Christmas Eve Dinner Ideas: 3 Festive Recipes to Make

The nights are chilly, the lights are twinkling, and the sound of jingle bells and carolers is in the air. This can only mean one thing: Christmas is just around the corner! And what better way to embrace the festive spirit than by gathering around a table and sharing a feast on Christmas eve?

We've rounded up three Christmas Eve buffet ideas that incorporate traditional flavors of the season. These dishes will not only tantalize your taste buds, but also fill your home with holiday cheer.

Festive Cooking: 3 Easy Christmas Eve Buffet Recipes

1. Turkey Quiche Tarts

• 8 oz Buddig Premium Deli Oven Roasted Turkey Breast, cut into small pieces
• 24 3-inch frozen tart shells, thawed
• 4 large eggs
• 1 ¼ cups milk
• 1 ¼ cups Swiss cheese, shredded
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• ¼ tsp ground black pepper
• ¼ tsp salt

• Preheat your oven to 375°F. Take two 12-cup muffin tins and arrange the tart shells in them. Line each shell with a layer of pie weights or dried beans to keep the shells from puffing up.
• Place the muffin tins in the preheated oven and bake until the crust edges are lightly browned and the shells are about ¾ cooked, which should take around 5 to 10 minutes. Once done, remove from the oven and set aside.
• In a bowl, mix together 1 cup of Swiss cheese and the turkey. Make sure they're well combined, then divide the mixture evenly among the tart shells.
• In another bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, mustard, salt, and pepper until well blended.
• Ladle the egg mixture into each tart shell, filling them about ⅔ full. Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of Swiss cheese over the tarts.
• Place the filled tarts back in the preheated oven and bake until the egg mixture is set in the middle and the shells turn golden brown. This will take approximately 25 to 30 minutes.

• 4 oz Buddig Premium Deli Smoked Ham
• 9 oz puff pastry
• 7 oz mild cheese (e.g. scamorza or mozzarella)
• 5 oz cream cheese
• 4 oz pumpkin, sliced into small cubes
• Extra virgin olive oil, salt and black pepper
• An egg, for the egg wash

• Start by slicing the pumpkin and removing the peel. Place the slices on a baking tray lined with a baking sheet.
• Drizzle the pumpkin slices with oil, salt, and black pepper. Bake them at 350°F for about 15 minutes, or until they turn golden.
• Take a frying pan and cover it with a baking sheet. Lay out the puff pastry and spread cream cheese over it, leaving a 1 cm border on all sides. Next, arrange the ham on top.
• Cut the cheese into thin slices and add them to the strudel along with the roasted pumpkin.
• Fold the puff pastry to give the strudel its typical shape. Use a knife to make small diagonal cuts on the surface of the pastry, without piercing it.
• Beat an egg lightly and brush it over the surface of the strudel.
• Bake the savory strudel at 350°F for approximately 20 minutes or until it turns golden.

3. Black Forest Ham Roasted Figs

• 6 slices Buddig Original Black Forest Ham
• 6 ripe figs
• 3 ½ oz buffalo mozzarella
• 2 ½ oz Arugula
• 1 tbsp honey
• balsamic vinegar
• olive oil

• Preheat your oven to 350°F. Drain the mozzarella, pat it dry, and cut it into 6 equal pieces.
• Take the figs and trim off any excess stems. Stand them upright on a flat surface, then make a cross-shaped incision on the top of each fig, making sure not to cut all the way through. Place a piece of mozzarella into the opening of each fig.
• Remove any excess fat from the ham slices. Wrap one slice of ham around each fig, covering the mozzarella completely. Place the wrapped figs on a baking tray lined with foil and drizzle them with honey.
• Put the tray with the figs in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 6-8 minutes, or until the mozzarella has melted and is oozing and the ham has turned crispy. Once done, serve the figs on a bed of Arugula leaves and drizzle them with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Christmas Eve Catering, Simplified with Buddig

Celebration-worthy dishes don't have to be complicated. This holiday season, let Buddig do the heavy lifting in the kitchen. Versatile, tasty, and affordable, their selection of premium deli meats makes preparing festive feasts a breeze.

Planning your holiday spread? Find a Buddig retailer near you and start preparing today.