7-Day Holiday Family Dinner Plan | Festive Weeknight Meals for Christmas Week

Introduction

The holiday season is full of magic, but let’s be honest — the dinner planning can get hectic. That’s why I created this 7-Day Holiday Family Dinner Plan! It’s cozy, festive, and super manageable for busy households. Whether you’re entertaining guests or just trying to keep weeknight dinners special for your family, this plan will help you serve up joy all week long.


📅 Holiday Week Recipes


🎄 Monday – Cranberry Balsamic Chicken Thighs

Ingredients:

  • 6 bone-in chicken thighs
  • 1/2 cup whole cranberry sauce
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • Salt, pepper, rosemary

Instructions:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk cranberry sauce, balsamic, honey, and mustard.
Step 3: Season chicken with salt and pepper, place in a baking dish.
Step 4: Pour sauce over chicken and top with fresh rosemary.
Step 5: Bake uncovered for 35–40 minutes until golden and bubbly.
Step 6: Serve with mashed potatoes and green beans.


❄️ Tuesday – Creamy Sausage & Potato Soup

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb Italian sausage
  • 4 potatoes, diced
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups kale

Instructions:

Step 1: Brown sausage in a large pot. Remove and set aside.
Step 2: Sauté onion and garlic in drippings.
Step 3: Add broth and potatoes; simmer until tender (15 min).
Step 4: Add sausage back in and stir in cream and kale.
Step 5: Simmer 5 more minutes until kale is wilted.
Step 6: Serve with crusty bread.


🎅 Wednesday (Christmas Eve) – Honey-Glazed Roast Chicken

Ingredients:

  • 1 whole chicken (4–5 lbs)
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt, pepper, garlic powder

Instructions:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
Step 2: Whisk glaze ingredients together.
Step 3: Pat chicken dry and season all over.
Step 4: Brush glaze generously over chicken.
Step 5: Roast uncovered for 1 hour 20 minutes, basting halfway.
Step 6: Let rest 10 minutes before carving. Serve with roasted veggies.


🎁 Thursday (Christmas Day) – Holiday Lasagna with Ricotta & Spinach

Ingredients:

  • 9 lasagna noodles
  • 1 jar marinara sauce
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups spinach
  • 2 cups mozzarella
  • 1 egg
  • Italian herbs

Instructions:

Step 1: Cook noodles and preheat oven to 375°F.
Step 2: In a bowl, mix ricotta, egg, herbs, and spinach.
Step 3: Layer sauce, noodles, ricotta mix, mozzarella (3 layers).
Step 4: Finish with sauce and cheese on top.
Step 5: Cover with foil and bake 25 mins.
Step 6: Uncover and bake 10 more mins until bubbly.


🧤 Friday – Leftover Turkey Pot Pie

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups leftover turkey
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas and carrots
  • 1/2 onion, diced
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup cream
  • 1 sheet puff pastry or pie crust

Instructions:

Step 1: Sauté onion in butter until soft.
Step 2: Add flour, stir, then whisk in broth and cream to thicken.
Step 3: Stir in turkey and veggies.
Step 4: Pour into pie dish and cover with crust.
Step 5: Bake at 375°F for 25 minutes.
Step 6: Let cool slightly before serving.


🕯 Saturday – Stuffed Shells with Holiday Marinara

Ingredients:

  • 20 jumbo pasta shells
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
  • 1 egg
  • 1 jar marinara
  • Fresh basil, parmesan

Instructions:

Step 1: Boil shells and preheat oven to 350°F.
Step 2: Mix ricotta, egg, mozzarella.
Step 3: Fill each shell and place in baking dish over sauce.
Step 4: Spoon more sauce over top.
Step 5: Bake covered for 25 minutes.
Step 6: Garnish with fresh basil and parmesan.


🎆 Sunday – Baked Maple Dijon Salmon

Ingredients:

  • 4 salmon fillets
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • Lemon slices

Instructions:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F.
Step 2: Whisk maple, mustard, soy, and garlic.
Step 3: Place salmon on baking sheet, brush glaze over.
Step 4: Bake for 15–17 minutes.
Step 5: Garnish with lemon.
Step 6: Serve with wild rice and steamed asparagus.


🎉 Final Thoughts

This Holiday Week Meal Plan blends festive flavors with weeknight ease. Whether you’re making memories on Christmas Eve or simply warming up a quiet Tuesday, these dinners keep the whole family happy, full, and stress-free.

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