A Simple Christmas Menu for Entertaining a Crowd

Christmas entertaining doesn’t have to be stressful, especially when you have a beautiful, balanced menu that feels festive, fresh and completely doable. This year, I’ve put together a joyful collection of dishes that hero simple ingredients, bright flavours and the kind of effortless elegance that makes the season feel truly special. Whether you’re hosting a full family feast or contributing a dish to the table, this menu has something for every type of eater and every level of cook.

Start with something light and celebratory: Fresh Oysters with Green Herb Vinaigrette bring a refreshing, zesty lift to the table, while Baked Brie with Toasted Honey Almonds delivers that warm, gooey, crowd-pleasing richness everyone loves. Together, they set the tone for a feast that’s both impressive and wonderfully approachable.

For the main event, you can’t go wrong with a classic centrepiece. A Christmas Glazed Ham gives that nostalgic sweet-sticky shine we all look forward to, and pairing it with Baked Salmon with Lemon & Dill keeps the menu feeling light, summery and perfect for an Australian Christmas.

To brighten the table, two fresh and colourful salads add vibrancy in every bite: the sunshine-filled Grilled Peach & Burrata Salad with caramelised peaches and creamy burrata, and the crisp, citrusy Zucchini, Fennel & Parmesan Salad. Round it out with ultra-crispy, golden Duck Fat Roasted Potatoes that steal the show every single time.

And of course, no Christmas feast is complete without something sweet. The Vanilla, Raspberry & Apple Cake with Cream & Fresh Berries is simple, stunning, and the perfect festive finish.

With a menu like this, you’ll spend less time stressing in the kitchen and more time enjoying the people around your table. It’s festive, fresh, and wonderfully fuss-free; everything a Christmas celebration should be. Here’s to creating beautiful memories and sharing incredible food with the people you love most.

1

Fresh Oysters Served with Green Herb Vinaigrette

These Fresh Oysters with Green Herb Vinaigrette are a light, elegant way to start any festive meal. The fresh herbs and zesty lemon complement the natural brininess of the oysters, creating a refreshing and sophisticated starter that’s perfect for Christmas or holiday celebrations.

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2

Baked Brie With Toasted Honey Almonds

This Baked Brie with Toasted Honey Almonds is a show-stopping starter that’s rich, creamy, and full of festive flavor. Warm, gooey brie topped with sweet, buttery honey almonds and fragrant rosemary makes it perfect for sharing at Christmas or holiday gatherings. Elegant, effortless, and irresistible, it’s a bite that will have everyone reaching for more.

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3

Christmas Glazed Ham

This Christmas Glazed Ham is the hero of any holiday table; sticky, golden and beautifully caramelised with a sweet citrus glaze. It’s surprisingly simple to prepare, feeds a crowd, and looks incredibly impressive straight out of the oven. A true centrepiece recipe that makes Christmas feel extra special.

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4

Baked Salmon with Lemon & Dill

This Baked Salmon with Lemon & Dill is the perfect centrepiece for a festive table; light, elegant, and beautifully fragrant. The buttery lemon–dill glaze keeps the salmon tender and full of fresh, bright flavour, while its vibrant colour makes it a stunning addition to any Christmas spread.

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5

Grilled Peach & Burrata Salad

This Grilled Peach & Burrata Salad brings a touch of sunshine to the Christmas table, balancing festive richness with something fresh, colourful, and beautifully indulgent. The warm, caramelised peaches pair perfectly with creamy burrata, candied pecans, and bursts of basil which creates a dish that feels both celebratory and effortless. It’s the perfect bright side to serve alongside your Christmas mains, adding a pop of summer sweetness to your festive spread.

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6

Zucchini, Fennel & Parmesan Salad

Fresh, bright, and beautifully simple, this Zucchini, Fennel & Parmesan Salad is the perfect addition to your Christmas table. With delicate ribbons of zucchini, crisp shaved fennel, fragrant mint, and a shower of parmesan, it brings a light and elegant balance to all the rich festive mains. It looks stunning, comes together effortlessly, and adds that refreshing summer sparkle every Christmas spread needs.

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7

Duck Fat Roasted Potatoes

Crispy, golden, and absolutely irresistible, these Duck Fat Roasted Potatoes are the kind of side that steals the show on Christmas Day. They’re luxuriously crunchy on the outside, soft and fluffy inside, and carry that rich festive flavour everyone loves during the holidays. Simple, indulgent, and guaranteed to have your guests going back for seconds, they’re the ultimate Christmas comfort side.

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8

Vanilla, Raspberry & Apple Cake with Cream & Fresh Berries

Light, fruity and beautifully festive, this Vanilla, Raspberry & Apple Cake is the perfect Christmas dessert. It’s soft, comforting and filled with sweet bursts of berries and tender apple, like a summer Christmas twist on a classic tea cake. Topped with billowy whipped cream and fresh raspberries, it looks stunning on the table and feels wonderfully nostalgic.

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