Christmas is magical but busy! Between family, kids, gift wrapping, and decorating, cooking doesn’t have to be stressful. That’s why I’ve rounded up 20 quick and festive recipes you can make in 30 minutes or less. These breakfasts, snacks, mains, and desserts are holiday-perfect, stress-free, and guaranteed to keep everyone smiling.
20 Easy Christmas Recipes Under 30 Minutes
🎅 Breakfast & Brunch
- Cinnamon Roll Christmas Wreath
A festive, edible centerpiece for Christmas morning!
Ingredients:
- 2 cans refrigerated cinnamon rolls
- ½ cup icing (from can)
- Red & green sprinkles
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Arrange cinnamon rolls in a wreath shape on a baking sheet.
- Bake 18–20 minutes until golden.
- Drizzle with icing and decorate with sprinkles.
💡 Tip: Add mini candy canes for a decorative touch.
- Gingerbread Pancakes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup pancake mix
- 1 tbsp molasses
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¾ cup milk
Instructions:
- Mix pancake batter with molasses and spices.
- Cook on a greased skillet, 2–3 minutes per side.
- Serve with whipped cream and maple syrup.
- Cranberry Orange Muffins
Ingredients:
- 2 cups muffin mix
- ½ cup orange juice
- Zest of 1 orange
- ½ cup dried cranberries
Instructions:
- Mix all ingredients until just combined.
- Divide into muffin tin.
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15–20 minutes.
- Eggnog French Toast
Ingredients:
- 4 slices brioche bread
- 1 cu
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp nutmeg
Instructions:
- Whisk eggnog, egg, and nutmeg.
- Dip bread into mixture.
- Fry in buttered skillet 2–3 mins each side.
- Serve with powdered sugar.
- Festive Yogurt Parfaits
Ingredients:
- 2 cups vanilla yogurt
- 1 cup granola
- 1 cup sliced strawberries
- 1 cup kiwi
Instructions:
- Layer yogurt, granola, and fruit in glasses.
- Repeat layers for a festive red & green look.
- Serve chilled.
🧀 Appetizers & Snacks
- Cheesy Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread
Ingredients:
- 1 can crescent roll dough
- 12 mozzarella cubes
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Instructions:
- Roll dough into balls, stuffing each with cheese.
- Arrange in tree shape on baking sheet.
- Brush with butter + garlic powder.
- Bake 15 minutes until golden.
- Stuffed Mini Peppers
Ingredients:
- 12 mini peppers
- ½ cup cream cheese
- ¼ cup chopped bacon
- 1 tbsp chives
Instructions:
- Slice peppers in half.
- Mix cream cheese, bacon, and chives.
- Fill peppers and serve.
9. Cranberry Brie Bites (as shown before)
These are the ultimate holiday party appetizer—buttery puff pastry, gooey brie, and tart cranberry sauce. They look elegant but only take 15 minutes to bake!
Ingredients (makes 12):
- 1 sheet puff pastry (thawed)
- 6 oz brie cheese (cut into 12 cubes)
- ½ cup cranberry sauce (homemade or canned)
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cut puff pastry into 12 small squares and place into a greased mini muffin tin.
- Add one cube of brie into each pastry square.
- Top with 1 teaspoon cranberry sauce.
- Sprinkle with rosemary (optional).
- Bake for 12–15 minutes, until pastry is golden and cheese is bubbly.
- Serve warm, straight from the oven.
Time-Saving Tip: Use canned cranberry sauce and pre-cut puff pastry squares to save prep time.
- Garlic Parmesan Roasted Carrots
Ingredients:
- 1 lb baby carrots
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Instructions:
- Toss carrots with oil, cheese, and garlic.
- Roast at 400°F (200°C) for 20 minutes.
- Garnish with parsley.
- Holiday Deviled Eggs
Ingredients:
- 6 boiled eggs
- ¼ cup mayo
- 1 tsp mustard
- Paprika + chopped chives
Instructions:
- Halve eggs, scoop yolks.
- Mash yolks with mayo + mustard.
- Fill whites, sprinkle paprika + chives.
🍗 Quick Mains
- Honey-Glazed Ham Slices
Ingredients:
- 6 ham slices
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
Instructions:
- Heat skillet on medium.
- Mix honey + mustard, brush on ham.
- Cook 3–4 minutes each side.
- Turkey Cranberry Quesadillas
Ingredients:
- 2 tortillas
- 1 cup leftover turkey
- ¼ cup cranberry sauce
- ½ cup shredded cheese
Instructions:
- Layer turkey, cheese, cranberry sauce inside tortilla.
- Fold in half, cook in skillet 3 mins each side.
- Slice into wedges.
- Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
Ingredients:
- 8 oz pasta
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled
- 3 tbsp butter
- 2 cloves garlic
Instructions:
- Boil pasta, drain.
- Sauté shrimp with butter and garlic (5 mins).
- Toss with pasta.
14. Christmas Veggie
Ingredients:
- 2 cups broccoli
- 1 cup red bell pepper
- 1 cup snow peas
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
Instructions:
- Stir-fry veggies 5–6 minutes.
- Add soy sauce and toss.
- One-Pan Chicken and Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients:
- 2 chicken breasts
- 2 cups Brussels sprouts
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp rosemary
Instructions:
- Heat oil in pan.
- Cook chicken 6 mins per side.
- Add sprouts + rosemary, cook 8 mins.
🍪 Desserts and Sweets
- Peppermint Bark
Ingredients:
- 12 oz white chocolate
- ½ cup crushed candy canes
Instructions:
- Melt chocolate and spread on parchment.
- Sprinkle candy canes.
- Chill until firm and break into pieces.
- No-Bake Oreo Reindeer Truffles
Ingredients:
- 24 Oreos
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 8 oz chocolate (melted)
- Pretzels and red candies
Instructions:
- Crush Oreos, mix with cream cheese.
- Roll into balls, dip in chocolate.
- Add pretzel “antlers” and candy noses.
- Christmas Popcorn Mix
Ingredients:
- 8 cups popped popcorn
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- ½ cup red + green M&Ms
- Sprinkles
Instructions:
- Melt chocolate, drizzle over popcorn.
- Toss with candies and sprinkles.
- Hot Chocolate with Candy Cane Stirrers
Ingredients:
- 4 cups milk
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ cup sugar
- Whipped cream + candy canes
Instructions:
- Heat milk, whisk in cocoa + sugar.
- Pour into mugs, top with cream.
- Add candy cane stir sticks.
- Sugar Cookie Dip
Ingredients:
- 8 oz cream cheese
- ½ cup sugar cookie mix
- 1 cup whipped topping
Instructions:
- Beat cream cheese until smooth.
- Add cookie mix + whipped topping.
- Chill and serve with graham crackers.
🎁 Conclusion
These 20 easy Christmas recipes are proof that holiday cooking doesn’t have to be complicated. In under 30 minutes, you can create festive breakfasts, cozy snacks, crowd-pleasing mains, and fun desserts without missing out on family time.
This Christmas, let’s keep it stress-free, delicious, and magical. 🎄
