Holiday Recipe Roundup - Your Go-To Guide for Easy Recipes

Hi all! It’s getting down to the wire on your holiday menu planning. Still trying to figure out what to make and how to fit it into your crazy life?

Look no further – I’ve got you covered with recipes, tips, and inspiration.

Whether you are doing the hosting or are visiting family, check out my list of dietitian-approved recipes below that are delicious, healthy, and even more importantly, EASY! When you have little ones you only have so much time and let’s be real – you have to modify your complicated recipes that you made pre-kids to maintain your sanity. And that’s OKAY! I do it too. So read on. 🙂

Appetizers

No-bake Brie with Prune Jam

Holiday Fit Dip

Grape Jelly Meatballs

Mains

Coffee-Braised Pot Roast

Garlic-Rosemary Roast Beef

Slow-Cooker Glazed Honey Ham

Pork Tenderloin with Honey Balsamic Glaze

Sides

Make-Ahead Mushroom Sausage Stuffing

Roasted Lemon Pepper Asparagus

Epic Kale Salad with Walnuts, Grapes, & Blue Cheese

Make-Ahead Green Bean Casserole

Desserts

No-Bake Chocolate-Dipped Pumpkin Cookies

Pumpkin Fruit Dip

4-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Easy Coconut Snowballs

Tips to make things easier leading up to the big day

Anything you can make in advance is a huge bonus. If things go awry with the kiddos on the holiday, then you have most of your prep work DONE. Take advantage of early mornings, nap times, and nighttime depending on when you have the most energy. Listen to holiday music while you’re doing it so it’s fun and doesn’t feel like a chore.
Enlist help with the kids. Ask your significant other/family to help entertain the kids so you can focus.
Timers are your friend!! Set them for EVERYTHING so if you do get distracted and pulled from the kitchen, you won’t burn anything.
Decrease the amount of your everyday cooking leading up to the holiday. Lower your expectations during this time. Pull meals you previously made from the freezer or try these no-cook options. This will save you energy and time when you’re trying to prep in advance. Don’t try to do it all.
If you’re hosting, assign family members to bring something (preferably something that is going to make your life easier, like a more time consuming meal).
If you are really pressed for time and things don’t go as planned, skip the baking and buy pre-made! This is a time in your life when fancy cooking and baking is just not a priority – get rid of that pressure we all put on ourselves. You can put them on a fancy holiday plate and pretend you made them. I won’t tell anyone. 😉