This volume two of 12 Days of Easy, Healthy Dinners for Christmas Crazy plan is your secret weapon for keeping mealtime simple during the busiest time all year! With a little planning now, you can cross “dinner stress” off your list and make space for all the things that truly matter this season!
12 Days of Easy, Healthy Dinner Recipes
December is here, and if your calendar looks anything like mine, it’s packed with holiday parties, gift wrapping, cookie baking, and maybe a birthday or two. It’s the most wonderful—and let’s be honest, wildest—time of the year! With so much happening, figuring out what’s for dinner can quickly become the last thing on your mind.
If you were around last December, you may remember our solution – The 12 Days of Easy Healthy Dinners for Christmas Crazy. You guys loved it so much that we decided to make a Volume 2 for this December!! This year we are breaking it into two weeks – 6 days each – but if you look at the printable PDF below, you’ll get to see both weeks at once!
Think of this as your advent calendar for meal planning, but instead of chocolates or trinkets, each “door” reveals a delicious, stress-free dinner idea. These recipes are designed to save your sanity during the busiest month of the year, so you can spend less time cooking and more time enjoying the holiday season.
How to Use This Plan
Unlike the typical Confessions week-long meal plan, this list is designed to work with your unique December schedule. It’s not about sticking to a rigid lineup of meals but giving you flexible, sanity-saving options to plug in wherever they fit best during the holiday madness.
Browse the Recipes: Start by looking through the list of 12 easy dinner ideas. Each recipe is quick to prepare, packed with flavor, uses similar ingredients and proteins, and all are perfect for keeping your family happy during this hectic month. Note: this post lists Week 1 – the first 6 meals – but you can find both weeks on the printable PDF!
Print + Organize: Download the printable PDF to keep this meal plan at your fingertips. If you need a calendar, you can print this weekly calendar or this monthly calendar – these are just simple canva templates! First, write down your activities and engagements for the rest of the month, then plan your meals. Print or save recipes.
Make Adjustments: Mix and match recipes to fit your needs. Swap sides to suit your preferences, double recipes for leftovers, or skip a day entirely if you’re eating out or attending a holiday gathering.
Enjoy the Season: The beauty of this plan is that it clears headspace for the things that matter most. With meals planned, you’ll spend less time worrying about dinner and more time soaking up the magic of the holidays!
More Tips for an Easy December
Have Easy Sides on Hand:
- Freezer Brown Rice: Cook a big batch, freeze, and heat when you need an easy carb.
- Bagged Salad or Arugula: Toss with olive oil, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt for a fresh and easy side.
- Freezer Veggies: Freezer veggies are great for busy seasons. Just, steam, roast, or sauté—whatever works best for your meal.
- Pasta: Gluten-free or regular, it’s the perfect partner for saucy dishes.
- Baked Sweet Potatoes: bake or air fryer a few potatoes at the beginning of the week for another easy to grab side.
Plan Quick Breakfasts:
- Greek Yogurt & Berries: Add a drizzle of honey or a sprinkle of your favorite granola for crunch.
- One Pan Baked Oatmeal: This is so quick! Either make ahead for the week, or it can even be made on a weekday if you’re short on weekend prep time!
- Cottage Cheese Egg Bites: High protein meals are going to keep us going during the craziness. These are easily customized with mix-ins for everyone’s preferences.
Add in simple lunches:
- Taco Salad: Mix and match your toppings for your perfect taco salad combo!
- Chicken Salad with Grapes: Serve over some greens for more fiber, or multi grain crackers are great on the go!
- Loaded Sweet Potatoes: Top baked sweet potatoes with leftovers from your dinners.
12 Days of Easy Healthy Dinners + Groceries
Groceries:
- olive oil or olive oil cooking spray
- 1 ½ lbs Italian chicken sausage or sub turkey sausage or pork sausage
- 4 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 1 can petite diced tomatoes or sub fire roasted tomatoes
- 1 T tomato paste
- 1 very small head of cauliflower or 1/2 of a large one trimmed of leaves but stem in tact
- 4-6 cups of low-sodium chicken stock or chicken broth
- 8 oz gluten free tortellini I used wegmans brand
- 2 cups diced fresh spinach or kale or other green – feel free to increase the amount
- parmesan cheese
- salt
- fresh basil for garnish
Groceries:
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 14.5 oz tomatoes with green chili peppers or fire roasted tomatoes (I used fire roasted because that is what I had – YUM!)
- 4 bell peppers sliced in thin strips
- 1 large yellow onion sliced in thin strips
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 Tablespoons Homemade Taco Seasoning click for the recipe
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- black pepper to taste
- 1 Tablespoon Optional: honey
- Optional toppings: brown rice, fresh lime, avocado, cheese and Greek Yogurt
- Optional: corn or flour tortillas for serving
Groceries:
- 2 tablespoons butter divided use
- 1 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 cup gluten-free orzo
- 3 cups of chicken broth
- parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley – garnish
Groceries:
- 4 teaspoons avocado oil extra-virgin olive oil, or butter, divided
- 1 pound ground chicken or beef can sub sliced chicken breast, chicken thighs, or any other type of meat to make this dish your own
- ¾ teaspoon salt divided use
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon oregano or Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce or sub more coconut aminos
- 3 tablespoons coconut aminos divided use (or sub half the amount of Worcestershire sauce, to taste)
- 2-4 tablespoons chicken broth or water
- 3 bell peppers thinly sliced
- 1 yellow onion thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons pecorino romano cheese freshly grated
- 4 slices provolone cheese
Groceries:
- 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
- 1/3 cup coconut aminos
- 1 Tbsp tomato paste freeze your extra paste to use in another recipe!
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 Tbsp fresh ginger finely chopped
- 1 dash crushed red pepper optional, I leave it out for my picky kids
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
- ½ Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 Tbsp of water
Groceries:
- 2 lbs chicken breast tenderloins diced into pieces and seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic powder
- ½ onion diced
- 2 teaspoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ½ cup water or broth to scrape off any burned bits
- 2 ¼ cups gluten free pasta
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes 1 large can
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 cup freshly shredded or cubed mozzarella
- ⅓ cup Pecorino Romano or high quality Parmesan Cheese
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs optional
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