United States, Christmas 2026, Christmas Eve Thursday, December 24, and Christmas Day Friday, December 25
Christmas Dinner Menu: Complete Guide 2026
Author and Visit Details
By Food Menu Journal. This is a researched guide, not a visit report. We did not visit a restaurant, eat a meal, or test a recipe for this Christmas dinner menu guide. We researched restaurant Christmas menus, Christmas dinner to go prices, and traditional Christmas dishes from official restaurant pages and current listings on November 6, 2026, and we cross-checked prices and hours across more than one source. Where sources disagree, this Christmas dinner menu guide says so. Prices are given as ranges only, and boxed feast prices are labelled as verified 2025 prices where 2026 prices had not been announced yet.
Introduction
A Christmas dinner menu is the plan for the biggest meal of the year, and this guide is the overview that helps you choose it. Whether you cook at home, order a Christmas dinner to go, or eat out on Christmas Day, the choices for your Christmas dinner menu are the same: a main roast, sides, bread, dessert, and a plan for ordering and pickup. This complete guide covers all of them, with prices as ranges, ordering deadlines, and links to detailed guides for each restaurant and each day.
Use this guide as a starting point, not as a replacement for the detailed guides. The restaurant sections below are overviews. For the full menu, prices and hours for one restaurant, follow the link to that restaurant guide. For a full list of places that are open, follow the links to the Christmas Day and Christmas Eve guides. That structure keeps this Christmas dinner menu pillar short enough to use, while the sibling guides carry the detail.
Christmas Eve is Thursday, December 24, 2026, and Christmas Day is Friday, December 25, 2026. That timing matters for every part of a Christmas plan, because pickup windows end before Christmas Day, many restaurants close on Christmas Day, and the restaurants that do stay open run reduced hours. Order early, confirm pickup, and check hours locally.
At a Glance: Christmas Dinner Menu
| Topic | 2026 |
| Christmas Eve | Thursday, December 24, 2026 |
| Christmas Day | Friday, December 25, 2026 |
| Classic mains | Roast turkey, glazed ham, prime rib |
| Classic sides | Stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, rolls |
| Classic desserts | Pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple pie, Christmas pudding, Yule log, Christmas cookies |
| Dinner to go range | About $69.99 to $174.99 for a boxed feast, by seller and serving size, verified 2025 prices |
| Cheapest boxed feast per person | Publix Deli Turkey Dinner, about $8.75 per person before tax, Southeast stores only |
| Most reliable Christmas Day restaurant | Dennys, open 365 days a year, confirm local hours |
| Closed on Christmas Day | Cracker Barrel and Bob Evans, confirm locally |
| Order by | At least a week out for most sellers, earlier for popular sizes |
| Cracker Barrel pickup | December 21 to 28, 2026, 12-hour notice, serve within 72 hours |
| Best for | Families who want a full Christmas dinner menu without cooking all day |
Why We Made This Guide
We made this guide because Christmas dinner planning is spread across too many pages: one page for turkey, one for ham, one for restaurants open on Christmas Day, one for ordering deadlines, and one for prices. A family planning Christmas needs one page that shows the whole Christmas dinner menu picture first, then points to the right detail page. That is what a pillar guide is for, and that is what this page does. It covers the complete Christmas dinner menu picture in one place, and it links out to all seven sibling guides in this Christmas set, so you never have to guess which page has the detail you need.
What We Ordered: Christmas Dinner Menu and Prices
We did not order or eat these meals. The table below is a researched summary of Christmas dinner to go options, checked November 6, 2026, from a comparison guide last checked October 17, 2026. That source states plainly that 2026 prices had not been announced yet at that check, and the prices below are verified 2025 prices for reference. Do not read them as 2026 prices. Confirm the price, contents and pickup date when you place your order.
| Option | Serves | Price, Verified 2025 for Reference | Per Person | Pickup and Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Publix Deli Turkey Dinner | 8 | $69.99 before tax | About $8.75 | Advance ordering required, Southeast stores only |
| Bob Evans Ham Feast | 4 | $89.99 | $22.50 | Packed cold, heat and serve, closed Christmas Day |
| Bob Evans Turkey Feast | 4 | $99.99 | $25.00 | Packed cold, heat and serve, closed Christmas Day |
| HoneyBaked Ham 3 lb Small Boneless Ham Dinner | Not stated | $111.99 | Not stated | Delivery price, one Dallas location, September 2026 listing |
| Cracker Barrel Ham Dinner | 4 to 6 | $114.99 | $19.17 to $28.75 | Pickup Dec 21 to 28, 2026, 12-hour notice |
| Bob Evans Ham Feast | 8 | $122.99 | $15.37 | Packed cold, heat and serve |
| Bob Evans Turkey Feast | 8 | $132.99 | $16.62 | Packed cold, heat and serve |
| Cracker Barrel Prime Rib Dinner | 4 to 6 | $139.99 | $23.33 to $35.00 | Pickup Dec 21 to 28, 2026, 12-hour notice |
| Bob Evans Premium Feast | 8 to 10 | $164.99 | $16.50 to $21.87 | Packed cold, heat and serve |
| Cracker Barrel Ham Feast | 8 to 10 | $174.99 | $17.50 to $21.87 | Pickup Dec 21 to 28, 2026, 12-hour notice |
| HoneyBaked Ham, half ham, estimate | 8 to 10 lb ham | $75 to $120, estimate | By weight | About $10.50 to $12.50 per pound bone-in, estimate |
| Private chef, classic menu | Per person | From $90 per person | From $90 | $500 minimum, booking cut-off November 14 in that guide |
Two warnings belong with this Christmas dinner menu price table. First, the Cracker Barrel prices above disagree with a Cracker Barrel brochure posted on Facebook on September 30, 2026, which lists a Holiday Ham Feast at $184.99, a Holiday Ham Family Dinner at $119.99, and a Prime Rib Dinner at $159.99, with 24-hour notice. We report both, and we do not present either set as the confirmed 2026 price. Second, the HoneyBaked Ham delivery prices are not directly comparable to the pickup prices above, because delivery prices include markup and fees and vary by location. For a full breakdown of each seller, see the Cracker Barrel Christmas Dinner guide and the HoneyBaked Ham Christmas guide.
Our Review of the Christmas Dinner Menu Options
This is a review of the research, not a taste test. We did not eat any of these meals, so we do not rate flavour from personal experience. What we can review, honestly, is how each Christmas dinner menu option works as a plan. A boxed feast is the best Christmas dinner menu plan if your time is tight, your kitchen is small, or your group is large enough that a boxed feast costs less per head than buying every ingredient separately. Cooking at home is the best plan if you enjoy the process, already own the staples, or want full control over the menu. A restaurant meal is the best plan if you want no cooking and no cleanup at all, and you can get a table on Christmas Day.
On cost, a homemade holiday dinner is cheaper on ingredients alone. A reported range puts a homemade holiday dinner at about $60 to $70 for ingredients, with ordering costing almost twice as much. That matches this guide: a boxed feast for 8 runs roughly $123 to $175, while a homemade spread for the same table lands near the $60 to $70 range before you count your time. Ordering wins on time and stress. Cooking wins on cost and control. Neither wins on every measure, so choose by what your Christmas Day needs most.
The Complete Christmas Dinner Menu: Traditional Dishes
Best Mains: Turkey, Ham and Prime Rib
The main roast is the anchor of any Christmas dinner menu. Roast turkey is the most iconic centrepiece, especially in Northern and Midwestern homes, seasoned with herbs and butter, sometimes brined for moisture, and served with pan gravy. A glazed spiral-cut ham, coated in brown sugar, honey, or pineapple, is the most recognisable centrepiece in the South and among families who prefer a sweeter profile, and it is easier to carve and faster to serve than a turkey. Prime rib, or standing rib roast, is the top-tier choice for a smaller, more formal table, slow-roasted with herbs and garlic and served medium-rare. For a balanced Christmas dinner menu for 8 to 12 people, plan one main roast, or two smaller ones, and buy to the stated serving size, rounding up if you want leftovers or are serving hearty eaters.
Sides: Stuffing, Potatoes, Green Beans and Cranberry Sauce
Sides are the heart of a Christmas dinner menu. The classic set is stuffing or dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, and dinner rolls. Stuffing is called stuffing in the North and dressing in the South, where it is baked separately in a pan and may include sausage or oysters. Green bean casserole was created by Campbell Soup Company in 1955, from green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and fried onions. Candied sweet potatoes, with brown sugar, butter, pecans and melted marshmallows, are a Southern staple. For 6 to 8 guests, plan three or four side dishes: a potato dish, a vegetable, bread, and one extra favourite, such as stuffing or cranberry sauce. For 8 to 12 guests, plan two potato dishes, two vegetables, rolls, a sauce or gravy, and two desserts plus cookies.
Desserts and Party Food
Dessert caps off a Christmas dinner menu, and party food fills the hours before it. Classic desserts are pumpkin pie, apple pie, pecan pie, Christmas pudding with brandy sauce, Yule log, also called Buche de Noel, and Christmas cookies, including gingerbread, sugar cookies, and chocolate crinkles, often decorated by children. Make-ahead dishes help most here: cookie dough, candy, cranberry sauce, pies, trifle and casseroles can be made ahead, casseroles can be assembled on Christmas Eve, and the main roast goes in the oven on the day. For party food before dinner, see our Best Make-Ahead Christmas Appetizers guide, and for a sweet finish that needs no baking, see our Classic No-Bake Cookies guide.
Restaurants Open on Christmas Day: Dinner Out Without Cooking
Eating out is a full Christmas dinner menu option, and it is the only option with no cooking and no cleanup. The most reliable Christmas Day restaurant in the sources is Dennys, whose official location pages state that Dennys restaurants are open 365 days a year, even on Christmas Day and New Years Day, and tell guests to contact the local Dennys to confirm hours. IHOP is also open at many locations on Christmas Day, with franchise owners deciding hours, and Waffle House is open 24 hours, 365 days a year. Ruths Chris Steakhouse, Mortons The Steakhouse and most Chinese restaurants are listed as open on Christmas Day in several listings, with reduced hours. Cracker Barrel is closed on Christmas Day at all locations, and Boston Market is disputed: some listings say select locations are open on Christmas Day, others say Boston Market is not open on Christmas Day. For the full list, with hours and the disagreements stated, read our Restaurants Open on Christmas Day guide.
Restaurants Open on Christmas Eve: Plan Early
Christmas Eve is easier to plan than Christmas Day, and it is the day most Christmas dinner menu pickups happen. Dennys is open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Cracker Barrel is open on Christmas Eve until 2:00 PM in most listings, then closed on Christmas Day. Boston Market is open on Christmas Eve with reduced hours in most listings, and IHOP is open on Christmas Eve at most locations, often with reduced hours. Because many chains are franchises, each location can decide its own holiday hours, so call ahead. For the full Christmas Eve list, read our Restaurants Open on Christmas Eve guide.
Cracker Barrel Christmas Dinner: Heat and Serve
Cracker Barrel is the clearest Christmas dinner menu to go option, because it publishes a pickup window. Its Heat n Serve line is built around pickup: you collect a cold meal and heat it at home. The Ham Dinner for 4 to 6 is $114.99, the Prime Rib Dinner for 4 to 6 is $139.99, and the Ham Feast for 8 to 10 is $174.99, all verified 2025 prices for reference, with pickup December 21 to 28, 2026, 12-hour notice, and a serve within 72 hours rule. Cracker Barrel is closed on Christmas Day, so plan pickup for an earlier day. For the full Cracker Barrel Christmas dinner menu, read our Cracker Barrel Christmas Dinner guide.
HoneyBaked Ham Christmas: The Ham Centrepiece
HoneyBaked Ham suits a Christmas dinner menu that wants a centrepiece plus a few extras, rather than a boxed feast. HoneyBaked Ham sells ham and turkey by weight and by the plate, and it has been a staple of American holiday tables since 1957, known for its signature bone-in ham. A half ham is estimated at $75 to $120, at about $10.50 to $12.50 per pound bone-in and $12.00 to $14.00 per pound boneless, with the final price set by exact weight. One Dallas delivery listing from September 2026 gives a bone-in half ham at $109.49 and a 3 lb small boneless ham dinner at $111.99, but those are delivery prices, not pickup prices. Order well in advance, since shipping windows often close about 12 days before the holiday, and schedule an early pickup slot for your preferred size. For the full guide, read our HoneyBaked Ham Christmas guide.
Boston Market Christmas Dinner: Homestyle Meals
Boston Market is the homestyle option in this Christmas dinner menu set, known for homestyle meals and heat-and-serve bundles. Listings say Boston Market frequently opens on Christmas Eve and may offer holiday meal packages, and select locations stay open on Christmas Day, while other listings say Boston Market will not be open on Christmas Day. That disagreement is stated in the sibling guide, and it is the reason this pillar does not promise a Boston Market Christmas Day meal. Check your local Boston Market before you plan around it. For the full Boston Market Christmas dinner menu, read our Boston Market Christmas Dinner guide.
Dennys Christmas Menu: The Most Reliable Option Out
Dennys is the most reliable Christmas dinner menu out, because Dennys states on its official location pages that its restaurants are open 365 days a year, even on Christmas Day and New Years Day. That makes Dennys the backup plan for any Christmas dinner menu that falls through, and a first choice for families who want breakfast, lunch or dinner on December 25 without cooking. Dennys hours still vary by location, so contact your local Dennys to confirm. For the full Dennys Christmas dinner menu, read our Dennys Christmas Menu guide.
IHOP Christmas Menu: Pancakes for Christmas Morning
IHOP is the breakfast side of a Christmas dinner menu day. Many IHOP locations are open on Christmas Day, with reduced hours, and IHOP serves breakfast all day, so pancakes work for Christmas morning, Christmas lunch, or an early Christmas dinner. On November 6, 2026, the official IHOP specials page did not list a named Christmas menu, and the live seasonal items were Pumpkin Spice Pancakes, Stuffed French Toast, a Pancake Flight, and the $6 Value Menu. Third-party listings add Holiday Cheesecake Pancakes and Christmas French toast flavours, which are not confirmed by IHOP. For the full IHOP Christmas dinner menu morning plan, read our IHOP Christmas Menu guide.
Ordering Deadlines
Ordering deadlines decide whether a Christmas dinner menu happens at all. Two or more weeks out, decide your headcount, your main, and your budget, and check which sellers serve your area, because Publix is Southeast only. About a week out, place your order where advance ordering is required, such as Publix, or recommended, such as Bob Evans, where you should order several days ahead. For Cracker Barrel, note the December 21 to 28, 2026 pickup window and the 12-hour notice rule. A few days out, confirm your pickup date and time, double-check the contents, and clear fridge space for a cold, heat-and-serve meal. On pickup day, collect the meal, check that everything is included before you leave, and plan to serve within 72 hours of pickup, per Cracker Barrel guidance. On Christmas Day, Cracker Barrel and Bob Evans are closed, so plan pickup for an earlier day, and confirm Publix and HoneyBaked Ham hours locally, so your Christmas dinner menu is ready on time.
Vegetarian, Vegan and Plant-Based Ideas
A Christmas dinner does not have to centre on meat. Plant-based options in the sources include a herb-crusted stuffed butternut squash with wild rice, a mushroom and walnut pate with crostini, a roasted red pepper and tomato bisque, a wild mushroom and lentil stuffing, and a seeded roast with a seasonal courgette and lemon tart. A private chef plant-based menu is listed from $95 per person, and a vegan Christmas bag is listed from $199.99 for 4 to 6 people in a New Zealand listing, which shows the format, not a US price. For a mixed table, serve one plant-based main alongside the turkey or ham, and keep the sides vegetarian where you can, so every guest has a full plate. For lighter dishes and healthier sides, see our Healthy Recipes guide.
Picky Eats
Picky eaters do best with a dinner that keeps the familiar foods visible. Serve the turkey or ham plain, with gravy on the side, and put mashed potatoes, rolls, and one plain vegetable on the table before the casseroles and the spiced dishes. Let children choose one side they like and one new dish to try, rather than filling their plate for them. If you order a boxed feast, open the box at home and plate the familiar items first, so a picky eater sees food they trust. If you eat out, check the kids menu in advance, and ask whether the restaurant can serve a plain plate on Christmas Day, when menus may be limited.
Parents Review and Family Tips
For parents, a Christmas dinner works best when the day has a clear order: party food and appetizers first, the main meal in the middle of the day, and dessert and cookies later, so no one is hungry and no one is rushed. Make cookies, candy, cranberry sauce and pies ahead, assemble casseroles on Christmas Eve, and roast the main on the day. If you order a Christmas dinner to go, bring a cooler or insulated bags for the drive home, check the box before you leave, ask about the heating guide, and keep the receipt. If you eat out on Christmas Day, book early where bookings are taken, arrive early, and have a backup plan, because reduced hours and holiday demand mean longer waits. For a Christmas morning that keeps children happy while dinner cooks, a pancake breakfast at IHOP or Dennys is a useful option, with hours confirmed locally first.
Nutrition and Carbohydrate Info
Source and method: the figures below are general ranges from the sources cited in the research notes, not measurements by Food Menu Journal, and they vary by recipe, portion, and what is added at the table. A Christmas dinner menu is a high carbohydrate meal by design, because it centres on potatoes, stuffing, rolls, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pie. For carbohydrate planning, the largest single items are usually mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, and pie with whipped cream. A practical approach is to fill half the plate with vegetables, take one spoon of each starch rather than two, and save room for one dessert, not two. Reheated turkey should reach 165F internal, per USDA guidance, and a fully cooked ham should be heated to 140F, with fresh ham cooked to 145F and beef, pork and lamb roasts cooked to at least 145F with a 3-minute rest. Use a food thermometer rather than judging by colour. No nutrition figure in this guide is presented as a measurement of a specific restaurant meal, because restaurant portions and recipes vary.
| Item | Typical Carbohydrate Note | Planning Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Roast turkey, plain | Low carbohydrate, protein | Choose plain turkey with gravy on the side |
| Glazed ham | Moderate, glaze adds sugar | Take a smaller slice and skip extra glaze |
| Mashed potatoes and gravy | High carbohydrate | One spoon, not two, and skip extra butter if you can |
| Stuffing or dressing | High carbohydrate | One spoon, and choose bread or cornbread, not both |
| Sweet potato casserole | High carbohydrate and sugar | Take a small portion, marshmallow topping adds sugar |
| Green bean casserole | Moderate carbohydrate | A good vegetable choice, watch the fried onion topping |
| Cranberry sauce | High sugar | One spoon, whole berry is usually less sweet than jellied |
| Pumpkin pie or pecan pie | High carbohydrate and sugar | One slice, with whipped cream on the side |
What to Know Before Visiting
Before you visit a restaurant or pick up a Christmas dinner order, check five things. First, confirm the restaurant is open on the day you need it, because Cracker Barrel and Bob Evans are closed on Christmas Day, and Boston Market is disputed. Second, confirm the hours, because most open restaurants run reduced hours on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Third, confirm the price, contents and pickup window when you order, because 2026 prices had not been announced for the boxed feasts at the October 17, 2026 check, and the prices in this guide are verified 2025 prices for reference. Fourth, confirm the heating guide and the serve within 72 hours rule for a cold, heat-and-serve meal, and bring a cooler for the drive home. Fifth, confirm dietary and allergen information directly with the seller, and do not assume a standard feast fits a restricted diet. The seller’s own ingredient information is the only reliable source for your order.
Is It Worth It?
Yes, a restaurant or boxed feast dinner is worth it if your time is tight, your kitchen is small, or you want a full Christmas dinner menu without cooking all day. You pay more than cooking at home, roughly twice as much on ingredients alone in the reported range, but you skip shopping, prep, and cleanup, and you get a Christmas dinner menu that is ready to serve. It is not worth it if you enjoy cooking, already own the staples, or want full control over every dish, because a homemade dinner costs about $60 to $70 for ingredients in the reported range, and you choose every recipe. For many families, the best answer is a mix: order the main roast, and cook the sides and desserts you care about most at home.
FAQ: Christmas Dinner Menu
What is a traditional Christmas dinner menu?
A traditional American Christmas dinner menu centres on roast turkey, glazed ham, or prime rib, with stuffing or dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, and dinner rolls, followed by pumpkin pie, pecan pie, or Christmas pudding, plus Christmas cookies and eggnog. No single menu defines every household, and regional and family traditions vary.
How much does Christmas dinner cost in 2026?
As ranges only, a boxed Christmas dinner menu feast runs about $69.99 to $174.99, by seller and serving size, using verified 2025 prices for reference, because 2026 prices had not been announced at the October 17, 2026 check. A homemade dinner is reported at about $60 to $70 for ingredients. A private chef dinner runs about $90 to $175 per person. Confirm the price when you order.
What restaurants are open on Christmas Day 2026?
Dennys is open 365 days a year, including Christmas Day, per its official location pages. Many IHOP and Waffle House locations are open, with reduced hours. Ruths Chris Steakhouse, Mortons The Steakhouse and most Chinese restaurants are listed as open. Cracker Barrel is closed on Christmas Day. Boston Market is disputed in the sources. Always confirm with your local restaurant.
When should I order Christmas dinner to go?
Order at least a week out, and earlier for popular sizes. Cracker Barrel pickup runs December 21 to 28, 2026, with 12-hour notice. Publix requires advance ordering. Bob Evans asks you to order several days ahead. HoneyBaked Ham shipping windows often close about 12 days before the holiday, so order well in advance for shipping, and schedule an early pickup slot for in-store orders.
Can I pick up Christmas dinner on Christmas Day?
Not at Cracker Barrel or Bob Evans, because both are closed on Christmas Day. For Publix and HoneyBaked Ham, Christmas Day hours are unverified, so confirm your store holiday hours locally and plan pickup for an earlier day if needed.
What is the cheapest Christmas dinner to go?
By per-person price, the Publix Deli Turkey Dinner is the cheapest in this guide, at $69.99 for 8, about $8.75 per person before tax, but Publix is Southeast stores only. For a group of four, the Bob Evans Ham Feast at $89.99 is the lowest total price among the boxed feasts, using verified 2025 prices for reference.
Related Guides
Read the detailed guides in this Christmas set: Restaurants Open on Christmas Day, Restaurants Open on Christmas Eve, Cracker Barrel Christmas Dinner, HoneyBaked Ham Christmas, Boston Market Christmas Dinner, Dennys Christmas Menu, and IHOP Christmas Menu. For party food and desserts, see our Best Make-Ahead Christmas Appetizers and our Classic No-Bake Cookies. For a steakhouse Christmas dinner menu alternative, see our Best Steakhouse in USA, and for lighter dishes, see our Healthy Recipes. For a year-round price comparison, see our McDonalds Menu guide and our Dairy Queen Menu guide.
Sources and Review Notes
Researched November 6, 2026. Christmas dinner to go prices: Chain Menu Prices, Christmas Dinner To Go (2026), last checked October 17, 2026, opened November 6, 2026, with 2026 prices not announced yet and 2025 prices shown for reference. Private chef prices: Platesfull, Hire a Private Chef for Christmas Dinner (2026 Guide). HoneyBaked Ham prices: EatHealthy365 HoneyBaked Ham Cost 2026, Full Menu Prices October 2026, and Food Network, Where Can You Buy Thanksgiving Sides 2026, October 30, 2026. Restaurants open: Ponly Christmas Day and Christmas Eve guides, updated October 15, 2026, Groupon Christmas Day guide, Sarah Scoop Christmas Eve and Christmas Day list, and Dennys official location pages, which state Dennys is open 365 days a year. Traditional dishes: Party Alibaba, Culture Mosaic, Tastes of Lizzy, updated October 24, 2026, and Recipe Fairy, updated October 19, 2026. IHOP: official IHOP specials page, opened November 6, 2026. No visit, no meal, and no test took place for this guide. Prices are ranges only, and boxed feast prices are verified 2025 prices for reference unless stated otherwise. Hours vary by location and franchise. Confirm items, prices, hours and pickup dates with the seller before you order.
