The long table

Holiday and Seasonal

Roasts, sides, and sweets written for a holiday table, with temperatures and a make-ahead note.

Holiday cooking is a schedule. These recipes say what can wait overnight and what has to happen the hour you eat.

Use a thermometer on the roast. Color on the outside is a weak guide for a big piece of meat.

Time

Difficulty

Meal

Cooking method

Dietary

High protein means the estimate is about 30g or more per serving. Vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, and lower-carb are applied only when the recipe is written to meet them.

Budget

22 recipes

Holiday and Seasonal

Homemade Pizza

Pizza dough is mixed from flour, yeast, and water, risen, and topped with sauce and mozzarella. It bakes until the center of the crust is set and the cheese is bubbling.

1 hr 45 min · Medium

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Holiday and Seasonal

Garlic Knots

Soft yeast dough is tied into knots, baked until golden, and tossed in garlic butter with parsley and Parmesan. They are a side you can put out with almost any pasta night.

1 hr 36 min · Medium

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Holiday and Seasonal

Stromboli

Pizza dough is rolled around ham, salami, and mozzarella, then baked until the crust is golden, the center is set, and the cheese is bubbling. Slices show a spiral of cured meat and cheese.

1 hr 55 min · Medium

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Holiday and Seasonal

Focaccia

A wet olive-oil dough rises, gets dimpled, and bakes into a golden flatbread with rosemary and salt. The center should be set and airy, not wet dough.

1 hr 55 min · Medium

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Holiday and Seasonal

Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin puree, warm spices, and brown sugar bake into a quick bread until a toothpick in the center comes out clean. It slices neatly once it has cooled.

1 hr 15 min · Easy

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Holiday and Seasonal

Zucchini Bread

Shredded zucchini bakes into a spiced quick bread with a tender crumb. The loaf is done when the center tests clean and springs back.

1 hr 20 min · Easy

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Golden corn casserole in a baking dish with a spoonful lifted out

Holiday and Seasonal

Classic Corn Casserole

Cream-style corn, whole kernels, eggs, and cornmeal baked into the sweet, spoonable side people expect on a holiday table.

1 hr · Easy

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Holiday and Seasonal

Homemade Dinner Rolls

Soft yeast rolls baked together in one pan so the sides stay tender and the tops brown. Plan on about 90 minutes of rising before they go in the oven.

43 min · Medium

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Sliced pumpkin pie with a flaky crust and a smooth spiced filling

Holiday and Seasonal

Classic Pumpkin Pie

A single butter crust filled with pumpkin puree, eggs, evaporated milk, and warm spice. The center should read 175°F and still wobble a little.

1 hr 25 min · Medium

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Holiday and Seasonal

Herb Roasted Turkey Breast

A boneless turkey breast is rubbed with garlic, rosemary, and thyme, then roasted until the skin is golden. It slices cleanly for a holiday table without needing a whole bird.

1 hr 25 min · Medium

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Holiday and Seasonal

Brown Sugar Mustard Ham

A spiral-sliced ham gets a sticky brown sugar and mustard glaze that caramelizes in the oven. The glaze stays simple so the ham flavor stays front and center.

1 hr 40 min · Easy

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Baking dish of sweet potato mash with toasted pecan topping

Holiday and Seasonal

Pecan Topped Sweet Potato Bake

Mashed sweet potatoes are sweetened lightly, then finished with a crunchy pecan brown-sugar topping. It sits beside turkey or ham without tasting like dessert alone.

55 min · Easy

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Green bean casserole with golden fried onion topping in a ceramic dish

Holiday and Seasonal

Creamy Mushroom Green Bean Casserole

Fresh green beans bake in a homemade mushroom cream sauce under a crisp onion topping. It skips canned soup but keeps the familiar holiday texture.

55 min · Medium

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Mugs of spiced apple cider with cinnamon sticks beside a slow cooker

Holiday and Seasonal

Slow Cooker Spiced Apple Cider

Apple cider simmers with orange, cinnamon, and cloves until the kitchen smells like a holiday market. Serve it in mugs straight from the slow cooker.

3 hr 10 min · Easy

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Holiday and Seasonal

Molasses Gingerbread Loaf

A dense loaf gets its snap from molasses, ginger, and cinnamon and bakes in a standard pan. Slice it plain or with a thin lemon glaze for dessert plates.

1 hr 5 min · Easy

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Air-fried Brussels sprouts with crisp bacon bits in a serving bowl

Holiday and Seasonal

Air Fryer Bacon Brussels Sprouts

Halved Brussels sprouts roast in a single layer with chopped bacon until the edges char and the centers soften. A quick maple vinegar finish makes them holiday-ready.

33 min · Easy

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Holiday and Seasonal

Sausage Sage Cornbread Stuffing

Crumbed cornbread mixes with browned sausage, celery, and sage, then bakes until the top is crisp and the center stays moist. It holds its own next to gravy and roasted meat.

1 hr 5 min · Medium

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Bowl of glossy orange cranberry sauce with zest strands on top

Holiday and Seasonal

Stovetop Orange Cranberry Sauce

Fresh cranberries simmer with orange juice, zest, and sugar until they burst into a glossy sauce. It sets as it cools and brightens rich holiday plates.

25 min · Easy

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Holiday and Seasonal

Orange Cranberry Glazed Turkey Breast

A boneless turkey breast roasts under a sticky orange-cranberry glaze until the skin browns and the meat stays juicy. Serve it sliced for a smaller holiday table without a whole bird.

1 hr 35 min · Medium

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