Christmas dinner for two
Spending this Christmas without family? That doesn’t mean your day has to be any less special – and by that I mean you don’t have to miss out on a delicious Christmas feast. Here’s a range of recipes perfect for a Christmas dinner for two.
Every second year, my husband and I usually spend Christmas with my Dad’s side of the family.
My kids spend that year with me too (well, they’re meant to. They have a horrible habit of traveling overseas or other such things).
On our “off” year, it’s meant to be the turn of my husband’s family.
In reality, that doesn’t always happen either. This year, for example, we’ll be overseas.
Maybe I’m more like my kids than I thought!
However despite this, there have been years when due to logistics, it hasn’t been possible for us to spend Christmas with any of our parents: years where Ben and I have had Christmas without family.
If, like me, you’ve been in this situation, you will know that it is highly tempting to go Grinch, forget about the tree, forget about the decorations, forget about the food, and wake up on the 25th wondering why none of the shops are open.
But that would be a mistake.
The older I get, the more I realize that too often we claim to be too busy for x,y and z. Then we look back on our year and see nothing but a long list of completed tasks and no joy. No memories.
Life, and all its occasions, is worth celebrating.
And one of the ways we mark celebrations is through food.
So just because it’s only you and your spouse this Christmas, don’t think you’re off the hook.
Creating a menu for Christmas dinner for two is a little different than catering for an extended family however.
You can easily choose to have traditional Christmas food such as ham. You may end up with a lot of leftovers but these 25 leftover ham recipes will have you covered.
I also believe in whipping up a tasty Christmas trifle regardless of how many people are going to be eating it.
It will last at least three days, if not more, in the fridge, so where’s the risk?
And between you and me, eating trifle for breakfast the day after Christmas is one of my favorite things to do!
Even if you don’t think it’s possible to eat a normal size trifle, you’ll find some mini trifles in among these trifle recipes.
However, preparing Christmas dinner for two at home is much more than ham and trifle.
Here are some tasty recipes from which you can design your own festive Christmas menu.
Christmas dinner for two
Christmas appetizers
Christmas dinner starts back with the appetizers.
Don't be tempted to skip this part of the meal: set the mood for your Christmas dinner from the very first bite.
Keep your food prep time down to a minimum with this baked brie with fig jam.
Both preparing and baking this dish will take just 12 minutes!
While "healthy" is not on my list of Christmas food requirements, let's be honest - it doesn't hurt.
These Georgian eggplant rolls with walnut filling are a simple and healthy vegan appetizer that takes about an hour to make.
Shrimp stuffed portobello mushrooms make a super easy appetizer that you can prepare up to six hours ahead of cooking them.
Main dish options
Don't want a traditional ham for your Christmas dinner for two?
Try some of these equally tasty alternatives.
If you're keen for turkey and stuffing but want it on the smaller scale, then this turkey breast recipe is for you.
By having your Christmas dinner for two at home, you can splurge on more luxurious ingredients.
This filet mignon with blue cheese crust is a decadent and delicious steak which rivals any restaurant offering.
This recipe uses half a chicken so is perfect for your intimate dinner, especially if you're wanting to offer more than one kind of meat.
The marinade can be made up to two weeks in advance which cuts down on food prep on Christmas Day.
Christmas dinner side dishes
Wondering what to have as a side dish for your Christmas dinner? Here are some good options for two people.
Don't be fooled by the name: this delicious salad, containing roasted carrots, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, onions and radishes, is the perfect dish for your Christmas dinner.
It's not only good to look at - it's good for you too.
These 5-ingredient roasted Parmentier potatoes with rosemary and garlic are quick, easy and tasty.
Roasted green beans and Brussel sprouts with dates and balsamic vinegar
These are not your Grandma's brussel sprouts. Instead they are roasted along with green beans, dates, and lashings of balsamic vinegar.
All together, it will take less than 30 minutes to go from prep to table.
This dish adds a festive twist by mixing in nutmeg, cinnamon and cumin to a sweet potato mash.
Desserts for two
These irresistible cherry almond Florentine cookies are crunchy confection treats marrying nuts and cherries with caramel and chocolate.
These fudgy chocolate rum balls are a perfect no bake Christmas treat you can munch on to complete your Christmas dinner for two.
Stollen is a traditional German Christmas cake. It's full of dried and candied fruits, almonds and marzipan for a true Christmas treat.
Save on some oven space by whipping up this Instant Pot gingerbread cheesecake.
It's creamy, festive and delicious!
In just 20 minutes you can been tucking into this deliciously sophisticated lava cake.
Having Christmas with just your loved one is cause for celebration rather than commiseration. It’s romantic and it’s fun.
Honor the occasion by putting up some classic Christmas decorations, filling your home with Christmas scents, and having a Christmas dinner for two.
It might even become a new Christmas tradition for you both.