Christmas Food Ideas
Are you planning a holiday party this year? Food is one of the best parts of the holiday season, and we have 22 delicious Christmas food ideas to make your party unforgettable. From appetizers to main dishes and desserts, we have recipe ideas for everyone.
Christmas Appetizers
1. Christmas Charcuterie Board
Who doesn’t love a good charcuterie board? Here is an amazing board made by @boardsbycourtney we really like. It’s the perfect Christmas appetizer because you can add a little something for everyone. You can add whatever you want to your board, but here are some ideas:
- An assortment of cheeses
- Fruit (apples are a good seasonal choice)
- Something sweet
- Deli meats
To make your board more festive, add gingerbread cookies, sprigs of rosemary and cranberry dip.
2. Fried Raviolis
Fried raviolis are always a crowd pleaser, and these ones are made in an air fryer for a healthy twist. This vegetarian-friendly appetizer takes just a few minutes to prepare and only requires a few ingredients.
Whip up a quick marinara sauce to serve with these, and you’re ready to go.
Related: 15 Last-Minute DIY Christmas Gift Ideas Everyone Will Love
3. Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese
If you’re looking for easy Christmas food ideas that are absolutely delicious, these bacon wrapped dates should be on your list. It’s the perfect mix of salty, sweet and savory.
To make these bite-sized appetizers, just fill Medjool dates with your favorite goat cheese and wrap them in bacon. Secure with a toothpick and drizzle some honey on top before popping in the oven for about 20 minutes.
It’s a quick, easy and delicious appetizer your guests will love.
4. Cranberry Feta Pinwheels
Here’s an appetizer that’s easy to make, festive and delicious. Cranberries and green onions add holiday colors to your table and pair well with the cream cheese filling.
These pinwheels come together so quickly and easily, and you can make them ahead of time to save you time and stress on the day of your party.
5. Mini Cheese Ball Bites
Ditch the classic cheese ball and give your guests something more finger-food-friendly. These mini cheese ball bites are easy to grab and eat. They pair well with most other appetizers, too.
What you’ll love most about these little bites is that they’re so easy to make. That means you can spend more time chatting with guests and less time in the kitchen.
6. Spiced Pear and Pomegranate Crostini
Here’s something different for your Christmas apps – spiced pear and pomegranate crostini. Top slices of baguette with pear, pomegranate arils, cinnamon cream cheese and spiced syrup for an irresistible appetizer your guests are sure to rave about.
7. Cranberry BBQ Meatballs
These cranberry BBQ meatballs are a little sweet and a little spicy – a perfect combination for your Christmas party. You can make this appetizer in a slow cooker or on the stovetop.
If you want to save time, you can make these ahead of time. They’ll keep in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
Christmas Mains / Side Dishes
8. Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
Ham is a great main dish to serve at your Christmas party because it can easily feed a crowd. And this brown sugar glazed ham has just the right amount of sweetness. The sauce is easy to make and will caramelize as you cook your ham for a crispy, sweet crust.
Start cooking this ham just before your guests arrive, and it will be ready to serve after everyone has settled in and made themselves at home.
Related: 21 Mason Jar Gift Ideas for Christmas for Everyone On Your List
9. Bacon Green Bean Bundles
Green beans are the perfect Christmas side dish, and this recipe adds some salty goodness with bacon wraps. These bundles are baked in the oven, so you won’t have to babysit a pan in the kitchen while your guests are in the living room.
Use fresh green beans for this recipe. If you have vegetarian guests, you can wrap your green beans veggie bacon strips or even tempeh to give it a smoky flavor. Check out the full recipe here.
10. Baked Ziti
By the time Christmas parties start rolling around, people are usually sick of the usual turkey, ham and roast dishes. Why not serve something a little different as your main dish? This layered baked ziti recipe can easily serve a crowd and is the ultimate comfort food.
Go the extra mile and make your own sauce ahead of time. It’s worth the effort. Marcella Hazan’s famous tomato sauce uses just four ingredients and is as easy as it gets.
11. Amish Potato Rolls
No Christmas food ideas list is complete without at least one dinner rolls recipe. And these potato rolls are divine. They take a little effort, but they’re worth every second. You can make them the day before and warm them before serving your main dish.
Using potato flakes will save time and make it much easier to get the right consistency for your dough.
12. Balsamic Herbed Pork Roast
Pork roast is a great main dish for a Christmas party, and this recipe incorporates a cranberry relish glaze with balsamic vinegar and fresh herbs.
While this recipe has a fancy name, it’s not as complicated to make as it sounds. Cranberry sauce, balsamic vinegar and Granny Smith apples give this roast a sweet and sour flavor. Some fresh thyme, sage, rosemary and cranberries add a punch of flavor and color to your roast.
You can feed a small crowd with this recipe, making it perfect for smaller dinner parties.
13. Stuffed Shells
If you need pasta Christmas food ideas, these stuffed shells are a great choice. They’re easy to make and can feed a big crowd. Like ziti, stuffed shells are a great option if you’re having vegetarian guests (use vegan ricotta if you have vegan guests).
You can prepare these ahead of time and reheat them when your guests arrive to save time in the kitchen.
14. Roasted Leg of Lamb
For a more elegant main dish, try leg of lamb. This roasted leg of lamb recipe is easy to follow and uses fresh herbs. If you’ve been intimidated by lamb recipes in the past, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find this recipe fool-proof and fuss-free.
15. Maple Roasted Turkey Thighs
Turkey thighs are a great option if you’re feeding a smaller crowd. This maple roasted thighs recipe is easy to prepare and delicious. Some fresh herbs, maple syrup, butter and mustard give these turkey thighs a burst of flavor.
Christmas Desserts
16. Mint Chocolate Torte
This mint chocolate torte is perfect for the holidays. It features layers of creamy chocolate sandwiched between spongey layers of cake. Top with chunks of Andes mint candies or fresh mint chocolate chips for a festive presentation.
17. Old Fashioned Rice Pudding
If you’re looking for classic Christmas food ideas, add rice pudding to your list. This delicious, creamy dessert is satisfying and easy to make in big batches. It uses just a few ingredients and is sure to be loved by all of your guests.
Make sure that you use long-grain rice for this recipe. You can use sweetened condensed milk if you want a richer and sweeter taste.
18. Cherry Poke Cake
Cakes are the perfect party dessert because they can feed a crowd, and everyone can grab their own slice to go. Poke cakes are really fun to make, and this cherry variation is so festive.
White cake mix will save you time. Don’t skimp on the fresh cherries for the topping and use a high-quality cherry pie filling (or make your own!).
19. Christmas Spice Cake with Eggnog Buttercream
Here’s a dessert that will impress your guests and be the star of your table. This cake has all of your favorite holiday spices and a delicious eggnog buttercream frosting. It’s basically the holidays in a cake.
Top with fresh cinnamon sticks and dust with cinnamon.
20. Eggnog Pudding
You can’t talk about Christmas food ideas without mentioning at least one eggnog recipe. This homemade eggnog pudding is delightfully rich and can easily be scaled to feed a crowd.
Don’t be intimidated by homemade pudding – it’s easier than you think. You can serve your pudding in single-serving size cups topped with whipped cream and dusted with cinnamon.
21. Cranberry White Chocolate Mini Cheesecakes
These mini cheesecakes are adorable, especially when served in mini mason jars. They’re bite-sized, so everyone can grab their own jar and enjoy. Top with fresh frosted cranberries and a sprig of rosemary for a pretty presentation.
Save the mini mason jars to make them again next year and make it a holiday party tradition.
22. Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
These sugar cookie bars transform the classic Christmas cookie recipe into bite-sized bars with thick layers of tasty frosting. This is a dessert recipe that’s easy to make for a crowd and so festive. Top your bars with red and green sprinkles for a pretty presentation.
Final Thoughts
These 22 Christmas food ideas are sure to be a hit at your holiday party. If you’re feeding a big crowd, pick multiple recipes from each category to give everyone a variety of foods to choose from.
