Is There a Christmas Dinner Tradition That Is Texas?

You have lots of good responses. I will just second the black-eyed peas for New Year's day. Look up recipes for Texas Caviar.

Hello! We have tamales every Christmas Eve. I think it's a pretty popular tradition throughout Texas to have them for either Christmas eve or Christmas. We also make Christmas eve salad (you can type it in google to find lots of versions of this recipe) Hot Damn Tamales in Ft Worth is good and so is The Tamale Co (thetamalecompany.com)

I can't think of any Christmas tradition, but you MUST have black-eyed peas to bring in the New Year......it's for luck for the following year!

Tamales...

There are a few restaurants that are "famous" for theirs (going blank on names). Maybe try going to the online local news to see if they have names (www.nbc5i.com)?

Merry Christmas!

I moved back to Texas two years ago and have just ordered my Christmas tamales. Do not know if we will have them Christmas day but have to have them during the season.

I'm a lifelong Texan, and we have always had a Christmas ham, and sometimes a small turkey, as well, with a large gathering. Another traditional Tex-Mex offering at Christmas is tamales. My son had a friend whose mother used to make wonderful homemade tamales as gifts, and they were fabulous! Of course, Texans love bbq, and brisket is another common Christmas dinner here. Welcome, and wishing a merry Christmas in the Lone Star State!

It's true! Tamales on Christmas Eve (and perhaps Christmas Day for some) is a widespread tradition in Texas. I read some other yummy suggestions though! Brisket sounds like fun! Make or buy what your family will love! Merry Christmas!

The Christmas Eve Tamale dinner is a must. If you have any authentic taquiera (sp?) places in your area, you can order them...delicious! For Christmas day, we celebrate just like the rest of the good ole USA. For an easy and wonderful smoked turkey, order from Greenberg Turkey in Tyler (they ship) Great turkeys and all you have to do is slice and enjoy, they were one of Oprah's fav things a couple of years ago and have been featured in the NY Times. Yes, I'm a friend..no, I'm not related :)

Merry Christmas! Maybe we'll see some snow flurries again this year!!

I prefer ham! But turkey seems to be popular. At my aunt's house we have beef tenderloin (that is soooo good!), asparagus, mashed potatoes, corn, rolls, pies, salad. I say eat what you like:-)

We've been in TX since 1989 and I don't know of a "traditional" dinner but we usually do tenderloin or prime rib. Personal choice I guess. It seems that a lot of people do this.

Hirsch's in Plano has the best prime cuts of beef. AWESOME and top quality. I don't buy meats anywhere else. If you buy a steak there, it is the same grade you get at Del Frisco's etc.

D., just about anything goes in Texas!
When I was a kid, growing up in Colorado, there were a few holidays where we had turkey, ham or both, or something fancier like rack of lamb.
Now in Texas, we've had everything: tamales (my husband is Mexican), ham, turkey, salmon, pork tenderloin, duck, etc. Most recently we've spent Christmas Eve with some friends, and they prepare smoked salmon and I prepare a stuffed pork tenderloin. We have some sides like sweet potatoes, salad, greens, etc. We've kind of created our own traditions!

the south texas tradition is tamales and chili on christmas eve. my family loves it! but, as for christmas dinner, i'm not sure there is just one thing that people tend to pick. my family used to have turkey, then i met my husband who thought that was crazy because they had ham! LOL

Well maybe not necessarily for Christmas dinner, but around Christmas time homemade Tamales are pretty popular here in Texas. Last year we ordered some to eat on Christmas day (since we had a Christmas eve feast and no one really wanted to cook). This year we will order some Tamales for Christmas eve dinner. And many of my friends have placed orders for this week and next. :)

We have a Tex-Mex meal at Christmas. Tacos and tamales and whatever else sounds good. I don't know that there is a one "Texas" tradition, but that is what our family does.

Our Texas tradition is brisket, potato salad and baked beans

There are two traditions I follow: the southern tradition of having black eyed peas on New Year's Day (it brings you luck all year), and the Texan tradition of having tamales on Christmas Eve. Both are delicious! I recommend Chow-Chow to go with your black eyed peas. :)

If you don't want Tex-Mex, chicken fried steak is the way to go!

Our family does Turkey for Thanksgiving and Ham for Christmas. The sides are probably what has more of a southern flair to them. Cornbread salad, the normal casseroles (green bean and broc rice cheese), mashed potatoes, gravy, bbq baked beans... I think it just depends on personal traditions. There isn't a specific 'Texas' tradition I can think of (and I've lived here my entire life!). Merry Christmas!

We do turkey, ham and all the thanksgiving foods at my mom's but at his mom's we do an evening "snack fest" of brie, soft breads, chocolate, nuts, etc. I love both! I think it's more what your family decides more than it's Texas tradition.

Tamales and chili or queso to go on top. Get at Central Market. Also like chicken tortilla soup. Roast beef of some kind for Christmas. Ham at Easter, Turkey at Thanksgiving. From what I read, I agree. I'll add, to the New Year's food, cabbage for money, to go along with blace eyed peas.

We cook a leg of lamb and Ham

Tex-Mex diner on Christmas Eve - tomales, chile, nachos, etc. and then beef tenderloin for Christmas Day. Save the ham for Easter and the turkey for Thanksgiving.

Tamales.. is the Traditional Christmas eve meal in my families homes.. At my Husbands, they either do Gumbo or Chowder on Christmas eve.. His father lived in Louisiana and his mothers family heritage was from up east..

For Christmas dinner it is Beef.. Our favorite is Prime rib..

I second the blackeyed peas for new years. Also, Tamales are great and the best are the homemade kind. There are lots of older hispanic women that make them and sell them. Id first check with your church or any other social group your apart of and ask around. My babysitter from years back always makes me some. She sells them pretty cheap, $6 a dozen.

I don't know about a tradition for Texas... but our family has created it's own tradition!

Christmas eve - we go out and eat. Fast food. Very cheap, very easy!

Christmas day - Cinnamon rolls & homemade hot cocoa in the morning. Then, my hubby and I take a nap. After we wake up, we sit out all the goods for us to eat all through the day:
Mini sausages in homemade sauce
Various lunch meats
Various hard cheeses
Canned, spray cheese
Various crackers
Cheese ball
Cookies that were made the night before
Sweet Pickles
Dill Pickles

And that is IT! It's fun, easy, and yummy!

I've lived here all my life, and we've always had both ham and turkey, even when we only have 5 or 6 people. My husband's family also has ham and turkey, so between both sides of the family, we have lots of leftovers to take home! Other than that, we have the traditional holiday sides (or what I think of as traditional, anyway): sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, fruit salad, at least one green casserole (green bean, asparagus, or broccoli), giblet gravy, etc. My mom used to make and sell tamales, so I know they're very popular for Christmas as well ...our family was just so tired of tamales by Christmas that that's the last thing we wanted!

My born & bred Texan husband insists on grilling steaks for Christmas dinner. I think it's only a tradition in our house though.

Born and raised in Texas. Christmas Eve is for tamales and chili. Christmas day we have turkey, corn bread dressing, green bean casserole, squash, corn, peas, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, cream spinach and rolls. I'll be glad to email you the corn bread dressing if you want it. It's my great, great grandmother's recipe. Corn bread is made in a cast iron skillet and all!