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+ servings
A plate of classic Christmas dinner menu items: turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and green beans.

Christmas Dinner Menu

A classic Christmas dinner menu featuring roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and green bean casserole.
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 5 hours
Servings: 8 people
Course: dinner, Holiday
Cuisine: American

Ingredients
  

For the Roast Turkey
  • 1 15-pound Turkey Thawed if frozen
  • 1/2 cup Butter Softened
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper
For the Stuffing
  • 1 loaf Bread Stale, cubed
  • 1 cup Celery Chopped
  • 1 cup Onion Chopped
  • 1/2 cup Butter
  • 1 teaspoon Sage
  • 1 teaspoon Thyme
  • 2 cups Chicken broth
For the Mashed Potatoes
  • 5 pounds Potatoes Peeled and quartered
  • 1/2 cup Butter
  • 1/2 cup Milk Warm
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper
For the Gravy
  • 2 tablespoons All-purpose flour
  • 2 cups Turkey drippings From roasting pan
  • 2 cups Chicken broth
For the Cranberry Sauce
  • 1 bag Fresh cranberries 12 ounces
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 1/2 cup Water
For the Green Bean Casserole
  • 2 cans Green beans 10.5 ounces each, drained
  • 1 can Cream of mushroom soup 10.5 ounces
  • 1/2 cup Milk
  • 1 can French fried onions 6 ounces

Equipment

  • Roasting pan
  • Large pot
  • Saucepan
  • Baking dish

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C).
  2. Prepare the turkey: Rinse the turkey and pat it dry. Rub the softened butter all over the turkey. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Place the turkey in a roasting pan. Roast for approximately 13-15 minutes per pound, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165°F (74°C).
  4. While the turkey roasts, prepare the stuffing: In a large bowl, combine the cubed bread, chopped celery, chopped onion, butter, sage, and thyme. Add chicken broth and mix until moistened. Stuff the turkey loosely or bake separately in a dish.
  5. Prepare the mashed potatoes: Boil the peeled and quartered potatoes in salted water until tender. Drain and mash with butter, milk, salt, and pepper until smooth.
  6. Prepare the gravy: After removing the turkey from the oven, pour the pan drippings into a saucepan. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer, stirring until thickened.
  7. Prepare the cranberry sauce: In a saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until cranberries have burst and the sauce has thickened.
  8. Prepare the green bean casserole: In a baking dish, combine the drained green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and milk. Stir to combine. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20 minutes. Top with French fried onions and bake for another 5 minutes, or until golden brown.
  9. Let the turkey rest for 20 minutes before carving. Serve all dishes warm.

Notes

You can add other vegetables like carrots or parsnips to the roasting pan with the turkey for extra flavor.

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