If Christmas cooking makes you feel excited and overwhelmed all at once, you’re not alone. Planning a menu that works for different tastes, budgets and time constraints can quickly suck the joy out of it. This collection brings everything together in one place – starters, sides and the main event – so you don’t have to overthink a thing. From 5-Minute Cranberry Brie Bites, Cheesy Pull-Apart Garlic Bread and Make-Ahead Arancini, to crowd-favourite sides like The BEST Roast Potatoes, Potato Gratin, Ultimate Loaded Potato Salad and Cheesy Cauliflower Bake, right through to the big hitters like Easy Glazed Ham, Crumbed Golden Lamb Cutlets and Turkey Sliders, these are the recipes I rely on. Every single recipe includes clear make-ahead instructions, so you can prep in advance, stay organised, and actually enjoy Christmas lunch or dinner instead of spending the whole day stuck in the kitchen.
1
Ultimate Loaded Potato Salad
This Ultimate Loaded Potato Salad recipe combines tender potatoes with crispy bacon, hard-boiled eggs, sharp cheddar and a creamy dressing for the most incredible side dish. Ideal for family meals, barbecues or entertaining.
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2
Cranberry Brie Bites
These gloriously festive, crazy-quick-to-make Cranberry Brie Bites are the perfect appetisers for any party or gathering. They are as impressive and delicious as they are easy!
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3
Cheesy Pull-apart Garlic Bread
Warm, Cheesy Pull-apart Garlic Bread with a crispy crust and buttery garlic flavour. Ready in under 40 minutes or prep ahead for convenience!
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5
Halloumi Flatbreads with Hot Honey
Crispy, golden halloumi is coated in sticky hot honey, then served with fresh herbs, creamy mint yoghurt and soft flatbreads. Halloumi Flatbreads with Hot Honey are perfect for busy nights, quick lunches or casual entertaining.
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6
Mushroom Arancini
These Mushroom Arancini will steal the show with cheesy, molten centres and crunchy coating. They are perfect to prepare ahead, ready for when you’re next celebrating! Serving size is based on 3 each.
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7
Potato Gratin
Here is the classic Potato Gratin with a twist! Layering the potatoes vertically in the baking dish means they are tender at the bottom and crunchy at the top.
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8
The BEST Roast Potatoes
A simple and foolproof recipe for The BEST Roast Potatoes you’ve ever tried. Fluffy on the inside and extra-crunchy on the outside.
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9
Pesto Pasta Salad
This Pesto Pasta Salad recipe is the perfect summer side. It can be made ahead of time, it’s substantial and can be made even faster by using a store-bought pesto for when you’re really short on time. Laced with parmesan, toasted pine nuts and fresh basil, this is a salad you will want to make again and again!
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10
Beetroot, Feta and Wild Rice Salad
This colourful Beetroot, Feta and Wild Rice Salad is so quick and easy to make and yet it looks impressive enough to serve for special occasions.
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11
Roast Pumpkin, Feta and Candied Walnut Salad
Sweet roasted pumpkin, crunchy candied walnuts, fresh spinach and pops of pomegranate are brought together with a tangy mustard dressing in this vibrant Roast Pumpkin, Feta and Candied Walnut Salad. It’s perfect for entertaining and makes a stunning festive side dish.
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12
Maple Kale Salad with Cranberries and Blue Cheese
This Maple Kale Salad with Cranberries and Blue Cheese recipe combines sweet dried cranberries, creamy blue cheese, crisp red apples and toasted pecans, all tied together with a tangy-sweet maple dressing. Perfect for any occasion!
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13
Roasted Cauliflower Salad
Roasted Cauliflower Salad is perfect as a side dish or main and will steal the show! Crispy roasted cauliflower is drizzled with creamy tahini yogurt dressing, then topped with fresh herbs, pomegranate seeds and pomegranate molasses.
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14
Hasselback Potatoes
These Hasselback Potatoes are ultra-crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside thanks to a quick 2-minute parboil, a hot roasting pan of oil (no baking/parchment paper) and a final flip so the fan side gets golden and crunchy. Serve simply with salt or level them up with the optional lemon and thyme cream sauce. Perfect for Christmas, Sunday roast or entertaining.
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15
Creamy Four-cheese Cauliflower Bake
A creamy, velvety, super cheesy cauliflower bake with a golden top and a crunchy thyme crumb. Foolproof, make-ahead friendly and guaranteed to be the first dish polished off at any dinner or BBQ. Creamy Four-cheese Cauliflower Bake goes with absolutely everything – the perfect effortless entertaining side.
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16
The BEST Glazed Ham Recipe
The BEST Glazed Ham Recipe is your step-by-step guide to making the most delicious, showstopping glazed ham with a sticky apricot glaze.
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17
Garlic Prawn (Shrimp) Olive Oil Spaghetti
Ready in less than 30 minutes, this Garlic Prawn (Shrimp) Olive Oil Spaghetti recipe is ideal for busy nights when you want something restaurant-style but without the effort or cost. Freezer prawns (shrimp) are cooked in a simple lemony, garlicky sauce with spaghetti to create a family-friendly dish that’s special enough to serve to guests.
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18
Crispy Slow-cooked Pork Belly and Gravy
This Slow-cooked Crispy Pork Belly and Gravy recipe gives you melt-in-the-mouth tender meat and incredibly crispy, puffy crackling every single time – without scoring the skin or any complicated steps. Starting with high heat, then roasting low and slow, and finishing under the oven grill (broiler) makes this method completely foolproof, and the roasting tray gravy takes it over the top. Perfect for entertaining, Sunday roasts or Christmas Day, and surprisingly simple to prepare ahead.
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19
Garlic Herb Butter Roast Turkey with Gravy (No Basting!)
This Garlic Herb Butter Roast Turkey with Gravy (No Basting!) recipe gives you the ultimate juicy roast turkey that’s truly foolproof – no brining buckets, no basting, no complicated steps. You can dry-brine for extra tenderness and browning (recommended, but optional), then roast low and slow over vegetables to create built-in pan drippings for a rich homemade gravy. Perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, entertaining and first-time turkey cooks.
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20
Dijon Salmon and Crispy Potatoes
Only 15 minutes of prep, then let the oven do the rest of the work to create this delicious family-friendly Dijon Salmon with Crispy Potatoes recipe, which is served with a creamy lemon dill sauce and a green salad.
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21
Crumbed Lamb Cutlets with Caper Mayonnaise
For fans of crumbed foods, you have to try this Crumbed Lamb Cutlets with Caper Mayonnaise recipe next time you are entertaining. This impressive-looking dish only takes 20 minutes, but can be made ahead of time if you need. The crunchy crumb-coated lamb is served with a caper mayonnaise, which makes the perfect pairing.
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22
Turkey Cranberry Sliders
These Turkey Cranberry Sliders are the ultimate easy win – soft rolls are stuffed with turkey, mayo, cranberry and melty cheese, then baked until golden with a buttery garlic topping. Perfect for post-Christmas or Thanksgiving leftovers or easy entertaining, and just as good made with supermarket deli turkey when you want something comforting with minimal effort. Makes 12 sliders, but serves 4–6.
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Gail says:
Thank you so much Nicole .going to add a couple for my Christmas lunch x
Nicole says:
So great to hear Gail! I hope you enjoyed what you tried. 🙌🏻 Nic x
Yvonne Hall says:
I am a 59 year old Kiwi fangirl! Your recipes are part of my family’s life now! So glad I heard you on RNZ a few years ago and came across your spectacular recipes!
Nicole says:
Hi Yvonne, comments like this make my heart sing! 🥰 I’m beyond happy you are enjoying the recipes so much. Nic x