Christmas is a time to spend with loved ones, open gifts, and eat as much yummy food as possible. So when you’re sitting at the dinner table with too many options in front of you to choose from, you have to be strategic as to what you allocate stomach space for.
That’s why we created this definitive ranking of favourite holiday dinner foods from worst to best, to help you determine what to pile high on your plate and what to maybe skip. Be sure to keep this list in mind when you’re sitting down and getting ready to dig in.
And when it comes to Christmas cookies, we also have some thoughts.
Fruitcake
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I’d apologize to fruitcake fans for ranking this at the bottom of the list, but I don’t think there are any to apologize to.
Green beans
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This is the answer to the “I should probably put a vegetable on my plate” portion of your meal.
Brussels Sprouts
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Do you really like Brussels sprouts? Or do you like the cheese, butter, and bacon that’s typically served on top of it?
Carrots
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So don’t get us wrong, we like carrots. But when you’re ranking them against the other holiday powerhouses on this list, it’s tough to rank them any higher than this.
Dinner rolls
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Don’t underestimate the importance of a good dinner roll at Christmas dinner. As unpredictable as family gatherings are, there are few constants like a dependable dinner roll. Plus, when you inevitably start arguing with your cousin twice removed from across the table, they’re the perfect shape and size to throw and hit someone with without actually hurting them.
Sweet Potato Casserole
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Who knew that adding marshmallows to your veggies would make them more fun to eat?
These starchy guys aren’t on everyone’s dinner table during the holidays, but when we see them, we’re not opposed to taking a scoop or two.
Gravy
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Whether you use your gravy sparingly or like to turn your meal into soup with gravy as the base, there’s no denying its importance at the holiday table. It’s the great equalizer, imparting the same yummy goodness throughout the meal for one cohesive dining experience.
Cranberry sauce
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1980s rock band Cinderella was right when they sang, “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.”
With such a heavy meal in front of you, cranberry sauce is vital to ensure you can keep eating all that yummy goodness by breaking up the rich meal with its tartness. While it’s not a vital component of any Christmas dinner, you definitely notice when it’s not there.
Turkey
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Okay, hear us out. Turkey, at its best, is a very dry meat. While it may look impressive when you place it on the table, turkey at the end of the day isn’t the best Christmas dinner protein.
Stuffing
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What little juice the turkey did end up providing ends up in the delicious, moist stuffing. That goes to say, make sure you do your stuffing right and cook it inside the turkey as opposed to that boxed stuff.
Honey-glazed ham
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The king of any holiday get-together is the honey-glazed ham. Meaty, juicy, and absolutely delicious, this holiday classic almost made the top of our list. But there’s one long-standing traditional item that really takes the top.
Mashed Potatoes
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The GOAT of any big dinner is mashed potatoes. Everyone makes them slightly different, but no matter if you like them chunky or smooth, mixed with garlic or smothered in gravy, mashed potatoes are a universal favourite among anyone who comes across them.