Holiday Party Catering Tips And Menu Ideas

Every year it happens. The Halloween decorations may still be out; they may even stay up. But already the next Big Thing is upon us: the holiday season. 

Theoretically, it begins just after Halloween (or in some areas, a little before). You’ve probably already noticed the familiar decor popping up: snowmen and Santa Claus and turkeys and sometimes menorahs briefly hanging out with the skeletons and ghosts of October. It can be a time of great joy, bringing along with it dreams of snow and winter vacations and presents and delicious meals shared with family. It can also be a wild stressor for the person putting together the annual holiday party.

If you’re reading this blog, that’s probably you.

You may be looking at the screen in dread, convinced your life is about to be swallowed by coordinating menus, juggling dietary needs, and making sure there’s enough food (but not too much — fridge space is limited, after all). 

We’re happy to tell you it doesn’t have to be like that. With smart planning (and, y’know, the right holiday party catering partner), you can pull off a festive and memorable holiday event that the whole team will enjoy. 

DEFINE YOUR BUDGET & SET THE GUEST LIST

All the greatest office parties begin with two numbers: how many people you’re feeding and how much you want to spend. Your headcount will drive everything, from where you set up to menu size and portioning.

People tend to plan vacations for this time of year, so find out who will be in town and who plans to attend. You can do this and get information on peoples’ dietary restrictions by sending out a survey, setting up a spreadsheet open to everyone, or sending out an email and managing the data yourself.

Once you’ve got a headcount, set a per-person budget. This is also when you’ll start working out proportions. For example, you’ll want to make sure each attendee has at least one entree, one side, and one serving of dessert. 

WHAT’S YOUR CATERING STYLE?

So…how are you going to feed all these people? Depending on what kind of party you want to throw (and what kind of office culture you have), you could choose from:

• Potluck: Encourage everyone to bring something and serve it buffet-style. Pro Tip: Put together a signup sheet so others can see what’s already in progress. Nothing puts a damper on a holiday party faster than a dozen salads and only one serving of mashed potatoes. 
• Full catered meal: Bring in something delicious from a local restaurant and let them do the cooking and the setup. Usually it includes an entree and a selection of sides, along with a salad and dessert. Sometimes it’s served buffet-style. 
• Individual meals: Attendees can order the meals they want from a selection of restaurants. They can choose their entrees, sides, and desserts, along with any special dietary requests (such as “cheese on the side” or “extra cheese”). Meals will arrive in individual packaging, ready to hand out and eat. 

BUILD YOUR HOLIDAY CATERING MENU

OK, now it’s time for the good part: the food! What you end up serving will depend on what catering method you choose, so these two steps may well be taken together. 

Traditional fare

The winter holidays tend to emphasize warm, hearty meals, involving food like: 

• Turkey 
• Mashed potatoes
• Candied yams
• Stuffing
• Ham
• Cranberry sauce
• Salad
• Biscuits/rolls

We’ve also seen roast beef, prime rib, and macaroni and cheese on some peoples’ lists. In addition, different cultures may have their own holiday specialties. If you’re curious about these, check in with your teammates. 

Alternates

You’ll notice something about the food described above: aside from the salad, it’s all very rich and heavy. It’s entirely possible you have the kind of coworkers who will gobble it all down and look for more, but you may run up against some dietary restrictions along with people who just prefer lighter fare. Look into substitutes like:

• Gluten-, nut, and dairy-free options
• Vegetarian options
• Fruit salad 
• Soups
• Hummus and dippable items like veggies or crackers

Dessert

No holiday dinner is complete without pie. Any kind of pie will do, though apple and pumpkin tend to be the big winners in the winter. But you can also lean into the season with these treats:

• Gingerbread men (bonus idea: have a gingerbread decorating party before the holiday party)
• Cheesecake
• Cookies of all sorts
• Fruitcake

Again, make sure you take into account the allergies and dietary requirements of your staff. 

Beverages

What can you offer your people besides water? We’re so glad you asked.

• Sparkling cider (apple and cranberry are often big winners)
• Sparkling water
• Tea and coffee
• Hot chocolate
• Mocktails 
• Eggnog

As you put together your beverage menu, you may end up fielding questions over whether you should serve alcohol — spiked eggnog is popular, for example, as are hot toddies — but that’s up to you. Generally speaking, we’d advise you not to bring alcohol into the office. After all, everyone’s going to have to drive home at some point. 

DETERMINE YOUR SETUP

You’re at the finish line. You’ve selected a catering style and a menu. How will you serve all this delicious grub?

Ask yourself the following questions:

Where will you host this party?

• A conference room or open area?
• The company kitchen?
• Outside (if in a temperate climate)?
• In a rental space?

How will the people actually get the food?

• What kind of equipment (serving trays, utensils, glasses, etc.) may be necessary?
• Do you have serving tables?
• Will you be using regular flatware or disposable?

Are you going to decorate?

• Tinsel on the serving tables
• Cranberry boughs (real or fake)
• Festive fairy lights

Who’s cleaning everything up?

• You?
• You + volunteers?
• Let the CEO do it?

GET YOUR HOLIDAY PARTY TOGETHER EARLY

Over the years, we’ve had plenty of people ask us, How far in advance should I order holiday catering? Our answer is always the same:

Order it early.

Really early.

If you’re having a potluck where everyone brings something, you’ve got more flexibility — just let people know the date and time and how many will be attending, and they’ll take care of the rest. But if you’re ordering individual meals or a fully catered service, get to the head of the line early. Remember, catering and delivery companies aren’t just waiting on your order; they’re also getting requests from other businesses in the area (and everyone else who might be hosting a party). The sooner you can lock in your date and place your order, the less you have to worry about. 

The best time to order holiday party catering is three to four months in advance. The second-best time is right now.

SERVE UP HOLIDAY GOODNESS WITH WAITER

All that sounds…well, kind of stressful. And holiday parties should be about celebration, not stress. We invite you to hand off the hardest part of planning — the food — to the Waiter team. Does your team want their meal fully catered? We can help with that. Or would you rather have your coworkers choose their own meals made to order? That way they can pick what they like. Yeah, we’ve got you covered there, too. And get this: because the meals are individually wrapped, clean-up is as simple as dropping the packaging in the recycling. Who’s off cleaning duty? You! 

Take the energy you’ve been putting toward menus and portions and put it towards enjoying the party. Seriously, start decorating. We’ll bring the food.