Creating engaging holiday catering menus seems simple enough, but we have some great tips if you’re looking to bring the wow factor to your holiday dinners. You can show your staff you care about them with the foods you choose to serve and memorable moments create stronger bonds amongst your staff as well. Customizing your menu to fit your employee’s tastes can make holiday gatherings feel so much more relaxed and even help you reinforce your company culture.
Whether it’s a pre-holiday lunch or the New Year’s party to end all parties, we’ve got some fun and engaging menu item ideas to help you plan out your perfect gathering.
Classic Holiday Dishes with a Modern Twist
Instead of having a basic Thanksgiving meal or a boring Easter brunch, you can mix it up with something fun.
Delicious Barbecue
Christmas time reminds many of us of a Christmas roast. Having a great barbecue spread can be a fun way to put a modern twist on a classic meal we know and love. Smoked meats with all the classic sides could be the new norm for your holiday gatherings.
Pub Cuisine
Pub-centric cuisine can bring classic, warming comfort foods to your catering menu. Whether it’s baked mac and cheese, shepherd’s pie, or just a juicy burger, you can bring these classic dishes to your holiday menus. If you cater a full event, this is the perfect type of food to serve with beer and wine as well, giving your staff the full comfort experience.
Global Holiday Menu Inspirations
Bringing in food from around the world can give your employees the chance to have an old favorite or try something new! A tasty change of pace for holiday menus can help enhance the memorable experiences you’re trying to create.
Dim Sum
Since dim sum is geared towards communal eating, this can be perfect for holiday gatherings. Sharing food has gone on since the beginning of human life and the bonding we get from it can elevate a normal gathering to a memorable one. You can also customize what types of dishes you want to include in your dim sum to accommodate dietary restrictions and taste preferences.
Kebab/Gyro
Kebab and gyro fall into the “delicious grilled meets” category. Many people love grilled meats and it’s a great option for a variety of palettes and dietary needs. You can have falafel for your vegan employees and kebab is generally also halal, though you should always double-check to be sure.
Meze Platter
“Meze” essentially translates to appetizer, so this is a Mediterranean appetizer plate with loads of different foods and snacks. You’ll typically find hummus, crunchy raw vegetables, feta, olives, pita, pomegranate, and even figs.
Plant-Based and Vegan Holiday Catering Menu Ideas
Plant-based foods have become increasingly popular in the last decade, which is great news for those committed to the vegan diet. Restaurants have expanded to have a lot of options so you can provide for your vegan employees during company gatherings.
Marinated Tofu Sandwiches
Instead of having meat, marinated tofu has become a tasty alternative in veggie sandwiches. Much better than a boring tomato sandwich.
Build Your Own Salads
“Salad” is a loose term here. Many places offer amazing salad options with lentils, super fresh veggies, beautifully made dressings, perfect fruits, and more. Giving your vegan staff the chance to go crazy on the salad of their dreams is a real holiday treat.
Vegan Mexican Food
Tacos, burritos, pozole… you name it, someone has created a beautiful vegan version of it. The amount of amazing vegan Mexican food out there might surprise you enough to try it yourself if you’re not vegan already.
Appetizers and Finger Foods for Holiday Catering in the Office
Finger foods are great for social-centric gatherings. They’re meant to be compact, small bites that don’t involve you walking around with a mountain of food on your plate. They’re also great for holiday parties where alcohol is being served to keep people eating and enjoying the party.
Charcuterie Boards
Cured meats, a wide variety of cheeses, fresh fruits, and anything else your heart desires. Charcuterie is a staple finger food and appetizer, a true classic. It’s also super customizable based on what your staff enjoys and really easy to snack on over a long period of time without losing its “essence”. Perfect for holiday gatherings, and honestly, kind of in general.
Taco Bar
Tacos are small enough that you can go back and get more as you need. This is another great, more filling option for gatherings where you’d potentially be serving alcohol. Customization is easy here as well.
Holiday Dessert Ideas for Your Work Holiday Party
Dessert screams holiday party, it’s usually decadent in some way and makes people feel spoiled. It’s common for people to have fond memories of the treats they had on any given holiday, so it’ll only reinforce that feeling of happiness at your next holiday party.
Donuts
Donuts are versatile with both classic options and trendy takes on an old favorite. Donut bars are a fun grab-and-go treat, and many modern donut shops offer fun and interesting flavors for your staff to try. Mochi donuts are getting popular too for their unique texture.
Classic Pastries
Cakes, tarts, croissants, you name it, people are going to love it. If you pair this with a hot drink bar with coffee or hot cocoa, it’s perfect for colder days and will definitely put people in the holiday spirit.
Chocolate Fountain
Chocolate fountains are a classic for holiday parties. You can have a variety of treats to dip in the chocolate and it makes for a fun interactive addition to your menu.
Drinks and Beverages to Complement the Holiday Menu
Beverage catering is often overlooked as an option for holiday menus but can pair well with your preexisting food options. It’s perfect for people who might not want to eat for whatever reason or just want a little pick me up during your gathering.
Smoothies/Milkshakes
Smoothies and milkshakes are nice, cool treats that are especially perfect in areas where it might still be somewhat warm during the holiday season. They’re also easy to customize and can cater to various diets and food allergy restrictions.
Hot Drinks/Coffee Bar
Hot drinks can be incorporated well into a chilly holiday party. It leans into the cozy atmosphere of the holidays, and having a nice hot coffee after a big meal can really hit the spot. The caffeine can help keep your staff going as well.
Corporate Holiday Catering for Dietary Restrictions
Dietary restrictions are important to ensure everyone is having a good time at your holiday party. There’s nothing worse than having a peanut allergy only to find out your corporate catering is all Thai food with peanuts in it. Including options for everyone ensures everyone is having a great time without having to worry about eating something they might not be able to have.
Brunch Buffet
Brunch can have such a wide range of foods it’s difficult to have a buffet that isn’t inclusive. You can include fresh fruits, quiche, eggs, bagels, acai bowls, and so much more. The options are limitless and the menu is really easy on many different dietary restrictions.
Build Your Own Rice Bowls
You can have a Chipotle-style or Mediterranean-style build your own rice bowl. The customization makes it easy for people with restrictions to choose what they want to eat in their bowl. They can even choose to leave the rice out for keto diets.
Presentation and Service options for Holiday Catered Events
If you really want to maximize the experience, you can include fully staffed catered events with dedicated catering servers. This can help with portioning, professional presentation, and helps keep your event running smoothly.
Fresh Made Smoothies
You can bring the experience of walking into a smoothie shop to your event. It’s basically the same thing, your staff can choose what types of ingredients they’d like and it’ll be made right in front of them. This is great for the days before a holiday break to give people a little pick-me-up before they have to face the stress of the holiday season.
Classic Waffle Bar
Having someone prepare a piping hot waffle for you can give you a luxurious feel. Nobody will have to worry about half cooked or burnt waffles. You can have catering staff add the toppings for you or allow employees to add them on their own.
Meat Carving
There’s nothing more appetizing than watching someone carve a large piece of meat for you. It showcases how fresh the food is, and can add to the meal experience. This type of display is perfect for holiday gatherings where showing off a little bit is encouraged.
Holiday Catering Menu Ideas Come to Life with Zerocater
No matter what the vibe is for your holiday event, you can make it easy with Zerocater. We have an easy to use app that allows you to look through your favorite local restaurants and choose the perfect menu. Even if you’re a small business just starting out, we’ll work with your budget to give you the magical experience your staff deserves. If you’re interested in learning more, reach out to us and tell us more about your budget, company size, and anything else you think we should know. We look forward to working with you!
