The Belcher family has turned Christmas chaos into an annual television tradition. For over a decade, Bob’s Burgers has delivered a holiday episode each season, creating a collection of specials that mix the show’s signature humor with surprising warmth . While the series is famous for its Thanksgiving episodes, these Christmas stories often let Linda and the kids take center stage in adventures that are weird, wonderful, and full of festive spirit . If you’re looking to start a new holiday viewing tradition or just want to laugh, here are five standout Christmas episodes that have become fan favorites.
The Plight Before Christmas (Season 13, Episode 10)
This 2022 episode is widely considered one of the series’ best. The story hits a classic parenting dilemma: Bob and Linda have three kids with holiday events at the exact same time . Tina is in a play, Gene has a xylophone concert, and Louise is reading a poem at the library. Thinking her poem is another joke, Louise tells her parents to attend her siblings’ events instead .
The episode builds as Tina discovers Louise actually wrote a heartfelt, serious poem. Bob and Linda then scramble across town, facing obstacles like a lost Bob and a panicked substitute music teacher, to make sure they don’t miss Louise’s reading . The emotional core of the episode is Louise’s poem about her family, a rare moment of vulnerability for the character . The final scenes, set to a beautiful piece of music, show the family’s deep care for each other without a single word of dialogue, leaving many fans deeply moved .
One fan’s reaction: “I’ve never cried at a Bob’s episode before tonight. The music, the lighting, the twist, the character growth – all absolutely stunning.”
The Bleakening (Season 8, Episodes 6 & 7)
This special hour-long, two-part episode is a festive mystery. Linda’s Christmas party takes a turn when the handmade ornaments from her tree start disappearing . Linda launches a full-scale investigation among the party guests, while the kids become convinced the thief is a mythological creature called the Bleaken, an “anti-Santa” spirit Teddy told them about .
The episode blends a whodunit plot with musical numbers and the show’s typical oddball humor. It stands out for its scale and has been called the “most hilarious” Christmas episode by some, with a chaotic and determined Linda driving the action . Its unique structure as a two-part holiday special makes it a major event in the series’ run and a top-ranked episode on many lists .
Christmas in the Car (Season 4, Episode 8)
For pure, unforgettable holiday weirdness, this episode is a top contender. On Christmas Eve, Linda decides the family’s Christmas tree is already dead and forces everyone back out to find a new one . Their trip home turns into a nightmare when they are stalked by a menacing semi-truck shaped like a giant candy cane .
The episode captures the stress of last-minute holiday preparations and amplifies it into a surreal chase. It’s often remembered as a classic because of its unique and silly premise, proving the show can find comedy in any situation, even a festive highway pursuit . Many fans cite it as the first Christmas episode that comes to mind .
Bob Rest Ye Merry Gentle-Mannequins (Season 3, Episode 9)
This was the very first Christmas episode for Bob’s Burgers, and it set a high standard for strangeness. Bob inherits a storage unit from a relative, which comes with an unexpected tenant: a man named Chet who believes he is a mannequin that came to life . The Belchers let Chet stay with them, and he reveals a talent for creating stunning Christmas window displays for the restaurant .
Chet’s real mission is to find his lost love, Nadine, another mannequin he believes is out there somewhere . The family gets pulled into his romantic quest, which blends the show’s early, slightly darker humor with a genuinely odd and sweet story. It established that the Christmas episodes could be a place for the writers to try truly unusual and heartfelt plots .
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Nice-Capades (Season 6, Episode 5)
This episode taps into a classic childhood Christmas fear: ending up on Santa’s naughty list. After a bad encounter with a mall Santa, Louise becomes convinced he will report them to the real Santa and they will get no presents . To fix their reputation, she organizes a performance at the mall’s ice rink where she, Tina, and Gene will act out all their good deeds from the past year .
The episode is fun for its musical numbers and the kids’ scheming, but it also includes a moment of real growth for Louise. She privately confesses to her family that she doesn’t think she’s a nice person, leading to a tender moment where they reassure her . It’s a great example of how the show balances its humor with genuine character moments, especially for the often-tough youngest Belcher .
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