Old favorites return to American kitchens this holiday season

Main dish energy

For most families, turkey remains the centerpiece of holiday meals, especially for Thanksgiving. Of the 94% of Americans celebrating the day of gratitude, 87% will serve at least turkey. And while three-quarters of those folks will bake it the traditional way, a growing number will try variations like dry brining, spatchcocking or dropping the whole bird in deep fry oil.

Ham and roast beef come in a close second and third, particularly for the Christmas or Christmas Eve dinner. One 200-year-old main course making a recent comeback: beef wellington.

Some holiday favorites never quite disappeared, because they’re handed down, generation after generation, from other members of your family or culture. For example, many of the Pennsylvania Dutch still serve sauerkraut and pork chops on New Year’s Day.

“We do Christmas Eve German-style with potato salad and Frankfurters like my childhood in Germany,” shares Maike Corbett, with Cheerful Cook. “Christmas Day is all-American comfort food with slow-cooked ham, scalloped potatoes and my mother-in-law’s famous bacon stuffing rolls.”

Hanukkah falls just before Christmas this year. A popular main dish for members of the tribe is the traditional beef brisket, although it may crisp in the air fryer this year, rather than four to eight hours in the stove.

Dinner table delights

Holiday meals can be split into two categories: big meals filled with traditional meats and sides, and everyday meals, which often incorporate leftovers from the larger meal days. And with some dishes, there’s bound to be a little crossover.

Starches are always popular choices. The most popular Thanksgiving food is mashed potatoes. For Christmas, it’s roasted or scalloped potatoes. Candied yams, sweet potato pie and Brussels sprouts all land near the bottom of favorite dinner foods.

Karen Kelly, founder of Seasonal Cravings, tries to keep things diplomatic, even when she’s outvoted. “My kids are all about the classics when it comes to holiday meals. Anytime we suggest mixing things up, they veto it, so we stick to the favorites: mashed potatoes, corn casserole and, yes, even lime Jell-O salad.”

“Though I didn’t grow up with mac and cheese or green bean casserole, they’re now non-negotiable at my holiday table,” adds Shruthi Baskaran-Makanju of Urban Farmie. “It’s funny - once you start hosting, the traditions you choose end up meaning more than the ones you inherited! My only tip? Don’t overthink it. The old, familiar dishes are usually the ones everyone goes back for anyway.”

Some families like to mix it up for the in-between holiday meals. Pork roast with a nice pecan crust bakes nicely in a cast iron frying pan. Casseroles are also a good, hearty meal, whether you do corn pudding, turkey rice casserole or traditional noodle kugel.

Italian is a good counter-programmed food. You can go as basic as pizza, or toss some meatballs and spices in a slow cooker for dinner or party hors d’oeuvres. Lasagna, an Italian classic from the Emilia-Romagna area, is a crowd pleaser and can stretch for dinner plus a couple of lunches.

Cookies and sweet snacks

It wouldn’t be Christmas without cookies. Surprisingly, sugar cut-out cookies are only the second most popular to eat, even if they evoke the warmest memories. Chocolate chip cookies take the crown, with fudge, M&M and snickerdoodles all ranking high.

Of course, you’ll see plenty of tinned shortbread and butter cookies at parties around town. In recent years, a good rum punch or apple cider wassail is welcome at gatherings. They pair well with coconut-laced thumbprint cookies or hearty ginger molasses cookies.

“Chex mix is one of those holiday staples that never goes out of style,” says Emily Dingmann, founder of My Everyday Table. “There’s something about seeing those big bowls or buckets of it at gatherings that just says ‘Christmas’ to me. It’s beloved across generations, and everyone from kids to grandparents adores it!”

There’s at least one classic holiday treat you enjoy, but have no idea what to call it. Torrone is a delightfully chewy Italian nougat, mixed with honey and nuts and sliced into strips. It’s an Italian delicacy going back more than 600 years that’s good year round, but usually served at Christmas.

Want to try something new this year? Instead of trying to carve another fruitcake, why not bake a soft, rich plum pudding? Leave the jellied cranberry sauce in the can, and use fresh berries to make a tangy cranberry fluff everyone will enjoy. Or try that classic Jell-O mold for a hint of American nostalgia.

Set the table

The holiday season will always be a time to make new memories while holding on to older ones. As the saying goes, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” For many families, generational knowledge and flavorful reminiscences keep alive the recipes of the past, even while looking to the future. They may be setting aside the old cookbooks and recipe cards, but not before scanning them and even using AI to update them for the modern family.

It makes sense. Holidays are typically a time of joy and hope, and old familiar flavors can gladden the heart of even the harshest of Scrooges. When all’s said and done, everyone has to eat. We might as well enjoy it.

Bella Bucchiotti is a freelance writer with a passion for adventure, delicious recipes and authentic storytelling. Through xoxoBella and social media, she shares vibrant travel experiences, mouthwatering dishes and everyday moments that inspire connection.