There’s a reason our grandma’s recipes are so good—by the time they earn the title, they’ve had plenty of years to perfect their recipes. These 20 dishes by our community’s grandmothers are perfect for Christmas dinner.
Grandma’s Hash Brown Casserole
ALLRECIPES / DIANA CHISTRUGA
“Comfort food at it’s best! I left out the onion and used onion powder because I cook —Carmen
Grandma’s Cornbread Dressing
Allrecipes / Qi Ai
“Pretty much the same dish I grew up on. We add a can of Cream of Chicken. A little garlic. I learned from my mother.” —Gill Robinson
Grandma’s Green Bean Casserole
Photographer: Jake Sternquist / Food Styling: Sammy Mila / Prop Styling: Kristen Schooley
“EVERYONE in the family wants this at Thanksgiving and Christmas! There are never leftovers. Even difficult to feed children like this recipe as written.” —Dinah Lord
Grandma’s Corn Pudding
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“Absolutely delicious and easy to make, quite rich and buttery, a new family favorite for Thanksgiving. One important tip regarding the cornstarch, be sure and make a slurry, otherwise you’ll get lumps.” —Frederick
Grandma’s Clover Leaf Rolls
“Great rolls. I put herbs on top of half and cinnamon sugar on top of the others. so good.” —bluebird
Grandma’s Southern Mac and Cheese
Allrecipes/Qi Ai
“This was a delicious recipe. I added onion to it and I also added more salt & pepper.” —GiverofPixieDust
Grandma’s Christmas Meatballs
“I did it last year and it was a hit! Have to make double this year and we’re not that many people!” —CoralDuck9946
Grandma’s Red Hot Southern Sweet Potatoes
ALLRECIPES / DIANA CHISTRUGA
“This is clever, unique and delicious. I had a feeling this would be good but this was wow! I highly recommend giving this a try, esp. if you love cinnamon and sweet potatoes.” —Chrissy DeCosmo Fessler
Grandmother’s Buttermilk Cornbread
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“I found my new buttermilk cornbread recipe. I did add some maple syrup to it for an added touch sweetness. This went perfectly with my pot roast.” —listinerm
Grandma’s Collard Greens
“I used Cayenne Pepper rather than red pepper flakes, about 1/2 tsp for 1 lb of greens. This was fabulous! Perfectly balanced flavors and relatives who don’t like green raved about the dish!!” —Momma7
Grandma’s Best Pot Roast
Spencer Jones/Photographer’s Choice/Getty Images
“Very tasty recipe. Super easy to make . I started it in the morning before errands and housework and had a delicious meal for dinner!” —Vicki
Momma’s Mashed Potatoes
“Like some other reviewers, I was a little concerned about using uncooked egg white, but I did it anyway, making sure I added it quickly while potatoes were very, very hot during the beginning of the mashing process. These potatoes were absolutely wonderful. They had a great flavor and were light and fluffy.” —Mary Ray
Grandma’s Famous Chicken
Allrecipes member
“No, I didn’t make any changes. My husband really enjoyed it, and of course so did I. Yes, I will definitely be making it again” —Miriam Cunningham
Grandma’s Cranberry Orange Gelatin Salad
Allrecipes / Karen Hibbard
“Superb! My mom used to make a salad very similar to this. I loved it then and I still do!” —Michelle Roth-Kiva
Grandma Swallow’s Corn Pudding
Allrecipes member
“This corn pudding recipe is from my grandmother’s recipes that I kept after she passed,” says recipe contributor Michelle Bennett. “My grandma’s food is always a comfort and enjoyed by the family.”
Simple Pineapple Stuffing
“This was delicious! It went so well with our ham dinner. It was so good that there was none left. It tasted like sweet bread kind of danish. It was a nice touch without making rolls. It was a good option for something different.” —Jayne
Grandma’s Candied Sweet Potatoes
“To add some flavor, I recommend to balance sweetness with fresh rosemary, cranberry and chopped nuts.” —Natasha Tatninav
Grandma Dot’s Stuffing Balls
ALLRECIPES / DIANA CHISTRUGA
“These stuffing balls are a family favorite passed down from my grandmother,” says recipe contributor carabakes cupcakes. “They’re crispy on the outside, soft inside, and a fun alternative to traditional dressing. Delicious with turkey and cranberry sauce—and they can be prepped a day ahead!”