15 Recipes For Your Cuban Christmas Eve Dinner (2024)

Growing up in a Cuban family, we didn’t really make a big deal about Thanksgiving or Christmas Day as much as the rest of the nation.

Although I will say, now as a Cuban-American adult, I ask (beg) for our Thanksgiving Dinner to be the ONE day we give up arroz blanco and instead enjoy sweet potato casserole along with other Thanksgiving sides.

My argument is that we enjoy Cuban food 364 days a year, so why not enjoy something different one day?! Mami doesn’t really care for the idea but obliges because she loves me.

Anyways, when it comes to the holiday season, Cuban Christmas aka Noche Buena is truly where we shine!

What is Noche Buena?

Noche Buena is Christmas Eve in Spanish which translates to “Good Night”. And that it is, my friends! As in most Cuban families, our holidays revolve around traditional Cuban food.

On Noche Buena, we cook up a storm, open gifts at midnight, party for hours into the morning, and wake up on December 25th only to enjoy leftovers. It’s a nostalgic time to see extended family you haven’t seen all year and laugh at all your childhood memories together.

Cuban Christmas Food

The main course for Cuban Noche Buena always includes lechon asado (Cuban roast pork), frijoles negros with rice or moros, yuca con mojo which turned into yuca frita the next day, and platanos maduros.

As a kid, I remember my uncle would lay the pig completely sliced open on the table and marinate it with mojo criollo. The pig would then roast for hours in la caja china which is a large box, sometimes made of wood, commonly used to make tender, slow-roastedpork. IT IS DELICIOUS!

This Cuban Christmas feast would end with either flan, arroz con leche, or Cuban buñuelos with cafecito for dessert.

Family and food were always at the root of our Cuban traditions. This is how we create memories and stay connected with one another. It’s my favorite time of year!

Feel free to add any of the following recipes to your Christmas Dinner celebrations this year and create Cuban Christmas traditions of your own!

Experience the rich tradition of Cuban Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) with this mouthwatering Cuban Lechon Asado. The pork shoulder is marinated in a homemade garlic-citrus mojo marinade and then slow-roasted to perfection in the oven. The result is tender, juicy shredded pork with that coveted crispy pork skin, making it a delightful tradition reminiscent of holiday gatherings you'll want to savor year-round.

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Moros y Cristianos (or Congri) is a flavorful Cuban black beans and rice side dish made with long-grain rice, black beans, bacon, and fragrant spices. You can make this classic dish with canned black beans or dried black beans depending on how much time you have. This dish is best served with Cuban roast pork and yuca con mojo.

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A simple boiled yuca recipe made Cuban-style with homemade citrus-garlic mojo sauce. This traditional root vegetable turned Cuban side dish makes an appearance during the holiday and for dinner on any day of the week. Learn how to make this popular Cuban staple from start to finish in just a few easy steps!

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Tostones are twice-fried plantains made with green plantains that are peeled, sliced, fried, smashed, and then fried again. Tostones are a classic Latin staple but if you want to give them a Cuban twist, serve tostones with a Cuban garlic mojo dipping sauce! Enjoy tostones on their own, as an appetizer, or as a side dish for picadillo, arroz con pollo, sopa de pollo, and more!

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Arroz Blanco is an easy white rice side dish typically served with Cuban black beans or Cuban picadillo. Ready in 25 minutes with just 4 ingredients! All you need is long-grain rice, water, oil, and salt. Learn how to make it on the stovetop or in a rice cooker. Both methods are practically fool-proof!

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These frijoles negros are a silky smooth black bean recipe cooked to perfection. The most flavorful Cuban side dish served with white rice!

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Sweet plantains (aka Platanos Maduros) are made from ripe green plantains that are sliced and then fried until tender in the middle and crisp on the edges. Plantains are so versatile in Cuban cuisine and make the best side dish for just about any meal!

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Yuca frita (or yuca fries) is a delicious Latin American side dish, appetizer, or snack that is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Learn how to turn yuca (or cassava) into fried yuca two ways — on the stovetop or in the air fryer! You can either peel and boil yuca from scratch or use leftover Cuban yuca con mojo. The Cuban version of French fries!

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Cuban Bunuelos are pillowy soft and doughy, fried pastries made with yuca and malanga (root vegetables), shaped into figure 8s, then coated in homemade cinnamon-anise syrup. These classically Cuban anise-spiced fritters are traditionally made for the holidays, Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) and, New Year's Eve.

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Crema de vie is creamy Cuban eggnog made with cinnamon simple syrup, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, eggs, vanilla, and rum. The hardest part of this recipe will be chilling the crema de vie in the fridge for 1 hour before serving. Can't wait for you to make it for your friends & family this holiday season!

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Arroz con Leche is an easy-to-make, creamy Cuban rice pudding made with sweetened condensed milk, cinnamon, and lemon zest. The perfect dessert for any day of the week and it's unbelievably delicious!

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Flan de Queso (Cream Cheese Flan) is a rich, silky, and creamy custard with a caramel topping made with just 6 ingredients – sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, cream cheese, vanilla, and eggs. It's a traditional custard with a cheesecake twist!

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With hundreds of top-notch ratings, this Cuban Coffee stands out as the ultimate choice! Café Cubano, a delectable espresso concoction, is crafted from potent, dark roast espresso, harmoniously blended with a luscious sugar foam. In the heart of Cuban culture, Cuban cafecito holds a cherished place. Whether enjoyed during breakfast as the indispensable café con leche, relished as a delightful dessert, craved for that much-needed 3:05 pm energy boost, or shared with newfound friends, it remains the epitome of coffee perfection.

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Churros con Chocolate is the best Spanish sweet treat! Churros are pastry logs of deep-fried dough that are crispy on the outside, light and airy on the inside, and tossed in cinnamon sugar. Traditionally served with thick, rich, pudding-like Spanish hot chocolate, these homemade churros will transport you to a cafe in Spain!

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Spanish Hot Chocolate (Chocolate Caliente) is a thick, rich, pudding-like hot chocolate made with bittersweet dark chocolate, whole milk, cornstarch, and sugar. This isn't your typical watery hot chocolate, this is an indulgent, decadent, dark chocolate lover's delight best served with deep-fried churros just like they do in Spain.

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