Since I love Greek recipes SO much, I’ve pulled together this list of 25 Greek Christmas recipes. And you guys? They are DANGEROUSLY GOOD. The whole family can enjoy them! They might not be able to pronounce them, but they’ll certainly reach for seconds.
At first glance, this list of Greek Christmas recipes may seem a bit bread heavy. But you’ll find a good variety of meats, desserts, appetizers, and veggies, too.
So whatever Greek Christmas treats you’re looking for, you should be able to find something here to satisfy your craving.
1. Traditional Greek Baklava
Okay, let’s just jump in with the one you probably already know and love. I mean, baklava! Ugh, those flaky layers. And that sticky, gooey honey-walnut filling? It’s just the best.
It’s no surprise this is a total fan-favorite that stretches way beyond its home countries and just makes people happy all over the world.
2. Greek Figs in a Blanket
These little appetizers are just SO fun. We’re talking a whole flavor party in one tiny package. They’re sweet and spicy and tangy all at once. And yes, they totally look like pigs in a blanket, but this is a choose-your-own-adventure situation.
We’re swapping the usual stuff for dried figs and puff pastry dough. Plus, you add feta cheese, goat cheese, and other ingredients with robust tastes. Get ready for a serious wallop of flavor in every single bite.
3. Greek Lemon Potatoes
Oh my gosh. These potatoes. They are these stunning, golden potatoes that are so crispy and crunchy you’ll almost swear they were caramelized. They aren’t, but they are just phenomenal in every way.
You get those delightfully crispy outsides, but they stay all soft and tender on the inside. It’s the best of both worlds, really. And that wonderful flavor from the lemon and garlic? YUM.
I’m convinced these will be a hit with any potato lover. In fact, they taste so good, they might just win over a potato hater, too.
4. Spanakopita Dip
Okay, if you’re already a fan of traditional spinach dip, I’m sure you will love this. This spanakopita dip is like the fancier, next-level version. It’s all garlicky, cheesy, and just delightfully gooey. Come to me.
You’ll also spice it up with various peppers, dill, and onions, so it is definitely not lacking for flavor.
5. Kourambiethes
Kourambiethes are these soft, dry cookies with a delicate powdered sugar coating. And luckily, you can make almost two dozen of them with just six ingredients in under an hour.
I say “luckily” because people ADORE these sweet, mild cookies. You just can’t make too many of them. Whether you make 20 or 200, you are probably not going to have many leftovers.
6. Chocolate Olive Oil Fruit Cake
It seems like every country has its own version of Christmas fruit cake. Greece is no exception, but this fruit cake is made with chocolate. YES.
It’s nutty and chocolatey, and it features those bold flavors of figs and raisins. In my opinion, this is by far the superior fruit cake. Just saying.
7. Greek Stuffed Cabbage Rolls in Lemon Sauce
These cabbage rolls might look a little different from others you’ve had, but I promise you, they are just as good. The cabbage has a nice crunch, and you’ll make the mince filling with rice, herbs, and more.
Top the whole thing off with a thick lemon sauce, and you have the perfect dish for warming you up on a cold winter night. So, so cozy.
8. Braised Chestnuts and Shallots
If you’re not into the soup idea, you can braise your Christmas chestnuts instead. You cook them with caramelized shallots, garlic, tomatoes, and other flavorful ingredients.
It creates this saucy Christmas delicacy that no one is going to forget anytime soon. Delicious.
9. Vasilopita Cake
This is also known as Greek New Year’s Cake! It’s a simple, moist cake layer that’s infused with citrusy flavors and aromas that everyone will just love.
It also gets topped with a gorgeous vanilla glaze that makes it taste even better. Some people decorate their vasilopita cakes, while others just leave the glaze. Either way, the cakes are lovely and always a huge hit.
10. Christopsomo
This traditional Greek sweet bread is just as beautiful as it is tasty. It takes a little over 3 hours to make, and you’ll need to know how to braid bread for the decorations (it’s actually really simple).
It has this rich, warm, and nutty flavor, and it’s almost too pretty to eat. It looks like something you’d see in a cartoon bakery in a Disney movie.
If you want something that practically screams “authentic Greek Christmas,” this is the recipe you need.
11. Greek Salad
This crisp, cool Greek salad is just loaded with fresh veggies, feta cheese, and grilled chicken (if you like some protein with your greens). That tangy dressing, though, is what really makes it a showstopper.
You’ll make it with olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, basil, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. It’s a super quick and easy lunch option that shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes to pull together. Weeknight win!
12. Tirokroketes
The closest comparison I can make for tirokroketes is that they’re like mozzarella sticks, but in a smaller, circular form. But there’s no mozzarella here. Instead, you’ll fill these with feta cheese, Gouda, and Parmesan.
Then, you roll them in flour, seasonings, and bread crumbs and deep fry them. When I tell you these are some of the most fantastic cheese balls you will ever taste, I am not exaggerating.
Whether you serve them with a dipping sauce or not, you and your guests are going to love them.
13. Mosaiko
Mosaiko is the perfect Greek dessert for all the chocolate lovers in your life. It looks great, almost like a dark chocolate yule log, and it’s unbelievably easy to make.
It uses fewer than ten ingredients, takes only 10 minutes, and best of all, there is NO cooking involved! All it takes is some whisking, blending, pouring, mixing, and shaping.
If you’re looking for a dessert that tastes great and will impress a crowd (but doesn’t require you to do all that much work), mosaiko is the right choice.
14. Roasted Lamb Shanks
Lamb shanks are such a delicious, affordable way to enjoy lamb for Christmas or any other time of year. And cooked this way, they are outstanding. They’re so tender and juicy, and you’ll flavor them with garlic, cumin, and other herbs.
Plus, the marinade is unbelievably good. It’s a simple, four-ingredient marinade, but it is exquisite. And yes, if you try it and like it as much as I do, you can totally use it on other cuts of meat, too. It’s definitely not lamb-specific.
15. Melomakarona
These moist, chewy cookies are a gooey, sticky mess, but you won’t hear many people complaining about them. You’ll sweeten them up with a homemade syrup made from honey, sugar, water, cinnamon, cloves, lemon juice, and a bit of lemon rind.
You’ll also notice other flavors in there, like orange, brandy, and walnuts. In other words, you are packing a lot of complex flavors into one seemingly simple cookie. SO GOOD.
16. Greek-Style Roast Pork With Honey Sauce
If you’re looking for a roasted recipe that will make your house smell just as good as the meat tastes, you have to try this Greek-style roast pork. It combines some truly tasty ingredients: orange juice, lemon juice, honey, mustard, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and more.
It creates something so incredibly aromatic and savory. The meat is so succulent it practically falls apart in your mouth, and it only takes 10 minutes of prep! This is one main course that’s hard to beat, any time of year.
17. Potato Gratin With Feta Cheese
This recipe for potato gratin is the real deal. It is not something that comes prepackaged in one of those all-in-one kits. Of course, that means these take a little more work than the prepackaged kind, but it also means they are so much more scrumptious.
That is especially true once you top them with spring onions, feta and Parmesan cheeses, and bacon. YUM.
18. Greek Christmas Chestnut Soup
If you can’t roast your chestnuts over an open fire this Christmas, turn them into a creamy soup instead! It has a mild, slightly herb taste and just goes down so smooth.
Serve it up with a side salad or a chunk of bread for extra yumminess and a complete meal. So cozy.
19. Xerotigana
Xerotigana is an everyday Greek treat. It’s basically just fried yeast dough. (Think of it like donut holes or funnel cakes).
This recipe puts a new spin on it, though, by adding chocolate, ginger, and orange or lemon zest. Serve them with thyme honey for an extra special treat. Just delightful.
20. Sweet Greek Christmas Bread
Here’s another gorgeous type of bread that’s traditionally served around Christmas time. It takes less than an hour to make and looks like a beautiful, blooming flower.
It’s also remarkably simple to prepare and uses only the most readily available ingredients: flour, yeast, milk, butter, sugar, salt, eggs, and sesame seeds.
Just remember that, like most bread recipes, it needs time for the dough to rise. So don’t wait until the last second to get it started!
21. Greek Honey Ouzo Roasted Turkey Thighs
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure this dish would do it for me when I first saw it. I mean, it isn’t one of the loveliest options on the list. I probably wouldn’t have even tried it if someone else hadn’t made it for dinner.
But I’m so glad they did! This is a classic case of not judging a dish by its plating. The sweet and tangy marinade for the turkey is out-of-this-world good, and the turkey itself is less dry than turkey can sometimes be.
And don’t even get me started on the figs. Yum! I can’t wait to make this one again.
22. Feta and Leek Phyllo Bites
If you love thin, crispy phyllo dough, these will probably already sound appealing to you. Once you fill them with tangy feta cheese, leeks, mint, and more, they are even better.
It takes 45 minutes to make about a dozen of these, and they are always a hit. Think of them like Hot Pockets, only SO much better.
23. Kariokes
If you’re a fan of contrasting textures, you are going to enjoy kariokes. They initially feel soft and fluffy, but those walnuts inside give them a wonderful crunch once you really bite down into them.
Put simply, they are delicious and decadent. And you can easily make 50 of them in just half an hour. So if you waited until the last minute to come up with something for that family gathering or class party, give these a shot.
24. Greek Diples
These sticky Greek desserts are covered in honey, cinnamon, walnuts, and more. They taste, as the original recipe states, like “Christmas on a platter.”
And if you’ve heard about how hard they are to make, don’t worry. This recipe is an easier one that’s simple enough for beginning chefs to master.
25. Greek-Style Mulled Wine
This Greek-style mulled wine smells as fantastic as it tastes. Compared to other mulled wine recipes, it’s pretty easy to make.
You’ll only need five ingredients: semi-sweet red wine, honey, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and an orange peel. It takes about 15 minutes and is the ideal complement to all your other Greek Christmas dishes.