8 Holiday Dinners That Look Fancy (but Are Actually Easy to Pull Off)

Dear holidays, you sparkly yet stressful beast,

We’re excited you’re here, but we’re less than enthused about the amount of "celebratory" work that the end of Thanksgiving entails. After last year’s debacle with the burned ham, we’re looking to simplify things this go-around —with fancy but easy-to-pull-off holiday feasts.

Love,

HC

1. FESTIVE ENCHILADAS

Decked out in the colors of Mexico and Christmas, Enchiladas Divorciadas arrive at the table nearly jingling. Decked out in alternating columns of red and green salsa, these chicken-and-cheese stuffed enchiladas can be made with poached chicken (as in our recipe). But rotisserie chicken and store bought enchilada sauces offer handy shortcuts for the time-pressed cook.

2. SHOWSTOPPING SALMON

Whether you’re hosting the feast of the seven fishes or simply want a pescatarian main for your holiday celebration, look no further than this showstopping citrus-roasted salmon recipe. It's as easy to prepare as it is beautiful to behold: Just roast an entire side of salmon with citrus and shallots, then dress it with a simple herb salsa verde you've blitzed in the food processor. Low on prep and high on beauty, it's the perfect "fancy" main that’s secretly straightforward.

3. LAID-BACK LASAGNA

Yes, you can make homemade béchamel and ragù for your lasagna. But when your in-laws are coming to town and the kids are hyped up from a constant intake of holiday candy, it’s time to embrace the laid-back version of our Ultimate Lasagna. Buy a jar of ragù and instead of the béchamel, make a simple ricotta filling: Stir together a tub of ricotta with grated Parmesan, chopped fresh parsley, garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste. Chances are, no one will notice you’ve opted for shortcuts and you can claim back that time saved for yourself.

4. THE ULTIMATE BRAISED BRISKET

Need a dish that will stand up to being served next to Bubbe’s latkes and still leaves you time to take care of everything else on your list? Go for Jake Cohen’s Jew-Mami Braised Brisket, which requires just a half an hour of prep time. The rest of the time, the meat will be doing its thing in the oven. Even better? The brisket is best made a day in advance, which leaves plenty of time to get those presents wrapped.

5. CELEBRATION-WORTHY ROAST CHICKEN

Anyone who says roast chicken is not a centerpiece dish hasn’t tried this perfect roast chicken. Our recipe pairs extra-crispy skin with a colorful salad of bitter greens and a zippy pine nut-studded vinaigrette. The overnight salting of the bird not only infuses the meat with extra flavor, it forces you to get ready a day in advance. If you want something even simpler to prep, try our rotisserie-inspired Dutch oven roasted chicken, instead.

6. TENDERLOIN FOR BACON LOVERS

For anyone who thinks one kind of pork is just not enough, we humbly offer our bacon-wrapped tenderloin. Yes, it’s shellacked with a bourbon glaze and yes, you should use the rest to make yourself a boulevardier (equal parts bourbon, sweet vermouth and Campari with a lemon twist; you’re welcome). This recipe serves four, but there’s room to nestle a second tenderloin in your small roasting pan if you want to serve a bigger crowd.

7. HANDS-OFF LEG OF LAMB

Anyone who tells you that a great roast leg of lamb needs to be a big production is out to lunch. Case in point: our Rosemary-Dijon Leg of Lamb Roast, which takes just a few minutes to prep. The oven does the rest of the work, producing perfectly cooked meat and drippings that make a deeply flavorful gravy. Serve with roasted or mashed potatoes.

8. SUPER-SIMPLE GLAZED HAM

Someone call Norman Rockwell! You’ll look like something out of a Christmas movie when you approach the table with this Hot Maple Glazed Ham. It’s beyond easy to make: After baking the ham in your roasting pan, glaze the meat with a glossy mixture of maple syrup, light brown sugar and apple cider vinegar infused with sriracha, red pepper flakes and black pepper. Serve it with potato gratin, collard greens, biscuits and plenty of mustard.

With recipes this simple to prepare, who needs to wait for the holidays to enjoy them?