Every ‘Bob’s Burgers’ Christmas Episode, Ranked (Updated For Season 15)

When it comes to Christmas television, Bob’s Burgers does it best.

Well into its 15th season, the show has produced 13 individually incredible holiday-themed installments, and that’s not even including any of the Thanksgiving or other celebrations. They’re just that good!

The series follows the Belchers — parents Bob and Linda and their children, Tina, Gene, and Louise — and their lives while running a bayside burger restaurant in New Jersey.

While Tina, Gene, and Louise tend to have the best intentions, their childlike imagination and general quirks often get them into sticky situations — see the plotline for Season 15’s “Dog Christmas Day After Afternoon” where Gene attempts to catch a stray puppy by feeding him some of the dark chocolate he got for Christmas. Almost always, the kids must turn to the parents to save the day, or the Belchers must work together to solve their issues.

For its incredible characters, silly dialogue, and well-planned storylines, the series has garnered a reputation for being one of the best animated comedies on TV in years. It is for that reason that so many fans wait week after week for new episodes and year after year for their holiday specials.

Streaming on Hulu, Bob’s Burgers offers many underrated holiday gems. Looking to binge watch a few festive episodes, or perhaps all of them? Here’s our ultimate ranking of every single merry episode of the animated favorite.

1. “Bob Rest Ye Merry Gentle-Mannequins” (Season 3, Episode 9)

   Burger of the Day: One Horse Open Slaw Burger

   Deliciously unhinged! Meet Chet. A storage unit squatter-slash-professional mannequin. Yup, you read that right. Bob comes across Chet and is convinced to take him in for the holidays. They discover that he has a knack for creating seasonal window displays, which quickly draws attention to the restaurant. However, Chet grows distracted as he reminisces on his lost love, Nadine, another mannequin. The Belchers must locate Nadine to satisfy Chet, and keep him from sabotaging the store’s newfound attention. So very weird, but also romantic and sweet.

   STREAM “BOB REST YE MERRY GENTLE-MANNEQUINS”

2. “Yachty or Nice” (Season 11, Episode 10)

   Burger of the Day: None

   Premiering in 2020, the Belchers are invited to cater the Glencrest Yacht Club’s holiday boat parade and Bob becomes paranoid that he’s been set up by his rival Jimmy Pesto after finding out that he was responsible for his invite. Then, there’s family friend Teddy, who’s working on the boat as Santa. Put the working-class Belchers on a yacht with a bunch of rich guppies, it’s bound to deliver some laughs! But all said, the episode is trope-y and lacks holiday magic. It could’ve just been a traditional episode, minus the Santa suit.

   STREAM “YACHTY OR NICE”

3. “The Last Gingerbread House on the Left” (Season 7, Episode 7)

   Burger of the Day: Away in a Mango Burger

   OK, this one is pure chaos! Bob and Linda find themselves with limited funds for Christmas presents, so the two adults get involved in separate antics to get in the festive spirit. Linda enlists Teddy and the children to join her in Christmas caroling around the community, and Bob joins Mr. Fischoeder at a secret, high-class gingerbread house-building contest. The episode contains haunted houses, gun standoffs, and plenty of off-key Christmas songs. “The Last Gingerbread House on the Left” isn’t a traditional Christmas story, but it still delivers many laughs and holiday cheer!

   STREAM “THE LAST GINGERBREAD HOUSE ON THE LEFT”

4. “Gene’s Christmas Break” (Season 12, Episode 10)

   Burger of the Day: The Challah and the Chive-y Burger

   When Gene breaks his rare Christmas vinyl record from the 1970s, he becomes a grinch. Desperate to raise Gene’s spirit, the Belchers scramble to remedy the situation. Unfortunately, Gene episodes tend to miss, and the best parts of the holiday special are during the sideplots which follow Bob and Linda doing a gift exchange with Teddy and Mort, and Tina trying to improve her present-wrapping skills. The holiday aesthetic is top-notch, Gene’s fixation is relatable, and the resolution is warm and fuzzy, but the episode doesn’t have the same signature charm as others.

   STREAM “GENE’S CHRISTMAS BREAK”

5. “Have Yourself a Maily Linda Christmas” (Season 10, Episode 10)

   Burger of the Day: None

   Linda picks up a holiday job at the local post office and lands herself in trouble when a customer drops off a present late, and she takes it upon herself to get it delivered in time for Christmas. Meanwhile, Gene and Louise struggle with what to get Tina for their gift exchange, and Bob is stuck at home entertaining Linda’s eccentric family. With three solid plotlines and a federal crime hanging over Linda’s head, this episode is bundle of hilarity!

   STREAM “HAVE YOURSELF A MAILY LINDA CHRISTMAS”

6. “The Bleakening” (Season 8, Episodes 6 & 7)

   Burger of the Day: “Happy Last-Minute Neighborhood Holiday Party”

   The Bleakening is a Christmas story that’s so iconic, it requires multiple episodes. The two-parter intertwines a few dark adventures as Linda’s Christmas tree gets stolen at a neighborhood holiday party, and Tina, Gene, and Louise suspect the crime was committed by a mythological creature called the Bleaken, known for stealing presents from children. Crime drama meets cheesy Christmas special, all with the signature Bob’s Burgers touch.

   STREAM “THE BLEAKENING”

7. “The Nightmare 2 Days Before Christmas” (Season 14, Episode 10)

   Burger of the Day: None

   “The Nightmare 2 Days Before Christmas” finds the Belcher family without electricity in their home for the days leading to Christmas. As a result, their landlord is requested to find them an alternative place to stay over the holidays. He puts them up in his remote cabin filled with strange artwork and mismatched rooms. Linda, devastated to be away from home on Christmas Day, packs their decorated tree to set up in the cabin, but it falls off the roof of their car during their drive up the cabin. While she is occupied with tracing her steps to locate the missing tree, the children worry that Santa won’t be able to find them to deliver presents and Bob grows fixated with a violent painting in the kitchen. The episode is an instant classic!

   STREAM “THE NIGHTMARE 2 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS”

8. “Father of the Bob” (Season 5, Episode 6)

   Burger of the Day: Cheeses Is Born Burger

   I love it when Bob’s Burgers gets emotional. Bob is convinced to attend his father’s annual Christmas party despite their stilted relationship. The episode explores why the two don’t get along through emotional flashbacks and a foolish cooking competition. All the while, Tina, Gene and Louise attempt to make homemade presents. “Father of the Bob” is a satisfying story about family and forgiveness that’ll evoke the best holiday vibes.

   STREAM “FATHER OF THE BOB”

9. “Nice-Capades” (Season 6, Episode 5)

   Burger of the Day: The Pear Tree Burger

   It’s always a good time when Louise, Gene, and Tina are up to no good. In “Nice-Capades,” the Belcher children become fixated on the idea that they might be on Santa’s naughty list after a nasty run-in with a Mall Santa. To redeem themselves in the jolly man’s eyes, the trio do an ice capades show in the shopping center. This episode will give you all the feels!

   STREAM “NICE-CAPADES”

10. “Dog Christmas Day After Afternoon” (Season 15, Episode 9)

    Burger of the Day: None

    Season 15’s hilarious addition to the Bob’s Burgers Christmas episodes family starts out slow but quickly becomes a classic. It starts out with the kids in open disappointment over not getting a Nintendo Switch-type toy and ends with the family making a lost puppy puke after Gene poisoned, err, accidentally fed it chocolate. By saving the dog — which, once again, Gene almost killed — the dog’s owner coughs up a wad of cash and gives the Belchers just enough to buy the toy that Gene, Louise, and Tina wanted. It’s not the most moving of the episodes but it does have a series of incredible one-liners and jokes worthy of high placement on this list.

11. “Better Off Sled” (Season 9, Episode 10)

    Burger of the Day: The Smilla’s Sense of Snowpeas Burger

    The kids are alright! “Better Off Sled” follows Louise, Tina, and Gene as they battle a group of mean teens for their favorite sledding turf. While the children are busy, Linda and Bob attempt to sew them scarves for the holiday. The episode is not very Christmassy, but it’s still a good time. Hilarious and a little cruel, with an inspiring ending. Girls rule, boys drool!

    STREAM “BETTER OFF SLED”

12. “Christmas in the Car” (Season 4, Episode 8)

    Burger of the Day: None

    “Christmas in a Car” is to Bob’s Burgers Christmas episodes what “Turkey in a Can” is to Bob’s Burgers Thanksgiving episodes. Does that make sense? Whenever I think of the show’s many Christmas specials, this episode quickly comes to mind. Linda forces the family out of the house on Christmas Eve when she discovers that her Christmas tree has wilted away. After scoping out a replacement, the Belchers start to head home and are almost hit by a semi-truck shaped like a candy cane. The evening turns into a nightmare when the truck begins to stalk them. Oddly endearing, completely unique, and filled with holiday cheer.

    STREAM “CHRISTMAS IN THE CAR”

13. “The Plight Before Christmas” (Season 13, Episode 10)

    Burger of the Day: The Pineapple on 34th Street Burger

    A newbie, but a goodie! The 2022 episode “The Plight Before Christmas” centers on Bob and Linda as they discover that their three children each have special events on the same day, at the same time. Emotionally, they divvy out their obligations, leaving Louise to the wayside when she downplays her poetry reading. One of the strongest Bob’s Burgers episodes to date, this one will fill your heart with love and joy.