{"id":374336,"date":"2021-12-23T15:16:39","date_gmt":"2021-12-23T15:16:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/origin-www.tasteofhome.com\/?post_type=collection&p=374336"},"modified":"2024-12-04T13:15:37","modified_gmt":"2024-12-04T19:15:37","slug":"christmas-lunch-ideas","status":"publish","type":"listicle","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/collection\/christmas-lunch-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"45 Christmas Lunch Ideas to Keep Things Merry and Bright"},"content":{"rendered":"
This creamy, comforting all-in-one meal doesn't need a side dish, but it's never a bad idea to have crusty garlic bread<\/a> on hand for dipping. To make this soup vegetarian, swap in earthy veggies like butternut squash and chickpeas for the turkey and use vegetable broth instead of chicken or turkey broth.<\/p>\r\n \"Two Minnesota delicacies, turkey and wild rice, are the stars of this sensational soup. Be prepared to serve seconds!\" \u2014Recipe contributor Terri Holmgren, Swanville, Minnesota\"<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n Top this tasty 20-minute pasta with sauteed cubed pancetta or bacon for a savory, crunchy topper that adds protein and a wonderful saltiness. For the brightest flavor, look for signs to tell if asparagus has gone bad<\/a> and make sure you're using the freshest veggies possible.<\/p>\r\n \"Many terrific recipes change hands at the monthly get-togethers of my ladies' bridge group. That's where I discovered this zippy, tempting dish. The garlic, asparagus, Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes create an irresistible taste combination.\" \u2014Recipe contributor Jean Fisher, Redlands, California<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n Feel free to use a store-bought pan of cornbread to make this sweet-and-savory stuffing. Of course, you can always make cornbread<\/a> from scratch! Since the recipe calls for a whole stick, opt for the best butter brand<\/a> you can find.<\/p>\r\n \"I made this recipe over 45 years ago for the first pheasant I ever roasted\u2014it was a special dinner I prepared to thank a wonderful sister and brother-in-law for all of their help when we bought our first home. To this day, it's a favorite with our friends and family when they come to visit.\" \u2014Recipe contributor Ruth Seitz, Conesville, Iowa<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n This recipe makes a lot of hearty, soul-warming chili, so divide any leftovers into separate freezer-safe containers<\/a> and label each with the date. They'll be good for up to six months. When it's time to serve, heat the chili in a saucepan and finish it with crunchy tortilla chips, sliced jalapenos, shredded cheddar or green onions.<\/p>\r\n \"We think this recipe from Marjorie Carey from Alamosa, Colorado, tastes just like Wendy's chili!\" \u2014<\/em>Taste Recipes Test Kitchen<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n I love all kinds of toasty hot sandwiches<\/a>, but there's something extra special about an old-fashioned tuna melt. This recipe is a hybrid of the best grilled cheese you've ever had and a perfect tuna salad sandwich. A side of potato chips is nonnegotiable!<\/p>\r\n \"When our children were young, I often fixed these warm, crunchy sandwiches. They go well with chips and a salad for a quick lunch.\" \u2014Recipe contributor Carole Anhalt, Manitowoc, Wisconsin<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n Made with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, this comforting homemade tomato soup goes wonderfully with gooey grilled cheese sandwiches<\/a> or simple side salads<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n \"Our sensational soup features lots of pleasing ingredients, and is extra fun to eat when decorated with pretty snowflakes.\" \u2014<\/em>Taste Recipes Test Kitchen<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n This is one of those copycat Cracker Barrel recipes<\/a> that's a total crowd-pleaser. Enjoy it with steak and eggs for a hearty brunch, or serve it with fried chicken and green beans for a comforting lunch. To lighten it up, use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.<\/p>\r\n \"Bring the taste of Cracker Barrel right to your kitchen. This cheesy breakfast casserole is made easy with frozen hash browns. I can feed a crowd with this simple overnight dish.\" \u2014Recipe contributor Lauren Habermehl, Pewaukee, Wisconsin<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n This bright, crunchy salad is a delightful Christmas side dish that adds gorgeous red and green colors to a holiday spread. Easy Christmas salads are a great way to add much-needed greenery to heavy holiday fare.<\/p>\r\n \"I like to serve this when we have company because it's quick and easy and it goes with just about anything. Dried cranberries and feta cheese add a delightful touch to the colorful salad that's a snap to toss together.\" \u2014Recipe contributor Kate Hilts, Fairbanks, Alaska.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n Much like other waxy\u00a0potatoes, red potatoes offer the ideal starchiness to thicken this satisfying chowder while holding their form as the soup simmers. The result is a bowl of soup that tastes just like a classic cheeseburger. Grate the cheddar yourself for the richest, slightly nutty flavor.<\/p>\r\n \"This is a family favorite for cold blustery days. It's very filling and an easy meal when served with cornbread or biscuits.\" \u2014Recipe contributor Rebecca McCabe, Ekalaka, Montana<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n Did you know you can make homemade taco seasoning<\/a> for this robust chili? But don't worry\u2014we also found the best taco seasoning brands<\/a> that taste nearly as good as homemade.<\/p>\r\n \"I use convenient canned pinto, black and great northern beans to speed up preparation of my hearty chili. The one-dish meal has a stew-like consistency and a peppy Tex-Mex flavor.\" \u2014Recipe contributor Agnes Hamilton, Scott Depot, West Virginia<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n Crunchy, sweet, tart and chewy, this green salad is as lively as can be. Toast the hazelnuts to bring out their buttery, golden flavor.<\/p>\r\n \"Oven-roasted pears are tossed with crispy greens, dried cranberries and nuts in this dish. The dressing adds even more pear flavor, sweetened with a touch of honey.\" \u2014<\/em>Taste Recipes Test Kitchen<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n We love turning roasted sweet peppers into a creamy, slightly smoky soup that pairs perfectly with grilled cheese sandwiches. I like to use an immersion blender<\/a> to puree the soup so I don't have to dirty a blender. Just make sure to remove the pot from the heat before blending and start on a low speed.<\/p>\r\n \"If you like cream of tomato soup, try making it with roasted red peppers instead. Using jarred roasted red peppers makes it extra easy, and pureeing the soup in a blender gives it a nice, smooth texture.\" \u2014<\/em>Taste Recipes Test Kitchen<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n This irresistibly cheesy, five-ingredient broccoli dish is one of our favorite casserole recipes for a reason. Thawed frozen broccoli does the trick in this recipe, but steamed fresh broccoli works just as well. Feel free to mix in extra veggies like cauliflower, parsnips or even button mushrooms.<\/p>\r\n \"Even people who don't like broccoli beg me to make this comforting recipe. It's similar to a classic green bean casserole, but the melted cheese just puts it over the top.\" \u2014Recipe contributor Elaine Hubbard, Pocono Lake, Pennsylvania<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n Chopped fresh pears add brilliant crunch and subtle sweetness to this simple green salad, which also features crumbled blue cheese and toasted walnuts. Beyond lunch, it also makes a lovely vegetable side dish for Christmas roasts<\/a> or festive ham recipes<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n \"This salad recipe, with its combination of fresh ingredients and crunchy walnuts, is quick to make and yet looks very elegant.\" \u2014Recipe contributor Irene Fenlason, East Helena, Montana<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n We know exactly<\/em> what you should do with that giant plate of leftover Christmas Eve ham in the fridge. This cheesy ham soup contains bright green peas and starchy potatoes, making it the perfect wintertime lunch when paired with buttery cornbread<\/a> or fluffy Parker House rolls<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n \"I knew this recipe was a keeper when my mother-in-law asked for it! The filling soup, chock-full of leftover ham, veggies and cheese, is creamy and comforting. Although the recipe makes enough to feed a crowd, don't expect leftovers!\" \u2014Recipe contributor Marty Matthews, Clarksville, Tennessee<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n Use fresh or frozen cranberries for this sweet-tart, berry-packed salad that adds a gorgeous pop of color to any holiday spread. Mix in aromatic chopped mint for an even more refreshing flavor.<\/p>\r\n \"This fruit salad is a tradition on my Christmas table. It goes together quickly, which is a plus on such a busy day.\" \u2014Recipe contributor Rousheen Arel Wolf, Delta Junction, Alaska<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/a><\/div>
Pasta with Asparagus<\/a><\/h2>Total Time:<\/strong> 20 minutes\r\nMain Ingredients:<\/strong> Asparagus, Parmesan cheese, penne pasta or elbow macaroni\r\nLevel:<\/strong> Beginner
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Cornbread Sausage Stuffing<\/a><\/h2>Total Time:<\/strong> 40 minutes\r\nMain Ingredients:<\/strong> Sausage, bread crumbs, cornbread, eggs\r\nLevel:<\/strong> Beginner
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Copycat Wendy's Chili<\/a><\/h2>Total Time:<\/strong> 2 hours\r\nMain Ingredients:<\/strong> Ground beef, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, kidney beans\r\nLevel:<\/strong> Beginner
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Tuna Melt<\/a><\/h2>Total Time:<\/strong> 30 minutes\r\nMain Ingredients:<\/strong> Cheddar cheese, tuna, mayonnaise, hamburger buns\r\nLevel:<\/strong> Beginner
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Snowflake Tomato Soup<\/a><\/h2>Total Time:<\/strong> 25 minutes\r\nMain Ingredients:<\/strong> Crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, heavy cream\r\nLevel:<\/strong> Beginner
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Copycat Cracker Barrel Hash Brown Casserole<\/a><\/h2>Total Time:<\/strong> 1 hour, 5 minutes\r\nMain Ingredients:<\/strong> Condensed cream of chicken soup, sour cream, frozen hash brown potatoes\r\nLevel:<\/strong> Beginner
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Festive Tossed Salad with Feta<\/a><\/h2>Total Time:<\/strong> 10 minutes\r\nMain Ingredients:<\/strong> Salad greens, feta cheese, Italian salad dressing mix, dried cranberries\r\nLevel:<\/strong> Beginner
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Hearty Cheeseburger Chowder<\/a><\/h2>Total Time:<\/strong> 30 minutes\r\nMain Ingredients<\/strong>:<\/strong> Ground beef, milk, cheddar cheese, red potatoes\r\nLevel:<\/strong> Beginner
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Zippy Three-Bean Chili<\/a><\/h2>Total Time:<\/strong> 1 hour, 30 minutes\r\nMain Ingredients:<\/strong> Ground beef, diced tomatoes, canned beans, taco seasoning\r\nLevel:<\/strong> Beginner
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Roasted Pear Salad<\/a><\/h2>Total Time:<\/strong> 30 minutes + cooling\r\nMain Ingredients:<\/strong> Pears, salad greens, dried cranberries, hazelnuts\r\nLevel:<\/strong> Beginner
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Roasted Red Pepper Soup<\/a><\/h2>Total Time:<\/strong> 35 minutes\r\nMain Ingredients:<\/strong> Roasted sweet red peppers, half-and-half cream, vegetable broth\r\nLevel:<\/strong> Beginner
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Broccoli Casserole<\/a><\/h2>Total Time:<\/strong> 50 minutes\r\nMain Ingredients:<\/strong> Condensed cream of mushroom soup, cheddar cheese, broccoli\r\nLevel:<\/strong> Beginner
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Elegant Cranberry Pear Salad<\/a><\/h2>Total Time:<\/strong> 15 minutes\r\nMain Ingredients:<\/strong> Lettuce, pears, blue cheese, walnuts\r\nLevel:<\/strong> Beginner
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Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup<\/a><\/h2>Total Time:<\/strong> 30 minutes\r\nMain Ingredients:<\/strong> Ham, cheddar cheese, potatoes, frozen peas\r\nLevel:<\/strong> Beginner
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Festive Cranberry Fruit Salad<\/a><\/h2>Total Time:<\/strong> 25 minutes\r\nMain Ingredients:<\/strong> Cranberries, apples, bananas, raspberries\r\nLevel:<\/strong> Beginner
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Brie Mushroom Soup<\/a><\/h2>Total Time:<\/strong> 35 minutes\r\nMain Ingredients:<\/strong> Mushrooms, Brie cheese, chicken broth, milk\r\nLevel:<\/strong> Beginner