What is the cheapest way to cater a Christmas party?

Generally, drop-off service of a few crowd-pleasing dishes (pasta, a taco bar, sandwich platters or pizza), picked up yourself and served with disposable serviceware. Staffing is usually the biggest cost to avoid.

How early should I book New Year's Eve catering?

As early as you can. New Year's Eve is a peak night for parties, staff are in demand, and some caterers charge a premium or require a higher minimum.

What food works best for a New Year's Eve party?

A substantial first round in the evening, then a lighter late snack before midnight, such as sliders, flatbreads or desserts, and something ready for the midnight toast.

Are caterers open on Christmas Day?

Many close or offer only a pickup holiday menu with an early order cut-off. Make-ahead orders you reheat at home are often the most practical option for the day itself.

Christmas & New Year's Eve catering ideas by budget

New Year's Eve catering: oysters on ice, smoked salmon blini and two coupes of sparkling wine with gold accents

How to use this guide

Holiday menus range from a tray of sandwiches to a multi-course dinner. The ideas below are grouped by relative budget — budget-friendly, mid-range and splurge — rather than by dollar amounts, because prices vary a lot by city, caterer, date and service style. Use them to brief a caterer, then compare real quotes. Our cost per person guide explains what drives the number.

Two rules of thumb apply at every budget: service style usually moves the price more than the menu, and peak dates (the Fridays and Saturdays before Christmas, and New Year's Eve) are the hardest to book. A weekday or a date in early December or early January often gives you more choice.

A budget-friendly holiday taco bar with seasoned beef, shredded chicken, tortillas, salsa, guacamole, cheese and limes

Budget-friendly ideas

Lean on drop-off service, crowd-pleasing comfort food and dishes that hold well.

Pasta and salad buffet. Baked ziti, lasagna or a pasta duo with a big salad and garlic bread. Easy to scale, easy to make vegetarian. See Italian caterers.
Taco or burrito bar. Guests build their own, which handles dietary needs without separate meals. See taco and Mexican caterers.
Sandwich and wrap platters with soup in a hot box — a good lunchtime option for offices. See sandwich and deli caterers.
Pizza party with salads and a cookie tray. See pizza catering.
Brunch for a daytime gathering: egg bakes, pastries, fruit and coffee. See breakfast caterers.

Ways to stretch a small budget: choose drop-off rather than staffed service, pick up the order yourself, use the caterer's disposable serviceware, and keep the menu to a few dishes done well.

Mid-range ideas

A holiday carving station with a herb-crusted roast beef under a heat lamp, dinner rolls and horseradish sauce

More variety, more presentation, and often some on-site staff.

BBQ spread. Smoked brisket, pulled pork or chicken, sides and cornbread. Hearty and festive. See BBQ caterers.
Mediterranean or Middle Eastern mezze. Grilled meats, falafel, dips, salads and breads — colorful and naturally friendly to vegetarians. See Mediterranean and Middle Eastern caterers.
Southern holiday table. Fried or roast chicken, ham, mac and cheese, greens and cobbler. See Southern and soul food caterers.
Grazing table. Cheeses, charcuterie, fruit, breads and dips laid out for an open-house party. See grazing table caterers.
Staffed buffet with a carving station — roast beef, turkey or ham carved to order.

Leaning toward a BBQ spread? Our BBQ catering guide covers what to order and what to ask.

Splurge ideas

Full service, premium ingredients and a sense of occasion.

Plated dinner with a choice of mains, served by staff. Most expensive mainly because of staffing.
Passed hors d'oeuvres and stations for a cocktail-style party.
Seafood or raw bar — shrimp, oysters, crab. Seafood prices move with the market, so ask for a firm quote close to the date. See seafood caterers.
Sushi station with a chef rolling to order. See sushi catering.
Full bar with a bartender and a signature holiday cocktail. See bar service.

New Year's Eve specifics

Book early. New Year's Eve is a peak night for parties, and staff are in demand. Some caterers charge a premium or require a higher minimum.
Plan for a long night. Guests arrive in the evening and stay past midnight. Serve a substantial first round, then a lighter late snack before midnight — sliders, flatbreads, a dessert table.
Midnight toast. Decide who opens and pours the sparkling wine (and a non-alcoholic alternative), and have glasses ready in advance.
Overtime. Confirm how late staff will stay, and the hourly rate if they stay longer.

Hosting a bar for the countdown? See our guide to bartending and bar service for events.

Christmas specifics

A catered Christmas brunch of quiche, cinnamon rolls, smoked salmon, bagels, a fruit platter and coffee

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day service is limited. Many caterers close or offer only a pickup holiday menu with an early order cut-off.
Make-ahead orders — a ham, a roast and sides you reheat at home — are often the most practical way to get catering for the day itself.
Desserts such as cookie platters, yule log or pies are easy add-ons. See dessert caterers.

Don't forget dietary needs

At every budget, include a satisfying vegetarian main and mark allergens. If guests keep kosher or halal, ask caterers directly about certification — see kosher catering — and plan dedicated meals rather than relying on substitutions.

Getting quotes

Tell caterers your date, time window, guest count, format, dietary needs and the budget level you are aiming for; good caterers will suggest a menu to fit. Browse caterers by city — for example Brooklyn, New York, Denver, Chicago and San Jose — or send one request to several caterers.