Holidays & Occasions Christmas Christmas Recipes 20 Secret Last-Minute Holiday Recipes From Grandma's Recipe Box These last-minute Christmas recipes prove you don't need to spend all day in the kitchen for a delicious holiday feast. By Abby Fribush Abby Fribush Abby Fribush is the Editorial Fellow at Southern Living and joined the team in 2023. She is a writer and editor with almost 5 years of experience in lifestyle content for local and international magazines. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on December 1, 2023 Close Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox While Christmas is a truly beautiful time of year to come together, it doesn't necessarily mean it's stress-free. With holiday decorating, gift shopping, traveling, and more, creating an elaborate holiday feast isn't always an option during the season. That's why Grandma learned long ago to take advantage of quick additions to the Christmas menu. With these last-minute holiday recipes, you don't need to write off a whole day to cook a meal that will leave your loved ones satisfied. Check out these simple, delicious last-minute holiday recipes that are Southern grandma-approved. 01 of 20 Party Potatoes Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Everyone loves a potato dish, and these party potatoes make for a simple and delicious side that all will enjoy. With just 15 minutes of active time and less than 10 ingredients total, this recipe is sure to be a keeper. Get the Recipe 02 of 20 Cream Cheese Sausage Balls Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Sausage balls are a Southern holiday classic, and this recipe uses cream cheese to make them delectably fluffy and tangy for your guests to enjoy. Get the Recipe 03 of 20 Cornbread Casserole Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Cornbread casserole is a warm and fluffy dish that Southerners look forward to every holiday, and this recipe simplifies it for an easy and quick addition to your Christmas spread. Get the Recipe 04 of 20 Classic Deviled Eggs Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox No matter what holiday you're celebrating in the South, you're sure to find a plate of deviled eggs. This recipe is a tried-and-true classic that will absolutely be a hit this season. Get the Recipe 05 of 20 Peanut Butter Cornflake Cookies Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox There's nothing easier than a no-bake dessert, and these peanut butter cornflake cookies are a sweet, crunchy, gooey confection that take little effort to concoct. Get the Recipe 06 of 20 Puppy Chow Snack Mix Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Caleb Clarke This human-only snack will be gone fast when it hits the table. This tasty treat involves Chex mix covered in chocolate and peanut butter and topped with powdered sugar for a simply sweet side. Get the Recipe 07 of 20 Ham Delights Photographer: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Ham is associated with the holidays, and these ham and cheese sliders are an easy way to add it in to your holiday spread. Toasted and seasoned to perfection, these sandwiches will go quick. Get the Recipe 08 of 20 Roasted Brussels Sprouts Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox While Brussels sprouts tend to be a hit or miss, these crispy roasted Brussels sprouts are a perfect way to win over anyone at your holiday party. With just five ingredients and 15 minutes of active time, these are great for a last-minute side dish. Get the Recipe 09 of 20 Ham and Potato Soup Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox This warm and customizable soup is the perfect side to serve on a chilly holiday evening, and the leftovers keep well in the fridge (if you happen to have extra by the end of the night!). Get the Recipe 10 of 20 Roasted Butternut Squash Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox With a little olive oil, a baking sheet, and a sturdy chef knife, you can make a winning dish on the holiday spread this year. These roasted butternut squashes are as simple as they are delicious. Get the Recipe 11 of 20 Herbed Potato Stacks HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; PROP STYLING: BUFFY HARGETT MILLER; FOOD STYLING: WILLIAM SMITH Potatoes are a standard ingredient at any holiday meal, and these herbed potato stacks are a great way to elevate your typical mashed potatoes. Made with only six ingredients (including salt and pepper!), these can be made quick without a grocery trip needed. Get the Recipe 12 of 20 Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox Elevate your typical Christmas cookie by making these surprisingly easy pumpkin whoopie pies. With just 20 minutes of active time, your guests will be thoroughly impressed by your baking prowess. Get the Recipe 13 of 20 Southern Fried Cabbage Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman This humble dish has been loved by Southerners for generations and is a perfect, inexpensive addition to any holiday spread. Get the Recipe 14 of 20 Buttery Toasted Pecans Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox The hardest part of making this addicting appetizer is waiting for these buttery pecans to come out of the oven. This recipe is a simple way to elevate the classic Christmassy nut. Get the Recipe 15 of 20 Caramel Apple Dump Cake Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless Dump cakes are among the easiest desserts to make, and this caramel apple dump cake adds a delicious flavor perfect for a chilly day. Get the Recipe 16 of 20 Saltine Cracker Toffee Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Saltines are staple in plenty of Southern recipes, and this toffee recipe truly lets them shine. The saltine crackers provide a perfect base for the delectable chocolate-and-sugar concoction. Get the Recipe 17 of 20 Homemade Mashed Potatoes Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall A fan-favorite holiday side, mashed potatoes are an unspoken requirement on any holiday spread. This recipe is a simple classic that takes less than 25 minutes of active time to make. Get the Recipe 18 of 20 Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots Iain Bagwell While sweet potatoes are the more common orange root veggie on a holiday spread, these spiced carrots might just take spot number two. With only five minutes of active time, you'll have a quick and delicious side dish ready to go with little effort. Get the Recipe 19 of 20 Chocolate Trifle Recipe Hector Manuel Sanchez Trick your guests into thinking you spent all day on this stunning, rich dessert. This chocolate trifle uses all store-bought ingredients to make a delightful dish for any chocolate lover. Get the Recipe 20 of 20 Rum Balls Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Straight from the Southern Living December 1993 issue, these rum balls are a holiday classic that provide a nice (and boozy!) change of pace to a holiday cookie platter. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit