Australian Christmas Menu Ideas

Plan your Christmas menu

When you're cooking for a crowd, having a menu plan is essential for a stress free event. Especially for large events like Christmas, getting your menu in order is the very first step. Whether you're a Christmas party veteran or it's your very first time, this list of courses and recipe ideas will make planning easy for you.

Christmas menu courses

Canapés

Have these finger foods out for your guests as they arrive and mingle. These little nibbles are just to keep the guests happy before the main event:

• Cheese and Pickle Hedgehog

• Fruit and Cheese Platter Christmas Tree

• Baked Brie and Chutney Puffs

• Blinis with Smoked Salmon and Dill Creme Fraiche

Starters or entrées

Let the feast begin! Once the guests are seated, it's time to bring out the entrées:

• Mini Summer Chicken Caprese Bites

• Festive bacon-wrapped terrine

• Scallops with Chorizo and Apple Slaw

• BBQ prawns with compound butter

Mains

Go traditional with options including turkey and ham, or choose something meat-free that will please any guest:

• Turkey breast with lemon and thyme gravy

• Chutney glazed Christmas ham

• Whole roasted cauliflower with herb crust

• Aussie seafood platter

Side dishes

The sides are arguably what makes the meal, after all, what is turkey without stuffing, or a roast pork without potatoes? Mix and match these sides:

• Bacon and Onion Stuffing

• Egg Bread

• Cheesy potato bake

• Tarragon and Honey Parsnips and Carrots

• Tapas Style Garlic Mushrooms

Salads

A hot Aussie Christmas calls for some green salads to freshen things up. Once you try these ideas, you'll never settle for bagged salad again:

• Middle Eastern-Style Nectarine, Haloumi and Freekeh Salad

• Wild Rice, Charred Broccolini and Egg Salad

• Fennel, Apple and Cabbage Slaw with Green Mayonnaise

• Creamy Ricotta Pasta Salad

Christmas desserts

Traditional hot Christmas pudding, or modern eggnog ice cream to cool off the day? Why not both! These options fuse a little bit of old and new for desserts that will delight everyone:

• Creamy Eggnog Ice Cream

• Traditional Christmas Pudding

• Christmas Spiced Custard Tart with Roasted Peaches

• Meringue Tiramisu

• White Crackle Snowmen Truffles

Drinks

Make your job as a host easier by making a big bowl of punch with summer fruits or jugs of easy cocktails for a crowd.

This terrine can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days, making it a great make-ahead recipe for summer entertaining.

If you want to try something different, this pork belly with crunchy crackling and sticky plum sauce makes a stunning main.

This creamy and crunchy cheesecake log with cherries and white chocolate is a fantastic chilled dessert to make for a hot summer Christmas.