31 Things To Cook In December
Introduction
December ushers in a season of celebration where kitchens become the heart of the home. With festive holidays, cozy gatherings, and chilly nights, it’s the perfect time to enjoy comforting classics, show-stopping mains, and nostalgic treats. Whether you’re planning family dinners or friendly potlucks, these 31 recipes ensure every day of December feels special and deliciously memorable.
Deliciously Diverse December Cooking Ideas
From soul-warming soups and stews to dazzling desserts, December’s culinary line-up is all about variety and warmth. Rich, seasonal ingredients like root vegetables, winter squash, cranberries, and warming spices take center stage. These dishes are designed to bring loved ones together, fill your home with irresistible aromas, and make weeknight meals as exciting as festive feasts.
Planning Your December Menu
There’s something magical about planning a month’s worth of meals that celebrate the best of the season. With a thoughtfully crafted list, you can strike the perfect balance between comforting favorites and new flavors to try. Scheduling recipes in advance streamlines shopping and cooking, so you have more time to enjoy the festivities.
Featuring Festive and Comforting Favorites
Beat the winter blues with hearty one-pot wonders, celebration-worthy roasts, and desserts that sparkle with holiday spirit. December is made for classics like roast chicken, beef stew, and homemade cinnamon rolls—but it’s also an invitation to try something new, like Moroccan tagine or a show-stopping gratin.
Serving Suggestions for a Festive December Table
Create inviting spreads with vibrant salads using citrus and winter greens, rustic breads straight from the oven, and decadent desserts like peppermint brownies or gingerbread cake. A thoughtfully set table with a mix of comforting mains, colorful sides, and crowd-pleasing snacks guarantees holiday meals everyone will remember.
Nutritional Information and Serving Sizes
The following recipes offer a range of options to suit every dietary need and crowd size. With each dish, you’ll find serving sizes designed for families or group gatherings, as well as ideas for scaling up or down.
Your 31 Things To Cook In December
Ingredients
💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this December recipe lineup to instantly create an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by section, making busy holiday grocery trips quick and efficient.
Instructions
- Plan Your Month: Review the recipe list and select which days you want to make each dish based on your schedule, family size, and upcoming celebrations.
- Organize Ingredients: For each chosen recipe, note the main ingredients. Use meal planning tools to aggregate and categorize items for one comprehensive shopping trip.
- Prep Ahead: Take advantage of batch cooking: prep vegetables, marinate proteins, or pre-bake sides that can be reheated for busy weeknights.
- Cook and Serve: Follow each recipe’s instructions for optimal taste and presentation. For roasts and baked goods, be sure to let them rest for enhanced flavor and texture.
- Enjoy Leftovers: Transform extras into creative meals—use roast ham in sandwiches, stews in savory pot pies, or bread in French toast bake!
Weekly Meal Planning
Conquering December’s meal demands is simple when you plan ahead. Schedule these recipes in CookifyAI to map your meals for the week—or the whole month—and generate dynamic shopping lists that combine ingredients across all dishes.
**Planning Benefits:**
- Calculate exact ingredient quantities for all scheduled meals
- Organize your shopping by grocery store sections
- Automatically remove duplicates—no more extra bags of potatoes or forgotten garlic!
- Reduce food waste with smart meal-planning insights
Pro tip: When planning these 31 December recipes in CookifyAI, the ingredient overlap feature shows you exactly how much of each staple you need, whether you’re shopping for one week or the entire month.
Cook and Prep Times
Prep Time: Varies (average 15-30 minutes per recipe)
Cook Time: 20-60 minutes per meal
Total Time: Most recipes are meal-prep friendly and can be partially made in advance for quick assembly throughout the week.
Make this December delicious, festive, and stress-free by planning ahead—so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the season!