Hosting a holiday dinner can feel like a juggling act — planning, decorating, cooking and entertaining guests can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Between planning, decorating, cooking and entertaining guests, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. All you need are a few smart strategies to help you pull off a memorable evening to impress your guests without all the extra holiday stress.
Plan your menu early
The earlier you plan your menu, the smoother everything will go. A holiday gathering is not the occasion to try a new recipe for the first time. Instead, choose dishes that you’re confident making. If you need to feature something new, test it a couple of weeks in advance so that you know what to expect on the big day.
Try to choose dishes that don’t require constant attention. It’s also a good idea to balance dishes that you can make ahead with ones that need to be fresh. For example, make a dessert or assemble a casserole the day before, then focus on simpler, last-minute dishes like a salad or roasted vegetables on the day of the event.
Above all else, consider your guests’ likes and dislikes when choosing what to prepare. If you are catering to a crowd that prefers frozen lasagna or boxed mac-n-cheese over a decadent beef tenderloin with winter vegetables, it’s okay to serve the lasagna. When planning your menu, consider children, choosy eaters and those with dietary restrictions. Taking the time now to send out a quick message or email to double-check will keep you from scrambling for alternatives at the last minute.
Prep ahead of time as much as possible
One of the best ways to reduce holiday stress is to tackle as much as you can before the day of the dinner. For example, if you’re planning to wow your guests with a dessert like eggnog creme brulee, you can prepare it a day in advance, leaving you free to focus on other tasks. This approach will leave you feeling more in control and on top of things. You can also chop vegetables, measure out ingredients, set the table and clean your cooking area ahead of time. The less you leave for the big day, the more time you’ll have to enjoy yourself.
Set up a self-serve bar or drink station if you’re serving drinks. That way, guests can help themselves, and you won’t be stuck playing bartender, chef and host all at once.
Keep the decor simple
You don’t need to spend hours crafting or spend a fortune on bougie bespoke decorations to create a festive atmosphere. A few candles, some lights or a simple table runner can go a long way. If adding a centerpiece is part of your plans, make sure that people can see over it and that you leave enough room on the table for the food. If you feel ambitious, consider adding a personal touch like handwritten place cards or holiday napkins. Your guests are there to enjoy your company, not critique your holiday decor.
“Hosting a holiday meal doesn’t have to feel overwhelming! I always prep my table and serving dishes the night before, and choose one star dish to make from scratch but lean on store-bought shortcuts for sides or desserts. It’s all about spending less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your guests.”
— Shruthi Baskaran-Makanju, Urban Farmie
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
It may be your party, but that does not mean you must do it all alone. Ask your guests to pitch in by bringing a dish, stirring a pot or helping to fill the water glasses on the table. Most people are happy to help, and many enjoy contributing to the meal.
For larger gatherings, consider delegating tasks in advance. For example, ask your friend who makes amazing pies to coordinate dessert or your cousin who makes a mean blackberry bourbon smash to plan a special cocktail for the event. Sharing responsibilities not only eases your workload but also makes the event feel more collaborative.
Create a flexible timeline
Creating a timeline is an excellent way to help you stay organized and not forget anything, but it’s important to include a bit of wiggle room to stay flexible. Start by working backward from when you plan to serve dinner, then factor in prep, cooking and rest times for each dish. Structure your timeline by figuring out when you need to start each recipe so that everything makes it to the table on time. Err on the longer side of your estimates to add the wiggle room. The roasting time that takes 30-40 minutes should go into your timeline as 40 minutes.
Your timeline should also include your guests’ arrival time and when you expect to eat with them. Giving guests a chance to mingle and enjoy a drink before dinner is a nice way to break the ice and the perfect time for appetizers and finger foods, so have them ready when the first guest arrives.
Accept offered help
If a guest asks, “What can I bring?” take them up on the offer. Whether it’s a side dish, dessert or ice for drinks, a little help can go a long way. Remember to be specific about what you need so that you don’t end up with duplicates or something that doesn’t fit your menu.
Don’t overlook cleanup
Planning for cleanup is less exciting than preparing for a party, but your tired feet will thank you at the end of the night. Start the evening with empty trash and recycling bins and an empty dishwasher, sink and draining rack. Load anything you can into the dishwasher as you dirty it, and try to stay on top of hand-washing the rest.
Enlist a couple of your closest friends or family members to stay and help tidy up after the meal. Bribe them with leftovers or an extra glass of wine if needed. It will lighten the load and let you wrap up the evening on a high note.
Manage expectations
Trying to achieve perfection at your party is a surefire way to increase your holiday stress, which is the opposite of what we want. Your party will not be perfect. Something will get spilled, forgotten, broken or burned, but hopefully not all at once. Your guests are not going to judge you by that. Instead, they will appreciate your effort and the opportunity to gather. Focus on creating a warm and welcoming environment and let the rest fall into place.
Enjoy your stress-free dinner
It’s too easy to get caught up in hosting and forget that you are supposed to be having fun. Remember to consciously step back from the chaos and enjoy your evening with your guests. By keeping things simple, planning ahead and leaning on your support system, you can host a holiday dinner that’s enjoyable for everyone with much less holiday stress.
Renee N Gardner is the creator behind Renee Nicole’s Kitchen, a recipe blog based on seasonal ingredients, dedicated to helping home cooks build their kitchen confidence to become home chefs. When Renee isn’t writing, developing recipes or photographing food, you’ll find her in the garden, traveling or enjoying the outdoors with her husband, son and two dogs.