What celebrities really eat at Christmas from cozy traditions to indulgent feasts

Giada De Laurentiis’ holiday pasta night

Giada often skips a huge turkey dinner in favor of baked pasta or lasagna dishes during the holidays. Her holiday table might include a cherry-jam-glazed pork loin roast, Brussels sprouts agrodolce, mashed potatoes with kale, or even baked artichokes.

Instead of stressing over a complex meal, she aims for comfort and simplicity, a meal that feels festive but doesn’t consume the whole day. For Christmas Eve or special gatherings, she’ll sometimes go for a more Italian‑style spread, seafood or pasta dishes inspired by her heritage.

Gordon Ramsay’s classic roast turkey table

Gordon’s go‑to for Christmas: a big roast turkey rubbed under the skin with herb butter and stuffed with onions, lemon, garlic, and fresh herbs. He often pairs turkey with a rich gravy; his version uses turkey drippings, apple cider, and even walnuts for a slightly nutty, slightly sweet twist.

Sides are just as important: crispy roast potatoes, honey‑glazed parsnips and carrots, and sometimes hearty vegetables like Brussels sprouts (often with bacon or pancetta and chestnuts).

Guy Fieri’s crab and pasta feast

Guy Fieri often includes fresh Dungeness crab on his Christmas table because the California season usually opens in December, making it a holiday favorite in his home.

He has said that crab night is a tradition from Northern California, and his family looks forward to cracking shells and sharing seafood around the table. Along with crab, he often serves pasta dishes like linguine with clams or other seafood pastas, keeping the meal fun, casual, and full of flavor.

Mary Berry’s turkey with stuffing tradition

Mary Berry is known for keeping Christmas classics, and she typically makes a lemon-and-herb roasted turkey with stuffing as the centerpiece of her holiday meal. She has shared that she prefers simple seasoning and careful roasting, focusing on flavor rather than complicated techniques.

Along with the turkey, Mary often makes traditional British sides like roast potatoes, parsnips, red cabbage, and Brussels sprouts, keeping the meal cozy and familiar.

Keke Palmer’s holiday ham and comfort sides

Keke Palmer says holiday ham is a must-have for her Christmas dinner, and it’s one of the dishes she looks forward to the most every year. She shared that food plays a big role in how her family celebrates, and the holiday meal is all about gathering and creating memories around the table.

Keke also loves classic comfort sides like macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, potato salad, and dressing that remind her of home.

Mariah Carey’s special holiday pasta tradition

Mariah Carey shares that one of her most meaningful holiday traditions is cooking linguini with white clam sauce, a recipe passed down from her father.

She now makes the dish with her daughter, saying it connects their family across generations and brings comfort to their Christmas celebration. Mariah has also mentioned that she enjoys keeping Christmas dinner simple rather than preparing a huge traditional feast.

Faith Hill and Tim McGraw’s spaghetti and meatball Christmas Eve

Faith Hill and Tim McGraw often celebrate Christmas Eve with spaghetti and meatballs instead of a traditional turkey or ham, and the tradition has been part of their family for many years.

They’ve shared that this meal feels comforting and easy, giving them more time to relax together instead of spending the whole day in the kitchen. The dish is usually made with a rich tomato sauce and tender meatballs, creating a cozy dinner that everyone in the family looks forward to.

Chrissy Teigen’s cozy holiday breakfast tradition

Chrissy Teigen often starts Christmas morning with a big breakfast, and homemade cinnamon-roll-style treats are usually the highlight of the spread. She says she loves starting the day with comfort food because it sets a happy tone and keeps the holiday from feeling rushed or stressful.

Along with cinnamon rolls, Chrissy makes cheesy hash browns, bacon, and eggs, and sometimes adds waffles or pancakes if everyone is extra hungry.

The Rock’s legendary Christmas cheat day

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is known for his massive cheat-day meals, and during Christmas, he often shares photos of his stacked festive plates on social media.

He has posted holiday spreads featuring huge slices of brioche French toast covered in syrup and peanut butter, along with piles of cookies and other sweets.

Oprah Winfrey’s simple Southern Christmas dinner

Oprah Winfrey has said she prefers a simple holiday meal with cornbread dressing, black-eyed peas, and baked ham instead of preparing an oversized feast. She shared that these dishes remind her of Christmas.

Growing up in Mississippi and keeping them on the table helps her feel grounded during the holidays. Oprah has also mentioned that she likes serving greens and sweet potatoes, choosing foods that feel comforting rather than overly fancy or time-consuming.

Taylor Swift’s homemade holiday cooking

Taylor Swift has talked about loving to cook for friends during the holidays, especially homemade chai sugar cookies made with her own twist using eggnog or cinnamon.

She first shared the recipe years ago, and fans still recreate it every Christmas because it has become one of her most popular holiday treats.

Taylor has also mentioned making pasta dishes and other cozy foods when hosting friends, saying she enjoys cooking as a way to bring everyone together.

Blake Lively’s festive baking tradition

Blake Lively says she spends much of her holiday time baking, making cookies, pies, and beautifully decorated cakes for her family and friends.

She says baking is her favorite way to celebrate Christmas, creating personal treats for loved ones and focusing on sharing sweets rather than preparing a huge, formal holiday dinner.

Blake Lively’s festive baking tips are just the beginning. For more insider tricks from the pros, check out celebrity chefs reveal their best-kept kitchen secrets to see how top chefs make the holidays extra special.

Ryan Reynolds’ laid back festive meals

Ryan Reynolds has suggested he prefers to keep Christmas casual, leaning toward simple comfort foods and a relaxed, family-focused meal.

He has shared that he prefers a relaxed atmosphere, where everyone can enjoy the food without worrying about fancy presentation or complicated dishes. Ryan also likes including seasonal vegetables and simple desserts, keeping the focus on family togetherness rather than a formal feast.

While Ryan Reynolds keeps his Christmas meals relaxed, celebrity diets can vary widely. Discover the surprising truth about what the Kardashian sisters eat every day and how they approach food.

What about you? Share your thoughts: Which celebrity’s holiday meal surprised you the most?

Read more from here:

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• 15 delicious rhubarb recipes to celebrate the season

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.