Workplace potlucks are a great way to spice up desk lunches and promote team spirit all year long, especially during the holiday season. Confused about what to bring if your coworkers are hosting a Christmas team potluck? The following list of 33 Christmas potluck ideas for work is amazingly quick and easy.
The holiday season sneaks up fast, and the best time to plan your team's Christmas potluck is a few weeks before the calendar fills up. Of all the ways to bring the holiday spirit to the workplace, Christmas-themed food and drinks are among the simplest.
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It is not necessary to go overboard when celebrating Christmas in the workplace. Our personal favorite is having a team lunch where everyone brings their favorite dish to the table (quite literally). The practice of hosting a meal where everyone brings a dish to share is termed a potluck.
In this blog, I have chosen some of my favorite easy-to-transport holiday potluck recipes to help you decide what to bring (or recommend) to the event. From salads to appetizers and desserts, these comfort foods pair well with almost everything on a potluck table and will undoubtedly be a crowd-pleaser.
How To Organize A Work Christmas Potluck
A little planning keeps the table from turning into six desserts and no main course. Here is what works for most teams:
- Use a sign-up sheet. Share a simple spreadsheet or a sheet on the break room wall with categories for mains, sides, appetizers, desserts, and drinks. People pick a slot, and you can see gaps at a glance.
- Label every dish. Ask everyone to bring a small card with the dish name and any allergens, such as nuts, dairy, gluten, or meat. It saves your coworkers from awkward questions and keeps people with allergies safe.
- Cover different diets. Aim for at least one vegetarian main, one vegan option, and one gluten-free dish. Many of the ideas below, like roasted mushrooms and the fruit platter, work for several diets at once.
- Pick a theme. A theme gives people direction and makes the table more fun. Try "family recipes," "cookie swap," "winter comfort food," or "dishes from around the world."
- Plan for warm food. Check whether your office has a microwave, oven, or slow cooker, and share the list. Slow cookers and insulated carriers are the easiest way to keep mains warm.
- Keep it optional and low-pressure. Not everyone has the time or budget to cook. Let people bring store-bought items, drinks, or disposable plates and cutlery.
- Include remote teammates. For hybrid or distributed teams, host a virtual recipe swap where everyone shares a dish over video, or pair the lunch with a virtual Secret Santa so remote coworkers can join in.
- Ask for the recipes. Collect them afterward and share them as a team recipe book. It is a nice keepsake and a good way to extend the Christmas spirit beyond one lunch.
Planning a Thanksgiving potluck too? Our Thanksgiving potluck ideas follow the same approach.
Christmas Potluck Themes For Work
A theme takes the guesswork out of "what should I bring?" and gives the table a shared look. These Christmas potluck themes work well for office teams of any size:
- Cookie swap. Everyone brings one batch of cookies and leaves with a mixed box to take home.
- Ugly sweater potluck. Pair the dress code with the menu, and give a small prize for the most creative dish name.
- Around the world holiday table. Each person brings a dish their family makes for the holidays, which is a great way for a multicultural team to share traditions.
- Hot cocoa and soup bar. Set out a few slow cookers of soup and a cocoa station with marshmallows, crushed candy canes, and whipped cream.
- Grandma's recipe day. People bring a family recipe and a short story about who made it first.
- Red and green only. Every dish has to be red, green, or both. It sounds silly, and it produces a very festive table.
- Twelve days of Christmas. Assign each person a "day" and a matching dish or ingredient, such as pears for the partridge or a pair of dishes for the two turtle doves.
- Winter comfort food. Casseroles, stews, mashed potatoes, and baked sweets, all easy to keep warm in the office.
Not sure which fits your team? Put two or three options in a quick poll and let people vote.
The Best 33 Christmas Potluck Ideas For Work
Not sure where to start? Use this quick guide to pick by course. The number in brackets is the idea's number below.
- Appetizers and snacks: Enchilada Meatballs (1), Christmas Tree Cheese Platter (2), Fruit Platter (3), Deviled Eggs (4), Cranberry Blue Cheese Balls (5), Caprese Salad Skewers (6), Cheese Puff Pastry (7), Christmas Nacho Cups (8), and Hara Bhara Kebab (9).
- Mains: Honey Glazed Ham (10), Citrus-Roasted Salmon (11), Mac And Cheese Bar (12), Slow Cooker Chicken Or Turkey Pie (13), and Sesame Pulled Pork Sandwich (14).
- Sides: Roasted Mushrooms (15), Brussels Sprouts (16), Green Beans And Mushrooms (17), Southern Candied Sweet Potato (18), Homemade Mashed Potatoes (19), Sweet Potato Casserole (20), and Hash Brown Casserole (21).
- Desserts and sweet treats: Chocolate Covered Pretzels (22), Chocolate Cake (23), Eggnog Cake (24), Reindeer Chow (25), Santa's Favorite Cookie (26), Apple Dumplings (27), Peppermint Bark (28), and Gingerbread Cookies (29).
- Drinks: Hot Scotch (30), Mulled Wine (31), Hot Spiked Apple Cider With Ginger (32), and Hot Chocolate Bar (33).
Christmas Potluck Appetizers And Snacks
1. Enchilada Meatballs
This is a twist on the ordinary potluck meatballs. These are easy, inexpensive and a hit for any occasion.
Meatballs are a versatile little delight. Check out this recipe if you don't believe me. All that thick sauce gives the impression that you are biting into an authentic enchilada, complete with perfectly melted cheese and juicy meatballs. This dish is certainly not authentic, but it is delicious.
2. Christmas Tree Cheese Platter
Who doesn't enjoy grapes and cheese? Just buy a bunch of green grapes and an assortment of cheeses, then arrange them on a board in the form of a Christmas tree. Create the tree with a celery stick as the base, and add several leaves as decorations. From start to end, making this tasty and festive snack takes around ten minutes. There is nothing better than that! Here's the recipe.
3. Fruit Platter
This fruit tray could be the centerpiece of your Christmas potluck. The fresh fruit stays at its finest for a long time and can be displayed in various lovely ways. It is also rather simple to make. Fruits, berries, and melon... all of them always appear so delicious in their vibrant arrangement. Your coworkers will be drawn in by various colors, shapes, and flavors.
4. Deviled Eggs With A Holiday Twist
Deviled eggs are one of the most well-liked dishes at potlucks! Try this recipe if you want to create a festive presentation! Despite being common, it stands out thanks to the red and green food coloring.
5. Cranberry Blue Cheese Balls
Cheese balls might not sound exciting, but this pecan, cranberry, and blue cheese variation will undoubtedly be a favorite at your Christmas gatherings this year. It is coated in crispy, crunchy breadcrumbs. Here's a quick recipe!
6. Caprese Salad Skewers
Although this concept may not be specifically Christmas-themed, the colors are very festive for any occasion!
The components of the Caprese salad are transformed into handy finger snacks that you can split on the skewers. You can layer cherry tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella balls on the skewers and drizzle a salty balsamic glaze as a garnish.
7. Cheese Puff Pastry
These quick and simple cheese puff pastry Christmas trees make great festive appetizers and are very easy to make. It requires just 3 simple ingredients, as per this recipe. Additionally, you could arrange them on platters to create a forest of edible Christmas trees on your table for a holiday party, or you could serve out smaller individual trees too!
8. Christmas Nacho Cups
Don't limit the mighty nachos for only the game days. When it comes to potlucks, your nachos could be the clear winner of the party. To avoid the fuss, you may make this single-serve nacho cup recipe so that everyone can enjoy the crispy, cheesy delicacy. The cheesy meat filling is delicious for meat eaters, but you can make a vegan version with black beans that will taste just as good.
9. Hara Bhara Kebab
A well-known Indian appetizer or snack, Hara Bhara kebab is made with potatoes, spinach, peas, and seasonings. They are simple to prepare for potlucks and can be frozen in advance.
They also taste great as burger patties or inside wraps. They make the ideal evening snack with a hot cup of masala chai during the chilly Christmas season.
Christmas Potluck Main Dishes
10. Honey Glazed Ham
Although it costs more than a regular ham, it is absolutely worth the extra cost. It's a spiral-cut, thoroughly cooked ham with honey glaze. It has great hickory smoked flavor and is incredibly juicy and flavorful. They are 100% right when they claim it is mouth-wateringly fantastic! Your colleagues will love it! Here's the recipe!
Fun fact
The term "pot-luck" first appears in an English work by Thomas Nashe written in the 16th century, and it originally meant "food provided for an unexpected or uninvited guest, the luck of the pot."
11. Citrus-Roasted Salmon
Do your coworkers prefer something lighter than ham or beef? This fish fillet recipe is really healthy, light to eat, and extremely simple to prepare. It can be made ahead of time and brought warm using a cooler or insulated box.
12. Mac And Cheese Bar
Do you want to make something delicious and original that becomes the talk of the office? If so, why not think of setting up a potluck-sized mac and cheese bar? You can be sure that your coworkers will enjoy this recipe. Additionally, you can offer tiny bowls of add-ons like salsa, jalapenos, bacon bits, broccoli, slices of chicken, and so on.
Undeniably, an appreciative colleague will ask for the recipe for your mac and cheese. Be prepared and print out copies of your recipe so that you may share it with others. Consider drafting the recipe by hand and creating copies to give a unique touch.
13. Slow Cooker Chicken Or Turkey Pie
Making this pie is as easy as... pie!
It is a delightful slow cooker chicken pie that is rich, creamy, and packed with chicken and vegetables.
Nobody will be able to stop after just one of these delectable bite-sized snacks. We guarantee that they will be gone in no time!
14. Sesame Pulled Pork Sandwich
This Asian-inspired variation on traditional pulled pork recipe will be a hit with your team. If you are feeding a large group of people, use slider rolls instead of sesame buns, and you can make twice as many sandwiches.
Christmas Potluck Side Dishes
15. Roasted Mushrooms
This recipe for oven-roasted mushrooms with garlic and soy sauce will elevate your potluck experience. It makes a wonderful Christmas potluck side dish and is simple to modify for any dietary requirements.
It is low in carbohydrates, vegan, and can be made gluten-free by simply swapping the soy sauce with liquid aminos.
16. Brussels Sprouts
This easy, make-ahead Brussels sprouts side dish strikes the perfect sweet-savory balance by combining tart cherries and crunchy walnuts, making it a must-have on any Christmas potluck menu.
17. Green Beans And Mushrooms
Here's yet another deceptively simple snack that everyone will adore. One of the cherished culinary customs is this easy-to-make Green Beans with Mushrooms. It's a wholesome side dish that would be excellent for your office Christmas potluck. In fact, for many people, this meal represents Christmas.
18. Southern Candied Sweet Potato
Do you have a coworker who prefers to start the meal with dessert? These candied sweet potatoes would undoubtedly be a big hit with them! These taste like a dessert but are really appetizers. A win-win situation, isn't it?
The fact that you can cook them in advance and they aren't excessively sweet is its best feature.
In my experience, clever food is not appreciated at Christmas. It makes the little ones cry and the old ones nervous.
19. Homemade Mashed Potatoes
Creamy, pre-made, easily portable, and simple to clean up... What more could one ask for?
Place the dish in a heat-resistant bowl, cover it, and set it over a pot of simmering water to keep it warm.
20. Sweet Potato Casserole
Potato casseroles have been a staple for potlucks, dinner parties, and holiday events.
This year, elevate this simple recipe by introducing your taste buds to the glorious combination of mashed and baked potatoes with bacon and cheese.
21. Copycat Cracker Barrel Hash Brown Casserole
If you and your team want to try the best hash brown casserole, this restaurant-style recipe is the one to try. The added bonus? It's sure to be a hit with all cheese lovers!
Additionally, it needs only 5 minutes of preparation, making it an incredibly simple, completely worthwhile meal for your Christmas party.
Don’t forget to add extra fun to your Christmas potluck party! There is the "Alphabetical Dinner," where everyone brings a dish that begins with the same letter as their first or last name or with a letter you assign. Then the dishes are placed in alphabetical order.
Christmas Potluck Desserts And Sweet Treats
22. Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Your coworkers will love the chocolate-dipped pretzels. For this recipe, you'll need to pick up some chocolate and sprinkles, as well as pretzel sticks and small pretzels, from the grocery store. You can make a lovely Christmas treat by melting the chocolate in a matter of seconds, dipping the pretzels, and then topping them with sprinkles.
23. Chocolate Cake
This recipe makes a lovely homemade chocolate cake that is delicious and soft, topped with a sinfully delicious icing made of silky, rich, dark chocolate. It is, in fact, a Christmas classic that everybody will be bound to love.
24. Eggnog Cake
This impressive layered eggnog cake, perfect for holiday parties, will make you wish eggnog wasn’t a seasonal ingredient.
A delicious dessert for office gatherings and parties is an eggnog cake. No wonder everyone adores this cake for Christmas. The flavor is great, but the best thing is how simple it is to make. So go ahead and bake this to bring a smile to everyone's face.
25. Reindeer Chow
This dish is the ideal Christmas snack because it has the ideal ratio of sweet and savory flavors. With the traditional flavors of chocolate and peanut butter, it is a wonderful treat to bring to a potluck.
26. Santa’s Favorite Cookie
If Santa loves them, then your colleagues will too!
These red, white, and green cookies would make a great alternative to traditional treats! The recipe only calls for a few ingredients, most of of which you probably have on hand. Mix in red and green M&Ms and festive-colored sprinkles to give them a festive makeover.
27. Apple Dumplings
Dumplings are the quintessential cold-weather food. Depending on your tastes, you can cook vegetarian or non-vegetarian dumplings. This warm, flaky, flavored sweet dumpling
is easy to make and is a delectable apple dish that your coworker will adore.
The fact that you can use readymade crescent rolls to make the dumplings makes them so simple. It's an old-fashioned favorite with a modern twist!
28. Peppermint Bark
Peppermint bark is a no-bake favorite that needs only chocolate and crushed candy canes. This easy peppermint bark sets in the fridge and breaks into shareable pieces, so there is nothing to slice or serve.
29. Gingerbread Cookies
Gingerbread says Christmas more than almost any other flavor. These soft gingerbread cookies stay fresh in an airtight container, so you can bake them the night before and bring them in a tin.
Christmas Potluck Drinks
30. Hot Scotch
This beverage is an amazing option if liquor is permitted at your workplace's Christmas potluck! Mix butterscotch schnapps with amaretto or hot chocolate in an Irish coffee mug. Add a dab of whipped cream as a garnish. Add a final topping of small marshmallows and chocolate shavings.
31. Mulled Wine
Wine is always a fantastic option for dinner. Bring red and white options so everyone can choose what they want.
Mulled wine, a warm alcoholic beverage made with red wine, spices, and sometimes some herbs, is a comforting drink for chilly Christmas evenings. It is believed that the Romans invented it to keep themselves warm during the season, and the custom has persisted over time.
32. Hot Spiked Apple Cider With Ginger
With a bit (or a lot) of spiced rum, this ginger-cinnamon-infused hot apple cider will keep the team spirits merry all day long.
The lemon zest, in addition to the usual warming spices, can add a surprise twist to this wintertime classic.
33. Hot Chocolate Bar
Skip cooking a dish and bring a hot chocolate bar instead. Keep the cocoa warm in a slow cooker and set out bowls of marshmallows, whipped cream, crushed candy canes, and sprinkles so everyone can build their own cup.
Turn the potluck into a game. Let everyone vote for the "most festive plate" and the "best dish of the day," or run a quick "guess the secret ingredient" round. Small prizes like a holiday mug or a handwritten shout-out make it feel like a real Secret Santa moment without any extra gifts to buy.
Conclusion
I simply believe food is too good to throw away, and Christmas leftovers can be a gastronomic opportunity for the well-skilled kitchen forager. With a little imagination, there are a million ways to use up leftovers rather than bin them.
Make the most of any leftover food to avoid wasting it throughout the holiday season. Serving it to people in need is one of the best ideas. Moreover, leftover Christmas turkey and vegetables can be transformed into amazing new dishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What should I bring to a work Christmas potluck?
Bring something easy to transport that holds up well at room temperature or can be reheated, such as a casserole, a cheese platter, deviled eggs, or cookies. Check the sign-up sheet first so your dish fills a gap on the table.
2. What are good Christmas potluck themes for work?
Popular themes include family recipes, winter comfort food, a cookie swap, dishes from different cultures, and a "holiday colors" table with red and green foods. A theme works best when it is broad enough for everyone to join in.
3. How do I keep potluck food safe in the office?
Keep hot dishes hot and cold dishes cold. Use slow cookers or insulated carriers for warm food, and keep cold items in the fridge until serving time. Put leftovers away promptly rather than leaving them out all afternoon.
4. How do I handle allergies and dietary needs at a potluck?
Ask everyone to label their dish with its main ingredients and common allergens. Include at least one vegetarian, one vegan, and one gluten-free option, and keep serving spoons separate for each dish to avoid cross-contact.
5. How many dishes should we have per person?
One dish per person or per pair works well. Aim for a balance across mains, sides, desserts, and drinks, and use a sign-up sheet so nothing is duplicated.
Susmita Sarma is a Digital Marketer at Vantage Circle, making employee recognition less of a checkbox and more meaningful - helping organizations say we value our people and truly mean it.
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