31 Rustic Christmas Recipes (2024)

Home Holidays Christmas

Cook up some down-home goodness with these rustic Christmas dishes.

1/31

Corned Beef Hash Rustic Pie

This suppertime pie has all the yummies: homemade pie crust, seasoned potatoes, and lots and lots of corned beef and cheese. How could you not fall in love with it? I know we have. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia

2/31

Roasted Fresh Okra

If you have picky eaters who worry about texture, roasted okra is marvelous. It's OK to crowd the pan. Okra shrinks as it cooks. —Anna Katsoulis, Greenville, North Carolina

3/31

Nantucket Cranberry Tart

While everyone is enjoying a bountiful meal, this eye-catching tart can be baking to perfection in the oven. The pretty holiday dessert calls for very few ingredients, and it’s a snap to assemble. —Jackie Zack, Riverside, Connecticut

4/31

Amish Onion Cake

This rich, moist bread with an onion-poppy seed topping is a wonderful break from your everyday bread routine. You can serve it with any meat, and it’s a nice accompaniment to soup or salad. I’ve made it many times and have often been asked to share the recipe. —Mitzi Sentiff, Annapolis, Maryland

5/31

Shredded Barbecue Chicken over Grits

There’s nothing like juicy meat served over creamy grits. And the pumpkin in these grits makes them taste like a spicy, comforting bowl of fall flavors. Your family will come running to the table for this one. —Erin Renouf Mylroie, Santa Clara, Utah

6/31

Apples ‘n’ Cream Pancake

This cozy recipe is delicious for breakfast or brunch. I usually make a double batch—because everyone wants more! With our own orchard, we have plenty of Delicious and Winesap apples…they make this a true Midwestern meal. —Ruth Schafer, Defiance, Ohio

7/31

German Chocolate Dump Cake

We make this for Sunday lunches when the whole family gets together. The cream cheese topping is so good that it doesn't need frosting. —Donna Holdbrooks, Waco, Georgia

8/31

Slow Cooker Beef Vegetable Stew

Come home to warm comfort food! This vegetable beef stew is based on my mom’s wonderful recipe, but I adjusted it for the slow cooker. Add a sprinkle of Parmesan to each bowl for a nice finishing touch. —Marcella West, Washburn, Illinois

9/31

Moist Cranberry Pork Roast

I love to serve this tender, flavorful pork to guests. You don’t have to toil away in the kitchen to prepare it, yet it tastes like a gourmet meal. —Kimberley Scasny, Douglasville, Georgia

10/31

Grandma Pruit's Vinegar Pie

This historic pie has been in our family for many generations and is always served at our get-togethers.—Suzette Pruit, Houston, Texas

11/31

Pastry-Topped Turkey Casserole

My friends tell me this is the best potpie they've ever had. Hearty and full-flavored, my comforting classic never lets on that it’s also low in fat and a good source of fiber. —Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario

12/31

Sausage, Egg and Cheddar Farmers Breakfast

This hearty combination of sausage, hash browns and eggs is the perfect breakfast to warm you up on a cold winter morning. —Bonnie Roberts, Newaygo, Michigan

13/31

Lemony Walnut-Raisin Galette

This flaky, buttery pastry dessert has a filling of fruit, walnuts, coconut and cinnamon. There's a lot to love! For even more appeal, dollop sweetened whipped cream on top of each serving. —Ellen Kozak, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

14/31

Quick Chicken and Dumplings

Using pre-cooked chicken and ready-made biscuits, this hearty dish is comfort food made simple. It’s the perfect way to warm up on chilly nights. —Lakeya Astwood, Schenectady, New York

15/31

Brussels Sprouts Brown Betty

I had the idea to make a savory version of the family-favorite brown betty, using vegetables in place of fruit while keeping the classic crunchy bread crumb topping. The result is a creamy, decadent side that will turn anyone into a Brussels sprouts fan. —Shauna Havey, Roy, Utah

16/31

Flavorful Pot Roast

On hectic days, this is so quick and easy to prep! Convenient packages of dressing and gravy combine to create a sauce worthy of a fall-apart roast. For a filling meal-in-one, serve with make-ahead mashed potatoes and ladle the juices over top. —Arlene Butler, Ogden, Utah

17/31

Apple Dumpling Bake

I received this recipe for baked apple dumplings with Mountain Dew from a friend of mine, then tweaked it to suit my family’s tastes. The soda is definitely the secret ingredient in this rich apple dessert. —Chris Shields, Monrovia, Indiana

18/31

Milk-and-Honey White Bread

My dad has been a wheat farmer all his life and my state is the wheat capital, so this recipe represents my region and my family well. This bread never lasts too long at our house. —Kathy McCreary, Goddard, Kansas

19/31

Vegetable Strata

We always serve food at our Bunco games, and since one of us is a vegetarian we like to make fun meatless dishes we can all enjoy. This strata can easily be doubled and tastes fantastic hot or at room temperature. —Doris Mancini, Port Orchard, Washington

20/31

Skillet Shepherd’s Pie

This is the best shepherd’s pie recipe I’ve ever tasted. It’s one of my favorite quick recipes to make, and I usually have most—if not all—of the ingredients already on hand. —Tirzah Sandt, San Diego, California

21/31

Deluxe Cornbread Stuffing

When my husband and I were newlyweds and far from family, we invited friends over for a traditional Thanksgiving feast. I searched for stuffing recipes and combined the best aspects of several to create this one. Everyone liked it, and I still make it for holidays.

22/31

Country Ribs Dinner

Ribs slow-cooked with carrots, celery, onions and red potatoes are pure comfort food for us. To add a little zip, we sometimes sprinkle in cayenne. —Rose Ingall, Manistee, Michigan

23/31

Caramel Pear Pudding

Don’t expect this old-fashioned dessert to last long. The delicate pears and irresistible caramel topping make it a winner whenever I serve it. It’s nice to have a tempting fall cake that puts the season’s best pears to excellent use. —Sharon Mensing, Greenfield, Iowa

24/31

Cabbage and Beef Soup

When I was a little girl, I helped my parents work the fields of their small farm. Lunchtime was always a treat when Mother picked fresh vegetables from the garden and simmered them in her big soup pot. We loved making this delicious recipe. —Ethel Ledbetter, Canton, North Carolina

25/31

Baker's Dozen Yeast Rolls

A yummy honey-garlic topping turns these easy dinner rolls into something extra special. Try ’em with soups and chili. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

26/31

Apple Butter Biscuit Breakfast Bake

My grandmother created this recipe to use up the leftovers from Christmas Eve dinner. By combining the leftover ham and biscuits with her homemade apple butter, milk and eggs, she could serve us all a warm, delicious breakfast and still have time to spend with the grandchildren. —Marty Leverette, Columbia, South Carolina

27/31

Pumpkin Dump Cake

Canned pumpkin and cake mix make these dessert bars an effortless alternative to pumpkin pie. It’s a tried-and-true dessert that always brings big smiles. —Linda Guyot, Fountain Valley, California

28/31

Chicken Potpie Galette with Cheddar-Thyme Crust

This gorgeous galette takes traditional chicken potpie and gives it a fun open-faced spin. The rich filling and flaky cheddar-flecked crust make it taste so homey. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah

29/31

Pearl Onion Broccoli Bake

With its creamy white cheese sauce and buttery crumb topping, this dish is great comfort food. If you’re looking for a mild way to dress up broccoli, this is the recipe. —Charles Keating, Manchester, Maryland

30/31

31/31

One of my husband's favorite childhood memories was eating his Grandma Barney's Tater Tot Casserole. One day I prepared it using potatoes O'Brien instead. Now I always make it this way. — Heather Matthews, Keller, Texas

Grace learned a ton about the nitty-gritty of food and nutrition while earning her master’s degree in food science. She worked for a well-known baby food company and a company responsible for many favorite snack foods before transitioning to being a stay-at-home mom. She loves writing about complicated food science concepts in an understandable way and as a Taste of Home contributor, Grace covers a little bit of everything, from vintage recipes to must-have holiday foods and treats.