Pick Your Favorite Christmas Movie and We'll Give You a Dinner to Go With It

Is there anything better than settling in for a long winter’s Christmas movie marathon as December 25 nears? (Christmas jammies strongly encouraged, of course.) From Clark Griswold’s hilarious Christmas vacation mishaps to the Grinch’s heart growing three whole sizes, watching classic holiday movies with family and friends each Christmas season is one of our favorite family traditions. So many of our favorite Christmas movies today go back to the ones we remember watching when we were kids, and the greatest ones never seem to get old. (That’s true of both movies and people.)

And when you’re a true fan, just watching one of these favorite Christmas movies isn’t enough. To really make your movie marathon a special event, you need an on-theme meal that makes this year’s viewing a movie night to remember. From Kevin’s favorite cheese pizza to spaghetti that would make Buddy the Elf smile, these are the recipes coming soon to a living room near you.

Whether you’re watching the original 60s cartoon, or the live-action version from 2000, we think this occasion calls for all the parts of a classic Who Christmas feast.

When the neighbors’ dogs get into the house and eat Ralphie’s mom’s perfect Christmas turkey, the family heads to the local Chinese restaurant for a dinner they’ll never forget. You won't find a recipe for roast duck here, but you will find tasty recipes inspired by Bo' Ling Chop Suey Palace.

This dinner isn’t exactly in the movie, but it's inspired by scenes from it. Begin the meal off with appetizers inspired by Clark Griswold's jelly-of-the-month club "bonus." Upgrade the movie's dry turkey to our deep-fried turkey legs. And let’s not forget jello salad and eggnog! Finish the meal with cookies in honor of Clark's Christmas lights display.

A fight over pizza at the start of the movie sends Kevin McCallister upstairs, causing him to miss leaving for the airport with his family. Later, he celebrates his newfound independence by ordering “a lovely cheese pizza, just for me.” The menu includes a pizza recipe for everybody else, plus as starters inspired by the movie like shrimp cocktail and a spider appetizer in honor of the tarantula in the movie. Let's not forget the mac and cheese before the big showdown. End the meal on a sweet note with either mini ice cream sundaes as nod to Kevin's giant bowl or the cookies he left for Santa.

Elve's four main food groups—candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup— might not make a satisfying human dinner, but this menu channels Buddy's spirit. Start off with a candy cane-shaped appetizer. Next choose a spaghetti that suits your family (syrup optional). Instead of sweet spaghetti, finish the meal with a candy pizza that we are sure Buddy would love. If that's not for you, decorate the snow globe cookie with the New York City skyline, like the actual snowglobe in the movie.

We can’t even imagine Buddy’s story without his journey to New York! And that might never have happened without a little encouragement from his friend Leon the Snowman. Recreate their scene for dessert with a combo plate of cute snowmen treats and official "Elf" shapes cookies.