57 Delicious Christmas Party Foods Everyone Comes Back For in 2025

Just when you think holiday parties and Christmas party food have seen their day, it turns out they’re not going anywhere. They’re still one of America’s most beloved Christmas traditions. But did you know the “mother” of all Christmas parties was happening at the White House as far back as the 1800s? With presidents hosting holiday gatherings long before office potlucks and neighborhood parties became the norm. According to Business Insider, those early celebrations set the tone for generations of American Christmas parties that followed.

And while that may sound like a lot to live up to, Christmas parties are still holding strong. Families, offices and friend groups keep finding ways to gather, nibble and celebrate, even when December feels busy enough already. If you're hosting Christmas, that’s where good Christmas party food comes in — the kind of dishes that are easy to share, simple to make and guaranteed to put people in a festive mood.

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• Best Office Christmas Party Food Ideas
• Easy Christmas Party Food Ideas for Adults
• Christmas Party Food Ideas for Kids
• Best Christmas Party Buffet Ideas

Best Office Christmas Party Food Ideas

1. Pinwheel Trays

Pinwheels, those spiral tortilla wraps filled with meats, cheese and spreads, are a Christmas party food you can make by the dozen for a fast work Christmas party tray.

Simply spread cream cheese on tortillas and layer cold cuts with cheese slices, then roll and cut into one-inch rounds. Arrange on a platter and take your Christmas party food to the office for all to enjoy.

2. Mini-Quiches

Don’t tell the other elves, but a box of mini-quiches you can bake and take becomes easy Christmas party food that cooks up in minutes. Of course, you can make your own from scratch if you have the time and patience.

Whichever you choose, you’ll have miniaturized versions of a brunch classic to make your office celebration a quaint affair for quiche lovers.

3. Cookie Decorating Bar

A holiday work party without a cookie decorating bar is like a tree without a star on top. Set up pre-baked sugar Christmas cookies, cut in holiday shapes and an array of frosting spreads and piping bags.

A supply of sanding sugar, button candies and brightly-colored sprinkles will turn this playful Christmas party food into a ticket on the Childhood Express for your coworkers.

4. Caprese Skewers

One of the easiest Christmas party food recipes to execute is caprese skewers. These delectable kabobs consist of mozzarella cheese balls, cherry tomatoes and basil leaves festively adorning bamboo spears.

Add a drizzle of balsamic and a sprinkle of salt and pepper and you have a portable Christmas appetizer your colleagues will love.

5. Stuffed Mushrooms

Get fancy for the festivities and make stuffed mushrooms, a Christmas party food that’s guaranteed to brighten up your spread.

A simple recipe mixes cream cheese, bread crumbs, garlic, butter and black pepper stuffed into Baby Bella mushroom caps and broiled for an unexpectedly upscale nosh.

6. Dessert Cheese Ball

If you’ve only ever tasted a savory version of a cheese ball, the dessert cheese ball is about to become your new favorite Christmas party food idea and birthday party food too. Mix a brick of cream cheese with a stick of butter, 3/4 cup confectioner’s sugar and a teaspoon or two of pure vanilla extract.

Then, use plastic wrap to form a ball and cover the surface with mini chocolate chips. Keep cool until ready to serve and provide vanilla wafers, graham crackers and pretzels as dippers.

7. Bruschetta

Leaning in on Christmas traditions from around the world, this Italian classic not only adds flavor to your holiday spread, but it also brings the perfect color combination to give your party a splash of Christmas punch.

Toasted slices of baguette topped with mozzarella, basil and cut grape tomatoes, plus a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic, are just the right blend of crunchy, tender, juicy and creamy to make the office hum with excitement.

8. Cream Puffs

You can impress your colleagues with your baking skills by whipping up a tray of indulgent cream puffs filled with satiny pastry cream. If that feels a little bit of a stretch, you can buy the frozen version and heat it up in your oven before the party starts. Whichever works best for you, your secret is safe with us.

9. Lavosh and Tzatziki

Skip the traditional Christmas party food and go for something more unique, like crispy lavosh served with a cool tzatziki dip.

This unleavened Armenian bread is similar to a soda cracker, giving it the perfect surface for spreading the creamy cucumber-and-yogurt goodness of tzatziki for a light and lovely Christmas party bite.

10. Pasta Salad

Pasta salad isn’t just for summer picnics and backyard barbecues. It’s also a sensational Christmas salad idea. You can either go with pre-made salads from your grocer’s deli section or from boutique food stores in your area. Or, make your own so you can determine your own pasta-to-vegetables-to-dressing ratio that works best for your taste.

11. Honeyed Ham

Would it be a Christmas party feast without a honeyed ham for your Christmas day table setting ideas? Dedicated home chefs may be up for the challenge of making their own.

For everyone else, you can find local restaurants firing up their cookers to sell holiday hams as part of their seasonal selections. They may even slice it for you, making it even easier to serve your crew.

12. Quesadillas

More fun than finger sandwiches and much simpler to make, the humble quesadilla is a fan favorite at any Christmas get-together in the workplace.

Melt a mix of shredded cheddar and Monterey jack cheeses on a tortilla in a frying pan, add strips of cooked chicken, steak or sauteed peppers, and add another tortilla on top. Cut into wedges and stack on a Christmas platter for a dish with international flair. 

Easy Christmas Party Food Ideas for Adults 

13. Shot Glass Dessert Flight

Fill several shot glasses with layers of cake, pudding and candies for holiday desserts that go down smooth. You can also use scoops of cake with frosting to fill out your diminutive parfaits.

This Christmas cake idea can be spirited or zero-proof, depending on the group you’re serving. If you make both, be sure to keep them separate to avoid any Christmas party confusion.

14. Garlic Knots

Anyone asking, “What finger foods are good for a party?” should consider garlic knots as an easy Christmas party food that hits the mark.

Tie pre-packaged biscuits into knot shapes, brush with butter and sprinkle with garlic. Then, bake as instructed on the label for a visually striking twist on the usual breadstick.

15. Baked Brie

If you’re looking for easy things to do on Christmas Day, baked brie is hard to beat. It feels gourmet, yet all you’re really doing is warming a wheel of brie until the center turns molten.

You can serve this upscale treat with crackers, toast rounds, vegetables or fruit. It’s a dip, it’s a spread — it’s a conversation starter guaranteed to get your guests in the holiday mood!

16. Brisket Sliders

A grown-up version of the mini-burger, brisket sliders use succulent beef slices cooked to tender perfection, piled on half-sized brioche buns.

These stylish sandwiches are so elegant, they may turn out to be the centerpiece of your entire Christmas party spread. 

17. Smashed Potatoes

Baked potatoes don’t stand a chance in a Christmas party food line-up where smashed potatoes are present. These battered brothers of traditional baked potatoes get a solid whack on the counter after baking to break up the starch and make it fluffy, then head back into the oven with olive oil and salt to crisp up. The result is an ultra-textured potato that’s ready to celebrate. 

18. Dessert Sandwiches

Quick breads become a sweet sensation when you turn them into dessert sandwiches. Start with a cake-like loaf, like banana or spice bread, cut into regular slices, then cut the slices vertically into squares.

Spread nut butter, jam or Nutella on one slice and top with the other slice. You can also add chocolate chips, nuts or coconut to the center before adding the top slice. Serve them on a silver tray like tea sandwiches and watch your guests’ eyes light up.

19. Corn Chowder

Whether you make your own or choose a store-bought version, corn chowder is a sophisticated yet earthy soup that will help warm up your Christmas party food selections.

Serve it in bread bowls topped with shredded cheese to make the occasion even more special. 

20. Stuffed Olives

Elegant adult Christmas parties should always include a tray of stuffed olives on the table, and you can be the one to provide them for your event.

You’ll find jars of kalamata olives stuffed with blue cheese in your grocery store’s specialty deli section. Spear them with toothpicks and arrange them on a platter for a luxe treat that goes great with Christmas cocktails.

21. Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts that are roasted instead of boiled bring the gift of big flavor to any adult Christmas festivities. The crisp, caramelized layers are bound to be a revelation to anyone who hid these mini-cabbages under their napkin during childhood dinners.

Jazz them up with a bit of bacon to add a hint of smoky flavor.

22. Boozy Pudding Cups

With boozy pudding cups scattered among your Christmas party food ideas for adults, you'll have a fun cocktail-forward dessert the grown-ups can indulge in.

Make a simple recipe of boxed chocolate pudding that uses RumChata and chocolate liqueur among the liquid ingredients. Then, pour the pudding into single-serving cups or shot glasses and top with whipped cream.

23. Jalapeño Poppers

Jalapeños stuffed with cheese, battered and gently fried, are a sharp way to warm up an adult Christmas party crowd.

You can find a slew of recipes online for making your own, or you can place an order with a local restaurant and spend your extra time getting dressed to the nines for your stylish affair. Holiday entertaining is all about options. 

24. Spinach Artichoke Dip

If you’re wondering “What food should I bring to a holiday party?” you can’t go wrong with a dish of spinach artichoke dip. The homemade version can be a bit of a chore, so we'll forgive you for picking up a pre-made package in the specialty deli section of your favorite grocery store.

Pop it in a special dish and serve it with a variety of seeded crackers and sliced bread rounds.

25. Grape Jelly Meatballs

A crock pot filled with frozen meatballs and grape jelly may sound like a recipe for holiday disaster, but this unlikely blend becomes a sweet and tangy party appetizer your Christmas crowd didn’t know they were missing.

Elevate the mix with barbecue sauce or caramelized onions, and you have the makings of a new Christmas party food classic.

26. Slow-Cooker Smoky Links

The enticing smell of smoky links as they warm up in the slow cooker is just the aroma you need to bring guests running for the Christmas party food table.

These tiny sausages may seem like kiddie food, but the elevated essence of hickory reveals their true nature as a gourmet goodie adults can enjoy too. 

27. Expert-Led Cooking Classes

From charcuterie trays to holiday desserts, from hors d’oeuvres to dips and spreads, whatever your Christmas party food needs, you’ll find cooking classes near you to cover the order. Work with culinary pros who know how to make a party sparkle and shine.

Whether booking cooking classes in Denver, New Orleans or Philadelphia, aspiring chefs have delicious options for filling out their menus. Can’t make it in person? Try online cooking classes for a virtual lesson in bringing the best Christmas party food to your special event.

28. Holiday Team Building Activities

Get the Christmas crew together for tasty challenges with team building activities near you. You’ll find fun holiday-themed cooking competitions, gingerbread-making workshops, and other sessions ready to get your gang supercharged for the season.

With team building activities in San Francisco, Miami, NYC and beyond, there are courses from the Atlantic to the Pacific to make your Christmas party terrific. 

Christmas Party Food Ideas for Kids

29. Flatbread Pizza

Flatbread pizzas are a quick solution using store-bought flatbread from your grocer’s deli section, spread spaghetti or marinara sauce in the center and top with a sprinkle of grated mozzarella, fresh herbs and a few slices of pepperoni. 

You can turn this dish into the star of the show by hosting a festive pizza party. This excellent family Christmas party idea gets everyone excited in the kitchen.

30. Merry Mac & Cheese

Mac and cheese made merry with a few colorful garnishes can be a cheap Christmas party food idea that kids will cheer for.

Use a boxed mix with liquid rather than powdered cheese to save steps, then decorate with sliced cherry tomatoes and sprigs of rosemary arranged like holly boughs. Be sure to remove the garnish before serving. 

31. Home Fries

Sliced potato wedges baked with a sprinkle of salt are the Christmas party food that French fries aspire to be. Young eaters will love the familiar flavor and crispy texture without realizing they’re eating a healthier holiday version of their junk food favorite. 

32. PB&J Cookie Cut-Outs

Simple PB&J sandwiches cut out in cookie-cutter star and gingerbread man shapes will provide familiar Christmas party foods for a class of hungry holiday students.

Use a variety of white and wheat bread to create a fun visual display on a serving board. You’ll also give picky eaters a chance to choose their favorites. If food safety prevents you from using peanut butter, substitute it with almond or sunflower seed butter, or even cream cheese

33. Cinnamon Rolls

Packaged cinnamon rolls are one of the easiest Christmas party food ideas for school parties, thanks to generous servings of super-sweet cinnamon filling and cream cheese glaze.

Prepare a tube or two of pop-and-bake rolls just before the party starts and serve them warm for a gooey Christmas treat. Bring this along for the big secret Santa gift reveal to keep everyone's blood sugar levels up.

34. Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Even a grilled cheese sandwich can become Christmas party fare if you know your audience. Go simple with your recipe, using white bread and American cheese cooked in a frying pan until golden. School-aged party folk will be thrilled to find one of their favorites on the table.

35. Pigs in a Blanket

A tiny hot dog wrapped in a layer of crisp, chewy pastry dough… what’s not to love about Christmas party food like that? Make them from scratch or opt for heat-and-serve to make happy revelers out of the K-through-8 set (though older kids will love them, too). 

36. Rice Krispies Squares

Rice Krispies squares are a quick and easy bakeless treat you can churn out by the panful with a simple 2:2:2 ratio. Melt two cups of marshmallows with two tablespoons of butter or margarine and mix in two cups of cereal until evenly coated.

Press the mixture into a buttered pan and slice when cooled. Top your bars with frosting and holiday candies to give them a bit of Christmas glitter.

37. Christmas Popcorn

Christmas popcorn tops the list of Christmas party food recipes you can make in under fifteen minutes. Coat freshly popped popcorn with candy melts, toss with crushed candy canes and holiday M&Ms and let cool on a parchment-covered baking sheet.

Break up into bite-sized chunks when solid and you have a last-minute Christmas party food that looks as great as it tastes.

38. Grinch Fruit Sticks

What holiday-happy kid wouldn’t love finding adorable Grinch fruit sticks among their Christmas party food selections? Spear a green grape, a banana slice, a de-topped strawberry, and a mini-marshmallow on a toothpick for a hors d’oeuvre that bears a striking resemblance to the Mean One’s grouchy green face and bright red Santa hat.

39. Chocolate-Dipped Oreos

Everyone’s favorite sandwich cookie gets a smooth chocolate coating in this kid-approved Christmas party food idea. Let your little bakers help add the fudgy shell and sprinkle fun décor on top.

Be careful with this project; melted chocolate has a sneaky way of burning tender skin when it splatters.

40. Reindeer Food

Even reindeer need to eat, though this type of reindeer food is strictly for your party guests. Use white candy melts to coat a bowl of Chex and Cheerios cereals and toss in Christmas M&Ms and candy cane pieces.

Scoop spoonfuls of the mixture onto a parchment-covered baking sheet and chill until solid. Serve these sweet clusters in a jolly bowl for all to enjoy.

41. Pretzel Wands

With chocolate-coated pretzel wands, little ones can help create their own Christmas party food. You can set up a station with melted chocolate for dipping full-sized pretzel rods and dishes of holiday sprinkles and Christmas candies to decorate them with.

Turning prep work into exciting Christmas activities lets school-aged party folk feel like they’re assisting with the celebration.

42. Ham and Cheese Sliders

Tiny slider rolls filled with ham and cheese sliders will give grade schoolers a holiday sandwich perfectly sized for their hands and bellies.

Add a pickle slice to some for the more daring eaters at the party, with a toothpick stuck in the tops to mark which is which. 

Best Christmas Party Buffet Ideas

43. Hot Chocolate Pudding

Using packaged cocoa mix in place of pudding mix will give you an authentic hot chocolate pudding that brings a new dimension to a holiday favorite.

In the simplest version of the recipe, you’ll blend the hot chocolate mix with cornstarch, milk and water, then cook on the stovetop until the mixture reduces enough to coat the back of a spoon. Pour into cups to chill in the fridge until set and serve with a scoop of whipped cream.

44. Hummus and Veggies

The best cheap Christmas party food ideas keep flavor in the budget, like homemade hummus served with fresh veggies. You can make a batch using a can of chickpeas, a few tablespoons of olive oil, a clove of garlic and a sprinkle of salt and paprika.

Blend in a blender or food processor for five minutes, adding a few drops of water if needed to reach a smooth consistency. Then, slice up carrots, cucumbers and bell peppers and arrange them all on a tray for a cost-effective Christmas party that’s healthy and delicious. 

45. Spiced Pecans

If you’ve ever had pecans glazed with sugar and warm winter spices, you know how much Christmas spirit this goodie can add to a Christmas buffet. Make your own by coating pecans with maple syrup and sprinkling on cinnamon and nutmeg.

Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until the syrup becomes dry. Stir at five-minute intervals to prevent burning. Break up the pecans after they cool and serve in a holiday-ready dish. This will be one of the star treats during your party games for Christmas.

46. Deviled Eggs

What do you serve at a Christmas party buffet? If deviled eggs aren’t part of the menu, your guests may feel like they’ve gotten coal in their stockings.

Hard-boiled eggs cut in half and filled with a whipped mix of egg yolks, mustard, mayonnaise and seasonings make a classic Christmas party food everyone will recognize. 

47. Christmas Queso

A slow cooker with queso bubbling away is a warm reminder of just how delicious a Christmas party food buffet can be.

Heat a can of cheese sauce mixed with cooked and seasoned ground beef and a sprinkling of red and green bell peppers, and you have a rich sauce that tops other dishes or stands on its own as a dip for tortilla chips.

Add a dish of jalapenos next to the cooker to encourage the crowd to make their own nachos.

48. Pumpkin Pie Bites

Skip the slices when adding pumpkin pie to your Christmas party food selections and go for pumpkin pie bites instead.

Take a small circular cutter and press it into the surface of the pie to make small petit four-sized cylinders. Arrange them on a pretty tray with a spritz of whipped cream crowning each one for a stylish sweet treat.

49. Hasselback Potatoes

These fancy potatoes look more complicated to make than they actually are. The secret is slicing the potatoes super-thin without cutting all the way through the bottoms, which creates delicate chip-like segments with crisp edges.

You can serve them with traditional baked potato toppings or keep things simple with a bit of olive oil and a sprinkle of dried herbs.

50. Shrimp Cocktail

A tray of cool shrimp cocktail on your Christmas party food table will give your guests a posh bite they can really chill out with. Play holiday chef and make your own fresh shrimp and homemade cocktail sauce or pick up a frozen shrimp cocktail tray at a grocery or warehouse store to save time and labor. 

51. Caramel Pull-Apart

One Christmas party food idea buffet lovers will rave over is a caramel pull-apart. This classic bake is a twist on the traditional cinnamon roll, with sticky caramel in place of cream cheese glaze.

Also known as monkey bread, the simplest version of the recipe uses frozen bread rolls and boxed butterscotch pudding to achieve a rich and chewy texture that few holiday revelers can resist. 

52. Stuffed Butternut Squash

For Christmas party food ideas, buffet-style that plant-based eaters will enjoy, try your hand at making a stuffed butternut squash. A filling of cranberries, kale, chickpeas and quinoa will transform a halved gourd into a hearty harvest that’s ideal for celebrating in gourmet style.

53. Charcuterie Tree 

One of the most appealing charcuterie board ideas to include among your Christmas party food is a charcuterie tree. Arrange your sliced meats and cheeses in alternating rows to create a triangular Christmas tree shape and lay almonds, cherry tomatoes and olives among the branches as ornaments.

54. Tamales

There’s no need to become an expert tamale maker to include these wrapped culinary treasures among your Christmas party food.

You can find tamales in the frozen food section of most grocery stores that will thaw and cook easily. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can try this recipe for a more authentic — and labor-intensive — method.

55. Turkey Breast

Few traditional Christmas party foods top turkey as a familiar favorite, but cooking a full bird is a big task. Why not serve a turkey breast among your Christmas party foods instead?

There are smaller, oven-ready cuts in your grocer’s freezer section that use a slow cooker to make easy work out of a holiday staple. 

56. Whipped Sweet Potatoes

Find the festive balance between sweet potatoes and plain old mashed potatoes by turning sweet potatoes into a whipped Christmas party food.

Heavy cream, butter and cinnamon give this sumptuous starch the rich taste and texture of a pie filling. It’s a thoughtful way to bring comfort foods made with a gourmet touch to your celebration.

57. Cake Ball Truffles

Simple cake ball truffles are the Christmas party food ideas your buffet can’t do without. Bake your favorite cake according to the instructions on the package and crumble it once cooled completely.

Add a can of vanilla or chocolate frosting until you have a ganache-like paste. Roll it into balls and let it set in the fridge until solid. Then, dip each ball into melted chocolate and decorate with nuts or sprinkles. Voila — Christmas party food and table décor all in one! 

Planning Christmas party food doesn’t need to feel stressful. One or two dishes people enjoy lingering over can shift even a small gathering into something festive. Smaller affairs like brunch party ideas, after-work catch-up or a quiet evening with friends all feel different with a little something on the table.

For even more fun holiday ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!