Recipes Holidays & Events Christmas Recipes Christmas Menus 20 Holiday Menus for Entertaining at Home These holiday party menus will help you celebrate Hanukkah dinner, Christmas brunch, New Year's Eve cocktail parties, and so much more. By Martha Stewart Editors Martha Stewart Editors An article attributed to "Martha Stewart Editors" indicates when several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The Martha Stewart team aims to teach and inspire readers daily with tested-until-perfected recipes, creative DIY projects, and elevated home and entertaining ideas. They are experts in their fields who research, create, and test the best ways to help readers design the life they want. The joy is in the doing. Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 17, 2022 Trending Videos Get inspiration and ideas for your Christmas or Hanukkah gathering from our selection of menus that feature traditional and new dishes for cocktails, buffets, brunches, and dinner parties alike. 01 of 20 Classic Holiday Cocktail Party Stock your pantry and make the hors d'oeuvres ahead of time so you can pull off this festive affair in only an hour or two. Our easy-for-the-hostess menu is ideal for an impromptu party with friends. Start with one idea, such as a signature drink, and build on it. Cheese balls are a retro nod; one base recipe and some add-ins later, you have three enticing variations. We've updated bacon-wrapped dates with tart apricots and salty pistachios and stirred up a beautiful orange punch. Savory lemon-parsley gougères and crisp radishes with salt and olive oil for dipping round out the flavor-texture canvas. Have best-quality breadsticks, olives, and nuts ready to supplement the menu in case your guest list grows at the last minute. Serves 8 to 10 Drinks Green Apple Martini Blood-Orange Punch Appetizers Cheese Balls Three Ways Bacon-Wrapped Dates Lemon-Parsley Gougeres 02 of 20 Easy and Exquisite Holiday Evening Menu Neither dinner nor cocktail party, this holiday gathering borrows the best of both, taking the substantial foods of the former and serving them in the bite-size portions and buffet style of the latter. The menu includes splurges for special ingredients: Baby lamb chops, sliced from a roasted rack, make delicious finger foods, with the bones acting as utensils. Mini crab cakes bring an exotic touch to an otherwise traditional menu. Salted, honey-roasted figs can be eaten with the savory foods or with sweet grapes, working two ways on plate and palate—flexibility is what a buffet is all about. Don't be afraid to mix and match flavors, tableware, and approaches to entertaining for a gathering that truly reflects your style. Serves 6 to 8 Drink Lemon Drop-Champagne Punch Appetizers Spinach and Watercress Dip Mini Asian Crab Cakes Dijon Baby Lamb Chops with Red Currant-Mint Dipping Sauce Dessert Honey-Roasted Salted Figs 03 of 20 Make-Ahead Holiday Cocktails and Appetizers Party Anna Williams Behind every great cocktail party is some savvy planning. So you can spend time with your guests and enjoy the party, the hors d'oeuvres also need to be made in advance and should be easy to serve, rather than requiring last-minute fuss. Ideally, the accompanying cocktails would not only complement the recipes, but be similarly simple to pull together. The following recipes were conceived to create harmony around nuances of flavor, which means one less thing for you to plan. And because you won't be playing bartender, you can spend the evening juggling conversations, not liquor bottles. Serves 14 to 16 Drinks Lillet-Vodka Cocktails Sparkling Rose with Bay Leaf Syrup Lemon-Gin Martini Appetizers Shrimp Salad Canapes with Endive Taleggio Flatbread Braised Chorizo Baked Artichoke Dip with Winter Crudites 04 of 20 Tree-Trimming Buffet It wouldn't be Christmas without family traditions and decorations. And, at this family celebration in Central Tennessee, oyster pie, country ham, and biscuits are an essential part of the holiday. But these time-honored elements always have room to evolve so the favorite foods are part of a casual open house that allows entertaining in a leisurely way before the Christmas crunch really sets in. It also means plenty of help trimming the tree. Serves 10 to 12 Drink Maestro's Old Fashioned Appetizer Wild Mushroom Pâté Mains Baked Country Ham Oyster Pie Bread Beaten Biscuits Salad Green Bean and Butter Bean Salad Citrus Salad Dessert Salli's Cranberry Tartlets Chewy Chocolate-Gingerbread Cookies 05 of 20 Standing Rib Roast Menu Crispy roast potatoes accompany a standing rib roast for what might be the most traditional and most spectacular of Christmas menus. Easy sides, sautéed peas and a crisp winter salad, round out the main course. A chocolate yule log for dessert finishes the meal in grand holiday style. Serves 8 Main Rib Roast with Rosemary-Garlic Potatoes Sides Sautéed Peas and Red Onion Frisée Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette No-Knead Dinner Rolls Dessert Chocolate and Nut Yule Log 06 of 20 Classic Holiday Ham Menu 'Tis the season, so spread the joy by serving our classic holiday menu for a feast that's sure to dazzle. We skip the appetizer course and go straight to the main event, the ham, plus celebratory sides. A many-layered chocolate cake, with a rich chocolate-orange filling is the finale. Serves 8 Main Brandied Ham Sides Leek Gratin Roasted Winter Vegetables Spinach and Gruyère Soufflé Dessert Glazed Chocolate Layer Cake 07 of 20 Easy Beef Tenderloin Dinner Indulgent yet easy—that's this beef tenderloin dinner that pairs the meat with crispy but creamy potatoes Anna and a simple side of sautéed Swiss chard. Layers of cream, cake, custard, and raspberries create a stunning trifle that's one of our favorite make-ahead desserts. Serves 8 Main Beef Tenderloin Sides Potatoes Anna Sauteed Swiss Chard Dessert Grand Raspberry Trifle 08 of 20 Classic Hanukkah Menu When there's something to celebrate—be it a family event or a holiday—the Jewish tradition is to feast. Food plays an important role in many Jewish customs, from the weekly Shabbat meal to annual Hanukkah festivities. These dishes are representative of foods offered at different times of year. Each recipe serves at least eight people, but consider making double batches to send home with guests or for leftovers the next day. Serves 8 to 10 Appetizer Chopped Chicken Liver Main Short Ribs with Root Vegetables Side Noodle Kugel Desserts Fried Apple Fritters Rugelach 09 of 20 Traditional Hanukkah Menu A Hanukkah party is a wonderful way to gather together family and friends of all ages. Our homey, hearty meal can be made ahead—that's especially helpful if your party falls on a weeknight. But any of Hanukkah's eight nights offers the opportunity to enjoy the holiday's many traditions, the company of loved ones, and, of course, a memorable dinner. Serves 8 Appetizers Talia's Favorite Latkes Chunky Applesauce Main Juki's Short Ribs Sides Pickled Red-Cabbage Slaw Barley Pilaf with Pearl Onions Dessert Sufganiyot 10 of 20 Modern Hanukkah Menu If we're meant to spend the holidays with family, then why do so many seasonal recipes leave us stranded in the kitchen? Enter this menu of modern twists on classic Hanukkah fare. The dishes here offer all the beloved ingredients—crisp potatoes, braised beef, sweet doughnuts—but can be prepared in a fraction of the time. Lay the food out buffet-style so even serving is a snap. Serves 8 to 10 Appetizers Potato and Celery Root Rosti Roasted Apples Main Kumquat-Braised Short Ribs Side Sauteed Spinach with Toasted Pine Nuts Dessert Doughnut Twists 11 of 20 Sophisticated Christmas Eve Dinner Ken Kochey This Christmas Eve dinner combines time-honored traditions and a procession of desserts that will inspire you to create your own memorable holiday celebrations. It's the menu that Martha's longtime friend and colleague Gael Towey and her husband, Stephen Doyle, serve in their townhouse in in the West Village of New York City, surrounded by family and friends. Serves 12 Appetizers Spicy Tuna Tartare Beef Tenderloin Crostini with Sultana-Port Relish Main Seafood Risotto Side Red Lettuce, Asian Pear, and Mint Salad Desserts Classic Tarte Tatin Chestnut Cake with Chocolate-Armagnac Glaze Lemon Cloud Trifle Gilded Honeycomb Hazelnut Brittle 12 of 20 Festive Christmas Brunch James Merrell This festive Christmas brunch menu is sure to please. It's centered on a maple-bacon quiche. Extras like spiced apple cider, butternut squash soup, and turtle brownies round out the warm, tasty meal. We recommend serving this brunch menu with sharp cheddar cheese and brown bread for added appeal. Serves 8 Drinks Spiced Apple Cider Pear and Sparkling Cider Cocktails Salad Red-and-Green Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette Soup Butternut Squash Soup Mains Chicken-and-Sage Sausages Maple-Bacon Quiche Desserts Applesauce Coffee Cake Turtle Brownies 13 of 20 Mountain Christmas Menu Around the holidays, some families honor their Swiss heritage with a traditional dinner. The menu begins with a classic cheese fondue, followed by baked ham, sides of potato rosti and spaetzle, and a dessert selection including apple pie, cookies, and candy. Serves 10 Appetizer Cheese Fondue Salad Endive and Radish Salad Main Honey-Orange Baked Ham Sides Potato Rosti Green Beans and Spaetzle Vanilla Applesauce Orange Spiral Rolls Desserts Mile-High Apple Pie Chocolate Fudge Chocolate Butterscotch-Chip Cookies Bratseli Almond Shortbread Cookies Peanut Brittle 14 of 20 Roast Poussin Menu A poussin is a very young chicken and makes a perfect, different-but-not-unfamiliar entrée for a holiday meal. Each poussin is halved and serves two guests. The main course is rounded out with buttered carrots, rice pilaf, and caramelized onion tartlets, And for dessert, there's a trio of festive options—and for an added holiday bonus, sip a cup of eggnog. Serves 6 Drinks Cooked Custard Eggnog Ramos Gin Fizz Appetizer Spicy Pecans Main Roast Poussin with Prunes and Thyme Sides Rice Pilaf with Almonds and Dried Pears Buttered Carrots Caramelized Onion Tartlets Desserts Seven Swans A-Swimming Gingerbread Cupcakes Oatmeal Cookies 15 of 20 Feast of Flavors Menu A celebration of holiday favorites, this dinner menu really pulls out all the stops. There's honeyed ham and prime rib, served with a simple, refreshing salad of crunchy greens and citrus. We cut back on sides and appetizers to save room for dessert, lots of dessert, including the quintessential holiday flavors of gingerbread, peppermint, and eggnog. Serves 8 to 10 Appetizer Pate with Pomegranate Gelee Mains Honeyed Ham with Pears and Cranberries Prime Rib and Oven-Roasted Potatoes with Bay Leaves and Sage Salad Citrus Salad with Endive and Fennel Desserts Gingerbread Linzertorte Chocolate-Peppermint Cookies Eggnog Bavarians Pistachio-Cranberry Torrone 16 of 20 Grand Holiday Buffet Enrich your family's holiday feast with two key ingredients: elegance and ease. During this season of giving, putting together a buffet is a suitably generous way to entertain. Because guests serve themselves, it's also the most practical, fuss-free way to welcome a crowd. Our stand-out buffet features a satisfying selection of savories, including an update on roast stuffed turkey and plenty of accompaniments. For a very sweet ending, serve our hazelnut torte and a grand pavlova, both will tempt any sugarplum fairy. Serves 10 to 12 Mains Tuscan-Roast Turkey Breast Beef Tenderloin with Mushrooms and Thyme Sides Farro, Orange, and Pine-Nut Dressing Rich Roasted Potatoes Leek and Gruyere Bread Pudding Brown-Sugar-Spiced Red Cabbage Glazed Root Vegetables Braised Apples with Saffron and Cider Salad Chicory Salad with Maple-Roasted Acorn Squash Drink Classic Eggnog Desserts Hazelnut-Praline Torte Pavlova with Vanilla-Poached Oranges 17 of 20 Christmas Beef Dinner A boneless prime rib-eye roast is the centerpiece of this Christmas dinner menu. Our streamlined approach pairs the favorite entrée with a special holiday mashed potato side and a crisp seasonal salad. And for a spectacular finish, a tall chocolate layer cake frosted with snowy white buttercream and topped with crushed peppermints. Serves 8 to 12 Main Roast Beef with Caramelized Shallots Side Mashed-Potato Gratin Salad Salad with Cranberries and Almonds Dessert Chocolate-Peppermint Cake 18 of 20 A Simple and Spectacular Holiday Pork Dinner A seasonal meal can be effortlessly festive: Try pork stuffed with fruit, plus impressively tasteful accents. An easy trifle made with layers of sweetened cranberries, buttery pound cake, and fluffy whipped cream, makes for a merry ending to a dazzling meal. Serves 8 Main Pork Loin with Dried-Fruit and Chestnut Stuffing Side Herbed Mushroom Custards Celery Root and Potato Puree Lemony Shredded Brussels Sprouts Dessert Cranberry Trifle 19 of 20 Italian-Style Christmas Family Feast The owners of the beloved Manhattan Italian restaurant Sfoglia, Ron Suhanosky and Colleen Marnell-Suhanosky, share their Italian-style Christmas feast. It is indeed a feast with multiple options for each of the four courses. The menu reflects the couple's backgrounds: His family is Hungarian, Polish, and Italian; hers is Sicilian and French. It's packed with their take on traditional dishes, and it's all delicious. Serves 8 to 10 Appetizers Chicken-Liver Crostini Pomegranate-Fontina Rice Balls Butternut Squash Pudding Mains Nonna's Crab and Lobster with Spaghetti Winter Herb and Ricotta Cannelloni Poached Cod in Tomato Sauce with Prunes Roasted Boar (or Pork) with Mostarda Sides Caramelized Brussels Sprouts Kale, Blood Orange, and Hazelnut Salad Oven-Braised Lentils Desserts Struffoli (Fried Dough with Honey and Almonds) Whole-Wheat Lemon Biscotti Poached Dried Apricots and Currants with Zabaglione 20 of 20 Caroling Party When Martha hosts a caroling party, the sounds and the flavors of the season meld in perfect harmony. Her festive buffet menu offers lots of small bites and balances the savory and the sweet. Serves 12 Appetizers White Crudites with Buttermilk Dip Oysters with Mignonette Gelee Potato Pancakes with Pink Applesauce and Creme Fraiche Pickled Lady Apples Smoked Salmon Platter with Fennel Salad Individual Pork Potpies Rice-Stuffed Cabbage Soup Creamy Winter Squash Soup with Herbed Crostini Drink Martha's Classic Eggnog Dessert White Cake with Mincemeat Filling and Glaceed Fruit Walnut Cookies Almond-Orange Cookies Cranberry and Pistachio Rochers Speculaas Cookies Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit