41 Delicious Christmas Potluck Ideas Made for Sharing in 2025
Christmas potluck ideas feel different from the usual holiday spread. Sure, there are plenty of ways to serve a Christmas meal, but nothing is more communal than everyone showing up with a dish that’s meant to be shared. It’s the one format where the menu is built by the whole room, not the host, which is probably why things always feel a little warmer and a little looser.
According to The Family Dinner Project at Harvard’s School of Public Health, shared meals help people feel more connected and engaged, something most of us crave during the holidays.
So if you’re wondering what to bring to a Christmas potluck this year — something easy, something unique or something that travels well — this list covers everything from Christmas party food and friendsgiving food ideas to foods that give you energy and foods that put you peacefully to sleep. Pick the one that fits your night and let the gathering do the rest.
Jump to Section
- Easy Christmas Potluck Ideas
- Christmas Potluck Ideas for Kids
- Christmas Potluck Ideas for Work
- Healthy & Vegetarian Christmas Potluck Ideas
- Christmas Potluck Main Dish Ideas
- Great Make-Ahead Christmas Potluck Ideas
- Casseroles for Christmas Potluck
Easy Christmas Potluck Ideas
1. Spinach and artichoke dip
Creamy, flavorful and always a crowd-pleaser, this dip is easy to both prepare and reheat so you can enjoy it in the moment and as a midnight snack.
Combine tender spinach, tangy artichoke and a cheese blend of your choosing and bake until golden brown and bubbly. That’s all it takes, so be sure to add spinach and artichoke dip to your easy Christmas potluck ideas.
2. Deviled Eggs
It seems deviled eggs make an appearance on every festive food list… and for good reason. These simple, yet delicious hard-boiled eggs make a great stress-free addition to your Christmas potluck ideas.
Start with the basics: halved hard-boiled eggs filled with a creamy mixture of egg yolk, mayonnaise, mustard and a touch of vinegar. And customize from there. You can add a sprinkle of paprika, a dash of chives, some sliced jalapeños or top them with caviar for something extra special.
3. Stuffed Mushrooms
Stuffed mushrooms are extremely versatile, with so many combinations of stuffings to try. You can keep it simple and fill these bite-sized delights with cream cheese, garlic and breadcrumbs. Or, add even more flavor with sun-dried tomatoes, sausage or spinach.
4. Christmas Tree Cheese Board
Charcuterie board ideas are a potluck must, but after so many holiday parties, you may be tired of them by now. But they always make for great Christmas potluck ideas because they require very little cooking, so don’t write them off quite yet.
Instead, turn your regular ole Christmas charcuterie board ideas into a feast for both the palate and the eyes with a Christmas tree cheese board. Arrange an assortment of cheeses, meats, nuts and fruits into the shape of a Christmas tree. Add in some sprigs of rosemary or thyme to capture the essence of the winter pine.
5. Caprese Skewers
These Christmas potluck ideas only require four ingredients. Rotate, adding cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella balls and basil on toothpicks until all of the ingredients are gone. Drizzle a bit of balsamic glaze over each skewer and voila! An easy and festive Christmas potluck idea that even sports the holiday’s staple colors.
6. Pigs in a Blanket
Mini hot dogs? Mini crescent rolls? If you’re into all things tiny, these Christmas potluck ideas are a must-try. Wrap mini sausages into small crescent rolls and bake until golden and fluffy. These soft and savory Christmas appetizer ideas are sure to be a hit.
Brush the dough with a bit of melted butter and serve with a few dipping sauces. For some out-of-the-ordinary Elf on the Shelf ideas, put the little guy into one of the dough folds instead of a hot dog.
7. Christmas Popcorn Mix
Sweet, salty and oh-so flavorful, this popcorn mix is a festive idea that typically includes a combination of popcorn, pretzels and nuts coated in white chocolate. Add a bit of festive color to this party favorite with some M&Ms, sprinkles or crushed up candy canes.
If you feel like you’ve got enough for everyone to nibble on, you can always package some Christmas popcorn up as a take-home treat for your guests.
8. Baked Brie with Cranberry
If you typically show up to a potluck with something store-bought, but you’d like to give cooking a shot, this Christmas potluck idea combines store-bought and homemade. Grab a wheel of brie and a can of cranberry sauce.
Unwrap the brie and place it in the center of a deep baking dish on top of parchment paper. Bake for 15 minutes in a 350-degree oven. Once baked, top it off with your store-bought cranberry sauce and enjoy as guests lavish in the creamy, luxurious flavor of this simple dish.
9. Cranberry and Goat Cheese Crostini
You don’t need a laundry list of ingredients or a book of steps to assemble crowd-pleasing, unique Christmas potluck ideas. For example, these crostini are both simple and sophisticated with a tangy, sweet-tart flavor. Simply spread a layer of goat cheese over toasted baguette slices and top with a dollop of cranberry sauce.
Christmas Potluck Ideas for Kids
10. Candy Cane Cookies
With Christmas comes the nostalgia of family traditions, but what also makes the holiday so magical is its whimsy, and these Christmas cookie ideas are delightfully whimsical.
Flavor red and white dough with peppermint extract and twist into the shape of a candy cane. Top them with white chocolate pieces and once fully cooked, sprinkle with crushed up candy canes.
11. Snow Globe Snow Ball
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting Maryland in the summertime, then you’ve experienced the state’s favorite Summer dessert: a snowball. If you’ve never had the pleasure, the Maryland Office of Tourism does a great job explaining the sweet treat, “the best snowballs are piled high with a mound of ice reaching up above the rim. The syrup is pumped down the middle, creating a little icy lake of flavor. Try one naked, or top it off with delicious marshmallow cream or chocolate sauce to enjoy it like a real local.”
You may be thinking, what business does a summer dessert have at a Christmas potluck? Well, plenty of households serve up an apple pie with a big ole scoop of cold ice cream, so why not try something different? Use red and green flavored syrups to make this treat extra festive.
12. Snowman Cheese Balls
If there will be little ones attending the soiree, you’ll want to consider these Christmas potluck ideas. Just as you would with freshly fallen snow, shape a mixture of cream cheese, seasonings and shredded cheese to form a cheese ball.
Decorate the seasonal cheese ball with peppercorn eyes, pretzel arms and, of course, a carrot nose. Serve it alongside crackers, breadsticks or fresh vegetables.
13. Festive Reindeer Feed
What do Santa's reindeer eat? Apparently, they love some shiny oatmeal. The smell of the oatmeal attracts them and the shiny glimmer of glitter entices them. Recreate the magic for your party, but without the glitter (or choose edible glitter).
Mix rolled oats, dried cranberries, grated cheese and a sprinkle of sugar. Then add an eco-friendly and edible substitute for glitter, like dipping rice paper in food coloring, letting it dry and then tearing it to bits. You can do the same things with seaweed snacks to add a salty element.
14. Eggnog Bread Pudding
This Christmas potluck idea is just as warm and comforting as the holiday itself. Soak cubes of bread in a mix of eggnog and aromatic spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Bake the pudding in the oven until golden brown and serve with whipped cream, a drizzle of rum sauce or a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.
Christmas Potluck Ideas for Work
15. Christmas Crackers
Not to be confused with British Christmas crackers, a fun holiday party favor. No, these Christmas potluck ideas are simple spreads of cheese and crackers with a focus on seasonal flavors. Put out a basket of various crackers next to holiday-themed spreads like pimento cheese, cream cheese with chives, pitchfork cheddar and truffle Bigod.
16. Pasta Salad
Easy Christmas potluck ideas for work should be just that, easy. You’re already working at least 40 hours a week, so there’s no need to spend an exorbitant amount of time putting together a Christmas potluck idea.
Instead, assemble a dish that’s simple to customize in case of dietary restrictions and always a hit, like pasta salad. Toss room-temperature pasta, cherry tomatoes, green and red bell peppers, red onion and fresh herbs in a vinaigrette. Place the concoction in the fridge to cool and absorb all that tangy flavor overnight.
17. Cranberry Pear Quinoa Salad
This healthy Christmas potluck idea is nutty, vibrant and tart. Simply toss cooked quinoa in a light vinaigrette with chopped pistachios, cranberries and pears. Cranberry pear quinoa salad will add a fresh touch to the work holiday menu.
Plus, it leaves behind little mess, making clean up easy, which means you can spend less time in the kitchen before heading back out to work the next day. In fact, assembling a cranberry pear quinoa salad is so easy, you could do it the morning of or even on-site. How's that for simple and scrumptious Christmas potluck ideas?
18. Seasonal Fruit Salad
This is one of those classic Christmas salad ideas that always ends up on the work Christmas party table. It adds a lovely pop of color, and if we're being honest, we all could use some more fruit in our lives.
A seasonal fruit salad will add a lovely balance to the richer dishes that are sure to end up on the office party table. Focus on seasonal fruits like pomegranates, oranges, pears, apples and cranberries. Toss them together with a light drizzling of honey and a squeeze of lime.
19. Christmas Themed Parfaits
Impress your managers by serving up a layered dessert at your work potluck. Shhh, we won’t tell them that these Christmas potluck ideas are actually super easy to make. That’s between you and the yogurt.
Layer yogurt with red and green elements such as strawberry jam, raspberry compote, pistachio pudding or kiwi slices.
20. Chocolate Dipped Candy Canes
Nothing screams holiday cheer quite like chocolate-dipped candy canes. Dip candy canes in melted chocolate, making sure to rotate between white, milk and dark chocolate, if you can, to make these festive Christmas potluck ideas even more enjoyable for all. Decorate the chocolate-dipped candy canes with sprinkles and edible glitter.
21. Merry Punch
Merry punch is a festive take on fruit punch and can be made with or without alcohol. In a large bowl, combine your favorite seasonal fruit juices like cranberry, orange and pineapple.
Make the punch table display worthy by garnishing it with sliced oranges, fresh cranberries, mint and cinnamon sticks.
22. Holiday Sushi Roll
What does "potluck" mean for a Christmas party? The meaning of a Christmas potluck is simple: prepare a dish to be shared amongst everyone. Other than that, there are no rules! So, experiment to your heart's delight. That’s where something unexpected, like holiday sushi rolls, comes in.
Holiday sushi rolls are a wonderful and festive break from tradition. Use red and green ingredients like fresh cucumber, sushi-grade salmon or tuna, avocado and perhaps a topping of red tobiko. They will no doubt be a delicious and visually appealing addition to your Christmas potluck ideas.
23. Apple Crisp
Crisp on the outside and gooey on the inside, you’ll taste the warmth of the holiday season with Christmas potluck ideas like this. Baked apples are engulfed in a buttery, crispy oat topping, served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. And for an added bonus, it tastes just as good when it’s reheated the next day, so it makes for perfect Christmas brunch ideas.
Healthy & Vegetarian Christmas Potluck Ideas
24. Stuffed Acorn Squash
Forget bowls or plates. Instead, use squash. Stuffed acorn squash looks as good as it tastes. Fill roasted squash halved with a hearty mixture of various grains, vegetables, nuts, dried fruits and herbs. While this dish is delicious for all, it’s a particularly popular vegetarian option.
25. Chickpea Soup
On a cold winter’s night, a warm bowl of chickpea soup hits the spot. And it will at work too.
Rich and nourishing, chickpea soup is flavorful and nutritional. With an emphasis on Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavors, this Christmas Potluck idea requires only a few kitchen appliances to make: a pot, a stove and an oven (or a blender if you want to make the soup extra creamy).
26. Carrot Cake
Moist, spiced and festive, carrot cake is a decadent and convenient Christmas potluck idea if you’re on the dessert committee. Made from grated carrots, hearty spices and a rich cream cheese frosting, it’s a timeless treat.
27. Stuffed Shells
If you’ve signed up to bring something filling to the Christmas extravaganza at work, stuffed shells are a potluck favorite. Simply fill jumbo pasta shells with a rich mixture of ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, and you're set.
You can also add in some spinach or ground beef for a non-vegetarian option. Cover in marinara sauce and bake until the sauce starts to bubble. Store in the fridge until you’re ready to transport your Christmas potluck ideas to work.
Christmas Potluck Main Dish Ideas
28. Holiday Sliders
Holiday sliders are simply sandwiches, but much smaller and packed with your favorite flavors of Christmas. Stuff tender slices of turkey or ham, and a generous spread of cranberry sauce and stuffing between cloudy-soft rolls.
Christmas sliders can easily be made in large batches, making these convenient, handheld creations an ideal Christmas potluck idea. And because turkey is the star of the dish, you can even use this recipe as a Thanksgiving potluck idea.
29. Short Ribs
Short ribs bring a rich, slow-cooked comfort to any Christmas potluck. Sear them with salt, pepper and garlic powder, then let them braise in red wine until they’re tender and full of flavor. They hold up well on the table and stay delicious even if they’re reheated later.
30. Shepherd's Pie
Shepherd's pie is a warm and comforting Christmas classic made by layering generously seasoned ground beef, carrots and peas beneath a blanket of creamy garlic mashed potatoes, which turns golden brown as it bakes in the oven. Its best feature is its homey feel, making it a welcome addition to work Christmas potluck ideas.
31. Holiday Ham
You may be tired of holiday ham, but then again, it does make a reliable centerpiece that embodies the Christmas spirit. Instead of writing the famed holiday ham off altogether, experiment with different Christmas potluck ideas, like various rubs, such as a chili-coffee rub.
For example, mix ground coffee with chili powder, brown sugar and smoked paprika. Not only will this combination provide a smoky flavor full of spice, but it also pairs well with the naturally sweet taste of ham.
Great Make-Ahead Christmas Potluck Ideas
32. Peppermint Bark
Often, traditional holiday treats end up being great make-ahead Christmas potluck ideas. So when in doubt, try out some peppermint bark, a classic Christmas favorite that’s perfect for sharing.
Layer dark or milk chocolate with white chocolate, making sure to sprinkle crushed-up peppermint between each layer and on top. Serve it up in a festive tin or holiday-themed platter.
33. Mini Meatball Skewers
As far as finger foods go, mini meatball skewers make easy make-ahead Christmas potluck ideas for work. Sure, they're finger foods, but easy to grapple with thanks to the handy-dandy toothpick.
Prepare the meatballs a day or two before the festivities. Poke each meatball with a toothpick so your coworkers can easily dip it into a marinara or cranberry glaze.
34. Mac and Cheese
What should I bring to a Christmas potluck party? Any Christmas potluck ideas with cheese? And mac and cheese, well, that’s a classic. This universally loved dish offers all the creamy comfort you could hope to get out of a Christmas potluck party at work. Plus, it is easily prepared in large quantities and reheats like a dream.
35. Cranberry Lemon Bars
With the tartness of cranberries and the brightness of lemon, cranberry lemon bars are refreshing and zesty Christmas potluck ideas for any dessert table. They provide both a burst of color and flavor. A crumbly shortbread crust holds together a vibrant and creamy filling, blending together the worlds of both sweet and tangy.
36. Cranberry Brownies
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, cranberry brownies are sure to satisfy your chocolate cravings. The rich and gooey goodness of chocolate brownies meets the tart and slightly bitter nature of cranberries to form a decadent dessert.
You can make the brownies from scratch or simply use your favorite boxed mix! Add some cranberries into the mixture and once baked, cooled and ready to serve, cut them into bite-sized pieces for all to enjoy. Serve this as one of the sweetest Christmas breakfast ideas if you have a family with a craving for chocolate.
Casseroles for Christmas Potluck
37. Mashed Potato Casserole
Take the modest mashed potato and turn it into the casserole of all casseroles. With butter, sour cream and plenty of garlic, this mashed potato casserole is pure comfort food. It pairs well with just about anything, so make sure to whip it up this holiday season.
38. Broccoli Cheddar Casserole
There’s something wholesome about a broccoli cheddar casserole. Broccoli tucked under a generous cheese sauce and finished with breadcrumbs feels indulgent without being complicated.
It also comes together quickly with everyday grocery staples, which makes it an easy win for any Christmas potluck.
39. Green Bean Casserole
Green bean casserole is a must-make Christmas potluck idea in many households nationwide. Smother tender green beans in a decadent mushroom cream sauce and cover with crispy fried onions. This beloved dish will provide a sense of tradition to any and all holiday festivities.
40. Sweet Potatoes and Marshmallow Casserole
This wouldn’t be a list of Christmas potluck ideas without the mention of sweet potato and marshmallow casserole. The natural sweetness of the appropriately named sweet potato partners perfectly with the sugary yet slightly charred flavor of toasted marshmallows. Pleasing to both kids and adults, this dessert deserves a spot on the Christmas dinner table.
41. Scalloped Potatoes and Ham Casserole
You may have had scalloped potatoes at the Christmas dinner table and you may have had a holiday ham. But have you ever considered one of the simplest Christmas potluck ideas — combining the two? In this Christmas potluck idea, these two traditional holiday dishes come together to make a luxurious and hearty option.
Holiday party food is all about comfort, warmth and flavor, especially when it comes to simple Christmas potluck ideas. Whether you show up with something easy, something hearty or something you made the night before, the real win is how these dishes bring everyone to the same table. Keep it simple, bring something you enjoy and let the meal do what potlucks do well — create a moment you actually get to enjoy together.
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