Unbeatable Christmas Dinner Ideas for Big Families

After painstaking hours of putting together a Christmas feast, nothing compares to the joy you feel when you see your family’s satisfied smiles around the table. But nobody can deny that the time and effort required (not to mention the cost) can take a toll—especially when you’re factoring in so many dietary restrictions and preferences.

But it is possible to put together a Christmas dinner without overburdening yourself. You just have to think outside the box to come up with the right Christmas dinner idea.

4 Easy Non Traditional Christmas Dinner Ideas

Cold cuts and deli meats pull double duty when it comes to Christmas dinner ideas. They're convenient, flavorful, and—most importantly—versatile enough to please even the pickiest eaters, young and old. These recipes are great for holiday buffets menus, which are perfect for letting everyone pick and choose their favorites. Best part? These Christmas buffets ideas are easy on the wallet, relatively simple to make, and they’ll have everyone reaching for seconds.

1. Corned Beef Egg Rolls

Ingredients

• 1 cup Buddig Corned Beef, chopped finely (pastrami also works)
• 1 cup hash brown potatoes
• 8 egg roll wrappers
• 1 tbsp. butter (unsalted works best)
• 2 tbsp. mustard (yellow or Dijon)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, chopped finely
• 1 cup cabbage, chopped finely
• 2 tbsp. oil
• Salt
• Ground black pepper

Directions

• In a skillet, melt the butter using medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, then sauté for 3-4 minutes, or until vegetables are soft.
• Add the cabbage, stirring occasionally for 2-3 minutes.
• Add the hash brown potatoes and stir for roughly 5 minutes, or until the cabbage and potatoes are tender.
• Add the mustard, then the corned beef. Remove the pan from the heat.
• Season the mixture with salt and pepper, then let it cool for 20 minutes.
• Preheat your oven to 400°F.
• To assemble the egg rolls, lay out an egg roll wrapper with one corner pointing towards you.
• Place a heaping tablespoon of the corned beef mixture onto the center of the wrapper. Fold in the two sides on either side of the mixture, then fold up the bottom corner to seal it. Finally, moisten the top corner of the wrapper with a little water and press it down to seal.
• Brush the rolls with some oil, and place them onto a baking sheet. Bake until you get a golden, crispy texture, roughly 20-25 minutes.
• Garnish with some salad dressing or mustard and serve warm.

Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu

Chicken Cordon Bleu is a classic that looks and tastes fancy, but it’s surprisingly simple to throw together. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just starting out in the kitchen, this recipe is sure to impress at your next family gathering.

Ingredients

• 8 slices Buddig Premium Deli Black Forest Ham
• 4 chicken breast cutlets, pounded (roughly ^1/4 inch thick)
• 1 large egg, beaten
• ^1/3 cup panko crumbs
• 1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
• 4 sticks cheddar cheese, cut in half
• 3 tbsp. Dijon mustard
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Parmesan cheese, shredded, to taste

Directions

• Preheat your oven to 400°F.
• Toss the Italian bread crumbs and panko crumbs together in a shallow bowl. Add the shredded Parmesan cheese and mix well.
• Wrap a slice of ham around each cheese stick, making sure to cover it completely
• Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Brush each breast evenly with the Dijon mustard on one side.
• For each chicken breast, place two ham-wrapped cheese sticks side by side in the center and then roll up the chicken around it, using a toothpick to secure it if needed.
• Dip each chicken roll into beaten eggs and then coat in the crumbs mixture. Place seam-side down onto an oiled baking sheet. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
• Take out the toothpicks and serve with a side of mashed potatoes and a fresh salad.

Baked Ham with Pineapple 

Nothing says “Christmas” like a classic baked ham, and this recipe takes it to the next level. It's an effortless recipe with a fantastic payoff. With a signature sweet and tangy glaze and festive pineapples to top it all off, this dish makes a perfect centerpiece that’s bound to wow your guests.

Ingredients

• 10 slices Buddig Premium Deli Smoked Ham
• 1 can (14 oz) pineapples (with juice), sliced
• ⅛ cup brown sugar

Directions

• Preheat your oven to 360°F. Lay out the ham slices on a baking sheet and cover them with the pineapple slices.
• Sprinkle the brown sugar over everything, then pour the juice from the can of pineapples over it all.
• Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes or so.
• Remove the foil and continue baking for 10-15 more minutes, or until the ham has absorbed some moisture and is caramelized. You're looking for a toasty, golden-brown finish.
• Serve with some roasted potatoes or mashed sweet potatoes to get everyone in the Christmas spirit!

Baked Ham and Cheese Pastry with Asparagus

• 2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed (one 450 gram package)
• 1 bunch asparagus, ends trimmed
• 125 grams of Buddig Original Ham Lunchmeat
• 170 grams shredded smoked Gouda or old cheddar
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 3 tbsp of whole grain mustard
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 egg, beaten 

• Preheat your oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine asparagus, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl and toss gently.
• In a small bowl, mix whole grain mustard and honey until well combined.
• On a floured surface, roll out the pastry sheets and cut them into 8 squares.
• Spread 1-2 teaspoons of the honey mustard mixture onto the center of each pastry square.
• Place 1-2 slices of Buddig Ham over the mustard.
• Top with asparagus spears (about 4 per bundle).. Then, sprinkle cheese over the asparagus.
• Take two opposite corners of the pastry and fold them up and over the asparagus and cheese to enclose.
• Transfer the pastry bundles onto the baking sheet. Then, repeat steps 5-8 with the rest of the squares.
• Give the pastries an egg wash by brushing each with the beaten egg. If desired, sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown. Serve the hot pastries fresh out of the oven and drizzle with extra mustard or honey, if desired. Enjoy!

Turning Your Dream Elegant Christmas Buffet Menu into Reality with Buddig

We at Buddig know all about feeding large families—not just our own but our employees' and customers' families too!

We understand how hard it is to stretch a Christmas dinner budget, even for the savviest shoppers. That's why we've made it our mission to bring families together around the dinner table with delicious, high-quality packaged meats that make festive meals easy to create.

Keep things simple with our selection of time-tested lunch meats and family-approved deli favorites. Your Christmas table won't be short of flavor with Buddig!

Visit our website to learn more about our products and recipes, and get your creative juices flowing. And, once you're ready to start cooking, our nifty store locator makes it easy to find Buddig meats near you!

So, don't worry about your Christmas dinner ideas this year—Buddig has you covered!