Betty's December Menu: Holiday Meals and Beyond

Published 12/10/2024

The holidays are in full swing, but there’s still plenty of joy to be found in the everyday moments. Betty’s here to help you bring everyone together around warm, inviting meals and instill a little holiday spirit into each day.

Loading component...

Whether you’re cooking big holiday meals or weeknight dinners, Betty’s got your back. Let Betty’s December Menu simplify the rest of the season for you. When dinner is taken care of, it’s one less thing to stress about, allowing you to cross more items off your to-do list and truly celebrate the holiday season.

Week 1: Cozy Up

The first week of December is about making the kitchen cozy, so we’ve gathered comforting meal ideas that warm both the heart and the home. You’ll find savory time-savers, like Slow-Cooker Lasagna and Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese, along with beloved classics that will bring a sense of nostalgia and warmth to family gatherings. For more inspiration, check out Betty’s Guide to Comfort Food where you’ll find fresh twists on time-honored favorites so your holiday meals are both memorable and delicious.

Sunday: Tater Tots™ Chicken Pot Pie
This mashup of two favorite comfort foods is a guaranteed weeknight winner. We replaced the trusty-but-basic pie crust topper with crispy, golden-brown Tater Tots™ frozen potatoes to make a pot pie casserole that's homey, hearty and sure to please the whole family.
Monday: Slow-Cooker Lasagna
Hundreds of home cooks agree that this slow cooker Italian sausage lasagna is the best and easiest way to make lasagna you’ll ever try. Just pack the slow-cooker with four layers of sauce, noodles and cheese, then come home to crockpot lasagna four to six hours later.
Tuesday: Traditional Beef Stroganoff Recipe
Our beef stroganoff recipe has all the trappings of a classic comfort meal: tender slices of beef, a creamy, slightly tangy sauce and a bed of egg noodles. Ready in under an hour with only 20 minutes of prep time, this traditional beef stroganoff will become one of your go-to dinner recipes after that first bite!
The history of beef stroganoff is hundreds of years old, but it first appeared in a Betty Crocker cookbook in 1961. Over the years we’ve made some changes, going from beef round steak to tenderloin to stew meat, back to sirloin. We’ve tried it all and landed on, what we think, is the perfect homemade beef stroganoff. Warm, savory and comforting, this is the beef stroganoff of your dreams! It’s a great dish to feed the family on a weeknight or serve up for a special occasion like Christmas dinner.
Wednesday: Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese
When you're longing for a little cheesy comfort but find yourself short on time, try our southern baked mac and cheese recipe—it's ready to dig into in just one hour. Easy family dinner or delicious potluck contribution? You decide!
Thursday: Slow-Cooker Family-Favorite Chili
Slow cooker on, family happy. It's a beautiful thing! Our Slow-Cooker Family-Favorite Chili is everything you could want in a meal. Delicious? Of course! Enough for eight people? Check! Easy? Oh, yeah. We're talking set-it-and-forget-it, easy. Our slow-cooker family chili is amazing on its own but elevated with the fresh and flavorful go-to chili toppings you know and love, it's irresistible. We're adding every topping under the sun to our bowl (or should we say bowls) of Slow-Cooker Family-Favorite Chili. That's just how we roll!
Friday: Chicken and Dumplings
This is the very best Chicken and Dumplings recipe to use when you want to create a warm, cozy feast for your family. What makes this version of classic Chicken and Dumplings extra delicious is its long and slow simmer time. The chicken, celery, carrot, onion and parsley in this dish make for a meaty, flavorful slow-cooked broth. And using Bisquick™ original mix to make quick dumplings not only saves time but also produces light, fluffy dumplings for the topping. While this Chicken and Dumplings recipe will take about three hours to cook, everything comes together in a single Dutch oven, meaning this one-pot meal will require little cleanup afterwards.
Saturday: Slow-Cooker Pork Ragu
This slow-cooked pasta sauce goes well beyond the average spaghetti topper with all-day slow-cooked flavor. Pork shoulder, bacon and aromatic vegetables cook in a crushed tomato sauce and thicken to a hearty, rich consistency that pairs well with rigatoni pasta in particular. Make it a day ahead when you have some extra time, and let the flavors mellow and meld—or just be sure to save some leftovers! This take on a classic Italian sauce is sure to impress your dinner table regulars and special guests alike.

Loading component...

Week 2: Lean on Leftovers

Week 2 is about getting more out of your meals. When tonight’s dinner can be enjoyed again, that means you get to take tomorrow off from cooking. Each recipe is designed to give you big, hearty, fridge-ready portions. And if you find your fridge full after a week of planned leftovers, slow it down with a compact Orange Chicken with Snow Peas and Carrots, the perfect small, simple meal to finish the week.

Sunday: Minestrone Soup for a Crowd
This vegetable-and-pasta soup is a genius go-to for feeding a big group—it’s hearty, delicious and ready in three simple steps!
Monday: Make-Ahead Creamy Spinach Lasagna
Whether you have a dinner party on the horizon or just need to plan out a week’s worth of meals, this creamy, veggie-filled lasagna deserves a spot in your freezer. Its flavor is downright impressive, but only you need to know how simple it is to prepare!
Tuesday: Impossibly Easy Cheeseburger Pie (Crowd Size)
Now you can make a crowd-sized version of the top-rated Bisquick® Impossibly Easy Cheeseburger Pie. It's as easy as ever.
Wednesday: Stuffed Peppers
This scrumptious dinner, while it's been a Betty Crocker recipe for nearly 70 years, is still a favorite today. Colorful, sweet bell peppers are stuffed with flavorful ground beef, tomato, and rice. Melty mozzarella cheese completes the dish. With over 500 top-rated reviews, you can enjoy the basic recipe or customize it to suit your family’s tastes.
Our first stuffed bell pepper recipe appeared in the 1956 Betty Crocker Cookbook; developed in the test kitchens as a way to get a delicious and affordable family supper on the table. To keep costs down, only 1/2 pound of ground beef was used; bulked up with breadcrumbs. Over the years, we’ve made the peppers heartier by increasing the amount of ground beef and switching from breadcrumbs to rice. The servings have been adjusted for today’s average family size, and with a rainbow of bell pepper colors available, you can now choose your favorites.
Thursday: One-Pot Creamy Shells and Sausage
Just like your favorite boxed shells and cheese, this recipe turns out a dinner that’s creamy, irresistible and made in a single pot. But unlike the boxed version, this upgrade will fill up the whole family—thanks to the addition of hearty Italian sausage and Muir Glen™ tomato basil pasta sauce. Cooking the whole meal in a single pot isn’t just convenient, it also allows you to build flavor as you go. Here’s what we mean: It all starts with browning the sausage until it’s cooked through. Removing the sausage but not the rendered fat it leaves behind adds deep savory flavor to the onions, garlic and red pepper flakes that get sautéed next. After your aromatics, you’ll add the tomato sauce, which is handy since it’ll help deglaze the pan and integrate more flavor into your sauce. With the addition of the broth, you’ll have enough liquid to cook your pasta. Once the pasta is cooked through, all that’s left is adding the cream and cooked sausage. Serve this up with shredded Parmesan and basil, and you’ve got a delectable dinner that might just become a part of your regular rotation.
Friday: Chili for a Crowd
Here’s a creative idea for serving chili at your next winter party! Serve hearty chili in bread bowls you can eat.
Saturday: Orange Chicken with Snow Peas and Carrots (Cooking for 2)
If you’ve only had your local Chinese restaurant’s version of orange chicken, you’re in for a treat. This lighter, brighter take on a classic is so good, you won’t be calling for takeout again.

Loading component...

Week 3: Holiday Traditions

With the big day right around the corner, the holiday spirit is in the air. Be sure to bring that joy to your family's table, where everyone can savor it together! Recipes for Week 3 include a simplified Beef Wellington with plenty of old-world charm and a show-stopping Beef Rib Roast with Yorkshire Pudding that only takes you 20 minutes of hands-on prep time. If you’re looking to bring your traditions into a new era, check out Betty’s guide to Classic Holiday Recipes Made Modern, where everything old is new again, and tastes great.

Sunday: Beef Wellington for Two
Make an impressive dinner worthy of a fine dining restaurant, right at home and sized perfectly for two! Flaky pastry is wrapped around tender filet mignon and flavorful sautéed mushrooms. Making two individual portions not only simplifies the process of making this legendary recipe, it also avoids wasting the ingredients. Bring this beautiful dish to the table with a finishing brandy cream sauce that’s the definition of luxurious. It’ll be a meal to remember (and even repeat)!
Monday: Leg of Lamb with Garlic and Herbs
Looking for a delicious alternative to your regular Sunday roast? Try a succulent leg of lamb; its easy to season and roast to perfection.
Thursday: Million-Dollar Spaghetti Casserole
The whole family will love this easy, cozy make-ahead spaghetti casserole.
Friday: Italian Sausage and Tortellini Soup
If you're looking to serve up comfort, do it in a bowl filled to the brim with our comforting Italian sausage tortellini soup. It will fill up the hungriest around your table, even if they don't reach for seconds. Serve up sausage tortellini soup on a weeknight when you're craving deep, delicious flavors inspired by Italy. If you're on a mission to make amazing, look no further than the sausage and tortellini soup that makes even the pickiest of eaters happy.
Saturday: Oven-Roasted Turkey Breast
There’s no need to bother with a big, messy bird. This baked turkey breast offers just enough, and not too much, of tender, succulent white meat in a thyme, butter and wine sauce. When you’re in the mood for a perfect portion of poultry, this slow-roast turkey breast recipe is a great option for a smaller group. Our Oven-Roasted Turkey Breast comes together with just 15 minutes of prep before popping it into the oven. Don't forget to let it stand 15 minutes after roasting for easier carving!

Loading component...

We hope these recipes added a bit of simplicity during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Remember, with Betty on your side, you can handle anything. Here’s to the happiest holidays and a bright new year ahead!

Have questions or comments? Maybe you tried one of these recipes and loved it? We’d love to hear from you! Share below or on social media with #BettyCrocker. And be sure to follow @BettyCrocker to get a first look at everything new Betty’s got cooking in the months ahead!

Try these

Loading component...

Bake Up Something Special

Nothing warms a room quite like a warm oven. Make something special for birthdays, anniversaries, or an after-dinner snack with baking recipes sent right to your inbox.

Loading component...

Betty's December Menu: Holiday Meals and Beyond

Loading component...

Week 1: Cozy Up

Loading component...

Week 2: Lean on Leftovers

Loading component...

Week 3: Holiday Traditions

Loading component...

Try these

Loading component...

Bake Up Something Special

Betty's December Menu: Holiday Meals and Beyond

Week 1: Cozy Up

Week 2: Lean on Leftovers

Week 3: Holiday Traditions

Try these

Let's be Social