Make This Christmas the Tastiest Ever: Last-Minute Meals To-Go

Pies at Cleburne Cafeteria

This season is certainly one for the books. But why not turn the unprecedented madness into an excuse to indulge in an out-of-the-box meal (and leave the cleanup to a minimum)? It's not too late to call in your order. Here are our picks for an innovative last-minute holiday meal.

Breakfast for Dinner?!

State Fare is offering its Southern At-Home Brunch Kit, available for pickup with 24 hours notice at both locations — Sugar Land and Memorial. It comes with six cathead biscuits, a pound each of Applewood-smoked bacon and housemade breakfast sausage, a dozen fresh eggs, a quart of gravy, and pancake mix with strawberry jam, butter and syrup — all for $50. Tack on mimosas or Bloody Marys for an extra-festive feast!

Pancakes from State Fare

Similarly, popular breakfast chain Snooze has a few different to-go kits to make Christmas morning especially delectable. Each serves 4-6; choose from the Holiday Overnight Cranberry Brioche French Toast baking kit ($50), the savory Harvest Casserole kit ($55), or the Pancake Party kit ($40).

Flavorful Malaysian Feast

Phat Eatery's large-format party trays feature a selection of the Malaysian restaurant's greatest hits, like beef rendang and chicken curry to stir-fried noodles, mango shrimp salad and more. A half-tray serves 8-10, and a full tray serves 16-20. There's also a Christmas American Chinese menu, with dishes like Yelo Chili Crab Rangoon and beef-and-broccoli with smoked oyster sauce, for an a la carte dinner — dine-in or to-go!

Satay from Phat Eatery

Hot Tamales, Cold Beer

Let the festivities continue — without dirtying the kitchen: The Rustic on Post Oak opens on Christmas night from 4-9pm, featuring housemade tamales and your choice of beverage off of its beer-bottle Christmas tree. Live music by Chris Boise begins at 6pm!

Pasta Party

B&B Italia's pre-fixe feast runs $65 per person, but with options like pumpkin ravioli, lobster bisque, Bolognese and prime rib, that's a great deal for an indulgent Christmas Eve meal. Wine pairings are available starting at $35 per person. Sister resto B.B. Lemon has takeout options beginning at 11am on Christmas Day.

All the Tradition, None of the Work

Cleburne Cafeteria has a mouthwatering menu of holiday faves, available dine-in or to-go: ham, turkey, dressing, salad, gravy, whole pies and sides like green-bean casserole, mac and cheese, candied yams and more. The restaurant is open on Christmas Eve for lunch, and Christmas Day from 11am-8pm.

Feed the Crowd

Weights + Measures has a to-go special that feeds six — stuffed pork tenderloin, roasted carrots, mashed potatoes, bacon-topped brussels sprouts, pork gravy and a loaf of fresh-baked bread — for $125. Tuesday, Dec. 22, is the last day to pre-order.

Food