Christmas Party Buffet Food Ideas (Easy Recipes)
Christmas Party Buffet Food Ideas are the decadent recipes you’ve been craving all year long! These are great for any special occasion, but especially the holiday season!
If you need Christmas party food ideas, this is your post! It is filled with easy holiday appetizers, cute finger foods, and Christmas recipes that you’ve got to try!
It also includes several recipes for your full Holiday meal!
If you’re looking for easy Christmas appetizers this is the post! If your typical to-do list is filled with wrapping presents, heading to the grocery store, spending extra time cleaning your home before a big party… You will love these recipes!
These Christmas Party Buffet Food Ideas are divided into several categories, and everything is ready for your holiday parties, kids’ school functions, with a festive twist for the Christmas season.
It’s a whole lot of good food and a good reason to try a new recipe!
Festive Buffet Recipes in the Shape of Christmas Trees
Christmas Cheese Trees — this adorable recipe uses wedges of laughing cow cheese, that you stick a pretzel stick in the bottom, and top with an herby spice blend. You choose which herbs and spices you like best, but herbs de Provence, some red pepper flakes, and some basil sound mighty perfect! The best part about this appetizer or snack recipe is you can make earlier in the day, store it on your platter, and bring it out when you’re ready to serve!
An easy Christmas Tree Pull Apart Appetizer filled with spinach dip to make for your holiday party. This recipe is simple yet festive and will surely please a crowd!
A Christmas Charcuterie Board is always festive! They’re the appetizer recipe that fills up a space and gives a varying display of food. Just lay out your cheese, veggies, and other items in the shape of a Christmas tree! It’s super cute and offers some for everyone to eat.
On the Side of Healthy Recipes
I have a rule for myself whenever I serve a buffet of appetizer recipes to include BOTH a fruit tray and a veggie tray. While it seems lame, it’s not. In the past few parties, I’ve noticed lots of people going for the fruit and veggies, especially if there is a dip to go with it. Nothing special, just a ranch dip or a cream cheese fruit dip!
I’ve got a few other healthier options for you to choose from that aren’t a veggie or fruit tray!
Looking for a delicious and easy-to-make appetizer that’s sure to impress your guests? Look no further than Caprese skewers! They’re red, white, and green Christmas-colored, and make a delicious skewered quick bite for a party or Christmas dinner appetizer. Just a quick pattern of fresh basil leaves, fresh little mozzarella pearls, a grape tomato, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Yum!
Roasted Shrimp Cocktail — talk about an appetizer or nosh that impresses holiday partygoers! Little martini glasses are filled with homemade cocktail sauce, and perfectly roasted shrimp are suspended around the sauce. Each guest just picks up a glass, and takes their bite with them! So fancy, festive, and perfect for the most wonderful time of the year! If you have low-carb or keto eaters coming to the party, this is always a go-to to have on the appetizer table.
This Red and Green Salad is easy to make and packed with nutrients is a perfect holiday or Christmas salad. This dish is sure to impress your guests and satisfy your taste buds. By Christmas Day afternoon, I know I am ready for a veggie-filled plate of some sort.
This delightful salad is gorgeous to look at on your table, but also super healthy and filling! This could be both a quick snack for people to pick up a little bite and eat, or served as a side dish with your main course. You could even put little cups out filled with the salad for people to take and eat on the go with a little fork. Here’s a cute set you can order from Amazon!
Antipasto Skewers — all your favorite Italian meats, olives, and cheese strung together on a skewer. This is an impressive appetizer or small bite that is both filling and simple finger food!
Everyone will love this Smoky Rosemary Hummus with a smoky flavor. A great appetizer or snack when served with pita or chips.
Gooey Cheese Appetizers
What more do you need on your buffet table than a big jar filled with puff pastry Cheese Straws?! This simple recipe is puff pastry, eggs, cheddar cheese, and some seasoning, It’s a host’s dream appetizer recipe since you can make this a couple of days ahead of time!
Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives are wrapped in a simple yet delicious blue cheese dough and baked until golden brown. These Baked Blue Cheese Olive Bites are addictive!! Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Cranberry Pecan Goat Cheese Balls are the easy appetizer recipe you need for the festive season! Tangy goat cheese is mixed with a touch of honey, and dried cranberries, rolled in herbs, and smoked bacon salt. Absolutely showstopping, y’all! If you’re hosting a cocktail party this year, this is the extra flavor experience you need on your menu!
This Pine Cone Cheese Ball is just adorable! In this cream cheese-based recipe added aged cheddar, pimentos, Worcestershire sauce, spices, and lovely almonds for the cheese ball! This is one of those party foods you will love serving, You can make it the night before, and when you’re ready to entertain your open house, it’s waiting for you! Serve this cheeseball recipe with a hearty cracker, and you’re set!
Easy Party Food
Roasted Garlic Mushrooms make a delicious side dish recipe idea for Christmas Eve, or stick some toothpicks next to them, and it’s a great way to add another appetizer to your buffet. These mushrooms are roasted with garlic, olive oil, and butter, until tender perfection. A little lemon juice and parsley finish this dish that is restaurant worthy!
If you’re looking for a meatball recipe that is beyond easy, try these 3-Ingredient Meatballs! It’s a jar of jelly, teriyaki sauce, and some frozen meatballs! You can make these in the oven, or toss it all into your slow cooker!
Plum Baked Brie is three total ingredients and some crackers on a platter! Spoon some plum preserves over a wheel of brie. Bake it in the oven for 15 minutes, or until it starts to melt, then top with sliced toasted almonds. You could use pecans or walnuts if you prefer, too! Or, you can even leave them off! Place this on a platter with a load of crackers and your easy appetizer is ready to serve!
Call me crazy, but these Garlic Parmesan Pizza Rolls are too good not to serve at your holiday party! Totino’s Pizza Rolls are either air fried or baked until crispy, then tossed with melted butter, fresh garlic, herbs, and LOTS of parmesan cheese. LOTS of it! This is not only a cheeky play on garlic knots, but it’s a filling, hearty appetizer idea!
Bite-Sized Snack Options
This Cranberry Crostini Recipe is a must for the Holidays. Toasted crostini slices topped with cream cheese and classic cranberry sauce. Beautifully pulled together and delicious to eat. An easy appetizer with crowd-pleasing reviews.
Sweet Potato Rounds with Herbed Ricotta, walnuts, cranberries, and honey are a winning appetizer for any occasion! This easy two-bite finger food is loaded with flavor and is so fun to make and share! These sweet potato bites are perfect for the buffet line, and have real eye appeal!
Hot Honey Brie Pecan Bites, buttery crescent roll dough is filled with brie, and pecans, and drizzled with spicy honey. These make a wonderful slightly sweet appetizer.
These super simple Crab Imperial Stuffed Mushrooms are a rich, satisfying appetizer or party snack that comes together in about 15 minutes! Loaded with crab flavor, this Crab stuffed mushroom recipe is always a crowd-pleaser, especially for the holidays!
Bisquick Sausage Balls are one of those popular snacks we have during the holiday season. People give them as gifts, serve them on the buffet line with honey mustard, and enjoy them so much! This quick and easy recipe is a Southern favorite and a must-make in most households.
Pigs in a Blanket are always a bite-sized winner! This wreath shaped appetizer is super cute with the mini sausages and pastry dough making a well in the center, a perfect place for your dipping sauce option!
Great Ideas for Dips
An Artichoke Dip is always a great idea! Give this Hot Crab and Artichoke Dip a try! It’s an easy and delicious snack perfect for all your holiday or entertaining needs. Filled with artichoke, spinach, lump crab meat, and cheese, guests will love the fun and delicious cheesy flavor of this crab artichoke dip.
This Grilled Polenta with Balsamic Roasted Tomatoes is versatile enough to serve as an appetizer or light meal. Plus, it’s easy to prepare and it can be prepped ahead of time. The flavor combination will knock your socks off, too!
Try this adorable Christmas Tree Dip with hearty Mediterranean flavors! It takes less than 10 minutes to create the cute tree-shaped dip recipe!
Baked Tomato and Goat Cheese Dip is a play on the viral feta tomato pasta dish. This bakes tomatoes and goat cheese together with a little olive oil and seasoning. When it’s all mixed together and topped with fresh basil it becomes a holiday star! You could even do this with roasted red peppers and tomatoes for a different flavor! Serve with crispy bread toasts, and your party dip will be a hit!
Final Course Desserts
A Christmas Dessert Charcuterie Board is so cute and fun! Plus, this is a great place to put out all the cookies and sweet treats you’ve made. Add in some Santa themed-candy, and your board is filled with perfect little bites of Holiday Cheer!
A giant bowl of Christmas Sugar Cookie Dip with graham crackers and sprinkles is just what your Christmas Desserts Bar needs! It’s just a few simple ingredients that you can mix up a few days ahead of time!
Ready for a Christmas Bundt Cake?! This red and green boxed cake mix recipe is a fantastic way to put a little cheer in your holiday desserts! The chocolate ganache is lovely, and use some extra festive sprinkles to make that Christmas sparkle really shine!
Christmas Buffet Ideas for the Main Meal
If you’re hosting a full-on dinner party with a full menu, here are some tried and true recipes that have no shortage of options!
You’ll need a good main dish for your holiday meal!
This Brown Sugar Baked Ham is a good idea and serves a crowd. Plus, it’s an easy glaze you can swipe on at the end of the cooking time!
My family loves serving my Grandma’s Roasted Turkey. We get this meal twice a year, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and it’s a family favorite!
Some buffet dinners include Butterflied Leg of Lamb, Prime Rib, or even Baked Salmon.
Try to choose simple make-ahead main courses for your menu.
Side Dishes for the Main Event
You’ve got to have Sweet Potato Casserole on the menu. Nothing is better during the holiday season than a vegetable that’s more of a dessert! Sweet potatoes are mashed with lots of butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Topped with a streusel topping, it bakes up to crispy, creamy perfection!
I also love serving my Grandma’s Dressing Recipe that’s a time-honored tradition. It is not a holiday without this recipe! It’s a delicious recipe filled with butter, sage, and lots of fluffy bread! For me, it’s the best thing on the menu, every single time!
Thanksgiving Mashed Potatoes are always a winner, too. Yukon gold potatoes are put through a ricer, to create the creamiest mashed potatoes. It helps that the recipe also includes sour cream, cream cheese, and lots of butter…
If you’re serving a large crowd, you can make these potatoes a couple of weeks ahead of time. Freeze them in your baking dish, and follow the instructions in the recipe card for baking!
What recipes did you find that you’ll be making?? Your party will be a huge hit no matter what!
