For food-loving families, a major highlight of the holiday season involves gathering around the table and sharing a homemade meal. But with so many different people to please, it can be difficult to find recipes that will leave everyone smiling from Thanksgiving to New Year’s.
Luckily, there’s a simple formula for preparing a winning holiday dish: Opt for straightforward, crowd-pleasing flavors (nothing too unusual or spicy) with an attractive, clever presentation. And perhaps most importantly, choose recipes that don’t require a million different ingredients and hours spent in the kitchen. In short, don’t push your own culinary skills or patience too far.
Whether you’re hosting a holiday party, a simple weeknight dinner or cozying up for a family movie marathon, here are 14 holiday recipes — from drinks to main dishes to desserts — that everyone in the family will love.