Christmas Buffet Food – Easy, Festive & Crowd-Pleasing Dishes
A festive spread of hot and cold dishes perfect for a Christmas buffet. Includes main proteins, cozy sides, vibrant salads, and sweet treats to satisfy every guest.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours
- Yield: Serves 12 1x
Ingredients
Main Dish
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1 spiral-cut ham (about 8–10 lbs)
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½ cup brown sugar
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2 tbsp Dijon mustard
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¼ cup orange juice
Sides
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3 lbs Yukon gold potatoes, thinly sliced
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2 cups heavy cream
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2 cups grated gruyère
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1 lb green beans
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½ cup slivered almonds
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2 tbsp butter
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2 lbs carrots
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3 tbsp honey
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1 tsp thyme
Appetizers
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12 hard-boiled eggs
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¼ cup mayo
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1 tsp mustard
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Puff pastry sheet
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¼ cup parmesan
Salad
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5 cups mixed greens
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1 pear, sliced
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¼ cup candied pecans
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¼ cup goat cheese
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Maple vinaigrette
Desserts
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12 mini gingerbread bars
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12 chocolate truffles
Instructions
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Bake ham at 325°F for 1.5–2 hours, basting with glaze made from brown sugar, mustard, and orange juice.
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Layer potatoes with cream and cheese. Bake at 375°F for 1 hour.
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Roast carrots with honey and thyme at 400°F for 30 minutes.
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Sauté green beans with butter and almonds until tender.
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Mix deviled egg filling and pipe into whites.
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Bake puff pastry twists with parmesan at 400°F for 15 minutes.
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Assemble salad just before serving. Plate desserts for easy grabbing.
Notes
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Most dishes can be made ahead and reheated.
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Keep hot foods warm using chafing dishes or slow cookers.
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Offer labels for dietary needs (gluten-free, vegan, etc.).