31 Dinner Recipes Wrapped Up in Time for a Holiday Special on TV

When a holiday special is on, dinner should be simple to serve without pulling everyone away from the screen. This collection covers soups, pasta, tacos, rice dishes, curries, and oven dinners, with options for different appetites and schedules. Choose a bubbling casserole or pot pie for a sit-down plate, or set out noodles, tacos, or fried rice for an easygoing TV night.

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A plate of creamy penne pasta garnished with chopped parsley and grated cheese, featuring pieces of sun-dried tomatoes. A black fork is resting on the plate. — Marry Me Chicken Pasta. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Thai Coconut Shrimp Curry

Close-up of a shrimp curry dish with rice, topped with black sesame seeds and chopped green onions. — Thai Coconut Shrimp Curry. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Rich and gently spiced, this curry suits a holiday evening in. Thai Coconut Shrimp Curry pairs shrimp with coconut milk, curry powder, ginger, and shallots, then finishes with green onions. It takes 35 minutes and serves two, so it suits a small dinner before the special begins. Spoon it over rice to catch the sauce, and keep the TV-night meal relaxed with bowls everyone can carry to the couch.
Get the Recipe: Thai Coconut Shrimp Curry

Elevated Ramen Noodles

A bowl of ramen with soft-boiled egg, vegetables, and sesame seeds. — Elevated Ramen Noodles. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Steam rising from a savory bowl is easy to bring to the living room when the opening credits start. Elevated Ramen Noodles builds on instant noodles with chicken broth, garlic, ginger, bok choy, carrots, and sesame oil. It takes 25 minutes and serves two, making it a useful choice for a quick dinner for two. Add the green onions and sesame seeds at the end for a little color and texture beside the broth.
Get the Recipe: Elevated Ramen Noodles

French Bread Pizza

Crisp edges and familiar pizza toppings make this an easy dinner to eat between scenes. French Bread Pizza uses homemade bread dough with pizza sauce, mozzarella, garlic butter, parsley, and seasoning. It makes four servings, giving a small group an easy option to slice and share. Set the pieces on a platter with napkins, then let everyone choose a topping combination while the holiday special plays.
Get the Recipe: French Bread Pizza

From Mandy's kitchenStuck on what is for dinner? The Everyday Dinner Book is the one I open for easy meals the whole family will eat.

Gnocchi Soup

A bowl of creamy soup with gnocchi, spinach, carrots, celery, chunks of chicken, and black pepper, with a spoon inside. — Gnocchi Soup. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

On a chilly night, a bowl of soup can keep dinner simple while the holiday special takes center stage. Gnocchi Soup combines potato gnocchi with chicken, broth, carrots, celery, spinach, and half-and-half. It takes about 30 minutes, so it can fit a busy evening without a long wait at the stove. Serve it with bread for dipping, and keep extra portions warm for anyone who wants seconds during the show.
Get the Recipe: Gnocchi Soup

Yakisoba

A close-up of cooked stir-fried noodles with pieces of chicken, sliced carrots, green onions, and a savory sauce in a black pan. — Yakisoba. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Savory but not fussy, this noodle dinner is a practical choice before settling in. Yakisoba brings together chicken breast, cabbage, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, and yakisoba noodles with a sauce of soy, oyster sauce, ketchup, and brown sugar. It takes 25 minutes and serves four. Twirl or lift the noodles straight from bowls, then add green onions on top for a colorful meal that does not require a formal table setting.
Get the Recipe: Yakisoba

Ham Steaks

A cooked pork chop with brown sauce is served on a white plate alongside steamed asparagus spears. — Ham Steaks. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Simple dinner plans work well with a main dish that asks little of the cook. Ham Steaks pair fully cooked ham with butter, garlic powder, thyme, paprika, and maple syrup. The maple glaze adds a sweet-savory finish, and the ham is already fully cooked, making it a straightforward main dish for a small family dinner. Add potatoes or a vegetable on the side, then carry plates to the couch for a holiday special without fussing over a complicated menu.
Get the Recipe: Ham Steaks

Wonton Soup

A ceramic bowl of clear soup containing dumplings, sliced mushrooms, broccolini, chopped green onions, and cilantro. — Wonton Soup. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Light yet hearty, this soup offers a welcome change from heavier holiday meals. Wonton Soup combines frozen wontons with chicken broth, shiitake mushrooms, broccolini, garlic, ginger, and soy sauce. It makes four servings, enough to put a warm bowl in front of everyone watching. Finish with green onions and serve with extra broth at the table, so each person can settle in without needing a separate side dish.
Get the Recipe: Wonton Soup

Instant Pot Beef Stew

A bowl of beef stew with chunks of beef, potatoes, and carrots in a reddish broth, garnished with chopped herbs. — Instant Pot Beef Stew. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Cold-weather dinners are easy to ladle into bowls just before the TV special begins. Instant Pot Beef Stew uses beef chuck, potatoes, carrots, onion, garlic, tomato paste, and broth, with thyme or rosemary for added flavor. It makes six servings, which makes it suitable for family dinner and leftovers. Pair each bowl with bread to pick up the savory broth, then let the cooker handle the main dish while you get the living room ready.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Beef Stew

Vegetable Pasta Bake

Baked pasta casserole with rotini noodles, tomato sauce, melted cheese, and chopped parsley in a white dish. — Vegetable Pasta Bake. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Bubbling under a golden cheese layer, this pasta can go from oven to table in one dish. Vegetable Pasta Bake combines short pasta, zucchini, red bell pepper, spinach, tomato sauce, cream, mozzarella, and Parmesan. It makes six servings, so it can feed a family or leave portions for later. Set the casserole on the table with a serving spoon, then dish it out before everyone takes a seat for the holiday special.
Get the Recipe: Vegetable Pasta Bake

Japanese Chicken Curry

A bowl of chicken stew with chunks of potato and carrot, garnished with chopped cilantro, on a wooden surface. — Japanese Chicken Curry. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Subtle sweetness balances the savory notes in this casual dinner for a night of television. Japanese Chicken Curry combines chicken thighs with carrots, potatoes, onion, ginger, garlic, grated apple, honey, and Japanese curry roux. It takes 40 minutes and makes six servings. Spoon it over rice for a filling plate, and make a little extra if you want lunch portions ready for the next day after the holiday broadcast.
Get the Recipe: Japanese Chicken Curry

Kung Pao Chicken

A close-up of a stir-fry dish featuring pieces of chicken, snap peas, red bell peppers, scallions, and black sesame seeds. — Kung Pao Chicken. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Bright flavors with a little heat make this chicken a lively option for a TV-night dinner. Kung Pao Chicken combines chicken breast with red bell pepper, sugar snap peas, garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, and chicken broth. It makes four servings. Serve it with rice so the sauce has something to cling to, and bring the bowls to the couch for a meal with enough crunch and heat to keep dinner interesting between scenes.
Get the Recipe: Kung Pao Chicken

Lentil Soup

Settle in with a spoonable lentil soup for a relaxed evening at home. Lentil Soup combines lentils with coconut milk, tomatoes, vegetable broth, onion, garlic, ginger, curry powder, and lime. It takes 50 minutes and makes five servings. Set out bread for dipping and let each person add a squeeze of lime, making this a filling option for a night when the holiday special is the main event.
Get the Recipe: Lentil Soup

Aglio e Olio

Close-up of fettuccine pasta tossed with grated cheese, chopped parsley, and red pepper flakes being lifted with a fork. — Aglio e Olio. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Weeknight pasta can still feel like a proper dinner when time is short. Aglio e Olio coats linguini with olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, parsley, and Parmesan. It takes 17 minutes and makes six servings, giving you a fast option before the show starts. Offer extra cheese at the table and pair the pasta with a salad or bread for an uncomplicated meal that is easy to portion out.
Get the Recipe: Aglio e Olio

Baked Beef Tacos

Two tacos with beef, diced tomatoes, jalapeño slices, shredded cheese, sour cream, and cilantro on a white plate. — Baked Beef Tacos. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Once assembled, the hard shells and melted cheese make taco night easy to organize before a holiday broadcast. Baked Beef Tacos fill the shells with seasoned beef, cheddar, onion, garlic, tomato, jalapeño, and cilantro. They take 45 minutes and make four servings. Put sour cream and lime on the side so everyone can finish their own plate, then carry the tacos to the living room while they are still warm.
Get the Recipe: Baked Beef Tacos

Chicken Piccata

Chicken breasts simmering in a brown sauce, topped with capers and chopped fresh herbs. — Chicken Piccata. Photo credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

Tangy and buttery, this dinner feels a little special without changing the evening’s pace. Chicken Piccata pairs chicken breasts with flour, Parmesan, butter, white wine, garlic, capers, broth, and lemon juice. It takes 55 minutes and makes four servings. Serve with pasta or potatoes to make a full plate, then enjoy a sit-down dinner before the holiday special comes on.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Piccata

Penne Alla Vodka

Creamy tomato sauce and a bowl of pasta make an easy centerpiece for an evening in. Penne Alla Vodka uses penne, crushed tomatoes, onion, garlic, tomato paste, vodka, heavy cream, and Parmesan. It takes 40 minutes and makes four servings. Finish with parsley or basil and pass extra cheese around the table, giving everyone a warm pasta dinner before the TV special starts.
Get the Recipe: Penne Alla Vodka

Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole

A serving spoon lifts a portion of a baked casserole topped with golden, crispy breadcrumbs and garnished with chopped herbs from a white dish. — Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole. Photo credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

Golden and crisp on top, this chicken casserole works well for a cold night at home. Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole combines cooked chicken with cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, cheddar, green onions, bacon, and buttery crackers. It takes 40 minutes and makes six servings. Scoop it onto plates with a green vegetable or salad, and enjoy an oven-baked main that can be served straight from its dish.
Get the Recipe: Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole

Roast Beef

The scent of herbs in the oven can make a holiday evening feel like a proper dinner. Roast Beef is seasoned with salt, Worcestershire, garlic, rosemary, thyme, pepper, and olive oil. It takes about one hour from start to finish. Slice it thinly and add potatoes or vegetables for a classic plate, then save any extra beef for sandwiches after the holiday special.
Get the Recipe: Roast Beef

Tuscan Pasta

Velvety sauce, greens, and sun-dried tomatoes give a bowl of pasta plenty of flavor for an easy evening meal. Tuscan Pasta combines spaghetti with spinach, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, cream cheese, heavy cream, and Parmesan. It takes about 30 minutes and makes six servings. Bring the pasta to the table with extra cheese, or portion it into bowls before everyone settles in to watch.
Get the Recipe: Tuscan Pasta

Sheet Pan Greek Chicken

Sheet pan filled with baked chicken pieces, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, olives, and crumbled feta cheese, garnished with herbs. — Sheet Pan Greek Chicken. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

With one pan, cleanup stays manageable when the living room is already set for a holiday show. Sheet Pan Greek Chicken cooks chicken with zucchini, red onion, cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, feta, lemon, garlic, and oregano. It takes 60 minutes and makes four servings. Serve the roasted chicken and vegetables directly from the pan, with bread or rice if you want something extra alongside it.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Greek Chicken

Udon Noodles

A close-up of stir-fried noodles with green beans, red bell peppers, and carrots, garnished with sesame seeds. — Udon Noodles. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Chewy strands and crisp vegetables make a hearty dinner that is easy to eat from a bowl. Udon Noodles stir-fry udon with green onions, bell pepper, green beans, carrots, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and hoisin or oyster sauce. It takes 35 minutes and makes four servings. Finish with sesame seeds if desired, then set out chopsticks or forks for a flexible dinner during a holiday TV special.
Get the Recipe: Udon Noodles

Beef and Broccoli

Takeout-style sauce turns this familiar combination into an easy dinner to share before the show. Beef and Broccoli brings flank steak and broccoli together with soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and cornstarch. It takes 30 minutes and makes four servings. Serve it over rice to catch the sauce, and place the bowls on a tray for an easy move from kitchen to living room.
Get the Recipe: Beef and Broccoli

Pumpkin Carbonara

A close-up of a forkful of spaghetti carbonara with crispy bacon bits and garnished with green herbs. — Pumpkin Carbonara. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Seasonal richness adds a savory pasta choice to a holiday-night menu. Pumpkin Carbonara combines spaghetti with bacon, pumpkin puree, eggs, Parmesan, cream, garlic, and nutmeg. It takes 40 minutes and makes four servings. Top each portion with parsley and extra cheese, then bring the pasta to the table while it is hot for a cozy dinner before the special begins.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Carbonara

Chicken Pot Pie

Under its flaky top, a creamy filling makes this a natural fit for a sit-down holiday dinner at home. Chicken Pot Pie combines chicken, peas, carrots, celery, onion, broth, cream, thyme, and puff pastry. It serves four and works with leftover or rotisserie chicken. Let the pie rest before cutting, then serve generous slices with no extra main dish needed.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie

Shrimp Scampi

Close-up of cooked shrimp seasoned with herbs and black pepper. — Shrimp Scampi. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Quick skillet cooking leaves more of the evening free for the holiday special. Shrimp Scampi combines large shrimp with garlic, butter, white wine, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, Parmesan, and parsley. One pound serves three as a main, and the total cooking time is about 15 minutes. Spoon it over pasta or serve with bread to catch the sauce, then bring the skillet to the table.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Scampi

Sweet Potato Tacos

Two tacos on a plate with a sauce. — Sweet Potato Tacos. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Colorful toppings and roasted sweet potatoes make these tacos a lively dinner for a relaxed night in. Sweet Potato Tacos fill corn tortillas with spiced sweet potatoes, red cabbage, lime, chipotle sauce, green onions, and cilantro. They make four servings. Put the toppings in small bowls so everyone can build a plate before the show, with extra lime available for a bright finish.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Tacos

Vietnamese Shaking Beef

A plate of stir-fried beef cubes with onions, garnished with cilantro, served on lettuce with tomato slices and lime wedges. Chopsticks rest beside the plate. — Vietnamese Shaking Beef. Photo credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

Tender bites and a crisp onion component give this dinner contrast in every bite. Vietnamese Shaking Beef combines sirloin or tenderloin with garlic, red onion, lime juice, oyster sauce, soy sauce, fish sauce, and black pepper. It takes 20 minutes and makes four servings. Serve it with rice or greens, then carry out individual plates for an easy dinner that still feels distinct from everyday takeout.
Get the Recipe: Vietnamese Shaking Beef

Egg Roll in a Bowl

A bowl of stir-fried ground meat, shredded cabbage, and carrots, topped with sesame seeds and chopped green onions. — Egg Roll in a Bowl. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

All the savory flavors of an egg roll come together in a bowl that is easy to serve at home. Egg Roll in a Bowl combines ground beef with cabbage, carrot, onion, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, and green onions. It takes 20 minutes and makes four servings. Finish with sesame seeds and offer rice on the side if you want a fuller plate before watching the holiday special.
Get the Recipe: Egg Roll in a Bowl

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Close-up of a creamy macaroni and cheese dish with visible black pepper seasoning. — Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Silky pasta and squash make a hearty dish for a colder evening in front of the TV. Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese pairs macaroni with butternut squash, cheddar, milk, butter, flour, and mustard. It makes eight servings, so it can serve a group or provide leftovers. Dish it up straight from the casserole dish, with a green salad or roasted vegetables alongside if you want a lighter contrast.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Pork Fried Rice

Close-up of fried rice with chunks of meat, peas, diced carrots, and bean sprouts mixed together. — Pork Fried Rice. Photo credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

Use up extra cooked rice in a full dinner with pork, vegetables, and a savory sauce. Pork Fried Rice combines pork tenderloin with jasmine rice, eggs, carrots, peas, bean sprouts, green onions, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and hoisin. It takes about 35 minutes and makes four servings. Bring it to the table in a large bowl and let everyone serve themselves before the holiday show starts.
Get the Recipe: Pork Fried Rice

Marry Me Chicken Pasta

In a creamy sauce, this pasta makes a quiet TV night more substantial. Marry Me Chicken Pasta combines pasta and shredded chicken with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, cream, Parmesan, basil, and a little white wine or broth. It takes 30 minutes and makes six servings. Serve it in warm bowls with extra cheese, and keep the meal simple so the holiday special can stay the focus.
Get the Recipe: Marry Me Chicken Pasta