These Make-Ahead Holiday Recipes are the ultimate time-savers for stress-free entertaining! From casseroles and side dishes to festive desserts and breakfasts, these recipes help you plan ahead so you can actually enjoy the celebration. Whether you’re hosting a big family dinner or bringing a dish to a holiday potluck, we’ve got delicious, crowd-pleasing ideas that can be prepped in advance and finished just before serving.
When it comes to make-ahead holiday recipes, here’s how to ensure success!
- Choose recipes that hold up well overnight like casseroles, dips, and desserts that can be refrigerated and then served cold or reheated later.
- Prep and portion ingredients a day or two before to save time when you’ll actually be making the dish. Pre-chopping and measuring goes a long way!
- Choose dishes that get more flavourful with time. Many casseroles and baked dishes benefit both in flavour and texture if they’re made the day before, and appetizers like dips and cheese balls have so much more flavour if they’re made a day ahead.
- Reheat dishes gently before serving to preserve flavour and texture.
1
French Toast Casserole
The BEST easy breakfast or brunch recipe, simple enough for a weekday breakfast and perfectly decadent for a holiday brunch, this French Toast Casserole recipe is ready in one hour! Or make it the night before for a fuss-free morning!
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2
Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole
This Easy Breakfast Casserole recipe is a savoury meal prep breakfast that's simple enough for everyday & perfect for a holiday brunch! It's make-ahead, it's easy to customize, and it's the best hands-off solution for serving breakfast for a crowd!
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3
Mini Cheese Ball Bites
An easy make-ahead appetizer or snack recipe, this Mini Cheese Ball Bites recipe is the perfect appetizer for cheese lovers made 3 ways: Cranberry & Pecan, Bacon & Ranch, and Honey Sesame!
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4
Homemade Stuffing
The ultimate stuffing for Christmas and Thanksgiving, this Homemade Stuffing recipe is the BEST easy-to-make holiday side dish!
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5
Easy Cranberry Maple Glazed Ham
This Easy Cranberry Maple Glazed Ham is a simple main dish for the holidays with an easy 3-ingredient maple glaze and fresh cranberries!
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6
No Bake Gingerbread Pumpkin Icebox Cake
This No Bake Gingerbread Pumpkin Icebox cake is the best make-ahead holiday dessert recipe for Thanksgiving or Christmas! With 5 ingredients, you can make it in 15 minutes!
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7
Sweet Potato Casserole
Topped with marshmallows and candied pecans, this easy Sweet Potato Casserole recipe is a classic holiday side dish made with creamy mashed sweet potatoes. With make-ahead instructions for easy prep!
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8
Apple Cinnamon French Toast Casserole
This Apple Cinnamon French Toast Casserole is the perfect holiday breakfast entertaining recipe made with fresh apples, pecans, and served with maple syrup!
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9
Pinwheels
Made with tortillas, meat, cheese, and veggies, this Pinwheels recipe makes the perfect snack, appetizer for any occasion!
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10
Wrapped Asparagus with Bacon
This Wrapped Asparagus with Bacon makes the perfect easy make-ahead side dish for holiday dinners or weeknight meals. Only a few simple ingredients, and ready in under 25 minutes!
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11
Sausage Stuffing
A simple & savoury holiday side dish that's perfect for Christmas & Thanksgiving, this Sausage Stuffing is a classic recipe!
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12
Butternut Squash Stuffing
This Butternut Squash Stuffing is a delicious and simple holiday side dish that's full of fresh butternut squash and savoury herbs!
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13
3 Ingredient Healthier Crock Pot Hot Chocolate
This 3 Ingredient Healthier Crock Pot Hot Chocolate recipe is the perfect warm winter drink for the whole family!
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14
Peanut Butter Blossoms
The best classic Christmas cookies, this Peanut Butter Blossoms recipe makes the perfect soft and chewy peanut butter cookies, dipped in sugar and topped with milk chocolate.
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15
Spinach Artichoke Dip
This easy Spinach Artichoke Dip recipe is a simple baked appetizer that's delicious served with chips, crackers, or cut veggies.
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16
Cranberry Bacon Stuffing (Quick Stuffing Recipe)
This quick stuffing recipe makes a delicious holiday side dish that's full of fresh cranberries and crispy bacon! Make Cranberry Bacon Stuffing in 30 minutes for Thanksgiving or Christmas!
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17
Cinnamon Rolls
Sweet, sticky, soft and fluffy, and made with a secret ingredient, this Cinnamon Rolls recipe makes the BEST homemade cinnamon rolls!
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18
Easy Roasted Potato Casserole
This Easy Roasted Potato Casserole is made with red, purple and sweet potatoes and it's the perfect side dish! Thinly sliced potatoes roasted with garlic and herbs!
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19
Roast Turkey Breast
This Roast Turkey Breast recipe is a fast and easy holiday main dish made with boneless skinless turkey breast. It's full of flavour, perfect for a small gathering, and it's ready in under 2 hours!
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20
Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots
These Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots make the perfect side dish for your holiday dinner! They’re on the table in under 30 minutes with only 4 ingredients!
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21
Best Ever Ginger Molasses Cookies
These Best Ever Ginger Molasses Cookies are crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside and perfectly flavoured with ginger!
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22
Christmas Cheddar Cheese Ball
This cheddar cheese ball recipe makes a delicious appetizer for holiday entertaining. It's easy to make with simple ingredients and the festive green and red colour means it's pretty as well!
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23
Cranberry Baked Brie Appetizer
Pomegranate Cranberry Baked Brie is a delicious easy-to-make party appetizer with a sweet and savoury flavour. It's the perfect recipe to make for holiday parties!
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24
Roasted Potatoes and Carrots
This Roasted Potatoes and Carrots recipe is the perfect easy side dish that's delicious enough for the holidays and easy enough for a weeknight meal!
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25
Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
The perfect comfort food side dish for the holidays, this Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole is made with an easy homemade cheese sauce and crispy topping.
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26
Cranberry Orange Sweet Rolls
These Cranberry Orange Sweet Rolls are made with a simple sweet dough, fresh oranges and cranberries & an easy orange glaze! Perfect for holiday brunch!
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27
Butternut Squash Stuffing
This Butternut Squash Stuffing is a delicious and simple holiday side dish that's full of fresh butternut squash and savoury herbs!
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28
Easy Homemade Hummus
This Easy Homemade Hummus Recipe is the perfect easy-to-make and healthy snack or appetizer made with basic ingredients!
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29
No Bake Gingerbread Cheesecake Bites
These Gingerbread Cheesecake Bites are the perfect sweet no-bake holiday treat made with only 4 ingredients!
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30
Best Ever Creamy Mashed Potatoes
These Best Ever Creamy Mashed Potatoes are perfect for the holidays! Simple mashed potatoes baked to creamy perfection with butter and cream cheese!
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31
Bacon Wrapped Dijon Roast Turkey Breast
This Bacon Wrapped Dijon Roast Turkey Breast is smothered in a sweet and tangy mustard sauce and roasted until perfectly juicy! A great alternative to traditional turkey recipes for the holidays!
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32
Kinderpunsch
This Kinderpunsch recipe is the perfect German-style non-alcoholic punch for the holidays made with fruit tea, juice & Christmas spices.
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33
Cider Spice Cranberry Sauce
This Cider Spice Cranberry Sauce is an easy to make homemade cranberry sauce recipe with the flavors of mulled cider. Perfect for Christmas dinner!
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34
Pumpkin Cheese Ball
The perfect snack or party appetizer for Halloween or Thanksgiving, this fall-inspired Pumpkin Cheese Ball recipe is a classic cheese ball mixture shaped like a pumpkin and coated with cheddar cheese!
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35
Gingerbread Cookies
This Gingerbread Cookie recipe is a no-fail classic Christmas cookies recipe made with molasses and a simple royal icing. Follow our tutorial for the best gingerbread cookies – perfect for the holidays!
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36
Easy Classic Baked Meatballs
These Easy Classic Baked Meatballs are perfect as an appetizer or added to your favourite Italian dishes. Made from basic ingredients in under 30 minutes!
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37
Healthy Winter Citrus Spinach Arugula Salad
Spinach arugula salad is the perfect holiday side dish. Make this recipe with healthy greens, citrus fruit, pecans and maple balsamic dressing!
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38
Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball
This Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball is the perfect easy to make appetizer or snack for entertaining! It can be served with your favourite crackers or veggies!
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39
No Bake Pumpkin Tiramisu
Pumpkin Tiramisu is an easy no bake dessert for fall, bursting with pumpkin flavour! Make this easy tiramisu recipe to serve for Thanksgiving!
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40
Maple Cranberry Coleslaw
This Maple Cranberry Coleslaw is a delicious and healthy holiday side dish made with fresh cranberries, pecans and maple syrup!
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