25 Homemade Recipes to Cook This December

Introduction

December is the perfect time to embrace homemade cooking, bringing warmth, comfort, and festive flavors to your kitchen. There’s something truly special about gathering around the table with loved ones, sharing hearty meals and sweet treats that showcase seasonal ingredients. From cozy soups to celebratory mains and delightful desserts, these 25 homemade recipes are guaranteed to make your December meals memorable and stress-free.

Why You’ll Love These 25 Homemade December Recipes

This carefully curated recipe list delivers on flavor, variety, and convenience—whether you’re looking to fill a busy weeknight or impress guests at your next holiday gathering. Every recipe highlights the best of the season, is easy to prepare, and provides options for all skill levels and dietary preferences. Plus, planning ahead ensures you’ll never be caught off guard by last-minute shopping trips or menu changes.

Your December Recipe Lineup

Here’s a delicious mix of comforting dinners, festive sides, and decadent desserts to try this month:

1. Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
2. Hearty Beef Stew
3. Butternut Squash Risotto
4. Classic Shepherd’s Pie
5. Chicken Alfredo Bake
6. Maple Glazed Carrots
7. Crispy Potato Latkes
8. Root Vegetable Roasted Medley
9. Garlic Herb Dinner Rolls
10. Cranberry Pecan Salad
11. Pumpkin Sage Pasta
12. Apple Cider Braised Pork Chops
13. Slow Cooker Chili
14. Parmesan Roasted Brussel Sprouts
15. Spinach and Artichoke Dip
16. Three Cheese Mac and Cheese
17. Oven Baked Salmon with Dill
18. Moroccan Chickpea Stew
19. Berry Crumble Bars
20. Peppermint Chocolate Bark
21. Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs
22. Creamy Mashed Potatoes
23. Eggnog French Toast Bake
24. Lemon Garlic Roasted Chicken
25. Gingerbread Pancakes

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this December recipe collection to automatically generate your shopping list—neatly organized by store section. Simplify your holiday grocery runs and ensure you have everything you need for cozy winter meals!

Instructions & Inspirations

For each recipe:

1. Creamy Tomato Basil Soup: Sauté onions and garlic, add canned tomatoes and fresh basil, simmer, then blend until smooth. Serve with grilled cheese.
2. Hearty Beef Stew: Brown beef, then slow-cook with root veggies, herbs, and broth for a rich, tender stew.
3. Butternut Squash Risotto: Toast arborio rice, add diced squash, gradually stir in broth, finish with parmesan.
4. Classic Shepherd’s Pie: Layer savory ground meat and veggies, then top with creamy mashed potatoes, and bake until golden.
5. Chicken Alfredo Bake: Toss cooked pasta and chicken in homemade alfredo sauce, sprinkle with mozzarella, and bake.
6. Maple Glazed Carrots: Roast carrots with a glaze of maple syrup and butter.
7. Crispy Potato Latkes: Shred potatoes, mix with onion, and fry for crispy, golden pancakes.
8. Root Vegetable Medley: Cube and toss your favorite roots with olive oil and herbs, and roast until caramelized.
9. Garlic Herb Dinner Rolls: Knead together bread dough with garlic and herbs, shape, and bake until fluffy.
10. Cranberry Pecan Salad: Toss greens, toasted pecans, dried cranberries, and vinaigrette.
11. Pumpkin Sage Pasta: Cook pasta, toss with pumpkin puree, cream, and chopped sage.
12. Apple Cider Braised Pork Chops: Sear pork, then simmer with cider, apples, and onions until tender.
13. Slow Cooker Chili: Combine beans, ground meat, tomatoes, and chili spices; slow cook for hours.
14. Parmesan Roasted Brussel Sprouts: Halve sprouts, toss in oil, sprinkle with parmesan, and roast.
15. Spinach and Artichoke Dip: Blend spinach, artichokes, cheeses, and seasonings; bake and serve hot.
16. Three Cheese Mac and Cheese: Make a cheese sauce with cheddar, mozzarella, and cream cheese. Mix with pasta.
17. Oven Baked Salmon with Dill: Season salmon, top with fresh dill, and bake until flaky.
18. Moroccan Chickpea Stew: Simmer chickpeas with tomatoes, spices, and sweet potatoes.
19. Berry Crumble Bars: Layer berries over dough, top with crumble, and bake.
20. Peppermint Chocolate Bark: Melt chocolate, mix in crushed peppermint candies, and let set.
21. Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs: Roll sugar cookie dough, cut into shapes, and decorate after baking.
22. Creamy Mashed Potatoes: Boil potatoes, mash with butter and cream until smooth.
23. Eggnog French Toast Bake: Soak bread cubes in eggnog custard, bake until puffy.
24. Lemon Garlic Roasted Chicken: Rub chicken with lemon, garlic, and herbs; roast until golden.
25. Gingerbread Pancakes: Mix pancake batter with gingerbread spices and cook on a griddle.

Weekly Meal Planning

This December menu is ideal for thoughtful weekly meal prep and efficient shopping. Save and schedule your favorite recipes to assemble a customizable meal plan for each week, and generate a single shopping list that spans all the dishes on your menu.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically calculates exact ingredient quantities for all planned recipes
• Organizes shopping lists by grocery store section for speed and convenience
• Reduces duplicate purchases and cuts food waste
• Keeps your week organized, even during the busiest season

Pro tip: When planning festive meals and weekday dinners, schedule everything in advance to see which meals share ingredients—so you save time and money, and spend more of December where it matters: around the table.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: Varies per recipe (average 15–30 minutes per dish)
Cook Time: Varies (average 30–60 minutes per dish)
Total Time: Great for prepping dishes ahead, especially for entertaining or cozy weeknights!

With these 25 recipes on hand, you’ll be ready to make every December meal a seasonal highlight, all while reducing stress and maximizing enjoyment. Happy cooking!