Decorating For A Christmas Dinner Party

Easy Christmas Dinner Planning

Christmas dinner party ideas for hosting a crowd this holiday. Plus simple table decorations and ways to use leftovers for an easy breakfast!

spiral cut ham with pomegranate arils on platter with herbs

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Christmas dinner party ideas
Easy Christmas entertaining
Sides to serve with spiral cut ham
Simple Christmas table decorations
Easy Party Food For Christmas – One Holiday Shopping List

With all the running around during the holiday season, I'm a huge fan of cutting down on the shopping and errands. If you feel the same way, we are kindred Christmas spirits!

Here are some great ideas for how to shop once and entertain multiple times without the stress. I've got you covered with entertaining tips to keep the party going and the stress level low.

Christmas dinner party ideas

Whether you are hosting Christmas dinner, or waking up a houseful of sleeping guests to a great breakfast, I'll tell you how to get all your ingredients and decorating supplies in one trip at your store.

It just takes a little planning, some great short cuts and a shopping list!

Easy Christmas entertaining

Chances are you have family or friends coming to stay for the holidays. That, or you are going to stay somewhere yourself!

Either way, you'll want to get in on some of these ideas, all of which can happen afterone trip to the store.

christmas dinner party table set up overhead on white linen

Here on the east coast stores are the place to go for great food, as well as everything else for gathering party crowds. With some simple menu plans, leftovers ideas, chic table decor, I have everything covered.

Make a Holiday Grocery List and Menu Plan:

I know how to plan a holiday party menu! I always start with the food. Wait! That's not totally true!

I actually clean the house first and make sure everything is shoved into closets! Then I think about the menu. Start with the main dish and sides.

This year I'm getting a Nature's Promise Spiral Cut Ham from . I can heat-and-serve the ham on Christmas Day and serve it with all my favorite holiday side dishes.

Grab some rolls from the bakery department and save yourself a step!

close up of cooked ham slices on platter with pomegranate and herbs

Sides to serve with spiral cut ham

Baby Broccoli with Hazelnut Butter
Green Beans with Artichokes and Capers
Smoked Gouda and Scallion Potatoes
Winter Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette
Roast Parsnips with Sage Butter
Golden Potato and Carrot Gratin

For me, dessert is always best with a mix ofhomemade Christmas sweets and treats from the bakery department. I love making a few special recipes along with store-bought pies, cookies and donuts. Little treats from the bakery even make great to-go gifts for guests.

A Christmas Party Menu That Goes From Dinner To Breakfast:

The next morning I make myDill Ricotta Biscuits and make breakfast sandwiches, filling them with slices of leftover ham, mango chutney and mascarpone.

dill biscuits with ham and mustard on parchment

Or make my easyPancakes from the Pantry since you just stocked up on your pantry staples at the store.

Along with eggs and some clementines from the produce section, these biscuit breakfast sandwiches or pancakes make an easy breakfast spread.

Easy Breakfast Ideas for a Crowd:

Southwest Frittata with Black Beans
My favorite Bran Muffins
Oven Baked French Toast
Blueberry Pancakes with Ginger Syrup
No-rise Cinnamon Rolls
The Martha Stewart Omelet
Dutch Baby Pancake

Serving breakfast on paper plates with disposable cups makes for easy cleanup and gets everyone out of the house to play with those new toys!

Simple Christmas table decorations

Once I have my menu planned for a great dinner, treats, even breakfast the next day, I think about how I can make my holiday table special.

With just a few little touches, I can keep it simple but make it feel spectacular.

paper napkin with twine and herb table decoration

On my trip through Stop & Shop I can pick up fresh herbs (which I'm already using for my parsnips recipe!), pretty napkins as well as flowers from the flower shop. Just a few stems can be arranged to add a festive feel to the table.

With a little twine around the napkins and a sprig of extra herb, I can forgo the traditional napkin ring. It's an easy way to make paper napkins look special, and then I don't have the laundry of linen napkins after dinner!

christmas table flower arrangement with roses and red berries

Little gravy pitchers and bowls from around the house serve as vases for my flowers and a few extra ornaments complete the look. Grab ornaments and lights at Stop & Shop too! They have it all.

A tip for arranging flowers in a small vessel: Use tape to make a grid on the top of your vessel. Arrange the flowers to stand up within the grid!

how to make tape grid for flower arranging in little glasses

Below you'll find a printable grocery list to take with you to the store. You'll only have to shop once for entertaining all week.

Entertain with these great ideas. Make easy meals and pretty moments for your holiday guests.

Christmas party ideas feature flowers in votives on white linen

Easy Party Food For Christmas – One Holiday Shopping List

Christmas dinner party ideas for hosting a crowd this holiday. I've got you covered with entertaining tips to keep the party going and the stress level low.

Prep Time 2 hrs

Total Time 2 hrs

Course Breakfast, Dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 10 people

Calories 76 kcal

1 Spiral Cut Ham
1 bag Rolls From the bakery dept
2 bottles fruit juices for breakfast
2 types Fresh herbs for recipes and napkins
1 roll string or twine
1 pkg white paper napkins
1 bag plastic cups
1 pkg paper plates for breakfast
1 dozen eggs
1 prepared fruit platter or clementines
2 bakery treats various
1 container Pomegranate arils for ham, if desired
1 jar mango chutney for breakfast biscuits
1 container mascarpone for breakfast biscuits
1 jar grainy mustard for breakfast biscuits
Ingredients for side dishes
Ingredients for breakfast recipes
2 bunches flowers
Ornaments and lights

Use this list as a guide for planning your shopping trip.
This list will help you prepare for a holiday meal and breakfast the next day.

Simple table decorations and ideas for using leftovers for an easy breakfast, as well as helpful tips for what to buy at the grocery store.

•Nutrition Facts do not apply for this grocery list.

Calories: 76 kcal Carbohydrates: 1 g Protein: 7 g Fat: 5 g Saturated Fat: 2 g Cholesterol: 196 mg Sodium: 76 mg Potassium: 73 mg Sugar: 1 g Vitamin A: 302 IU Vitamin C: 1 mg Calcium: 30 mg Iron: 1 mg

Check out our Youtube and try this recipe and more.

Festive Christmas Recipes

Pistachio Lace Cookies
Chocolate Snowman Cookies
Honey Cinnamon Cut Out Cookies | Tara Teaspoon
Baked Sweet Potato Cubes With Cinnamon Meringue
Classic Iced Oatmeal Cookies
Maple Caramel Pie with Hazelnuts
Blossom Cookies with Cashew Butter and Chai Spice (Chai Cookies)
Classic Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies

About Tara Teaspoon

I've been in the food publishing business for over 20 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television & advertising. Order my new cookbook & stick around for amazing things to eat.

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