65 Christmas Buffet Recipe Ideas The Whole Family Will Love

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Savory Sweet Potato Casserole

Savory and sweet—how can that be? We balanced the natural sweetness of the potatoes with a savory Parmesan-herb streusel topping. The sweet potatoes are roasted, mashed, and mixed with sage and nutmeg to highlight their innate sweetness.

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Creamy Whipped Potato Casserole

Two types of potatoes come together to create one creamy casserole that gets a hint of nuttiness from brown butter. Though it's quick and easy to make the day of your dinner, it can be prepped a day ahead and then reheated in the oven. Sprinkle with chives after you pull your casserole from the oven.

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Spice-Rubbed Tenderloin With Mustard-Cream Sauce

This no-fuss tenderloin recipe will be a hit on the buffet line. For tender slices, don't cook past a meat thermometer registering 130° in the center. Serve our zingy Mustard-Cream sauce on the side.

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Melting Sweet Potatoes

Let sweet potatoes shine by roasting them and serving them up on a platter covered with a syrup drizzle. For a bigger gathering, double up on this recipe by sticking a second baking sheet in the oven. Toasted walnuts add to the wonderful oven-roasted flavor.

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Christmas Crab Cakes

Especially if you live on the coast, seafood is welcome any time of year. Make Christmas extra special and serve these lemony crab cakes on your buffet. Offer one or all three of the homemade sauces on the side.

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Old Fashioned Gingerbread

Brown Sugar-and-Ginger Whipped Cream — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Nothing fills your home with the scents of the season quite like a batch of fresh-baked gingerbread. The list of spices in this recipe includes black pepper, a surprise ingredient that takes it to the next level. Combined with the Brown Sugar-and-Ginger Whipped Cream, this is a special and unforgettable dessert.

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Cranberry Sauce Meatballs

While you are waiting for all the guests to arrive, it's worthwhile to put out a few appetizers. This holiday recipe uses jellied cranberry sauce and hot jalapeño pepper jelly. A package of frozen meatballs makes it fast and easy to assemble.

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Red Velvet Cake Crinkle Cookies

These Red Velvet cookies are easier to serve than cake but just as delicious. Use a dark cocoa like Hershey's Special Dark to deepen the chocolatey flavor. Roll the balls of dough in powdered sugar to create the crackle effect.

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Cranberry Baked Brie Bites

A mix of cranberries and fresh herbs add the colors of Christmas to these Brie bites. Squares of puff pastry serve as the base for the gooey cheese and tangy cranberry sauce. Garnish with chopped pecans and sage leaves.

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Glazed Ham With Pineapple Chutney

Instead of using a glaze from a restaurant or grocery store, wow your guests with this homemade pineapple chutney. For ultimate juiciness, wrap the ham in aluminum foil after brushing it with the bourbon-brown sugar glaze.

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Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus

These bundles of asparagus stems look elegant and make it easy to serve individual portions. Prepare the bundles and place them on a wire rack over a baking sheet, then wait to bake them just before dinner.

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Angel Biscuits

With elements borrowed from buttermilk biscuits and Parker House rolls, this big-batch recipe will have everyone singing their praises. Angel Biscuits also have the added benefit of being foolproof, a rarity for yeast rolls. Make the dough up to five days in advance and serve them fresh out of the oven.

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Pickled Shrimp Deviled Eggs

It's not a true Southern meal without deviled eggs, but don't they deserve an upgrade for Christmas? This recipe begins with pickling the shrimp in a simple brine for 24 hours. Place one shrimp on top of each deviled egg with a sprig of dill, and you have a finger food that's destined to impress.

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Classic Candied Yams

Holidays can be hectic, which is why we like to lean on make-ahead recipes. These yams can be assembled up to three days in advance—and no boiling is required to cook them to perfect tenderness.

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Cornbread Dressing With Sausage And Fennel

Cornbread Dressing with Kale and Bacon — Iain Bagwell

Use day-old cornbread to make this crispy and flavorful dressing. It's loaded with a few surprises, like fennel, chopped apples, and maple syrup, which is drizzled on right before serving.

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Macaroni Pie

This dish is something everyone will love, especially the kids. Three kinds of cheese (Gruyere, extra-sharp white Cheddar, and fontina) and fresh thyme create a depth of flavor that sets this Macaroni Pie apart from its peers. A refrigerated pie crust saves on the prep time.

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Gingerbread Roulade And Eggnog Cream

This gingerbread cake roll is decadently rich and so very festive. Don't leave out the eggnog cream, a thick sauce you can serve on the side.

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Broccoli-Cheese Casserole

Broccoli is a fan-favorite vegetable, but when it's mixed with cheese it becomes the ultimate dish. Our recipe features a sauce made with whole milk and Cheddar cheese, thickened with a traditional flour-and-butter roux. The casserole gets topped with buttery crackers for the final touch.

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Old-School Squash Casserole

Holiday guests will crave this cheesy and crunchy casserole. The dish can be prepped the night before and baked just before guests arrive. Hold off on adding the cracker topping until it's time to bake.

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Homemade Green Bean Casserole With Crispy Leeks

This holiday staple is elevated with crispy leeks as a topping. Along with the homemade, creamy white wine sauce, this is an elegant casserole worthy of Christmas dinner.

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Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder

An apple cider mixture results in a sweet and tangy roast pork that guests won't be able to get enough of. Granny Smith apples roast right along with it; arrange them around the pork on your best holiday platter.

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Pecan Pie Brownies

You can never go wrong with brownies at a potluck, but this variation adds holiday magic to the old standard. Knock out two favorites with one indulgent Christmas dessert recipe.

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Molded Cranberry Salad

At Christmas, Jell-O salad qualifies as both dessert and a side. This ruby red salad includes cranberry sauce, mandarin oranges, and pineapple. Find an old-fashioned mold to make it the star of the buffet table.

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Crispy Potatoes

All-purpose potatoes, like russet, Yukon gold, red, or fingerling, are all good choices for this roasted potato dish. Pair them with sweet potatoes and season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Make sure the taters don't touch for the crispiest results.

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Stuffed Beef Tenderloin With Burgundy-Mushroom Sauce

This may be the prettiest main course you'll ever serve. To create the jelly-roll-like swirl, slice open the tenderloin and lay it flat. Pound it thin, spread the creamy spinach-and-leek filling over the beef, roll it up, and tie it with twine.

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Twice-Baked Potatoes

It's Christmas, which means every dish deserves to be a bit more indulgent. These potato skins are filled with all the good stuff, like cheese, bacon, and green onions.

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Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows, Pecans, And Cornflakes

You'll certainly get your sweet tooth filled with this loaded sweet potato casserole. Alternating stripes of cornflake topping and fluffy marshmallows make it look heavenly.

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Christmas Snow Salad

It wouldn't be a holiday spread without a colorful congealed salad. This creamy Jell-O salad is made with crushed pineapple, whipped topping mix, mayonnaise, powdered sugar, red and green maraschino cherries, and chopped nuts. Serve this delightful retro salad on a fancy cake stand to decorate your buffet table.

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Apple Pie Cookies

These sugary cookies are almost better than an actual apple pie and don't require slicing. Made with homemade dough and apple pie filling, they are topped with a delicious cinnamon icing.

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Brussels Sprouts With Bacon And Shallots

This vegetable side is so delicious that it will convert even the pickiest eaters. Brussels sprouts and smoky bacon are a dream pair, especially with aromatic shallots.

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Mini Cranberry-Cheesecake Pies

Your holiday table will look so bright and festive with a tray of these tiny pies decorated with sparkling cranberries. These delightful little treats pack a lot of flavor from the combination of ginger cookie crust, cream cheese, and tart cranberry compote.

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Corn Pudding Casserole

This creamy corn pudding can be made with fresh or frozen corn. This version is classic but made with fontina or Swiss cheese for subtle sharpness. We also included fresh chives and thyme for a little brightness.

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Chocolate-Peppermint Swirl Sandwich Cookies

Dog Chocolate Sugar Cookies — Victori Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

These homemade holiday cookies are so irresistible that you won't want to share. Good thing the recipe makes a large batch of two dozen. To make a swirl in the peppermint filling, add stripes of red food coloring gel in your piping bag.

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Hasselback Sweet Potato Casserole

Switch up the usual sweet potato casserole by using thinly sliced potatoes for a crispier texture. Instead of pecans, this recipe uses chopped hazelnuts for their sweet and earthy flavor.

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Mini Pumpkin Pies

This recipe makes it easy for everyone at the meal to get a taste of this seasonal favorite. Top off these bite-sized pies, which are cooked in a muffin tin, with some whipped cream and fresh-grated nutmeg.

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Cornmeal Popovers

Meet our Southern take on classic popovers. Test Kitchen tip: The secret to perfect popovers lies in the temperature of the muffin pan. By preheating the oven with the muffin pan inside, you'll achieve the perfect popover.

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Slow-Cooker Cranberry Sauce

It's not a Christmas feast without a side of cranberry sauce. For this version, just dump the ingredients in your slow cooker. Removing the lid for the last 30 minutes of cooking allows the cranberry sauce to thicken.

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Overnight Yeast Rolls

These sweet and fluffy rolls are often proclaimed as the favorite at the Christmas table. Prepare the dough a day in advance, then let it rise overnight in the fridge. The recipe makes a batch of two dozen.

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Cheesecake Cookies

When filling out the dessert table, why not offer something for the cheesecake fans in the crowd? These pillowy cookies are topped with a glowing maraschino cherry that would make Rudolph proud.

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Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes With Cream Cheese

It's simply not a holiday meal without classic mashed potatoes. This recipe uses cream cheese and an entire container of sour cream for ultimate creaminess. Prep the potatoes up to two days in advance, then bake as directed.

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Mini Chocolate Chess Tarts

These mini tarts are the perfect bite-sized treat to sample after your Christmas meal. Refrigerated pie crust and a muffin pan make it easy to whip up enough for a crowd. Add the whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa when you serve dessert.

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Mama Mae's Ambrosia Salad

Keep it simple with this four-ingredient fruit salad, or get creative and throw in your own favorite ingredients. For a holiday dinner, we recommend adding touches of red and green with pomegranate seeds and fresh mint leaves.

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Apple And Goat Cheese Salad With Candied Pecans

The vinaigrette for this salad includes festive touches like orange zest and ground allspice. Your family also will gush over the candied pecans sprinkled with smoked paprika.

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Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots

Young and slender carrots in a rainbow of colors make a beautiful holiday side. We roast them in a sweet butter mixture along with classic spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, then top them with a sprinkle of fresh chives.

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Baked Ham With Brown Sugar Glaze

This is the classic ham we all know and love. A touch of Dijon mustard, allspice, and cinnamon enhance the holiday flavor of this fan favorite. Plan to cook a boneless, spiral-cut ham for 15 to 20 minutes per pound, or a bone-in ham for 22 to 25 minutes per pound.

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Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole

Can't decide which vegetable deserves a spot on the buffet? This rich and creamy, tender and crunchy casserole combines everything in one. You can also make it up to three days in advance, adding the toppings when it's time to bake.

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Grits And Greens With Brown Butter Hot Sauce

This recipe from acclaimed chef Vivian Howard feels hearty enough to serve any time of day. A full pound of turnip greens and the Brown Butter Hot Sauce make for a creamy side worthy of any ham or turkey.

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Oyster Casserole

Oyster Casserole is a Christmas tradition in many Southern households. We think you'll appreciate our favorite version, with plump oysters baked in a rich Parmesan cream sauce and topped with buttery breadcrumbs.

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Peppercorn-Crusted Standing Rib Roast With Roasted Vegetables

Your guests will gasp when you place this roast on the buffet table. And it's so easy to prepare—slather it with herb butter the night before; then let your oven do the work. A four-rib roast will serve about 10.

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Creamed Greens Casserole

Kale and collards combine with onions, cream cheese, and fontina for a delightfully rich casserole. Top with garlicky breadcrumbs for a savory crunch. This casserole also takes well to reheating.

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Pecan-Coated Pork Loin Roast

This Pecan-Coated Pork Loin Roast is rubbed with a mixture of dark brown sugar and herbs and then marinated overnight so the flavors can soak in. The loin gets rolled in chopped pecans just before baking for a festive presentation.

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Oven-Roasted Root Vegetables With Spicy Pecan Topping

Roasting brings out a tender sweetness in an array of root vegetables, enhanced with spiced pecans and fresh thyme. This vegetable side can be served at room temperature, making it a great choice for the buffet table.

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Betty Jo Melvin's Macaroni And Cheese

Betty Jo Melvinâs Macaroni and Cheese recipe baked and ready to serve out of the baking dish — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman

This recipe comes to us from "Today" show anchor Craig Melvin. His mother's prized macaroni is velvety and creamy thanks to evaporated milk, loads of butter, eggs, and a mixture of Cheddar and Velveeta. The Melvin family doesn't have Christmas without it, and you shouldn't either.

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Parker House Rolls

These delicately sweet and fluffy yeast rolls will round out your Christmas dinner. Constructed in two layers of dough, they are also easy to pull apart and turn into sandwich rolls for sliders.

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Hot Buttered Rum Bread Pudding

The cozy sauce for this bread pudding is prepared with rum, brown sugar, butter, cream, and vanilla. Drizzle a little bit over the pudding and provide a boat filled with the sauce on the side.

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Beet, Fennel, And Apple Salad

Red and golden beets dress up this fresh tossed salad. For an even more festive take, look for candy cane beets at the grocery store. Make the zesty vinaigrette in advance and toss the salad just before serving.

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Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread

This garlic and herb pull-apart bread can be formed into any shape, but for Christmas the choice is obvious. Using store-bought dough, basil pesto, and mini pepperoni for ornaments, you can have a creative appetizer or dinner side in less than 30 minutes. Just make sure to get a picture before the kids start pulling it apart.

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Pecan Snowball Cookies

These crumbly cookies derive most of their sweetness from a dusting of powdered sugar. Snowballs are a popular treat that's easy to pop in our mouths, so it's a good thing the recipe makes 4 dozen.

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Pecan And Fig Spread

The best part of this sweet and jammy spread is that it's so easy to prepare. Smear it on crackers and your charcuterie, scoop it onto a slice of turkey or beef at dinner, and spoon it over your ice cream for dessert. This is a versatile spread, so you'll be refilling the bowl throughout the night.

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No-Bake Chocolate Mint Snowballs

Mint Chocolate Snowballs — Southern Living

These truffle-like chocolates are so easy to make, you won't mind when they fly off the table. With just five ingredients, like Oreo cookies, cream cheese, and Junior Mints, they taste exactly like Christmas. Roll them in the chocolate coating and chill until hardened.

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Scalloped Potatoes

When the holidays are here, it's time to load our plates with scalloped potatoes. The tender, thinly sliced potatoes swim in a creamy sauce lightly enhanced with nutmeg, onion, and thyme. Use a mandoline to create the delicate slices.

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Smoked Turkey Breast

Between the apple cider brine and hours in the smoker, this recipe is as flavorful as turkey gets. Our Smoked Turkey Breast is a wonderful treat for a smaller buffet or for when you plan to offer multiple main courses. We think hickory complements the flavor of the bird best, but you can use maple or applewood chips too.

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Collard Green Salad With Oranges And Port-Soaked Cherries

This stunning salad looks like Christmas, between the winter greens, aromatic orange slices, and port-infused cherries. (Soak the fruit in apple or grape juice instead for a non-alcoholic option.) Collards are also much less prone to wilting, making this salad an excellent choice for the buffet table.

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Roasted Green Beans With Spicy-Sweet Glazed Shallots

This green bean recipe uses crushed red pepper flakes and honey to create a sticky glaze with holiday shine. Combined with red wine vinegar and golden raisins, this vegetable side is tangy, spicy, and just the right amount of sweet.

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Potato Gratin With Rosemary Crust

Positively stunning and surprisingly easy to prepare, this cheesy potato dish is one of our favorite holiday recipes. This gratin is also special enough to serve as a main for the vegetarians at your feast.

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65 Christmas Buffet Recipe Ideas The Whole Family Will Love

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