Quick and easy Christmas dinner!

It’s a fact: Prepping for your Christmas dinner does not have to eat up hours and days of your life. If you’re one to leave things to the last minute and/or you’re not into spending too much time toiling over a hot stove, you’re definitely going to love our ready-to-eat suggestions and simple dish ideas that are tailored to the holiday season.

On the menu: cheese platters, appetizers, tartare, soups, turkey, tourtières, salads, and of course the traditional yule log cake. Get all this on the table in the time it takes for the kids to unwrap their gifts.

Simple starters

Alongside fabulous cocktails, offer a hot appetizer for guests to savour while standing, or even a cold, bite-sized appetizer. Position your eats on the table for easy picking between conversations. You can use our suggestions below as a source of inspiration—and cheers to you!

The cheese platter

Here’s a Christmas starter that’s simple, elegant, and an excellent start to the evening. Feature local cheeses on a platter worthy of their deliciousness, which you can then garnish with fresh fruit, grilled nuts, figs, dried cranberries, port wine jelly, or mango chutney. Your guests will feel like they’ve died and gone to heaven! Strategically place the platter on your kitchen island or your table alongside a generous plate of charcuterie and a basket filled with fresh sliced baguette and rusks.

To really blow this one out of the water, serve warm brie with pecans, cranberries, and dark chocolate. For the most mouth-watering results at a price you’ll love, try Compliments double cream brie! As soon as you take it out of the oven, grace your holiday table with this melty cheese, some bread crust, and voilà!

Scrumptious bite-sized eats for your entire crew

Thinking about making succulent little Christmas mouthfuls? Premade appetizers are where it’s at! If you want to please everyone but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen, start exploring the wide variety of high-quality goods in the frozen foods aisle, think puff pastry, shrimp tempura, spring rolls, as well as dates and spicy sausage wrapped in bacon. Just a few hors d’oeuvre ideas that won’t last long after you put them out!

You can also offer up some seafood by serving gravlax or a classic ring of shrimp cocktail. For a smoked fish board, simply add lemon wedges and capers. Want to take it to the next level? Pair with a whipped cream cheese and dill spread.

For Italian-style starters, pan fry some ready-to-cook meatballs by Stefano, then cut them in half and top with the sauce of your predilection, fresh basil, and feature them in a serving bowl or lovely little individual plates.

Whichever way you go, you can always cap off your cocktail hour with olives, marinated artichoke hearts, and some fresh crudités for a bit of added crunch.

Soups and starters

Soup is a welcoming way to begin a meal: it’s hot, comforting, full of flavour, and it gets your appetite going. For your holiday meal, try one of our delicious in-store varieties from C’est Prêt!—your entire table is going to love it. Broccoli, green peas, carrots and sweet potatoes, chicken and orzo, kale and white beans, or lentils and coconut milk: take your pick from this fabulous selection of unique and tempting flavours!

Ricardo also has some irresistible soups on offer: cream corn, leek, pear and maple syrup, beef and barley, and onion apple bacon cheddar. Even grandma will think it’s homemade!

If the fancy strikes, serve each bowl with a garnish all your own. Ideas: pancetta chips, a dash of herbs and crème fraîche, parmesan petals, garlic croutons, grilled hazelnuts, microgreens . . . the sky’s the limit!

Tuna tataki and salmon tartare: umami or bust!

On a totally different note: tataki and fish tartare are also great, fresh, and chic appetizer options. Make waves with a tastefully tender and flavourful tuna tataki (even simpler if you pick up this pre-seasoned and pre-sliced tuna)! Since it comes sliced thin and perfectly seasoned, all you have to do is dress up that tuna to your taste: think sesame mayo , spicy lime sauce, ginger-maple sauce, or Bang Bang mayonnaise.

Another time saver: pick up a tartare kit along with a top-quality pre-diced fish, then mix it all together for a starter they won’t soon forget! Try a classic salmon tartare with avocado mash, this two–salmon tartare with strawberries and honey nuts , or a crunchy cabbage version with spicy mayo. But don’t stop at fish: dare to dream with a scallop tartare, like this flavour and freshness-filled recipe served atop fried wonton noodles—a gustatory journey that pays equal tribute to presentation, pleasure, flavour, and discovery!

Majestic mains for a heartwarming Christmas table

Tourtière and turkey are big parts of many people’s Christmas and New Year’s traditions. Since these dishes require quite a lot of love to make, we thought we’d provide you with some shortcuts that taste just as good as the homemade version.

Titillating tourtières

Picking up a ready-made tourtière is a simple way to shorten your to-do list! This savoury dish comes in many forms. First up: the deliciously traditional and iconic Lac-Saint-Jean brand, as well as other classic takes on tourtière from C’est Prêt! and PorkShop. Oh, and there are even vegan versions, like The Buddhist Chef's plant-based tourtière: a great way to do your part for the environment without compromising on flavour! Make sure that you have a healthy supply of cranberry sauce and homemade ketchup to take these marvellous meat pies to the next level.

Psst! Put a few tourtières in your freezer so that you have something to serve unexpected guests!

Christmas turkey express

Looking for yet another holiday season hack? Let us introduce you to your new best friend: the precooked Christmas turkey! Seasoned to perfection and slow-cooked sous-vide, this turkey is as juicy and tender as can be. Just reheat for about an hour in the oven for perfect colour. Prep your sides while you wait!

Then there’s Ricardo’s turkey roast, which is stuffed with cranberries and pears to save you even more time, just like Butterball’s turkey breast with classic stuffing.

Tomahawk steaks: beef that hits the spot

Treat the carnivores in your life to a superb piece of tomahawk steak. Since this piece of beef is of a thicker cut, it’s juicier than most! After you’ve grilled it to perfection, top off with rosemary butter, parsley, and hot pepper. Make your tomahawk steak pop with a side of grilled veggies or sauteed rapini, garlic, and sliced almonds.

Meatball stew: Quebec comfort food

Put a bow on your holiday buffet with a sauce-based dish like the time-honoured meatball stew. Ricardo’s take on the traditional spiced pork balls with melt-in-your-mouth pulled pork and Parisian-style potatoes is to die for. Your guests will fall under the spell of this high-quality Christmas classic that only needs to be popped in the oven and it’s done!

Scintillating sides

For a truly royal feast, you need a noble selection of sides. Ranging from the traditional to the gourmet, we’ve got you covered with scrumptious selections that will please almost any palate. Let’s start with tried-and-true mashed potatoes. Compliments offers everything from the classic version to sour cream and chives, to garlic. Simply heat and serve!

If you want something on the lighter side this holiday season, lean into salads! Get some salad inspiration from the wide variety on offer through our catering service, such as arugula, strawberry, and nuts, or one of our specialty offerings, like couscous and cranberry.

Christmas desserts

Since you’re most likely on the “Nice” list this year, you deserve a delectable Christmas dessert to conclude such a sumptuous dinner. If you don’t love the idea of trying your hand at pastry making—which can sometimes be quite the wild ride—here are a few ready-to-eat sugary delights.

Yule log cake

Ricardo’s triple chocolate yule log—or the raspberry version—will take you on an unforgettable flavour journey.

Lastly, for an outside-the-box dessert option, answer the sweet, sweet call of this white chocolate, pear, and cranberry cake by Trois fois par jour. No such thing as too much chocolate? This brand also offers a crunchy caramel hazelnut log. Two Christmas cakes to write home about!

Panettone: an Italian-style gift idea

Looking to give the gift of gourmet? Please your people with panettone in their stockings, under the tree, or as a hostess gift! This traditional, slightly sweet, brioche-esque Italian cake comes in a gorgeous gift box, as well as the added benefit of being the perfect dessert pairing with bubbles.

More affordable and devourable gift ideas here.

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