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41 Scrumptious Christmas Potluck Ideas for Parties in 2024

by: Madeline St. Clair

Last Updated on Sep 12th 2024

Friends and family may be what make Christmas parties so special, but scrumptious Christmas potluck ideas are what keep the friends and family coming back each year for more. However, after making so many hams, quiches and mince pies, you may be asking yourself, what is a good dish to take to a potluck? And if you’re a new Christmas potluck participant, you’re probably wondering what to bring food-wise to a Christmas party?

This list provides 41 scrumptious Christmas potluck ideas, showcasing a range of culinary masterpieces from Christmas party food and friendsgiving food ideas to foods that give you energy and foods that put you peacefully to sleep. This list of simple Christmas potluck ideas is sure to revitalize your Christmas spirit and help you cook seamlessly through another bountiful holiday season.

Easy Christmas Potluck Ideas

1. Spinach and artichoke dip

Creamy, flavorful and always a crowd-pleaser, this Christmas Potluck idea is easy to both prepare and reheat so you can enjoy it in the moment and as a midnight snack. Combine tender spinach, tangy artichoke and a cheese blend of your choosing and bake until golden brown and bubbly. That’s all it takes, so be sure to add spinach and artichoke dip to your easy Christmas potluck ideas.

2. Deviled Eggs

It seems deviled eggs make an appearance on every festive food list… and for good reason. These simple, yet delicious hard-boiled eggs make a great stress-free addition to your Christmas potluck ideas. Simply start with the basics: halved hard-boiled eggs filled with a creamy mixture of egg yolk, mayonnaise, mustard and a touch of vinegar. Customize from there! Perhaps you’ll add a sprinkle of paprika, a dash of chives or even some sliced jalapeños. Elevate deviled eggs for a more lavish event by topping them with caviar.

3. Stuffed Mushrooms

These Christmas potluck ideas are earthy, warm and savory. Stuffed mushrooms are extremely versatile with so many combinations of stuffings to try. Keep it simple and fill these bite-sized delights with cream cheese, garlic and breadcrumbs. Or, add even more flavor with sun-dried tomatoes, sausage or spinach.

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4. Christmas Tree Cheese Board

Charcuterie board ideas are a potluck must, but after so many holiday parties… you may be tired of them by now! However, they require very little cooking, so don’t write them off quite yet. Instead, turn your regular ole Christmas charcuterie board ideas into a feast for both the palette and the eyes with a Christmas tree cheese board! Arrange an assortment of cheeses, meats, nuts and fruits into the shape of a Christmas tree. Add in some sprigs of rosemary or thyme to capture the essence of the winter pine.

5. Caprese Skewers

These Christmas potluck ideas only require four ingredients. Rotate adding cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella balls and basil on toothpicks until all of the ingredients are gone. Drizzle a bit of balsamic glaze over each skewer and viola! An easy and festive Christmas potluck idea that even sports the holiday’s staple colors.

6. Pigs in a Blanket

Mini hot dogs? Mini crescent rolls? If you’re into all things tiny, these Christmas potluck ideas are a must-try. Wrap mini sausages into small crescent rolls and back until golden and fluffy. These soft and savory Christmas appetizer ideas are sure to be a hit. Brush the dough with a bit of melted butter and serve with a few dipping sauces. For some out-of-the-ordinary Elf on the Shelf ideas, put the little guy into one of the dough folds instead of a hot dogs!

7. Baked Brie with Cranberry

If you typically show up to a potluck with something store-bought, but you’d like to give cooking a shot, this Christmas potluck idea combines store-bought and homemade. Grab a wheel of brie and a can of cranberry sauce. Unwrap the brie and place it in the center of a deep baking dish on top of parchment paper. Bake for 15 minutes in a 350-degree oven. Once baked, top it off with your store-bought cranberry sauce and enjoy as guests lavish in the creamy, luxurious flavor of this simple dish.

8. Christmas Popcorn Mix

Sweet, salty and oh-so flavorful, this popcorn mix is a festive Christmas potluck idea that typically includes a combination of popcorn, pretzels and nuts coated in white chocolate. Add a bit of festive color to this party favorite with some M&Ms, sprinkles or crushed up candy cane. If you feel like you’ve got enough for everyone to nibble on, you can always package some Christmas popcorn up as a take-home treat for your guests.

9. Cranberry and Goat Cheese Crostini

You don’t need a laundry list of ingredients or a book of steps to assemble crowd-pleasing unique Christmas potluck ideas. For example, these Christmas potluck ideas are both simple and sophisticated with a tangy, sweet-tart flavor. Spread a layer of goat cheese over toasted baguette slices and top with a dollop of cranberry sauce.

Unique Christmas Potluck Ideas

10. Holiday Sliders

Holiday sliders are simply sandwiches, but much smaller and packed with your favorite flavors of Christmas. Stuff tender slices of turkey or ham, and a generous spread of cranberry sauce and stuffing between cloudy-soft rolls. Christmas sliders can easily be made in large batches, making these convenient, handheld creations an ideal Christmas potluck idea.

11. Holiday Sushi Roll

What does "potluck" mean for a Christmas party? The meaning of a Christmas potluck is simple: prepare a dish to be shared amongst everyone. Other than that, there are no rules! So, experiment to your heart's delight. Holiday sushi rolls are a wonderful and festive break from tradition. Use red and green ingredients like fresh cucumber, sushi-grade salmon or tuna, avocado and perhaps a topping of red tobiko. They will no doubt be a delicious and visually appealing addition to your Christmas potluck ideas.

12. Eggnog Bread Pudding

This Christmas potluck idea is just as warm and comforting as the holiday itself. Soak cubes of bread in a mix of eggnog and aromatic spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Bake the pudding in the oven until golden brown and serve with whipped cream, a drizzle of rum sauce or a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.

13. Merry Punch

Merry punch is a festive take on fruit punch and can be made with or without alcohol. In a large bowl combine your favorite seasonal fruit juices like cranberry, orange and pineapple. Make the punch table display worthy by garnishing it with sliced oranges, fresh cranberries, mint and cinnamon sticks. This Christmas Potluck idea is as refreshing as it sounds.

14. Snowman Cheese Balls

If there will be little ones attending the soiree, you’ll want to consider these Christmas potluck ideas. Just as you would with freshly fallen snow, shape a mixture of cream cheese, seasonings and shredded cheese to form a cheese ball. Decorate the seasonal cheese ball with peppercorn eyes, pretzel arms and, of course, a carrot nose. Serve it alongside crackers, breadsticks or fresh vegetables.

15. Festive Reindeer Feed

What do Santa's reindeer eat? Apparently, they love some shiny oatmeal! The smell of the oatmeal attracts them and the shiny glimmer of glitter entices them. As one of the most unique Christmas potluck ideas, recreate the magic for your party, but without the glitter. Mix rolled oats, dried cranberries, grated cheese and a spinkle of sugar. Then add an eco-friendly and edible substitute for glitter like dipping rice paper in food coloring, letting it dry and then tearing it to bits. You can do the same things with seaweed snacks to add in a salty element.

16. Cranberry Brownies

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, cranberry brownies are sure to satisfy your chocolate cravings. The rich and gooey goodness of chocolate brownies meets the tart and slightly bitter nature of cranberries to form a decadent dessert. You can make the brownies from scratch or simply use your favorite boxed mix! Add some cranberries into the mixture and once baked, cooled and ready to serve, cut them into bite-sized pieces for all to enjoy. Serve this as one of the sweetest Christmas breakfast ideas if you have a family with a craving for chocolate.

17. Candy Cane Cookies

With Christmas comes the nostalgia of family traditions, but what also makes the holiday so magical is its whimsy, and these Christmas cookie ideas are delightfully whimsical. Flavor red and white dough with peppermint extract and twist into the shape of a candy cane. Top them with white chocolate pieces and once fully cooked, sprinkle with crushed up candy canes.

18. Snow Globe Snow Ball

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting Maryland in the summertime, then you’ve experienced the state’s favorite Summer dessert: a snowball. If you’ve never had the pleasure, the Maryland Office of Tourism does a great job explaining the sweet treat, “the best snowballs are piled high with a mound of ice reaching up above the rim. The syrup is pumped down the middle creating a little icy lake of flavor. Try one naked, or top it off with delicious marshmallow cream or chocolate sauce to enjoy it like a real local.”

You may be thinking, what business does a summer dessert have at a Christmas potluck? Well, plenty of households serve up an apple pie with a big ole scoop of cold ice cream, so why not try something different? Use red and green flavored syrups to make this treat extra festive.

Christmas Potluck Ideas for Work

19. Christmas Crackers

Not to be confused with British Christmas crackers, a fun holiday party favor. No, these Christmas potluck ideas are simple spreads of cheese and crackers with a focus on seasonal flavors. Put out a basket of various crackers next to holiday-themes spreads like pimento cheese, cream cheese with chives, pitchfork cheddar and truffle Bigod.

20. Pasta Salad

Easy Christmas potluck ideas for work should be just that, easy. You’re already working at least 40 hours a week, so there’s no need to spend an exorbitant amount of time putting together a Christmas potluck idea. Instead, assemble a dish that’s simple to customize in case of dietary restrictions and always a hit like pasta salad. Toss room-temperature pasta, cherry tomatoes, green and red bell peppers, red onion and fresh herbs in a vinaigrette. Place the concoction in the fridge to cool and absorb all that tangy flavor overnight.

21. Seasonal Fruit Salad

Add a colorful dish to your list of Christmas potluck ideas for work to liven up the party! And, we all could use some more fruit in our lives. A seasonal fruit salad will add a lovely balance to the richer dishes that are sure to end up on the office party table. Focus on seasonal fruits like pomegranates, oranges, pears, apples and cranberries. Toss them together with a light drizzling of honey and a squeeze of lime.

22. Cranberry Pear Quinoa Salad

This healthy Christmas potluck idea is nutty, vibrant and tart. Simply toss cooked quinoa in a light vinaigrette with chopped pistachios, cranberries and pears. Cranberry pear quinoa salad will add a fresh touch to the work holiday menu. Plus, it leaves behind little mess making clean up easy which means you can spend less time in the kitchen before heading back out to work the next day. In fact, assembling a cranberry pear quinoa salad is so easy, you could do it the morning of or even on-site! How's that for simple and scrumptious Christmas potluck ideas?

23. Chocolate Dipped Candy Canes

Nothing screams holiday cheer quite like chocolate-dipped candy canes. Dip candy canes in melted chocolate, making sure to rotate between white, milk and dark chocolate, if you can, to make these festive Christmas potluck ideas even more enjoyable for all. Decorate the chocolate-dipped candy canes with sprinkles and edible glitter.

24. Christmas Themed Parfaits

Impress your managers by serving up a layered dessert at your work potluck. Shhh, we won’t tell them that these Christmas potluck ideas are actually super easy to make! That’s between you and the yogurt. Layer yogurt with red and green elements such as strawberry jam, raspberry compote, pistachio pudding or kiwi slices.

25. Apple Crisp

Crisp on the outside and gooey on the inside, you’ll taste the warmth of the holiday season with these Christmas potluck ideas. Baked apples are engulfed in a buttery, crispy oat topping, served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. And for an added bonus, it tastes just as good when it’s reheated the next day, so it makes for perfect Christmas brunch ideas.

Great Make-Ahead Christmas Potluck Ideas

26. Peppermint Bark

Often, traditional holiday treats end up being great make-ahead Christmas potluck ideas. So when in doubt, try out some peppermint bark, a classic Christmas favorite that’s perfect for sharing. Layer dark or milk chocolate with white chocolate, making sure to sprinkle crushed-up peppermint between each layer and on top. Serve it up in a festive tin or holiday-themed platter!

27. Mini Meatball Skewers

As far as finger foods go, mini meatball skewers make easy Christmas potluck ideas for work make-ahead. Sure, they're finger foods, but easy to grapple with thanks to the handy-dandy toothpick. Prepare the meatballs a day or two before the festivities. Poke each meatball with a toothpick so your coworkers can easily dip it into a marinara or cranberry glaze.

28. Stuffed Shells

If you’ve signed up to bring something filling to the Christmas extravaganza at work, stuffed shells are a potluck favorite. Fill jumbo pasta shells with a rich mixture of ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan cheese. You can also add in some spinach or ground beef. Cover in marinara sauce and bake until the sauce starts to bubble. Cover with tinfoil and store in the fridge until you’re ready to transport these Christmas potluck ideas to work.

29. Mac and Cheese

What should I bring to a Christmas potluck party? Any Christmas potluck ideas with cheese. And mac and cheese, well that’s a classic. This universally loved dish offers all the creamy comfort you could hope to get out of a Christmas potluck party at work. Plus, it is easily prepared in large quantities and reheats like a dream.

30. Carrot Cake

Moist, spiced and festive, carrot cake is a decadent and convenient Christmas potluck idea if you’re on the dessert committee. Made from grated carrots, hearty spices and a rich cream cheese frosting, it’s a timeless treat.

31. Short Ribs

These Christmas potluck ideas are full of rich and savory deliciousness. Slow-cook short ribs in a red wine mixture until they’re tender and flavorful, coating them first in salt, pepper and garlic powder and searing each piece on all sides. They’ll be fall-off-the-bone good no matter how many times they’re reheated.

32. Shepard's Pie

Shepard's pie is a warm and comforting Christmas classic. This dish is made by layering generously seasoned ground beef, carrots and peas beneath a blanket of creamy garlic mashed potatoes, which turns golden brown as it bakes in the oven. Shepherds pie has a homey feel to it, making it a welcome addition to work Christmas potluck ideas.

33. Cranberry Lemon Bars

With the tartness of cranberry and the brightness of lemon, cranberry lemon bars are refreshing and zesty Christmas potluck ideas for any dessert table. They provide both a burst of color and flavor. A crumbly shortbread crust holds together a vibrant, and creamy filling, blending together the worlds of both sweet and tangy.

34. Stuffed Acorn Squash

Forget bowls or plates. Instead, use squash! Stuffed acorn squash looks as good as it tastes. Fill roasted squash halved with a hearty mixture of various grains, vegetables, nuts, dried fruits and herbs. While this dish is delicious for all, it’s a particularly popular vegetarian option.

35. ChickPea Soup

On a cold winter’s night, a warm bowl of chickpea soup hits the spot. And it will at work too! Rich and nourishing, chickpea soup is flavorful and nutritional. With an emphasis on Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavors, this Christmas Potluck idea requires only a few kitchen appliances to make: a pot, a stove and an oven (or a blender if you want to make the soup extra creamy).

36. Holiday Ham

You may be tired of holiday ham, but then again, it does make an impeccable centerpiece that embodies the Christmas spirit. Instead of writing the famed holiday ham off altogether, experiment with a different Christmas potluck ideas, like various rubs such as a chili-coffee rub. Mix ground coffee with chili powder, brown sugar and smoked paprika. Not only will this combination provide a smoky flavor full of spice, but it pairs well with the naturally sweet taste of ham.

Casseroles for Christmas Potluck

37. Mashed Potato Casserole

Take the modest mashed potato and turn it into the casserole of all casseroles. These Christmas potluck ideas are infused with butter, sour cream, and a healthy amount of garlic, a mashed potato casserole defines comfort food. It pairs well with just about anything, so make sure to whip it up this holiday season.

38. Green Bean Casserole

Green bean casserole is a must-make Christmas potluck idea in many households nationwide. Smother tender green beans in a decadent mushroom cream sauce and cover with crispy fried onions. This beloved dish will provide a sense of tradition to any and all holiday festivities.

39. Broccoli Cheddar Casserole

There’s something wholesome about a broccoli cheddar casserole. Cover broccoli in an ocean of cheese sauce and top with breadcrumbs. It’s indulgent, it’s rich, and conveniently simple to make from common grocery store list items. One of the top Christmas potluck ideas for those with little time and a passion for cheese.

40. Scalloped Potatoes and Ham Casserole

You may have had scalloped potatoes at the Christmas dinner table and you may have had a holiday ham. But have you ever considered one of the most simple Christmas potluck ideas — combining the two? In this Christmas potluck idea, these two traditional holiday dishes come together to make a luxurious and hearty option.

41. Sweet Potatoes and Marshmallow Casserole

This wouldn’t be a list of Christmas potluck ideas without the mention of sweet potato and marshmallow casserole. The natural sweetness of the appropriately named sweet potato partners perfectly with the sugary yet slightly charred flavor of toasted marshmallows. Pleasing to both kids and adults, this dessert deserves a spot on the Christmas dinner table.

Holiday party food is all about comfort, warmth and flavor, especially when it comes to simple Christmas potluck ideas. Whether you’re favoring casseroles for Christmas potluck or unique Christmas potluck ideas, keep in mind that the holiday season isn’t about the food we make or the presents we give, but the people we spend it with. So be sure to schedule in more time with friends and family and less time with the stove and oven.

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