There are a few Christmas movies that shaped my childhood, but How the Grinch Stole Christmas will always be in my top tier – so every sinlge year, we have to do some variation of our Grinch Dinner and a Movie Night. I grew up loving the original cartoon, but when the Jim Carrey version dropped, it completely owned my heart. I was an NSYNC girl through and through, so the fact that they were on the soundtrack pretty much guaranteed I would be obsessed. I recently rewatched it and kept thinking to myself… this movie is much darker than I remember. Was I just an unbothered child or has adulthood softened me in ways I never expected?

Either way, it remains iconic, and so does this dinner. You can find the printable menu to recreate this meal at the bottom of this post!
This is one of those meals I make every single year, and somehow it still gets better. We are hosting my in-laws for Christmas this year, and the moment we finished eating, my husband looked at me and said, “Please make this again on Christmas.” When a recipe gets an immediate holiday encore request, you know it is something special.

Before we dive in, don’t forget you can explore even more holiday magic inside my Christmas Dinner and a Movie Cookbook download which includes 12 planned for you Christmas dinner and a movie nights, complete with menus, recipes, and themed ideas to make the season feel extra special.

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Here is everything we made for this year’s Grinch dinner and a movie night.

Appetizer: You’ve Got Garlic In Your Roll

These rolls were absolute perfection. I used Rhodes dinner rolls as the base and then dressed them up with the most flavorful garlic herb butter. They came out fluffy, golden, and unbelievably good. My husband was so obsessed that he immediately asked me to make these exact rolls for his family when they visit for Christmas.

This feels like the right time to tell you one of my favorite stories. At my bridal shower, we played that game where they ask your future husband a bunch of questions about you, and you have to guess his answers. One of the questions was, “What is one thing Heather cannot live without?”

I confidently said, “Him, obviously.”
His answer was “Bread.”

And TBH, I could not even argue with him because bread really is a very close second to my husband.

Here is how I made the rolls that continue to support his theory:

Garlic in Your Rolls Recipe

Thaw and rise
Place the frozen Rhodes rolls into a well greased muffin tin or baking dish. Cover lightly and let them thaw and rise according to the package instructions. They should look soft, puffy, and doubled in size before baking.

Make the garlic butter
Melt butter and mix in finely diced garlic and chopped parsley. It smells incredible and sets the tone for the whole meal.

Brush before baking
Once the rolls are risen, brush the tops generously with the garlic butter mixture. This helps the tops turn golden and gives that first layer of flavor.

Bake until golden
Bake according to the package directions until the rolls are puffed and lightly browned.

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Salad: His Heart Grew Three Sizes

This might be the cutest salad I have ever made. Mixed greens, feta, and a bright lemon vinaigrette create a simple base, but the magic is in the tomato hearts. I used a small cookie cutter to make hearts in three different sizes. It is such a subtle nod to the movie and looks adorable on the table.

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Main Course: Roast Beast à la Whoville with Grinch Green Chimichurri

Usually, I go with a traditional roast beef, but between the price this year and the fact that my husband is not the biggest fan, I pivoted. Instead, I made a tri tip with homemade chimichurri, and this dish honestly stole the entire night. It cooked fast, sliced beautifully, and the chimichurri was bright, garlicky, herby, and completely life changing. We kept saying, “This meal really slapped” while eating and meant every word.

Here is exactly how I cooked it:

Roast Beast Tri Tip

1. Season the meat
   Pat the tri tip dry and season generously on all sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and a touch of smoked paprika.
2. Sear it
   Heat a large skillet with a little oil over medium high heat. Sear the tri tip for about 2 to 3 minutes per side until a golden crust forms.
3. Bake to perfection
   Transfer the skillet to a 400 degree oven and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, depending on thickness. My tri tip reached medium rare at around 130 to 135 degrees measured with a meat thermometer.
4. Rest and slice
   Let it rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing against the grain. This keeps it tender and juicy.
5. Top with chimichurri
   Spoon a generous amount of homemade chimichurri over the warm slices so all those herby, garlicky flavors soak right in. It is genuinely one of the best sauces you can make at home. You can find my recipe for my homemade chimichurri here.

This entire main course only took about 30 minutes and paired perfectly with the Who Hash.

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Side Dish: Who Hash

I normally make these potatoes for breakfast, but they were the perfect pairing here. The Who Hash is made with diced golden potatoes, onion, garlic, and bell pepper, cooked until crisp and full of flavor. Everything is sautéed together until the edges caramelize and the veggies get tender.

I found a printable Who Hash label on Etsy and added it to a can I had saved. It turned out so cute and added the perfect touch of Whoville charm. You can grab this printable here.

You can find the full recipe inside my Magical Christmas Dinner and a Movie Cookbook which includes this meal along with many more Christmas dinner ideas.

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Dessert: Who Pudding Trifle

This dessert looks whimsical and fun, just like something you would see on a table in Whoville. It is simply layers of cake, vanilla pudding, and whipped cream topped with sprinkles and Dum Dums. The inspiration came from the Who Pudding in the original cartoon, and the final result was adorable, festive, and incredibly easy to assemble.

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Drink: The Grinch Holiday Spirit

This cocktail tastes as bright and festive as it looks.
It is made with vodka, blue curaçao, orange juice, and lime juice which turns the drink into the perfect Grinch green. For a kid friendly version, you can use the non alcoholic blue curaçao, or make it entirely with green Hawaiian Punch and a splash of sparkling water. I dipped the rim in marshmallow fluff and coconut then drew a Grinch face on disposable cups. It came out so cute and really completed the theme.

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Our Final Setup

Once everything was plated, we turned on the Grinch, dimmed the lights, turned up the Christmas ambiance, and enjoyed one of my favorite meals of the season. The whole table felt playful and nostalgic, and the food tasted incredible. This is exactly why I love themed dinners so much, because you get to step into the world of the movie for a night and make new memories every single year.

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Want More Christmas Dinner and a Movie Ideas?

If you loved this Grinch dinner, you will love the rest of the Christmas lineup.

Inside the Magical Christmas Dinner and a Movie Cookbook, you will find the full Who Hash recipe along with 12 themed Christmas dinners complete with appetizers, mains, desserts, drinks, and printable menus.

For even more inspiration, explore:

• The full Christmas Content Hub for seasonal dinners and snack boards
• The complete cookbook library
• The Epic Bundle which includes every single Dinner and a Movie cookbook I have created

This season has so many magical meals to enjoy, and I cannot wait to hear which one you make next.

Here is the printable menu for this meal! – To save it on a phone, just hold down and hit save – on a desktop, right click and save!