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With the arrival of the holiday season, it’s natural to start dreaming of warm and festive Christmas dinner parties.
A Christmas party is brimming with opportunities to gather around the table with loved ones and enjoy a delicious meal. Gathering together around the table – whether it’s carving into a sweet-and-spicy ham, or enjoying a holiday cocktail – is the highlight for many.
Christmas Dinner Party Ideas
Holidays are busy, so to help you make the most of your time, there are plenty of dishes and desserts to make for guests.
There are easy Christmas appetizers, and of course cocktails, that come together in a hurry and keep hungry guests happy. Festive Christmas side dishes like green bean casserole, and potatoes, complete the Christmas Day feast.
There are plenty of delicious recipes that will charm all your friends and family.
Scroll below for Christmas dinner party ideas that everyone will enjoy.
1. Cocktails
White Christmas Mojito
This drink is simple as can be, and perfect for all your holiday parties.
It is very full of coconut flavors and the perfect way to spread the holiday spirit.
Pomegranate Paloma
This Paloma is one of the best Christmas cocktails…fizzy, minty, gingery, full of sweet pomegranate, and tequila too.
Spiked Eggnog
Eggnog, the creamy classic cocktail, is an essential part of the holidays.
The basic formula consists of eggs, sugar, milk and cream, plus a spirit. The drink will add a festive touch to any gathering.
Peppermint Martini
Turn peppermint bark candy into a cocktail.
The decadence of this drink comes from the real white chocolate — steer clear of anything that says “white chips,” or “white morsels.
Christmas Punch
Looking for a drink for a large group?
Bubbly, festive, and a total snap to stir together, this easy Christmas punch is light, refreshing, and not at all overly sweet.
2. Appetizers
Pomegranate, Cranberry & Brie Bruschetta
The perfect appetizer for this time of year.
Toasted baguette slices with creamy, melted brie are topped with an orange-cranberry-pomegranate mixture–each bite delivers an explosion of flavor and texture!
Cranberry Brie Pull Apart Bread
The combination of cheese and carbs are always a good idea.
This pull apart bread is buttery, and so gooey when warmed. It will be a welcome addition to the holiday table.
Baked Brie
Don’t you just love easy appetizers with minimal ingredients?
Perfect for all your cocktail parties – baked brie with fig jam and pistachios.
Spicy Deviled Eggs
No holiday spread is complete without deviled eggs.
A spicy sriracha kick and a sprinkle of red chili flakes take creamy deviled eggs from just okay to extraordinary!
Caramelized Onion Dip
This recipe is bursting with savory flavors.
All of the creamy cheeses paired with those rich caramelized onions … what’s not to love?
Holiday Cheese Ball
This appetizer can be made ahead of time and chilled until needed for your holiday guests.
Cheese balls also don’t have to be a “ball” at all. They can be shaped into whatever shape you prefer.
Christmas Braided Bread
This bread needs to be a part of your holiday feast.
This wreath consists of a simple yeasted dough, filled especially for Christmas with a green, white and red filling of spinach pesto, cheddar cheese and red pepper.
3. Main Course
Beef Tenderloin Roast
This beef tenderloin roast is a stunning main to take center stage on your Christmas dinner table.
It’s elegant, incredibly tender to the point where it feels indulgent, perfect for a Christmas Eve party.
Beef Wellington
This is a luxurious dish where puff pastry is wrapped around beef tenderloin then sliced into portions to serve.
With a crisp puff pastry shell encasing mushroom paste and prosciutto, each slice is a work of art.
Pork Tenderloin
A show stopping piece and super delicious.
Fresh spinach and goat cheese round out the stuffing – a pork loin that everyone will love.
Maple Glazed Ham
This recipe is super easy- classic baked holiday ham with the most incredible maple, brown sugar glaze.
It is a dish the whole family will enjoy.
Leg Of Lamb
It is without a doubt a classic for any Christmas dinner; the leg of lamb.
It is always roasted whole and, preferably with the bone in.
Maple Glazed Salmon
Need a last minute dish? This is an easy main dish that can be on the table in less than 20 minutes!
4. Side Dishes
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
There is always room on the dining table for brussels sprouts.
These aren’t the vegetables you grew up with – these are doused with a light balsamic garlic vinaigrette and topped with bursts of fresh pomegranate seeds.
Parmesan Green Beans
Roasted parmesan green beans is a delicious recipe that is great as a side dish for any meal.
It pairs well with any of the protein centered main dishes.
Cheesy Potato Stacks
Who doesn’t love potatoes?
These are simply made with potatoes, butter, oregano, thyme, garlic, and of course, cheese. These are perfect and absolutely delicious.
Chestnut Herb Stuffing
Stuffing isn’t just for Thanksgiving.
This side dish combines the earthiness of roasted chestnuts, fragrant herbs, and hearty bread for a dish that’s comforting and flavorful.
Maple Roasted Carrots
Roasted carrots are coated in a buttery and sweet maple-butter glaze, then finished in the oven until perfectly browned, caramelized, and sticky.
5. Desserts
Eggnog Cheesecake
It wouldn’t be a Merry Christmas without eggnog.
With a flavorful gingersnap crust, rich filling, and spiced whipped cream, this cheesecake makes for a very jolly holiday dessert.
Gingerbread Cake
There is always room for Christmas dessert – and this one requires little time.
This easy gingerbread cake recipe is topped with homemade vanilla cream sauce, and whipped cream.
Sticky Toffee Pudding
This festive dessert is luscious.
Sticky toffee puddings are all about the honeyed sweetness of plump dates and buttery caramel that melt in your mouth with every bite.
Gingerbread Trifle
One of the easiest desserts to put together and can be done the morning of your party.
This delicious dessert is easy to make and will quickly become a holiday favorite!
Layers of tender gingerbread cake, eggnog, and white chocolate pudding come together.
Bûche De Noël
This traditional Christmas cake is decorated to resemble a log.
Yes, this log is a bit more time consuming, but the final product is absolutely stunning and a crowd-pleaser.
Christmas Tablescapes
When decking the halls, there’s one spot left that needs your undivided attention: the dinner table.
An easy way to decorate the table is to add garland to the dining table.
Add beautiful long candles around the table settings to add a holiday-dinner-ready look.
Start with a festive centerpiece, then add some pretty plates and platters.
Once that’s all done, add the quintessential finishing touch: tealight candle holders and vintage inspired glasses.
