Chef Dusty here. In restaurant kitchens there’s one rule: a plan beats a scramble. Christmas is no different.
Pick a menu that reheats well. A fully cooked spiral ham only needs reheating to 140°F, so it’s nearly impossible to mess up. Mashed potatoes can be made two days ahead and reheated to 165°F. Green beans can be blanched the day before.
Work backward from dinner time. For a 3:00 PM dinner with an 8 to 10 lb ham:
- 12:50 PM: ham in at 325°F, covered, with a cup of water
- 2:00 PM: make-ahead potatoes go in
- 2:20 PM: glaze the ham and raise the oven to 400°F
- 2:40 PM: rest the ham and finish the green beans
- 3:00 PM: slice and serve
Do the morning the night before. An overnight breakfast casserole goes together on Christmas Eve and bakes Christmas morning to 160°F while you open presents.
Mind the 2-hour rule. Leftovers go in the fridge within 2 hours.
The full plan, with four cozy December dinners, the casserole, all three Christmas dinner recipes, the countdown and one shopping list, is in The Christmas Chef Pack. Get it here →
Temperatures follow USDA guidance. Check labels for allergens.
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