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Copyright © 2025 Foodies Only
Copyright © 2025 Foodies Only
6 Min
24/12/2025
This Christmas, you don’t need a Gabriel swooping in with pro skills to impress anyone (Emily). That being said, he did know how to elevate what he had at hand, like eggs into delicious omelettes and more. You need that version of Gabriel from Emily in Paris, not the chef in white, to use what’s in your pantry and come up with epic Christmas meals.
Christmas cooking doesn’t always require elaborate shopping lists or last-minute grocery runs. With a well-stocked pantry and a little creativity, you can put together comforting, festive meals that feel just as special. From pastas and roasted sides to quick salads, warm drinks, and sweet treats, pantry staples can be used for all dishes, proving that simplicity can still reign supreme during the holidays. Whether you’re hosting last-minute, keeping things simple, or just want stress-free cooking, these easy Christmas meals below rely on everyday staples.
This simple yet comforting dish proves festive meals don’t need complexity. It’s technically an aglio e olio, made with pasta, garlic, oil or butter, and basic seasonings. The garlic is first sautéed to release its aroma, creating a rich base that coats the pasta. Then a sprinkle of dried herbs or chilli flakes adds more flavour. This dish works well as a light Christmas meal or side, pairing easily with salads or vegetables. You can upgrade it by adding more ingredients like mushrooms, shrimp, chicken, spinach, tomatoes, olives and more.
An important part of Christmas meals is roasted vegetables, which are sometimes included in the main roasts. But, just in case they are not, you can have this as a side using veggies such as potatoes, carrots, beets, pumpkin, and squash coated in oil, salt, pepper, and herbs. The vegetables are slowly roasted until tender with a caramelised exterior. Roasting enhances their natural sweetness and yields a comforting dish especially suited to holiday tables. Sprinkle spices mixed with smoked paprika, garam masala mix or dried rosemary.
This is the baked version of the classic French toast, where bread cubes or thick slices are soaked in a custard of eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla, then baked until the interior is custardy and the top golden. It’s essentially a bread pudding-like dish that’s ideal for Christmas morning brunch because you can assemble it ahead of time and bake it fresh when guests arrive. Often served with syrup or fruit compotes, it combines the comforting flavours of French toast in an easy, shareable format.
This Christmas salad is a colourful side dish perfect for holiday meals when time is short. This salad combines mixed baby salad greens (lettuce, baby spinach, kale, arugula, etc), pecans, dried cherries, and shaved Parmesan cheese. Nuts, greens, dried fruits and cheese make the perfect Christmas dish. The salad is finished with a balsamic vinaigrette, making assembly especially easy– you simply toss the ingredients together and adjust the dressing to taste. With a prep time of about 5 minutes, it’s ideal for hectic festive gatherings or as a refreshing contrast to richer mains.
A staple of Christmas, this is one drink you don’t need to go all out for because all it needs is a pantry full of spices. Hot apple cider is made by simmering apple juice or bottled cider with whole spices – cinnamon sticks, cloves, and nutmeg to infuse the liquid. It’s meant for the colder seasons, as the spices release a rich aroma, and the drink feels cosy when served hot. It’s ideal for Christmas gatherings, a great crowd pleaser, and can be made in large batches with pantry items.
This is a no-bake dessert made with chocolate and crushed cookies. It starts with melting white chocolate and spreading it thin, or thicker, depending on preference, then topping it with crushed cookies (like chocolate biscuits or similar) and letting it set until firm. When broken into irregular pieces, it becomes a sweet, crunchy treat that works well for holiday snacking or gifting.
If you want something baked, try sugar cookies made from flour, sugar, butter, often eggs, and vanilla or other flavourings. The dough can be rolled and cut into different shapes, like Santa, Christmas trees, candy canes, gingerbread man and more. Arrange them on a baking sheet and pop them in the oven for baking. You can keep these around for plain snacking or go the extra mile of fixing frosting and decorating them into the shapes they resemble. Decorating them with icing or sprinkles adds a nice festive touch, but the basic recipe remains pantry-friendly.
With pantry staples and the holiday spirit, you can serve up meals that are warm, comforting, and celebration-worthy. These simple Christmas dishes prove that festive cooking doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive – it just needs thoughtful combinations and familiar flavours.
