Italian Christmas Dinner Menu Ideas

These Italian Christmas dinner menu ideas include flavorful and festive recipes that you would find in any Italian holiday dinner spread. To build your ideal Italian Christmas menu, simply choose one (or a few) of the recipes from each section. Appetizers, main courses, side dishes, and even desserts, you can find it all right here!

Italian Christmas Recipes

The key to a true Italian celebration is to have food, family, and friends, all gathered at one table. That's even more true around Christmastime when they begin the festivities on December 8th and keep on partying right into the new year!

If you ask me, there's no better way to get into the spirit. Celebrate this Christmas Italian style by serving these traditional Italian and Italian-American holiday staples!

Italian Holiday Dinner Ideas

Use these Italian Christmas dinner menu ideas to build your own Italian dinner spread by choosing a recipe or two from each of the sections below. There are appetizers, entrees, side dishes, and desserts. Each of these recipes will pair wonderfully with anything else on this list.

If this is your first time hosting dinner for the holidays, check out my Christmas guide for a step-by-step timeline for preparing Christmas dinner!

Appetizers

1. Garlic Herb Focaccia Bread

This skillet focaccia bread is soft and warm with plenty of flavor from rosemary and basil. You can even make the dough in advance so it's ready to go on Christmas day!

Cast Iron Skillet Garlic Herb Focaccia Bread

This cast iron focaccia bread is easy to make, delicious, and incredibly versatile, and the entire family will love it. Change out the rosemary and basil for your favorite herbs, add cheese to the topping, a touch of coarse salt, or whatever you like. You won't even have to bother with kneading the dough!

Check out this recipe

2. Oven Garlic Bread

Garlic bread is the appetizer that goes with anything! With this easy oven-baked version, you control just how soft or crispy your garlic bread gets.

Oven Garlic Bread: Soft & Chewy or Baked Until Crispy!

This incredible oven garlic bread recipe features 2 methods: one for those who prefer soft garlic bread and one for those who prefer crispy. All you need is some french bread, garlic powder, and butter (plus a little Parmesan cheese if you like) to make restaurant quality garlic bread at home.

Check out this recipe

3. Italian Chicken Pastina Soup

A warm bowl of chicken pastina soup is a great way to start your Christmas dinner. The flavorful chicken bone broth will have your guests slurping up every last drop.

Italian Chicken Pastina Soup

This chicken pastina soup is a soul-warming, homemade soup that's as delicious as any traditional chicken noodle soup! The fine pasta combines perfectly with rich broth, tender chicken, and vegetables! It's the perfect dish to make when you are craving Italian flavors or a hearty meal!

Check out this recipe

4. Bruschetta 

Bruschetta is a classic Italian starter that is easily customizable and well-suited for any special occasion! Fresh, sweet tomatoes with garlic, white wine vinegar, and a drizzle of balsamic on top of a slice of crusty sourdough is about as Italian as it gets.

Tomato bruschetta recipe | Jamie Oliver bread recipes

Gorgeous tomato bruschetta with fresh basil and quality olive oil. There are so many delicious bruschetta toppings to choose from, but this is hard to beat.

Check out this recipe

Be sure to see my Feast of the Seven Fishes dishes collection to make your Christmas Eve meal fantastic!

Main Course

5. Veal Scallopini

Veal scallopini consists of crispy veal cutlets served on a bed of angel hair pasta that's been tossed in a delicious piccata sauce made of white wine and lemon. It's filling and flavorful, not to mention you can have it on the table in just 25 minutes.

Veal Scallopini with Piccata Sauce & Angel Hair Pasta

Veal scallopini is a tasty Italian-American dinner that cooks in a flash due to the thinly sliced veal cutlets and use of simple ingredients! In my recipe, the tender veal cutlets are nestled in a bed of angel hair pasta, then covered with a delicious piccata sauce that consists of white wine, lemon juice, and capers!

Check out this recipe

6. Lasagna

Lasagna is classic Italian comfort food that has grown in popularity all over the globe. Layers of pasta, meat sauce, and melted cheese will have your family rushing to their seat at the dinner table.

Lasagna

A homemade lasagna full of tender noodles and a hearty meat sauce covered in melted cheese is one of the best comfort foods you can make. All the time you spend making it will be more than worth it when you see your family lining up for seconds.

Check out this recipe

7. Baked Eggplant Parmesan

Eggplant Parmesan is a vegetarian entree that even your steak-loving family members will enjoy. What's not to love about crispy, breaded eggplant over a

Baked Eggplant Parmesan

With a few tips and tricks, you can make a crispy baked eggplant Parmesan so delicious you will prefer it to chicken! This method is healthier than frying, although the layers of crispy Panko, melty mozzarella, and savory tomato sauce really makes it feel like a cheat meal!

Check out this recipe

8. Frutti di Mare

What time is better than Christmas to indulge in a decadent pasta filled with all the seafood your heart could desire? This dish has mussels, clams, shrimp, scallops, and squid, all tossed in a spicy arrabbiata sauce with tender fettuccine noodles. Yum!

Frutti di Mare

Frutti di mare (fruits of the sea) is a flavorful pasta dish that’s full of mussels, clams, shrimp, scallops, and squid to make this incredibly delicious seafood pasta. The seafood is cooked in layers to add flavor as it cooks and to keep the different seafood varieties from overcooking in this tasty Italian dinner. It is then coated in a spicy marinara sauce for the perfect dish.

Check out this recipe

Sides

9. Caprese Salad

Sometimes it's nice to balance carb-heavy dishes with a light and refreshing side like a Caprese salad. The slices of juicy tomatoes and fresh mozzarella are topped off with a drizzle of balsamic, olive oil, and a sprinkle of sweet basil leaves.

Caprese Salad With Balsamic And Olive Oil

This classic caprese salad recipe is an especially cool and refreshing appetizer, side dish, or snack for the hot summer months! You don't have to be eating Italian food to enjoy fresh tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, balsamic, and olive oil- it's an easy side salad that goes with anything!

Check out this recipe

10. Butternut Squash Risotto

All risotto is good risotto, but this butternut squash risotto is particularly superb! It's creamy and cozy, perfect for a Christmas night in.

Butternut Squash Risotto

Butternut squash risotto is a perfect fall dish that's really creamy and full of great flavors. This dish is great whether you want something small like an appetizer, a side dish, or even a main meal. The roasted squash makes it sweet and goes really well with the creamy rice. It also has garlic, onion, and herbs, plus a little optional white wine to make it extra special.

Check out this recipe

11. Garlic Green Beans

Buttery pan-fried green beans with crispy bacon are one way to get the kids to eat their veggies. It adds a nice pop of color to the table and will help balance out some of the heavier components of your Christmas dinner spread.

Garlic Green Beans with Bacon

These garlic green beans are a tasty vegetable side dish that goes well with a variety of main dish entrees! With 8 hearty servings, it's a wonderful holiday recipe because it's easy to prepare and great for serving a crowd! After all, who doesn't love buttery pan-fried garlic green beans with bacon?

Check out this recipe

12. Ratatouille 

Ratatouille is made with a rainbow of thinly sliced veggies that are covered in a flavorful tomato sauce and baked to tender perfection. It's much easier to make than the movie makes it seem.

Ratatouille Recipe by Tasty

Here’s what you need: eggplants, roma tomatoes, yellow squashes, zucchinis, olive oil, onion, garlic, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, salt, pepper, can of crushed tomatoes, chopped fresh basil, chopped fresh basil, garlic, Chopped fresh parsley, fresh thyme, salt, pepper, olive oil

Check out this recipe

13. Burrata Salad 

A burrata salad is almost the 'fancy' version of a Caprese. Tender, baked summer tomatoes are topped off with a hefty ball of burrata cheese (it's like mozzarella but with a soft and creamy center) and a light dressing of vinegar and olive oil.

Burrata And Tomato Salad Will Be The Star Of Your Summer

This burrata salad is perfect for using up your farmers’ market tomatoes.

Check out this recipe

Dessert

14. Italian Ricotta Cookies

The ricotta cheese in these cookies keeps them delectably moist. They are almost too easy to snack on, you may want to make extra.

Italian Ricotta Cookies (Italian Christmas Cookies)

Italian ricotta cookies are super soft, moist, and an incredibly easy-to-make classic holiday cookie that's also amazingly delicious! Tender, sweet, yet slightly tangy cookies are covered with a bright lemon glaze and then topped with festive sprinkles! Moist, tender, and melt in your mouth – these cookies are going to be a new favorite!

Check out this recipe

15. Panettone 

Panettone consists of sweet bread that is speckled with rum-soaked dried fruits. The bread takes some time to rise, but it is time well spent.

Panettone

Make the holidays extra special with a homemade loaf of panettone. This enriched Italian Christmas bread—dotted with rum-soak dried fruit, citrus, and almonds—is easy to make at home with the time-saving tip of letting it rise overnight in the refrigerator.

Check out this recipe

16. Spongata di Natale (Italian Christmas Cake) 

This Christmas cake is made with a crisp sugary pastry shell that is filled with honey, nuts, and dried fruit. Traditionally, it is given as a gift to friends, neighbors, or loved ones, and enjoyed with sweet dessert wine or espresso.

Spongata di Natale Recipe

This Italian Christmas cake is a speciality of the Emilia Romagna region, given as gifts to friends and family. Packed with nuts, honey and dried fruit – including Italian citron – the filling is rich, sticky and sweet and comes wrapped in a crisp, sugared pastry coating.

Check out this recipe

17. Tiramisu

Soft ladyfingers are soaked in Italian coffee and then stacked in layers between a creamy filling made of eggs and mascarpone before a sprinkle of cocoa powder tops it all off. It's the most popular Italian dessert of all time for a reason.

Authentic Italian Tiramisu | Traditional Recipe - Recipes from Italy

Find out how to make Authentic Italian Tiramisu Recipe, made with savoiardi, mascarpone cream, espresso and a bit of marsala!

Check out this recipe

🎅 More Christmas Menu Ideas

• Christmas Breakfast Casserole Recipes - Crowd-pleasing casseroles that will get your Christmas morning started off right!
• Easy Christmas Desserts - You don't have to be a professional baker to make some memorable desserts this Christmas!
• Christmas Brunch Recipes - A late breakfast, lunch, or whatever you call it, these brunch recipes are perfect for sharing with loved ones on the holidays.
• Easy Christmas Dinner Menu - Whether you are short on time or short on skill in the kitchen, you can still pull off an epic holiday feast.
• Holiday Pie Recipes - The most beautiful (and delicious) pies to add to your holiday dinner spread.
• Christmas Casserole Recipes - Save some time on Christmas by making a one-dish meal that will serve the whole family!

Did you try any of the recipes from this list of Italian Christmas dinner menu ideas? Let me know how they turned out in the comments below!

📖 Recipe Card

Print Recipe Leave A Comment

Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It!

5 from 5 reviews

Italian Christmas Dinner Menu Ideas: Baked Eggplant Parmesan (+More Holiday Recipes!)

These Italian Christmas dinner menu ideas include flavorful and festive recipes that you would find in any Italian holiday dinner spread. To build your ideal Italian Christmas menu, simply choose one (or a few) of the recipes from each section. Appetizers, main courses, side dishes, and even desserts, you can find it all right here!

Author | Angela Latimer

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 276kcal

Prep 10 minutes minutes

Cooking 45 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

Pin Recipe Share on Facebook

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

1x2x3x

• ▢ 3 medium eggplant (peeled and sliced into ¼ inch thick strips or rounds)
• ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste)
• ▢ 2 large eggs (at room temperature, beaten)
• ▢ 3 cups Italian seasoned Panko breadcrumbs
• ▢ 4 cups marinara sauce (or spaghetti sauce, or arrabbiata sauce)
• ▢ 8 oz part-skim mozzarella cheese (shredded - divided, 3 portions)
• ▢ ½ cup Parmesan cheese (grated - divided, 3 portions)
• ▢ ½ teaspoon dried basil

Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

Instructions

 

• Slice the peeled eggplant and arrange your slices in a single layer on a paper towel-lined baking sheet or working surface. Sprinkle with salt and allow to set for an hour while releasing the excess liquid from the sliced eggplant.
• Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C) and line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly coat with non-stick cooking spray.
• Setup your dredging station: In 3 dishes that are shallow enough for easy dipping, combine these ingredients. 1) all-purpose flour with salt and pepper, 2) beaten eggs, and 3) finely ground Italian seasoned Panko breadcrumbs. *Use a food processor to get a nice, fine consistency on the breadcrumbs.
• Dip your eggplant slices in the flour first, then the beaten egg, and finally in the finely ground Panko breadcrumbs and transfer them onto the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake in your preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, until nicely crisped and golden brown. Make sure to flip the eggplant slices half way through the cooking time to get nice, even crisping.
• Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish and spread enough marinara sauce (no more than ¼ cup) to cover the bottom of the dish. Arrange a layer of the baked eggplant then top it with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, repeat the sauce and layer on the eggplant and cheeses again for 3 layers. Sprinkle dried basil over the assembled dish.
• Bake at 400°F (205°C) for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted, and the sauce is bubbling around the edges.

Notes

• Peeling your eggplant is optional, but do take the time to salt and remove excess moisture for the best texture in your eggplant parm!
• If your eggplant seems like it's kicking out alot of moisture, wipe it clean and sprinkle with salt again.
• Add ¼ cup grated Parmesan to the Panko breadcrumbs and pulse in your food processor to a fine consistency for the very best breadcrumb coating.
• Allow your baked eggplant parmesan to set for 30 minutes before serving for best results.

Nutrition

Calories: 276kcal (14%) | Carbohydrates: 34g (11%) | Protein: 17g (34%) | Fat: 9g (14%) | Saturated Fat: 5g (31%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 69mg (23%) | Sodium: 1467mg (64%) | Potassium: 891mg (25%) | Fiber: 8g (33%) | Sugar: 13g (14%) | Vitamin A: 823IU (16%) | Vitamin C: 12mg (15%) | Calcium: 377mg (38%) | Iron: 3mg (17%)

Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!

Course Christmas dinner, Dinner Recipes, Main Dish

Cuisine American, Italian