The Holiday Collection
The short answer: The best Christmas party food is easy to eat with one hand, easy to make ahead and easy to refill. This list has 50 Christmas party food ideas for a crowd, from savory bites to sweets and drinks, plus a quick chart for how much to make and the safety basics that keep guests feeling good.
Our picks for christmas party food
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Meal Planner & Grocery List
Weekly meals, a grocery list sorted by aisle, and pantry and freezer inventories so you shop once and waste less.
Keep the menu, to-dos and shopping in one place with the Holiday Season Bundle, and use the Meal Planner & Grocery List to shop in one trip. Classic passed apps: hors d'oeuvres.
Easy Christmas party appetizers
- Swedish or cranberry meatballs in a slow cooker
- Pigs in a blanket
- Caprese skewers with tomato, mozzarella and basil
- Stuffed mushrooms
- Mini quiches
- Spinach artichoke dip
- Baked brie with jam
- Deviled eggs
- Bacon-wrapped dates
- Shrimp cocktail
- Cheese ball rolled in pecans
- Bruschetta
- Veggie tray shaped like a Christmas tree
- Cranberry brie bites
- Buffalo chicken dip
See more in our Christmas appetizers list.
Heartier Christmas party food
- Ham and cheese sliders
- Pulled pork sliders
- Mini chicken pot pies
- Taco bar
- Baked ziti
- Chili with toppings
- Soup in mugs
- Mac and cheese cups
- Flatbread pizzas
- Grilled cheese bites with tomato soup shots
Boards and grazing tables
- Classic cheese and charcuterie board (how to build one)
- Wreath-shaped board with rosemary
- Dessert board with cookies and fruit
- Hot cocoa board (hot cocoa bar ideas)
- Breakfast board for a brunch party
- Veggie and hummus board
- Fruit board with red and green fruit
Christmas party sweets
- Sugar cookies
- Gingerbread cookies
- Fudge
- Peppermint bark
- Brownie bites
- Cake pops
- Mini cheesecakes
- Chocolate-dipped pretzels
- Reindeer chow (puppy chow)
- Rice cereal treats shaped like trees
More in Christmas cookies and Christmas desserts.
Christmas party drinks
- Hot cocoa
- Hot apple cider
- Cranberry spritzer
- Eggnog
- Sparkling water with fruit
- Coffee bar
- Festive mocktails (see our Christmas mocktails)
- A signature drink named after the host
Christmas party food ideas: a sample menu for 20 guests
Here is the 3-1-1-2 rule from the planning section below (three savory bites, one hearty dish, one board, two sweets) turned into a festive party food menu for a two-hour evening party of 20, using ideas from the list above. At 10 to 12 bites per guest, you need about 200 to 240 bites.
| Course | Pick | How much for 20 | Make ahead? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savory bite | Cranberry meatballs in a slow cooker (#1) | About 60 meatballs | Yes, freeze up to a month and reheat in the slow cooker |
| Savory bite | Caprese skewers (#3) | 40 skewers | Assemble the morning of |
| Savory bite | Spinach artichoke dip (#6) with crackers and bread | One 9x13 pan | Mix the day before, bake before guests arrive |
| Hearty dish | Ham and cheese sliders (#16) | 40 sliders (two 24-roll pans) | Assemble the night before, bake to serve |
| Board | Wreath-shaped board (#27) | 2 pounds cheese, 1 pound meat, crackers, fruit | Slice the day before, arrange 1 hour ahead |
| Sweet | Peppermint bark (#36) | 2 sheet pans, broken into about 60 pieces | Yes, up to a week |
| Sweet | Sugar cookies (#33) | 4 dozen | Bake and freeze dough ahead |
| Drink | Cranberry spritzer (#45) plus a coffee bar (#48) | 2 gallons spritzer | Mix the juice base the day before |
That adds up to roughly 250 pieces before the board and dip, enough for the "appetizers instead of dinner" row of the chart below if guests skip a meal. Add a vegetarian and a gluten-free choice: the caprese skewers and veggie board cover both.
Make-ahead timeline
- One week before: bake and freeze cookie dough; make the peppermint bark; write the menu and shopping list.
- Two days before: shop for everything but fresh herbs and bread.
- The day before: mix the dip, assemble the sliders, slice cheese and meat, mix the drink base, set out platters with a sticky note naming each dish.
- Morning of: assemble skewers, bake cookies, start the meatballs on low.
- One hour before: arrange the board, bake the dip and sliders, set out drinks.
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Two things that make this menu easier: a large board like this 14-inch olive wood cheese board holds the whole wreath board, and leftover peppermint bark packs neatly into Christmas cookie tins with lids as take-home favors.
To keep it all on one page, the Christmas Budget & Gift Planner ($4.99) includes a holiday menu, a holiday grocery list and a to-do timeline, and our Christmas potluck ideas show how to split the menu if guests offer to bring a dish.
How much Christmas party food to make
| Party type | Bites per guest | Example for 20 guests |
|---|---|---|
| Two-hour appetizer party | 10 to 12 | 200 to 240 bites (about 6 to 8 recipes) |
| Appetizers instead of dinner | 12 to 15 | 240 to 300 bites |
| Dessert party | 4 to 6 sweets | 80 to 120 sweets |
| Party with a full meal | 4 to 6 appetizers, plus a main | 80 to 120 bites plus mains |
Keep party food safe
FoodSafety.gov's four steps are clean, separate, cook and chill. At a party, that means washing hands, using separate boards for raw meat and keeping hot food hot and cold food cold.
The USDA's leftovers guide says perishable food should not sit out for more than two hours. Set out small platters and refill them. Need help with the whole event? Our holiday party planning checklist, Christmas party games and Christmas party themes cover the rest.
How to plan a Christmas party food menu
A good party menu has balance. Aim for a mix of hot and cold foods, a few vegetarian options and at least one gluten-free choice so every guest can find something to eat. A simple rule is to pick three savory bites, one hearty dish, one board and two sweets. That gives variety without overwhelming the kitchen.
Think about how the food will be served. Finger foods and skewers work best for a mingling party, while a seated dinner party can handle heartier dishes. If you have limited oven space, lean on slow cookers for meatballs and dips, and choose cold appetizers like caprese skewers, deviled eggs and boards that do not need heat at all.
Label each dish with a small card, especially if it contains nuts, shellfish or dairy. Guests with allergies will thank you, and it saves you from answering the same question all night.
Christmas party food on a budget
Party food does not have to be expensive. Dips, meatballs, pasta dishes and cookies stretch a small budget a long way. Buy cheese and crackers in bulk, use seasonal produce, and ask close friends to bring a dish or a drink. A potluck-style party is a fun tradition that also keeps costs down for the host.
For easy bites guests can graze on all night, see our list of 40 Christmas snacks.
Want a plated meal instead of a buffet? See our dinner party ideas for easy menus and a hosting timeline.
Year-round party menu: easy party food ideas. Wreath-ready bite: pigs in a blanket.
The Holiday Collection
Give every person a limit and watch what's left
The Christmas Budget & Gift Planner adds up every list for you: a budget for each person, a log of each purchase and the amount left to spend, plus printable gift, card, menu and to-do pages.
- Spreadsheet for Excel and Google Sheets
- 11 printable pages, US Letter + A4
- Instant download, 14-day fix-or-refund promise
Planning the whole season? See the holiday sets from $7, with early prices through Cyber Monday
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Christmas party food ideas? The best Christmas party food ideas are bite-size foods guests can eat while standing and talking, such as sliders, meatballs, skewers, mini quiches, dips with crackers and a cheese board. Add one sweet table with cookies and fudge. Choose make-ahead dishes so you can enjoy the party instead of cooking the whole time.
How much food do I need for a Christmas party? For a Christmas party with appetizers only, plan about 10 to 12 bites per guest for a two-hour party, or 12 to 15 bites if it replaces dinner. For a full meal, plan about half a pound of main dish per adult. Add a few extra servings so you do not run out if more guests arrive.
What Christmas party food can I make ahead? Many Christmas party foods can be made ahead. Dips, cheese balls, cookies, fudge and marinated vegetables can be made one or two days early. Meatballs and sliders can be cooked and reheated in a slow cooker. Assemble skewers and boards the morning of the party so they stay fresh.
How long can party food sit out? Food safety experts say perishable party food should not sit at room temperature for more than two hours. Put out small batches and refill them from the fridge or oven, keep hot food in slow cookers and cold food on ice, and throw away anything that has been out longer than two hours.
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Sources
- FoodSafety.gov: 4 steps to food safety foodsafety.gov
- USDA FSIS: Leftovers and food safety fsis.usda.gov