Christmas eve meal ideas please!

[Falconfield]

I know it's still a while to Christmas and I might get really flamed for this however I need some ideas what type of meal other people do for Christmas eve?

I'm at a complete loss what to cook. I want something a bit different/special but obviously nothing too elaborate as we have a massive traditional Christmas dinner on Christmas day.

Any suggestions? or what do you find works for you and yours?

We always do posh party food. Easy to prepare and the kids can pick as they like. We don’t want a big meal before a big Mrs on Christmas Day.

I know it's unhelpful, but we always get a takeaway.

Every year I envision preparing some yummy food for us all but by the time it gets here I just can't be arsed previously worked in retail which accounted for much of that I think.

I hope you get some good suggestions!

Ours isn't elaborate but it is delicious, easy and now traditional!
I'll have cooked a gammon/ham so have gorgeous ham stock to use up.

We have fresh bread and butter, and soup made by blending some stock into garden peas. Add some shredded ham bits. Delicious.

A variation on that? Ham and cheese toasties?

We have a take away - probably not helpful if you want to cook though

Chowder with coconut milk

I’m with motherland on this one, don’t cook on Christmas Eve :)

Regulars in this house are lasagne or aromatic crispy duck on Christmas Eve.

We have chinese take away

You must not have discovered the Christmas section of mn if you think it’s too early to ask 😁

We always get a takeaway, usually a chippy tea. When the dc were little we took them to early evening mass and then called at McDonald's for quick treat on the way back. (It was a treat for them when they were little btw as we didn't go often). Now they are older, I still never cook on Christmas Eve, I've usually been at work till mid afternoon and then needed to prep for Christmas lunch the next day.

My DS always cooks Xmas eve while me and DD prep for Xmas day. We have something that can be eaten in front of the TV while we enjoy a Xmas eve film.

Last few years have been pizza, pannini or fajitas and spicy wedges, cucumber sticks etc

We have posh party food too. Snacky but super tasty stuff. Sometimes go a slow cooker gammon too

I usually do a fish pie. Very different to what we'll have on Christmas day and the kids love it.

Another option, if you're cooking the ham in advance would be ham, baked spuds and cauliflower cheese.

If I had complete freedom (hindered by vegetarian husband and food-avoiding DCs) i would have a massive seafood platter.

Not sure this year. A lasagne sounds good though!

We always get a Christmas Eve curry (takeaway!) so we have something completely different before the days on end of Turkey, cold cuts and sandwiches begin.

I do this every year.

donalskehan.com/recipes/bacon-and-cabbage-pie/

We always have fish on Christmas Eve so:
Monk fish and ciabatta kebabs (Jamie Oliver recipe - can be made with cod given how expensive monk fish is)
Mussels
Salmon parcels or coulibiac (bought not home made)
Sea bass

All served with bread and/or salad so dead easy

I do Christmas dinner on Christmas eve. Then in Christmas day we have pastries for breakfast with bucks fizz, baked camambert for lunch and m and s party food for the rest of the day. Means I can enjoy Christmas Dinner and spend the whole day with the kids.

Steak and chips

I sometimes do a special fish dish which always goes down well though I’d need to hunt the recipe down. Or quite often we go out which is also lovely.

Takeaway here too for Xmas Eve - but ideas if you want to cook are comfort foods you can do in a big pot easily - chilli con carne, pasta bake, sausage casserole, or big pile of jacket spuds with lots of variety help yourself toppings. Fajitas is another easy help/make yourself option - just cook a ton of chicken breasts, shred and then pile up bowls with toppings and tortillas.

Party food here too. Lots of snacky things to pick at while we watch a Christmas movie. Easy to clean up and any leftovers get eaten on Boxing Day alongside turkey sandwiches. Kids are teens if that helps. When they were smaller we'd have lasagne or shepherds pie but we would usually be going to my mum's for Christmas lunch then. If I'm cooking a roast dinner I'm not also doing a massive meal the day before .

Posh party food over here too, I love grazing on a buffet over the evening. We often have guests round on Xmas eve too so it's easier than cooking and it feels like a mini celebration

I’m with motherland on this one, don’t cook on Christmas Eve :)

Have a nut 🤣

We always have a takeaway in Xmas eve, we do a Santa experience trip for the DC’s in the day then get home do a nice bath with Xmas bath bombs pjs and Xmas film with a takeaway. Last thing I need is a pile of washing up to do on Xmas eve 😂