What do you eat Christmas Eve?

[Magnalux]

So I always host Christmas dinner, I’ve 22 to cook for this year! Needless to say I don’t fancy cooking much on Christmas Eve, I’m also doing some prep for the next day. I’ve a DH and three teenagers to cook for.Just wondering what kinds of meals you serve up on Christmas Eve that are low effort but still nice ! Looking for inspiration. Thanks

I usually prepare a big buffet for lunch and then bring out whatever is left at dinner time, works well and really easy!

Take away kebab from a very good place

Take away always , it used to be a fry when at home but my kids & I get a take away, we had Chinese last year. My boys are meant to be with dad this Christmas eve & if so I'll do Chinese for me & if they are here we might do pizza instead (I suspect they will be here because dad won't want to spend the money needed for Santa 🤦🏻‍♀️ but I could be wrong but going by past holidays,Easter for example apparently the Bunny only comes to my house 🤷🏻‍♀️)

Christmas Eve has normally just been an ordinary day so I never had anything special. I’m not cooking Christmas dinner so might try to come up with something special.

We've done "platter" for years - a nice mix of bits and pieces, always some cured meat, seafood, salad/veg bits, cheese. sometime a few hot party bite type things. Always some old favourites we knew dd would eat (plain cooked chicken, cherry tomatoes, breadsticks), and nice things that are treats for us - hot smoked salmon from an artisan producer near where we grew up, cheeses from travels in December, big prawns, ... all in the middle so everyone serves themselves. It's how DD started eating things like olives and stringer cheeses - picking for herself swung us enjoy them but not being forced to finish what she tried and knowing there was plenty that she enjoyed.

I'm doing a large Toad in the Hole with gravy and peas, for 6 of us. Batter done in advance, no hassle, granted, it's not for 22 though! Good luck OP, admire you...

We normally get a takeaway and I might honestly still do this but the plan is to get some nice ready meal lasagnes and garlic bread.

Takeaway, or get your DH and/or teens to cook if you're cooking for 22 the next day.

Going to pub for dinner this year but usually a take away or if we are at family house a bbq.

Same thing we would have if it's a regular Tuesday?!

Takeaway - either Indian or Chinese. Because from the 25th onwards it is Christmas dinner and the leftovers (and cheese obviously!) for days on end 😂

Some nice bread, smoked salmon (but flash fried because we're heathens all ND and prefer it that way), some rillettes, a nice chutney, a couple of tasty cheeses. A bottle of sweet wine, and some posh chocolates (and by posh I mean M&S).

Then all the dishes straight in the dishwasher so I can run and empty it before bed. I have to start Christmas morning with it empty and every dish in the house clean, it's the law.

Growing up we always had salmon en croute with some lovely potatoes so I thought you had to do some a bit fancy, but after having kids I decided that was ridiculous so we usually have pizza. We love pizza.

Thanks for all this, great food for thought. To answer a few points dh and kids are very good and will all pitch in, they’ll be busy cleaning the house and doing all the wash up, but if I’m in the kitchen prepping for the next day I don’t fancy having them in the kitchen as well making dinner they’ll just get in my way. Just looking for easy high impact ideas, though the takeaway option is currently my favourite! Thanks everyone.

@OnyourbarksGSG
Would you share your Nans sage and onion gravy recipe please😀

We usually have lasagna but I’d prefer something else this year. A takeaway or to go out. DH and DS will want to stay home though. I can’t complain too much as DH does most of the cooking. And will do the lasagna.

if we have guests then we have in the past done takeaway - pizza or curry, or fahitas with margaritas.
This year it is just us - DH and 3 teens. I am going to do baked camembert with some bits.

Hot smoked salmon, steamed veg and a easy sauce on the side. It takes about 15 mins but looks fancy! I also like that it's not too heavy.

Most Christmas Eves are pizza nights in our house. Usually we'll just throw a couple in the oven but every few years we'll get takeaway from our favourite Italian restaurant. Only ever want something easy in Christmas eve!

We’re having that on Boxing Day, can’t bloody wait!

We always have fish, although no idea why! DH has salmon as a treat but I don't like it so I have a fancy prawn cocktail with salad (I appreciate the greenery before all the stodge 😂) kids have posh fish fingers or similar. All as low effort as possible

Always a Chinese in the front room whilst watching home alone. Too much food for prepping on Xmas eve so by time I want to sit in my Jim jams I don't want to cook something different. Plus I'm working actually this Xmas eve so definitely not cooking 🙌

For that number a lasagne, we make ours in a turkey roasting tin and that serves 8 generously . Last year I made fish pie.
I'd probably make the lasagne (well DH would, I just do the bechamel) and the fish pie

You could do garlic bread, side salad etc to make it go further. Then Chocolate log for pudding.

One year we did pizza and despite not pigging out during the day failed to eat the pizza although on a normal Saturday it would have been demolished.

Chicken masala with mash, green beans and asparagus has been our go to, the last couple of Christmas eves. Before that it was pizza.

Crispy duck, pancakes, hoisin etc - slow roast in oven while we go to the pub then eat in front of the telly! I like to lay my Christmas table the day before!