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It might be a small crowd, but it's still the holidays!

Christmas dinner should be special no matter how many people you're hosting—even if it's just you and your significant other, your best friend, or a roommate. In fact, with just a little bit of planning and a few simple recipes, your Christmas dinner-for-two can be just as wonderful as a big holiday feast.

You can set the scene with twinkling lights, Christmas placemats, and other seasonal table decorations. Then, prepare a meal that's festive, cozy, and perfect for a special occasion. Of course, we're not saying it needs to be fussy. After all, the best part about having a smaller Christmas dinner is that you don't have to do a ton of work (or clean-up!). So, keep things easy, simple, and elegant with these Christmas dinner ideas for two.

Here, you'll find everything you need for an intimate holiday menu, including Christmas sides, desserts, and festive cocktails. And just like with a big family dinner, this list includes plenty of options for main courses, like pan-fried rib eye, chicken marsala, and lemon-garlic shrimp and grits. Plus, there are classic winter recipes, like braised short ribs, that are sure to keep you warm and cozy on the chilly December night. While all these dishes are meant to feed a smaller crowd, don’t worry too much if you end up with leftovers—they’re the best part anyway!

Ree likes to make this easy steak dinner when it's just her and Ladd home for dinner. It feels special, but it only takes 15 minutes to make!

Get Ree's Pan-Fried Rib Eye recipe.

From the garlicky white wine pan sauce to the salty prosciutto, this chicken dinner is anything but ordinary. It's especially delicious when served with a big pile of parsley noodles.

Get the Chicken Saltimbocca recipe.

While this recipe certainly makes a big portion, the whole thing is made in an Instant Pot so it couldn't be easier. Plus, you can use leftover mashed potatoes in the days to come.

Get Ree's Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes recipe.

Pomegranates have a cranberry-like flavor and color that's perfect for the holidays, especially when you garnish the glass with salt, lime slices, and extra pomegranate seeds.

Get the Pomegranate Margarita recipe.

Yes, even smaller Christmas dinners can have turkey as the main event. Thanks to this method for cooking turkey in an air fryer, you'll get moist, juicy turkey breast in a fraction of the time.

Get the Air Fryer Turkey Breast recipe.

Sweet potatoes are the perfect holiday side dish because they can lean more sweet or more savory depending on your preference. Try one with a topping of crispy bacon and sour cream and another with a drizzle of honey.

Get the Baked Sweet Potatoes recipe.

Keep a batch of this cookie dough in the freezer, then just slice off however many cookie you want to bake. The dough can last for up to 3 months!

Get Ree's Holiday Slice-and-Bake Cookies recipe.

This recipe for braised short ribs is downright delectable. You can choose to serve it over creamy polenta or even mashed potatoes (that's what Ree's husband would choose).

Get Ree's Braised Short Ribs recipe.

Is there anything more comforting than this Italian-American dish? The mushrooms and butter come together to form a sauce that's soaked up by the chicken and even the noodles.

Get Ree's Chicken Marsala recipe.

Just like a regular red velvet cake, this mug cake version even comes with a dollop of cream cheese frosting. Top it off with green and red sprinkles and it's perfect for celebrating Christmas!

Get Ree's Red Velvet Mug Cake recipe.

This pasta recipe is loaded with hearty chicken, bursting cherry tomatoes, and melty mozzarella cheese. It's simple, scrumptious, and ready in just 25 minutes!

Get Ree's Caprese Chicken Pasta recipe.

Looking for a restaurant-quality Christmas dinner? This decadent bacon-wrapped beef filet is extra-impressive, but it's surprisingly easy to make. You'll definitely want to bookmark that cowboy butter, too!

Get Ree's Bacon-Wrapped Filets with Cowboy Butter recipe.

Both the pork and the sweet potato wedges cook together on a sheet pan, making this dinner the easiest clean-up yet!

Get Ree's Tuscan Pork Sheet Pan Supper recipe.

This individually portioned cake is best served warm so that dulce de leche filling comes out perfectly melty. Oh, and don't forget to finish it off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Get Ree's Dulce de Leche Lava Cake recipe.

Everything about this pasta recipe screams flavor—from the garlic and white wine to the red pepper flakes and fresh basil. Let's not forget about the generous grating of parmesan cheese over the top!

Get Ree's Foil-Packet Shrimp Pasta recipe.

You really can't go wrong with steak and spinach. It's a classic combination that's often served at steakhouses, but it's easy to replicate right at home.

Get Ree's Peppercorn-Crusted Steak with Creamed Spinach recipe.

We'll take one bowl of peppermint ice cream... and two spoons! This creamy homemade ice cream is swirled with thick ribbons of dark chocolate-peppermint fudge sauce and loaded with crushed peppermint candies.

Get the Chocolate Ribboned-Peppermint Ice Cream recipe.

You only need three ingredients to make this creamy after-dinner drink. Just be sure to double the recipe to make it for you and your loved one.

Get the White Russian recipe.

This warm and cheesy soup is sure to warm you up on a chilly December day. It's just like a traditional French onion soup, but it's even easier.

Get the Instant Pot French Onion Soup recipe.

A warm and cozy bowl of grits is the perfect base for this buttery shrimp recipe. Plus, it doubles as a nod to the feast of the seven fishes!

Get Ree's Lemon-Garlic Shrimp and Grits recipe.