Christmas is a time to celebrate traditions old and new. There's the long-standing history of Christmas trees, of course, but what about trends like white Christmas trees or upside-down Christmas trees? Your household likely engages in favorite Christmas activities, Christmas party games, and other annual traditions like DIY Christmas stockings personalized for each member of the family. But as families grow and branch off, memories are created and brand-new traditions are formed. So when you're planning your annual Christmas dinner, consider incorporating some non-traditional Christmas dinner ideas alongside the classic holiday recipes that have been go-tos for as long as you can remember. After all, even your favorite holiday dish was something you had to try for the first time once. A few Christmases from now, you might be enjoying an easy Christmas dinner of Mexican-Glazed Meatloaves — but not unless you break out of your comfort zone and try them this year first.

Getting creative in the kitchen is nothing to be afraid of, and it's a surefire way to discover what you do (and don't) enjoy cooking and eating — on the holidays and throughout the year. Whether you're preparing a vegetarian Christmas dinner, a comfort food recipe that's only unconventional on Christmas, or you're willing to choose a totally unexpected dish in general just to add some excitement to your holiday table, these 50+ alternative Christmas recipes are a great place to start.

The combination of buttery cornbread with the chopped chiles and cheese will leave your tastebuds singing praises. For an extra touch, serve with maple butter for the perfect salty and sweet combo.

Get the Spicy Cornbread with Chiles and Cheese recipe.

This glazed ham will become a must-have for Christmas, simply because of how easy and low-maintenance it is to make. After a quick 10 minute prep, pop it in the oven for an hour and a half, then glaze and serve.

Get the Orange-Red Pepper Jelly and Orange Glazed Ham recipe.

Potatoes seem to be a necessary staple during the holiday season, but with so many innovative ways to make them, they are never boring. With only five ingredients, you can create some cheesy and creamy gratin potatoes that are so good, you'll easily be reaching for seconds.

Get the Five-Ingredient Potato Gratin recipe.

Even the pickiest of eaters will enjoy nibbling on these rolls come dinnertime. Sweeten with maple syrup and salt on top, or get creative with rosemary, sage, or even lavender.

Get the Sweet Parker House Rolls recipe.

Whether you're a vegetarian or not, this hearty vegetable lasagna will be one of your favorite holiday dishes once you take a bite. Packed with lots of veggies, you get all the flavor plus smart substitutions that cut out unnecessary calories.

Get the Vegetable Lasagna recipe.

Drizzled with spiced syrup, these sweet potatoes have a little kick to them, which perfectly compliments the other sweet flavors of the dish so it's not overwhelming.

Get the Glazed Sweet Potatoes recipe.

These lemon-maple roasted carrots are so good, they might even have your kids looking forward to eating their vegetables.

Get the Lemon-Maple Roasted Carrots recipe.

If you aren't too turkeyed-out from Thanksgiving, this garlic and herb roasted bird makes for a crowd-favorite, and will look absolutely stunning as the centerpiece to your table.

Get the Garlic and Herb Roasted Turkey recipe.

You still have to get your greens in on the holidays. But with this creamy spinach dish, you'll be happy to put a serving or two onto your plate.

Get the Creamy Garlic and Herb Spinach recipe.

My oh my, sweet potato pie — well, not quite, but just as delicious (if not more so).

Get the Sweet Potato Casserole with Brown-Sugared Pecans recipe.

A piping hot pot roast is just what everyone will want to keep them warm amid the chilly holiday temps.

Get the Pot Roast and Root Vegetables recipe.

Some may say stuffing is a Thanksgiving-only dish, but when you think about how delicious it is, how could you not serve it on Christmas? Prepare yourself for some cheesy bread goodness with this easy recipe.

Get the Cheddar and Herb Stuffing recipe.

Food you can eat with your fingers is always fun. Pair this savory stromboli with some marina or cheese sauce for extra flavor.

Get the Mushroom and Herb Stromboli recipe.

Sometimes, it's best to stick with the simple, and these decadent garlic and sage infused mashed potatoes are as easy as it gets. Plus, they are super delish!

Get the Garlic and Sage Infused Mashed Potatoes recipe.

Roast chicken paired with some fresh squash and arugula is the perfect meal to satisfy you for dinner while still leaving some room for those holiday desserts.

Get the Roasted Chicken and Squash Panzanella recipe.

Cheese and sausage and pepper oh my! This one pot meal tastes amazing and makes for easy cleanup after dinner.

Get the Cheesy Sausage & Pepper Pasta Bake recipe.

Green beans might not be the food everyone craves before the holiday meal, but one bite of these tangy bacon vinaigrette veggies and everyone will be clamoring once they hit the table. You can use the salty-sweet sauce on Brussels sprouts as well.

Get the Blanched Green Beans recipe.

And speaking of those versatile veggies... sweet and sour sprouts anyone? Honey, vinegar, and chiles blend with satueéd Brussels sprouts for an unbelievably tasty dish.

Get the Sweet and Sour Brussels Sprouts recipe.

Dry brine your Christmas turkey to keep the outside crispy and the inside meat super moist.

Get the Dry-Brined Lemon-Rosemary Roasted Turkey recipe.

Spice up a basic pasta dish with some sausage, radicchio, and red pepper flakes for a colorful and fun plate.

Get the Orecchiette with Sausage and Radicchio recipe.

If you love cornbread and stuffing, then this dish is just what you want this holiday season. Blend crumbled cornbread with sweet sausage, chestnuts, and pears for a slightly sweet and salty side.

Get the Cornbread, Sausage, and Chestnut Stuffing recipe.

Soup is so simple and so underrated. This creamy sweet potato soup, spiced with cinnamon and maple croutons, is the cozy dish you'll want to serve at your holiday dinner, and enjoy all winter long.

Get the Cinnamon-Spiced Sweet Potato Soup with Maple Croutons recipe.

Chock full of nutrients and flavored with sharp cheddar crumbs, guests will happily pile this roasted broccoli onto their plate.

Get the Roasted Broccoli With Sharp Cheddar Crumbs and Honey Mustard Dip recipe.

These browned butter veggies are almost too gorgeous to eat… almost.

Get the Hasselback Butternut Squash with Browned Butter recipe.

Great as a pre-dinner app or as part of the big meal, these cranberry meatballs bring a tangy sweetness to the salty flavors of the meatball, creating a perfect flavor profile.

Get the Tangy Cranberry Meatballs recipe.

Serve up these individual twice-baked potatoes with a dollop of meringue for a fun twist.

Get the Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes recipe.

Thanks to this one-dish meal, you can say goodbye to a big post-dinner cleanup. Enjoy roasted sausages with cubed sweet potatoes, cannellini beans, and Swiss chard for a meal packed with protein and antioxidants.

Get the Roasted Sausages and Sweet Potato-White Bean Stew recipe.

Honestly, can you ever have too many rolls on the dinner table? Probably not, but if you have to choose, these garlic miso rolls should be your number one pick.

Get the Garlic Miso Rolls recipe.

Bacon seems to make everything better, especially your classic Brussels sprouts.

Get the Pan-Roasted Brussels Sprouts recipe.

Spice up your mashed potato game with these rosemary-infused sweet potatoes with walnuts to give it some crunch.

Get the Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Rosemary Pecans recipe.

Add some interesting flavors like orange and almond to a side dish that isn't usually the star.

Get the Green Beans with Orange and Almond Gremolata recipe.

With mozzarella, Romano, and cottage cheese, this creamy lasagna-stuffed spaghetti squash will be an instant hit.

Get the Lasagna-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash recipe.

Everyone will be reaching for these stuffed shells, made with broccoli florets, red wine vinegar, and three different cheeses.

Get the Vegetable and Three-Cheese Stuffed Shells recipe.

You can't go wrong with this classic chicken dish that you can easily throw in a slow cooker in the morning and not think about until dinnertime.

Get the Slow Cooker Chicken Marbella recipe.

From olive oil and tomato paste to cinnamon and beer (yes, beer!), this hearty and warm cottage pie has all of the flavor you're looking for on Christmas.

Get the Cottage Pie recipe.

This fresh and creamy side will become a Christmas favorite when paired with a juicy turkey or steak entrée.

Get the Risotto with Sweet Potato, Lemon, and Sage recipe.

Add some Mediterranean flair to your traditional Christmas dinner with halved zucchinis topped with boneless chicken and low-fat kefir.

Get the Mediterranean Zucchini Boats with Kefir-Mint Topping recipe.

Try putting your traditional Christmas ham between two warm and flaky biscuits for a delicious take on the holiday classic.

Get the Ham Biscuits recipe.

This stew's wine- and tomato-rich broth is the perfect complement to spicy chorizo, sweet white fish, and tender shrimp.

Get the Seafood, Chorizo, and Vegetable Stew recipe.

This delicious steak dish may use simple ingredients, but with roasted lemon and Worcestershire sauce, its flavor is sophisticated and bright.

Get the Baked Steak recipe.

Andouille sausage and smoky bacon give this classic French dish some real Cajun flare.

Get the Creole Cassoulet recipe.

The vegetables in this dish not only lend nutrition, but color and a crunchy texture as well. Feel free to substitute sugar snap peas or snow peas for green beans, but don't skimp on the fresh ginger — the powdered version won't hold its own in this dish.

Get the Beef, Mushroom, and Green Bean Stir Fry recipe.

Enjoy this simple and delicious Spanish-inspired pasta dish, made with fideos (pasta) and shrimp, on Christmas Day.

Get the Spanish Noodles with Shrimp and Peas recipe.

A delish and healthy alternative to regular pancakes, this recipe is the perfect blend of sweet and savory.

Get the Curried Squash Pancakes with Arugula and Apple Salad recipe.

Adobo sauce, chipotle chillies, and chorizo make this meatloaf dinner a delicious fiesta. You can even cut cooking time by almost an hour by making 4 mini loaves from this recipe instead of one big meatloaf.

Get the Mexican-Glazed Meatloaves recipe.

This hearty noodle casserole contains all of the same great flavors of a classic French onion soup, but in a creative and fun new way.

Get the French Onion Spaghetti Pie recipe.

Paella, usually a very labor-intensive dish, is made much easier with the help of leftover slow-cooked Mediterranean Seafood Stew.

Get the Paella recipe.

Based on the traditional Russian soup, this satisfying pasta gets its boldness and bright color from two pounds of beets. Complementing the root vegetable's rusticity and heft are hearty whole wheat linguine and quick-browning ground beef.

Get the Borscht and Beef Pasta recipe.

This cozy casserole with bacon, red bell pepper, butter, and grated Parmesan will instantly put everyone in good spirits.

Get the recipe at Country Living.

These warm and flaky biscuits with fresh dill and caraway seeds will absolutely melt in your mouth.

Get the recipe at Country Living.

Combine russet potatoes, Gruyère, and fresh cream to create this ultra creamy dish.

Get the recipe at Country Living.

These vegan mashed potatoes are as creamy as your average butter and milk version, thanks to vegan butter and olive oil.

Get the recipe at Delish.

Who says vegan food can't be tasty? This lasagna has flavors everyone can get behind, like mushrooms, garlic, marinara, and basil.

Get the recipe at Delish.

If you're looking for a non-meat option, roast up this cauliflower wedge glazed with balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, and parsley.

Get the recipe at Delish.