festive, and the flavors are delicious no matter what time of year it is.

Christmas is a day to enjoy hearty and nourishing meals, and these cabbage rolls are the definition of comfort food. Stuffed with ground pork, rice and seasonings, the steamed cabbage rolls act as a delicate but flavorful wrapper for the dense meat filling. Better yet, you can prep the ingredients the night before and wrap them in the morning before lunch is served.

This roasted butternut squash salad from Ina Garten brings together sweet squash, peppery arugula and tangy cider vinaigrette for a warm, cozy lunch dish that’s as vibrant as it is flavorful.

These rolls are one of the easiest snacks you can whip up for a special occasion. Start with one can of flaky biscuits, and cut each one in quarters. Toss with butter, pesto and garlic, then bake until golden. The crispy treats are full of flavor and therefore a perfect accompaniment to a special lunch spread.

It seems there’s no occasion where baked macaroni and cheese isn’t a welcome addition to the table, and Christmas day is no different. This classic recipe is hearty and creamy, and it’s an easy way to warm up anyone’s tummy—both kids and adults alike. Prep it the night before and store it in the refrigerator, or make ahead and freeze for up to three months.

This cheery holiday salad is a fun (and delicious!) decorating idea for a party. A trio of lettuces create the evergreen tree, and items from the deli counter and salad bar become an edible garland. It’s a fantastic way to keep your guests satiated while they wait for the big dinner to be served.

This hearty dish is perfect for lunch or dinner, and it’s impressive enough to serve as a holiday meal. Better yet, it can be made in advance and stored in the freezer. That way, you can prepare it ahead of time and take it out on Christmas, keeping your hands free to tackle other tasks.

Christmas morning can be so busy, a lot of people don’t start eating breakfast until it’s almost lunchtime anyway. That’s why we love this brunch dish—the decadent and beautiful casserole is perfect for a brunch or holiday breakfast. English muffins are soaked in a custard and baked along with Canadian bacon, then topped with poached eggs and lemony hollandaise before serving.

Ready in just 20 minutes, this light salad is a great way to offset all the other heavy dishes that are served around the Christmas holiday. Start by massaging bright and vibrant kale with a bit of lemon juice, then add cranberries, pine nuts, red pepper and fennel. When arranged in a wreath shape the dish takes on a whole new level of festive fun.

Whipping up a holiday meal can be a lot of work. Instead of doing the hard stuff yourself, let your sheet trays do the work for you. This easy dinner looks super impressive, but roasting everything together makes the prep work significantly easier. Better yet—there’s less dishes to worry about after the fact.

Preparing Christmas lunch should be easy and quick, so we love this French onion tart as a grab-and-go option. It requires less than ten ingredients and comes together in less than an hour, so it’s an easy dish to whip up for your hungry guests. Vidalia onions add sweetness, while beef stock and thyme balance it out with savory, herbal flavor.

For a refreshing snack that’s easy and festive, these crostinis are great for a crowd. Grape tomatoes, pesto and mozzarella balls mimic the festive colors of Christmas that are delightfully displayed on pieces of sliced baguette.

Stuffed pork roast is an impressive dish to make for any special occasion, so it’s perfect for a holiday lunch with friends and family. If you’re looking for a hearty dish that can be served as lunch or dinner, this stuffed pork loin is a great way to feed a crowd. After prepping the ingredients it roasts in the oven for a full hour, then can be served with your favorite holiday sides—like mashed potatoes or steamed green beans.

Tired of boring ham and cheese quiche? Here’s an easy way to elevate it: bake the filling in an uber-crispy hash brown crust for the perfect brunch dish for a crowd. Whether you enjoy it for breakfast or lunch, this filling and nutritious meal is fantastic for a busy holiday.

Christmas is a busy day, so sometimes it can be challenging to get everyone to sit down at the table for lunch. This steak board is a great way to let friends and family make their own lunch whenever they’re ready. The perfect grazing board, it’s packed with hearty ingredients that easily make up a tasty sandwich.

Not only does this colorful salad double as a beautiful centerpiece for your holiday buffet table, it also solves the problem of soggy lettuce. The citrus dressing goes in a bowl and the salad is arranged around the dressing to look like a wreath. Guests can serve themselves and drizzle on the dressing as desired.

If you’re looking for a hearty lunch that’s easy to whip up and will leave you feeling full, twice baked potatoes are a fun option. All you need are a few russet potatoes, sour cream, shredded cheddar, and any extra toppings you like. The versatile vegetables can be topped with cheese, chopped bacon, or ground beef depending on how you like them.

Ina Garten’s baked shrimp scampi is a buttery, garlicky crowd-pleaser with a crispy topping that makes it perfect for a festive and elegant lunch.

This yummy Christmas tree pizza will delight kids and adults alike. Made from refrigerated bread dough topped with alfredo sauce, pesto and mozzarella cheese the cute shape makes it a great choice for Christmas day. Top with fresh basil and cherry tomatoes for even more “décor.”

This ham and cheese wreath is perfect for serving guests. Frozen crescent roll dough is the secret shortcut to the easy dish that takes less than an hour to make. Jalapeno jelly, sliced ham, gruyere cheese and pepper jack cheese make for the creamy, cheesy and perfectly spicy filling.

If you have stale bread laying around, this bread salad is the best way to put it to good use. Simply toast the bread, then toss with cherry tomatoes, olives, peppers and chopped basil. The crunchy, crisp salad is tasty and hearty, so it’s a great dish to serve if you want to keep it light for Christmas lunch.

This hearty sauce is packed with meat, which means it’s a fantastic choice for anyone who sticks to the seven fishes on Christmas eve. You can make it in advance and it just gets tastier and tastier throughout the day. As many times as you reheat it, it just gets that much better, so if people are coming and going throughout the day, cook off only as much pasta as you need at the time and serve.

After weeks of big holiday celebrations, sometimes all you want to eat on Christmas day is something light. Especially if you have a big dinner ahead of you, a light salad for lunch can be a great way to go. This one is a mix of arugula, toasted walnuts, pomegranate and fennel, so it’s light and refreshing yet warm and festive at the same time.

Stromboli is a great way to feed a crowd, because it’s packed with yummy filling but easy to pick up and eat with your hands. If you’re expecting guests for Christmas lunch, try whipping up some mortadella Stromboli. It’s easy to prep in advance, so it’s a hands-off way to serve up a hearty and flavorful meal.