Christmas Dinner Catering: How to Order a Catered Holiday Meal at Home

Cooking Christmas dinner for a crowd takes days of shopping, oven juggling and dishes. Catering it doesn't mean giving up a home-cooked feel. You can order the whole meal, or just the hard parts, and still sit down at your own table. This guide covers how catered Christmas dinners usually work, what to order, how to time it, and what to ask a caterer before you pay a deposit.

If you're planning an office party or a large celebration instead of a family meal, see our holiday party catering planning guide and Christmas & New Year's Eve catering ideas by budget.

The three ways caterers handle Christmas dinner

Most caterers that take holiday orders offer one or more of these formats. Which one you pick shapes the price, the timing and how much work is left for you.

1. Holiday meal packages for pickup. Many caterers, restaurants and delis sell a fixed Christmas menu: a main (turkey, ham, prime rib or a vegetarian option), a set of sides, rolls and dessert, sized for a given number of people. You choose a pickup slot, usually on December 23 or 24, and reheat at home. This tends to be the simplest option, and fixed menus usually sell out instead of flexing.

2. Drop-off catering. The caterer delivers the food ready to serve or ready to reheat, often in disposable pans or chafing dishes, and leaves. You handle serving and cleanup. Drop-off gives you more menu choice than a set package, and you don't have to drive across town on Christmas Eve. Read more in drop-off vs full-service catering.

3. Full-service or staffed dinner. A chef and/or servers come to your home, finish the food in your kitchen, serve it (plated or family style) and clean up. This costs the most and needs the most notice. It also lets the host actually join the meal. Ask whether staff work on December 24 and 25 at all, because many companies close or charge holiday rates.

What to order

A traditional Christmas dinner has a centerpiece, sides, bread, dessert and drinks. When you order catering, the useful question is which parts are worth handing off.

• The main. Roasts are the most time- and oven-heavy part of the meal, so they're the most common thing people order. Ask whether it comes whole (for carving at the table) or pre-sliced (faster to serve, dries out sooner when reheated).
• Sides. Mashed potatoes, stuffing or dressing, green beans, roasted vegetables, mac and cheese, cranberry sauce and gravy are typical. Gravy and sauces are easy to forget, so confirm they're included and how much comes with the order.
• Bread and dessert. Rolls and pies travel and hold well. If you have a family dessert tradition, keep that one and order the rest.
• Appetizers. A grazing board or a couple of passed bites cover the gap while the main reheats. See grazing table catering.
• Dietary needs. Ask early about vegetarian mains, gluten-free stuffing and gravy, dairy-free sides and nut-free desserts. Caterers with dedicated menus are listed under vegan, gluten-free, kosher and halal catering.

For quantities, use our how much food per person guide. Holiday meals run heavier than an average catered event, since guests go back for seconds and expect leftovers, so tell the caterer if you want extra to send home.

Timing: when to book and when to eat

Book early. Holiday dates are among the busiest of the year for caterers. Fixed holiday menus and staffed dinners on December 24 and 25 often hit capacity before regular event dates do. If you have a specific caterer in mind, contact them as soon as you know your headcount, even a rough one. Many will let you adjust the number closer to the date.

Confirm the final headcount deadline. Most caterers set a cutoff for changing guest counts and menu items. Write it down.

Plan the handoff. For pickup or drop-off, agree on a time that leaves a buffer before you want to eat. Reheating instructions matter. Ask for written oven temperatures and times for each dish, and whether a dish should go into the oven covered or uncovered. Once it's in the oven, reheating usually takes longer than people expect.

Oven math. Your oven may only hold two or three pans at once. Ask which items can be served at room temperature, which can be warmed on the stovetop, and which need the oven, then reheat in batches.

Food safety for pickup and drop-off

Hot food that will be eaten within a short window should stay hot. Food picked up a day ahead should arrive cold and go straight into the refrigerator. Ask the caterer whether the order comes hot (eat soon) or chilled (reheat later) and follow their instructions. For general guidance on holding and reheating cooked food, the USDA's food safety resources at foodsafety.gov are the standard reference in the U.S.

Questions to ask before you pay a deposit

1. Are you open and delivering on December 24 and 25, and do holiday surcharges apply?
2. Is this a fixed holiday menu, or can I customize it?
3. How many people does each package or pan actually serve?
4. Does the food come hot or chilled? Will I get written reheating instructions?
5. What's included: serving utensils, chafing dishes, disposable plates, gravy and sauces?
6. For staffed service, how many staff, for how many hours, and is cleanup included?
7. What's the deposit, and what's the cancellation and headcount-change policy?
8. Can you handle our dietary restrictions, and how do you prevent cross-contact?

Our questions to ask a caterer checklist covers more.

How to budget

Prices vary a lot by city, menu and service style, so treat any number you see online as a rough reference, not a quote.

• A pickup package usually costs the least per person, drop-off with a custom menu sits in the middle, and a staffed in-home dinner costs the most because you're paying for labor, often at holiday rates.
• See how much catering costs per person for how pricing is usually structured.
• The surest way to get a real number is to ask two or three local caterers for a quote on the same menu and headcount.

Finding a caterer for Christmas dinner

On TopCaterers you can browse caterers by city and filter by service, including holiday party catering, drop-off catering, buffet catering and full-service catering. Send one free request with your date, headcount and menu ideas, and it reaches up to five local caterers. Not every caterer takes Christmas Day bookings, so put the exact date in your request so they can tell you up front.

Related guides and local caterers

See also corporate holiday party catering: how much to order and Thanksgiving catering: what to order and when to book, plus bartending and bar service for events if you are serving drinks. Browse holiday caterers in Chicago, Los Angeles and Tampa.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get Christmas dinner catered at home?

Yes. The most common formats are a holiday meal package you pick up and reheat, drop-off catering delivered to your door, or a staffed dinner where a chef or servers come to your home. Availability on December 24 and 25 varies by caterer, so ask first.

How far ahead should I book Christmas dinner catering?

As early as you can. Holiday dates fill faster than ordinary weekends, and fixed holiday menus often have limited quantities. Contact caterers once you have a rough headcount and confirm the date they need your final numbers.

Is it cheaper to pick up a holiday meal package or get it delivered?

Pickup packages are usually the lowest-cost option because the menu is fixed and there's no delivery or staff time. Delivery adds a fee, and staffed service adds labor. Compare quotes for the same menu and headcount to see the real difference in your area.

How do I reheat catered Christmas dinner?

Follow the caterer's written instructions for each dish. If none come with the order, ask before pickup. Plan oven time in batches, and reheat the main first, since it takes longest.

Can caterers handle vegetarian or gluten-free guests at Christmas dinner?

Many can, but say so when you book, not at the final headcount. Ask how they label dishes and keep allergens separate.

Do caterers work on Christmas Day?

Some do and some close. Others offer pickup on December 23 or 24 only. Put the exact date in your request.