21 Festive Kwanzaa Recipe Ideas to Try

By BH&G Holiday Editors
Updated November 11, 2020
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Credit: Jason Donnelly
Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration that begins on December 26 and typically culminates in a celebratory dinner. Blogger Riche Holmes Grant (The Riche Life) celebrates both Christmas and Kwanzaa with her family. Kwanzaa, she says, "is an African American cultural holiday. It’s all about family, community and being together.”

From mains and sides to desserts, these 21 Kwanzaa recipes are bold, colorful and flavorful. Choose a few for your own Kwanzaa celebration, and incorporate them into your menus throughout the year.
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Jerk Chicken

Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Blogger Riche Holmes Grant puts a Caribbean spin on the menu: Her Jerk Chicken takes on maximum flavor as it marinates overnight in a mixture of chiles, brown sugar, and spices.

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Skillet Corn Bread

Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Riche serves her corn bread with homemade Whipped Honey Butter and Hot Pepper Jelly. She makes enough pepper jelly to serve with the corn bread and to gift some jars too.

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Pressure Cooker Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

Credit: Andy Lyons
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This jazzy chicken and sausage gumbo is great for a Kwanzaa celebration. A deep, coppery-brown roux (that cooks right in your pressure cooker!) and slices of okra are behind the dish's rich flavors. Serve the finished gumbo with hot cooked rice and corn bread muffins.

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Black-Eyed Peas

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Fresh pork hocks make this black-eyed pea recipe hearty enough for your Kwanzaa main course. Simply serve it over rice, flavored with fresh oregano. Crushed red pepper adds a dash of heat.

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Gluten Free Creole-Style Shrimp and Grits

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Served over creamy homemade grits, this broth-based shrimp stew is rich and flavorful. This easy Kwanzaa recipe comes together in just 35 minutes. You can adjust the amount of cayenne pepper to make this recipe mild to flaming hot.

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Maple-Bourbon Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Credit: Andy Lyons
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A blend of creamy Yukon gold potatoes and sweet potatoes make the base of this versatile Kwanzaa side dish that's sure to please any holiday crowd. Prepare the dish in your slow cooker ($25, Target) and serve the finished side with a sprinkle of crispy bacon and a drizzle of maple syrup.

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Flaky Cheddar Biscuits

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To save time, bake these fluffy biscuits in the morning and reheat them just before dinner. A cup of shredded cheese in the batter gives these biscuits irresistible flavor. One reviewer raves: "I will definitely make these again. This recipe is a keeper!"

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Savory Collard Greens

Credit: Andy Lyons
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Simmered in broth, vinegar and an entire head of garlic, these greens are a delicious, holiday-worthy side. Serve crushed red pepper at the table for those who like a little heat.

Test Kitchen Tip: To remove grit, immerse greens in a clean sink filled with water. Rinse well and drain in a colander.

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Flavored Slow Cooker Corn Bread

Credit: Jason Donnelly
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This recipe "bakes" homemade corn bread right in the slow cooker ($30, The Home Depot), creating a Kwanzaa side dish that's uniquely tender and crispy at the same time. Choose from one of our three flavor combinations, including bacon-brown sugar, honey-jalapeno, and chipotle-cheddar.

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Sweet Potato Marshmallow Meringue Pie

Credit: Carson Downing
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Cookbook author (Black Girl Baking), photographer and blogger (Chocolate for Basil) Jerrelle Guy piles her showstopping sweet potato pie with toasted meringue. Before baking, spoon the filling into a homemade hazelnut flour and chocolate crust. For maximum flavor, toast the hazelnut flour that in a skillet until it gives off a popcorn scent.

Buy It: Black Girl Baking ($11, Target)

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Bananas Foster Crisp

Credit: Carson Downing
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If you have a few basic ingredients on hand, you can make Jerrelle’s take on bananas Foster any night of the week in less than an hour. “I always have gingersnaps around during the holidays, and bananas are in my produce basket at all times.” The buttery brown sugar-rum sauce bubbles bake, so you’ve got a warm, melty dessert that you didn’t have to set on fire.

Test Kitchen Tip: Baking these crisps in shallow au gratin dishes means more of the banana browns and caramelizes. If you don’t have au gratin minis, use a deep-dish pie plate instead

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Spicy Sausage and Collard Soup

Credit: Carson Downing
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Don't toss the rind on your wedge of Parmesan cheese! Use it to flavor this hearty Kwanzaa favorite. To make, simmer Italian sausage, collard greens and sweet bell peppers in the savory broth. Serve each bowl with grated Parmesan cheese and torn fresh basil.

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Chicken Chorizo Gumbo

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This hearty gumbo is filled with classic flavors like okra, chicken and bell pepper. It simmers low and slow for 45 minutes on your stovetop. Don't skip the orange-herb rice topper—it fills each bite with citrusy fresh flavor.

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Best Four-Cheese Macaroni and Cheese

Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
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Is there anything better than a creamy spoonful of homemade macaroni and cheese? We don't think so! Our four-cheese blend broils to bubbly perfection in just six minutes. Want to try something new for Kwanzaa this year? Whip up one of our tasty variations including truffle mac, bacon-blue cheese, or butternut squash mac.

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Classic Peach Cobbler

Credit: Helen Norman
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Save room for dessert! Top fresh peaches with sugar, cinnamon, and a homemade drop biscuit topper. It's good on its own but a scoop of vanilla ice cream takes this Kwanzaa dessert over the top.

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Chicken Stew with Cornmeal Dumplings

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Need a quick Kwanzaa recipe? This hearty stew calls for frozen mixed vegetables and pre-cooked chicken (pick up a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store for easy prep). Finish the dish with homemade cornmeal dumplings and freshly cracked black pepper.

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Cornmeal Griddle Cakes

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Fresh corn, bacon, buttermilk... these savory griddle cakes are packed with flavor! Prepare the batter and cook the cakes just before serving. We recommend serving them with creme fraiche and fresh chives, but they're equally good with a drizzle of maple syrup.

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Braised Collard Greens

Credit: Jason Donnelly
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These meaty collard greens simmer for six hours in the slow cooker ($25, Target). The result? Tender greens flavored with ham bones, onion and crushed red pepper. Serve the finished dish with a splash of vinegar and hot pepper sauce.

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Red Beans Creole

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This year, try something new for Kwanzaa. This take on red beans creole isn't traditional (we've added mushrooms!) but it is filled with delicious flavors like garlic and creole seasoning. Can't get enough spice? Serve the dish with plenty of hot pepper sauce.

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Candied Yams

Credit: Squire Fox
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You're just seven ingredients away from sweet candied yams. One reviewer raves: "My family won't eat yams cooked any other way. Frequently preparing this dish throughout the year." This big-batch recipe makes 10 servings.

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Cheesy Grits Bowl

Credit: Blaine Moats
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Two kinds of melty cheese mean these grits are loaded with flavor. Top the finished bowl with sauteed mushrooms or try one of our variations like spicy chorizo, or bacon and egg. An extra sprinkle of cheese on top doesn't hurt!

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By BH&G Holiday Editors