50 Christmas Buffet Recipes The Whole Family Will Love

By Rachel Mulcahy
September 20, 2019
Credit: Linda Puglies; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox
‘Tis the season to spend time with your loved ones and dig into delicious food. To cater to our ever-growing families, Southern Christmas dinners often end up bearing more resemblance to a buffet line than a traditional sit-down meal. And let’s be honest—an assembly line is the most effective way to get a taste of each dish in a timely manner. Christmas buffets allow for a range of offerings, which is ideal for the picky eaters of the group. Christmas buffets have all the classic dishes from Savory Sweet Potato Casserole to Twice-Baked Potatoes, but with a couple Southern additions such as Spiced Pumpkin Grits or Macaroni Pie. Whether you’re celebrating on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, these are crowd favorite recipes that are simply irresistible. Calories don’t count on Christmas, so spend the holiday with great food and even better company.
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Savory Sweet Potato Casserole

Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Savory Sweet Potato Casserole

Savory and sweet—how can that be? If we had our guess, it would be from the perfect medley of marshmallows and parmesan herb topping.

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Spice-Rubbed Tenderloin with Mustard-Cream Sauce

Credit: Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Spice-Rubbed Tenderloin with Mustard-Cream Sauce

This tenderloin is the perfect buffet addition. Just grab a slice and dress it with its creamy sauce.

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Macaroni Pie

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Macaroni Pie

This dish is something everyone will love, especially the kids!

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Potato Gratin with Rosemary Crust

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Potato Gratin with Rosemary Crust

Easy as pie, this potato-filled dish is our new favorite holiday recipe.

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Broccoli-Cheese Casserole

Credit: Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Broccoli is a fan-favorite vegetable, but when it’s mixed with cheese it becomes the ultimate dish.

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Old-School Squash Casserole

Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Old-School Squash Casserole

Holiday guests will crave this cheesy and crunchy casserole.

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Roasted Pumpkin-and-Baby Kale Salad

Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling; Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Roasted Pumpkin-and-Baby Kale Salad

When it's cold outside, we’ll use any excuse to add pumpkin to our dishes.

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Farro Salad with Toasted Pecans, Feta, and Dried Cherries

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Farro Salad with Toasted Pecans, Feta, and Dried Cherries

Warm and filling, this farro salad is all we need on Christmas Eve.

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Homemade Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks

Credit: Linda Puglies; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Homemade Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks

This holiday staple is elevated with crispy leeks as a topping.

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Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder

Credit: Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder

Everyone will be begging for this tangy and savory pork recipe.

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Sweet Potato Biscuits

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Sweet Potato Biscuits

We’ll take our biscuits with butter and honey please.

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Okra and Rice Casserole

Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Recipe: Okra and Rice Casserole

Okra belongs at every Southern meal, no matter the season.

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Deviled Egg-Potato Salad

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Deviled Egg-Potato Salad

It’s not a true Southern meal without deviled eggs.

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Cranberry-Apple Tartlets

Credit: Linda Pugliese

Recipe: Cranberry-Apple Tartlets

Break up Christmas dinner with something tart and sweet.

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Festive Cranberry-Walnut Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Festive Cranberry-Walnut Salad

Cool down with this berry-filled congealed salad.

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Crispy Potatoes

Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Katelyn Hardwick

Recipe: Crispy Potatoes

All-purpose potato, like russet, Yukon gold, red, or fingerling, are all good choices for this crowd-favorite potato dish.

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Beer-Braised Pot Roast

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Beer-Braised Pot Roast

This deliciously savory pot roast is packed with flavor from the dark stout beer and beef stock.

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Potato Bread

Credit: Katrin Ray Shumakov

Recipe: Potato Bread

Best served slathered with homemade jam or butter.

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Clementine-and-Collard Greens Salad

Credit: Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Clementine-and-Collard Greens Salad

Hearty and filling, this festive winter salad is just what your Christmas spread needs.

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Twice-Baked Potatoes

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Twice-Baked Potatoes

Filled with all the good stuff—these baked potatoes are stuffed with cheese, bacon, and green onions.

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Cornflake Wreath Christmas Cookies

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Cornflake Wreath Christmas Cookies

Wreaths aren’t just meant for hanging on your front door.

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Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows, Pecans, and Cornflakes

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows, Pecans, and Cornflakes

You’ll certainly get your sweet tooth filled with this loaded sweet potato casserole.

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Christmas Snow Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Christmas Snow Salad

It wouldn't be a holiday spread without a colorful congealed salad or two.

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Easy Skillet Apple Pie

Credit: Photo: Luca Trovato

Recipe: Easy Skillet Apple Pie

Apple pie is a quintessentially Southern treat, and a trusty cast-iron skillet takes the timeless dessert to the next level.

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Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

It’s simply not a holiday meal without classic mashed potatoes.

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Apple Pie Cookies

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Apple Pie Cookies

These sugary cookies are almost better than an actual apple pie.

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Skillet Pot Pie with Chicken and Spring Vegetables

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Skillet Pot Pie with Chicken and Spring Vegetables

Nothing warms us up quite like a classic pot pie.

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Gingerbread Cheesecake with Lemon-Ginger Glaze

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Gingerbread Cheesecake with Lemon-Ginger Glaze

This tangy cheesecake is oh-so rich.

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Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots

Credit: Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots

A vegetable side so delicious that it will convert even the pickiest eaters.

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Chocolate-Peppermint Swirl Sandwich Cookies

Credit: Victor Protasio

Recipe: Chocolate-Peppermint Swirl Sandwich Cookies

These holiday cookies are so irresistible, you won’t want to share. Good thing each one has two sides.

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Corn Pudding Casserole

Credit: Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Corn Pudding Casserole

This creamy corn dish can be made with fresh or frozen corn.

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