Need a few holiday recipe ideas? I’ve got you.


Hi, friends!

If you’re still piecing together your Christmas menu (or you just want a few fun extras that don’t take all day), I pulled together a handful of last-minute holiday recipes for breakfast, appetizers, dinner, and dessert.

If you want a “wow, who made this?” moment, pick one of these.

Biscuits and Gravy Casserole

This recipe takes everything people love about a classic Southern breakfast and turns it into one simple bake.

Sweet Potato Bread with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

Bakes up soft and moist, and it’s easy enough that anyone can make it.

Christmas Punch (Non-Alcoholic)

A bright, fruity drink that comes together in about 5 minutes.

Bacon and Onion Jam

Sweet, smoky, and savory all at once. Use it as a topping for burgers, sandwiches, crackers, or cheese boards.

Fried Mac and Cheese Bites

Fried until the outside is golden and crunchy and the inside is hot, melty, and extra cheesy.

Vanilla RumChata Pudding Shots

They’re creamy, lightly sweet, and so fun for parties, holidays, or whenever friends come over.

Jalapeño Cranberry Dip

Sweet, tart, spicy, and creamy. It’s a great addition to your holiday table.

Pumpkin Cranberry Bread

Soft, moist, and lightly spiced, with tart cranberries throughout.

Oven-Baked Brisket

It cooks low and slow with a simple spice rub until it’s tender and easy to slice.

Rye Dinner Rolls

Great with soup, chili, or holiday dinners, and simple enough even if you’re new to baking bread.

Roast Beef Sliders

Hawaiian rolls get layered with roast beef deli meat, Swiss and cheddar cheese, plus a horseradish mayo, then finished with an everything bagel butter crust.

Ham and Cheese Croissant Bake

Torn croissants layered with ham, onions, and two kinds of cheese, baked into a creamy egg mixture that puffs up golden in the oven.


Happy Holidays! Talk soon!

Real Balanced — Sara Nelson

Enjoy easy & balanced recipes — ranging from 30-minute weeknight dinners to holiday appetizers and everything in between. My goal is to make sure you can cook a successful and memorable dish every single time.

Read more from Real Balanced — Sara Nelson
A loaf of cinnamon pull-apart bread with icing drizzled on top, with one piece partially pulled away; two bottles of milk are in the background.

This Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread bakes up soft, buttery, and filled with layers of warm cinnamon sugar in every bite. Each fluffy section pulls apart easily, topped with sweet icing drizzle that melts into the loaf as it cools. It’s perfect for Christmas morning, brunch, or anytime people are hanging around the kitchen looking for something sweet. You don’t need plates or knives because the pieces pull right off, already covered in cinnamon sugar and icing. Even if you’re not usually a baker,...

Close-up of baked sliders with golden buns, melted cheese, roast beef, and sprinkled sesame and poppy seeds, garnished with fresh herbs.

These Roast Beef Sliders are simple sandwiches made on Hawaiian rolls layered with deli roast beef, melty Swiss and cheddar cheese, and a quick horseradish mayo. They’re topped off with butter and everything bagel seasoning for a golden, crispy crust. Toasting the rolls first means no soggy bottoms, and baking melts everything together into warm, cheesy layers. Making them is easy — spread on the mayo, stack the roast beef and cheese, then bake until bubbly. You can even assemble these a day...

Close-up of a baked breakfast casserole topped with melted cheese, browned sausage, and golden biscuit pieces in a white baking dish.

This Biscuits and Gravy Casserole is an easy breakfast bake you can throw together and let the oven handle while you do everything else. You get biscuit pieces, creamy sausage gravy, eggs, and cheese baked together in one dish, so each square works like a full plate without cooking everything separately. It feeds a group, works for kids and adults, and is an easy option when people are waking up and eating at different times. You can put it together ahead, keep it in the fridge, and bake it...