Rachael Ray's Christmas Dinner Photos Have Fans' Mouths Watering

On Wednesday, December 25, celebrated TV host and culinary expert Rachael Ray offered fans a peek into her 2024 Christmas festivities through an Instagram post, showcasing her impressive holiday dinner spread.

Known for her decades-long career in the culinary world, Ray has become a household name thanks to her hit shows like "30 Minute Meals" and "Rachael Ray," along with her numerous bestselling cookbooks.

With her signature blend of approachability and culinary expertise, Rachael Ray has long been admired for her ability to turn simple ingredients into mouth-watering meals--and Christmas Day is no different.

In her holiday post, Ray shared a series of mouth-watering photos highlighting her family’s festive feast.

The spread featured a beautifully prepared turkey garnished with fresh herbs, alongside a playful fake turkey as a centerpiece decoration, crispy roasted potatoes, a vibrant salad with fresh greens and pomegranate seeds, hearty soup, rich gravy, and an assortment of other delicious dishes.

"Christmas No. 3 at our favorite getaway in Puglia," she wrote in the caption. "Wishing everyone a warm, cozy, and joy-filled holiday."

Ray and her husband, John Cusimano, have openly shared their love for spending extended time in Italy since the conclusion of her long-running daytime talk show, "The Rachael Ray Show," in May 2023.

Ray had mouths watering this Christmas as she gave fans a peek at her festive holiday dinner spread.

"Everything looks absolutely delish as always!" one user commented.

"Thanksgiving or Christmas Dinner with Rachel Ray would be Epic!" another expressed.

"That salad looks incredible," a third wrote.

While it's unclear exactly what salad Ray made this year for Christmas, she has made a delicious pear and arugula salad in the past, which combines walnut halves, arugula, pear, and Gorgonzola.

Earlier this year, Ray shared her family's go-to recipes that make their holiday celebrations extra special.

“My family always wants lasagna or pasta for Christmas and some sort of prime rib or a tenderloin, so that is kind of a food tradition for us,” Ray told Eating Well. “But John and I love seafood during the holidays, so recipes like my Lobster Fra Diavolo.”

While she is a renowned cook, baking is a different story, so it's a good thing her sister knows what she is doing with a hand mixer. “I am not the baker, but my sister Maria just created a recipe for a Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake with Lemon Staple Gin Sauce that I am excited to try this holiday season," she added.

Ray also loves to spread holiday cheer by sharing her go-to tips for making every festive season stress-free and delicious.

"Keep it simple and create a plan so you can get most of your prep and cooking done before your guests arrive,” she advises. Ray also emphasized the importance of connecting with your loved ones in the kitchen, stating: “No matter the time of year, food to me is all about connection. Cook with friends and family. Get everyone involved. Have fun!”

The holiday season can quickly become overwhelming with all the planning and preparation, but at its core, the most important thing is to cherish the time spent celebrating with loved ones, and for Ray, “It means connecting with others and coming together to celebrate what we’re thankful for. It means giving. It means paying it forward.”

Italy holds a deep significance for Ray and her husband. The couple exchanged vows in 2005 at the stunning Castello di Velona, a historic Tuscan castle.

A decade later, in 2015, they returned to the same enchanting venue to renew their vows in a celebration filled with love, laughter, and incredible food. The star-studded guest list included culinary icons like Guy Fieri, Ken Oringer, and Anne Burrell, who each took turns cooking up memorable dishes for the occasion.

“We’ve done this celebration every year for 10 years,” Ray told PEOPLE Magazine in 2015. “We’re very busy; I have five jobs. We don’t see everybody often enough, and we probably take them and their friendship for granted. But they make us better people for knowing them."