20 High Protein Christmas Dinner and Side Ideas

These 20 high protein Christmas dinner and side ideas have 11 to 57 grams of protein per serving, from Herb Roasted Turkey Breast and Garlic Herb Beef Tenderloin to Cottage Cheese Mashed Potatoes and Cranberry Turkey Meatballs.

Christmas dinner doesn’t have to be all carbs and butter. A good main plus a couple of sides with real protein keeps everyone full and still feels like a holiday. If you are cooking for a big group on Christmas Eve, our Christmas Eve dinner ideas for a crowd have more options.

Most mains serve 4 and scale up easily, and several sides can be made a day ahead. Short on oven space? The crockpot Christmas recipes free up the oven for the main.

Here are the recipes.

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HIGH PROTEIN CHRISTMAS DINNER IDEAS

🍖 Christmas Mains

High protein centerpieces that feel special without much work.

1. Herb Roasted Turkey Breast (52g Protein)

A boneless turkey breast roasted with garlic, rosemary and thyme. Much easier than a whole bird.

Pull it at 160°F and let it rest 15 minutes. It will climb to 165°F.

Ingredients:

• 2 lb boneless turkey breast
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Garlic, rosemary, thyme, salt

Instructions:

1. Rub turkey with oil, garlic and herbs.
2. Roast at 375°F about 55 to 65 minutes.
3. Rest 15 minutes.
4. Slice and serve.

2. Garlic Herb Beef Tenderloin (46g Protein)

Beef tenderloin seared and roasted with a garlic herb crust.

Use a thermometer and pull it at 130°F for medium rare.

Ingredients:

• 2 lb beef tenderloin
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Garlic, rosemary, Dijon

Instructions:

1. Sear on all sides.
2. Brush with Dijon and garlic herb mix.
3. Roast at 425°F 25 to 30 minutes.
4. Rest 10 minutes and slice.

3. Cranberry Balsamic Chicken Thighs (56g Protein)

Chicken thighs glazed with cranberry sauce and balsamic. Red, glossy and festive.

Broil for the last 2 minutes to set the glaze.

Ingredients:

• 2.5 lb boneless chicken thighs
• 1/2 cup cranberry sauce
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar, rosemary

Instructions:

1. Sear chicken.
2. Mix cranberry sauce and balsamic.
3. Pour over chicken and bake at 400°F 20 minutes.
4. Broil 2 minutes.

4. Herb Crusted Salmon (48g Protein)

Salmon topped with parmesan, parsley and lemon zest. Ready in 20 minutes.

Use one large side of salmon for a nice presentation.

Ingredients:

• 2 lb salmon side
• 1/4 cup parmesan
• Parsley, lemon zest, garlic, 1 tbsp oil

Instructions:

1. Mix parmesan, herbs and zest.
2. Press onto salmon.
3. Bake at 400°F 15 minutes.
4. Serve with lemon.

5. Stuffed Chicken Breast with Spinach and Feta (57g Protein)

Chicken breasts stuffed with spinach, feta and garlic.

Secure with toothpicks so the filling stays in.

Ingredients:

• 2 lb chicken breast
• 5 oz spinach
• 1/2 cup feta
• 2 oz light cream cheese

Instructions:

1. Cut a pocket in each breast.
2. Mix spinach, feta and cream cheese.
3. Stuff and season.
4. Bake at 400°F 25 minutes.

6. Roasted Cornish Hens (55g Protein)

One small hen per person feels fancy and roasts in under an hour.

Tuck lemon and garlic inside each hen.

Ingredients:

• 4 Cornish hens
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Lemon, garlic, thyme

Instructions:

1. Pat hens dry and rub with oil and herbs.
2. Stuff with lemon and garlic.
3. Roast at 425°F 50 to 60 minutes to 165°F.
4. Rest 10 minutes.

7. Slow Cooker Beef Pot Roast (52g Protein)

A lean beef roast cooked low with carrots, onions and broth. Frees up the oven.

Sear the roast first for better flavor.

Ingredients:

• 2 lb lean beef roast (sirloin tip)
• 4 carrots
• 1 onion
• 2 cups broth

Instructions:

1. Sear roast.
2. Add vegetables and broth to the slow cooker.
3. Cook on low 8 hours.
4. Slice or shred.

🥗 High Protein Christmas Sides

Sides that pull their weight with protein.

8. Cottage Cheese Mashed Potatoes (13g Protein)

Creamy mashed potatoes made with blended cottage cheese instead of butter and cream.

Blend the cottage cheese smooth first.

Ingredients:

• 2 lb Yukon gold potatoes
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1/4 cup parmesan
• Garlic, chives

Instructions:

1. Boil potatoes until tender.
2. Blend cottage cheese smooth.
3. Mash potatoes with cottage cheese and parmesan.
4. Season.

9. Green Bean Almondine with White Beans (12g Protein)

Green beans and white beans with toasted almonds, lemon and parmesan.

Blanch the beans so they stay bright.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 lb green beans
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup parmesan
• 1 can white beans, rinsed
• Lemon, garlic, 1 tbsp butter

Instructions:

1. Blanch green beans 3 minutes.
2. Toast almonds in butter with garlic.
3. Toss green beans and white beans with almonds and lemon.
4. Top with parmesan.

10. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Turkey Bacon (11g Protein)

Crispy Brussels sprouts tossed with turkey bacon and a little honey.

Roast cut-side down for the best color.

Ingredients:

• 2 lb Brussels sprouts
• 6 slices turkey bacon
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp oil

Instructions:

1. Halve sprouts.
2. Roast at 425°F 20 minutes.
3. Crisp the turkey bacon and chop.
4. Toss with honey and turkey bacon.

11. High Protein Mac and Cheese (26g Protein)

Protein pasta in a cheddar sauce made with blended cottage cheese.

Stir the sauce in off the heat so it stays smooth.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz protein pasta
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1 cup cheddar
• 1/2 cup milk

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta.
2. Blend cottage cheese and milk.
3. Stir in with cheddar.
4. Bake at 375°F 15 minutes if you want a crust.

12. Butternut Squash and Quinoa Salad (16g Protein)

Roasted squash, quinoa, cranberries, pecans and feta.

Roast the squash until the edges caramelize.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dry quinoa
• 2 lb butternut squash
• 1/2 cup feta
• 1/4 cup pecans
• 1 can chickpeas

Instructions:

1. Roast squash at 425°F 25 minutes.
2. Cook quinoa.
3. Toss with chickpeas, feta and pecans.
4. Dress with lemon and oil.

13. Cheesy Broccoli Bake (21g Protein)

Broccoli baked in a creamy cottage cheese and cheddar sauce.

Use frozen broccoli, thawed and drained.

Ingredients:

• 6 cups broccoli
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1 cup cheddar
• 2 eggs

Instructions:

1. Blend cottage cheese and eggs.
2. Mix with broccoli and half the cheese.
3. Top with remaining cheese.
4. Bake at 375°F 25 minutes.

14. Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms (14g Protein)

Mushroom caps filled with a Greek yogurt spinach artichoke dip.

Bake the caps for 5 minutes first to release water.

Ingredients:

• 24 mushrooms
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup mozzarella
• 1/4 cup parmesan
• Spinach, artichokes

Instructions:

1. Prebake caps 5 minutes.
2. Mix filling.
3. Stuff caps.
4. Bake at 400°F 15 minutes.

🎄 Party Plates and Make-Ahead

For Christmas Eve or a casual holiday spread.

15. Shrimp Cocktail Platter (46g Protein)

Chilled jumbo shrimp with a homemade cocktail sauce.

Buy cooked, peeled shrimp to save time.

Ingredients:

• 2 lb cooked shrimp
• Ketchup, horseradish, lemon

Instructions:

1. Chill shrimp.
2. Mix ketchup, horseradish and lemon.
3. Arrange on ice.
4. Serve.

16. Turkey Meatballs with Cranberry Glaze (44g Protein)

Turkey meatballs in a sweet tangy cranberry chili glaze.

Keep them warm in a slow cooker.

Ingredients:

• 2 lb 93% lean ground turkey
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup cranberry sauce
• 1/4 cup chili sauce, garlic

Instructions:

1. Roll and bake meatballs at 400°F 18 minutes.
2. Simmer cranberry sauce and chili sauce.
3. Toss meatballs in glaze.
4. Serve warm.

17. Holiday Chicken Salad with Pecans and Cranberries (43g Protein)

Chicken, apples, cranberries and pecans in a light Greek yogurt dressing. Good on Christmas Eve or with leftovers.

Toast the pecans for more flavor.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 lb cooked chicken breast
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup pecans
• 1 apple, celery

Instructions:

1. Dice chicken, apple and celery.
2. Mix with yogurt and lemon.
3. Fold in cranberries and pecans.
4. Serve on greens or in lettuce cups.

18. Christmas Caprese Skewers (47g Protein)

Tomatoes, mozzarella and basil on skewers with chicken bites.

Arrange them in a wreath shape on a round plate.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 lb cooked chicken bites
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup mozzarella pearls
• Basil, balsamic glaze

Instructions:

1. Thread chicken, tomato, mozzarella and basil.
2. Arrange in a wreath.
3. Drizzle balsamic.
4. Serve.

19. Christmas Breakfast Egg Casserole (47g Protein)

Make-ahead egg casserole with turkey sausage, peppers and cheese.

Assemble the night before and bake in the morning.

Ingredients:

• 10 eggs
• 3/4 lb turkey breakfast sausage
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1 cup cheddar
• Red and green peppers

Instructions:

1. Brown turkey sausage.
2. Whisk eggs and cottage cheese.
3. Combine with turkey sausage, peppers and cheese.
4. Bake at 350°F 35 to 40 minutes.

20. Greek Yogurt Cranberry Cheesecake Cups (14g Protein)

No-bake cheesecake cups with Greek yogurt, cream cheese and cranberry topping.

Chill at least 2 hours.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Greek yogurt
• 4 oz light cream cheese
• 1/4 cup cranberry sauce
• Graham crumbs, vanilla

Instructions:

1. Beat yogurt, cream cheese and vanilla.
2. Layer over graham crumbs.
3. Top with cranberry.
4. Chill.

Pick one main, two sides and a make-ahead dessert, and Christmas dinner is planned.