If you’re hosting guests for the holidays, I suggest making some of these Make-Ahead Recipes to make your time together more enjoyable!
Any time I’m hosting company for any occasion – but especially during holiday time – I like to have meals, snacks, and desserts prepared ahead of time if possible. This way I can enjoy visiting with our guests without spending much time in the kitchen. (I don’t do a great job of talking and cooking at the same time, oy!)
Here are some of my favorite recipes to make ahead and serve guests who are visiting:
Make-Ahead Recipes to Serve Holiday Guests
Main Dishes
- 20-Minute Taco Soup
- Cheesy Salsa Enchiladas (freezes well)
- Chicken Salad (store in fridge and serve on rolls or croissants)
- Chili (freezes well and can be served with fritos and cheese or with hotdogs for chili dogs)
- Homemade Tomato Soup (a crowd favorite served with grilled cheese sandwiches)
- Italian Pasta Bake (freezes well)
- Potato Soup (doesn’t freeze well but can be made and stored for a few days in the fridge, then quickly rewarmed on the stove)
- Simple Chicken Cheeseballs with a Kick (freezes well)
- Simple Pizza Chicken Bake (freezes well and is one of the easiest recipes you’ll ever enjoy!)
- Whole Wheat Pizza Crust (freezes well and are great to have on hand to make quick pizzas)
- Ham and Hashbrown Casserole (freezes well)
- Spicy Ham and Potato Soup (doesn’t freeze well but is great make ahead and stored in the fridge for a few days before warming and serving)
- Lasagna (my all-time favorite make-ahead meal!)
Desserts
- Banana Cake (cool, frost, and cut into pieces – then transfer to a plate and cover and freeze)
- Butterscotch Bars (freezes well – a crowd favorite)
- Caramel Apple Dip (does not freeze, but wonderful to have in the fridge to pull out and serve with sliced apples)
- Chocolate Cake (cool, frost, and cut into pieces – then transfer to a plate and cover and freeze)
- Chocolate Chip Brownies (freezes well)
- Chocolate Chip Cookies (freezes well)
- Christmas Spice Cookies (freezes well)
- Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies (freezes well)
- Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies (freezes well)
- Fruit Crisp (freezes well)
- Hot Chocolate Mix (fun to have on hand for guests!)
- Lemon Pound Cake (freeze sliced cake)
- Monster Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars (freezes well)
- Oatmeal Butterscotch Chip Cookies (freezes well)
- Pumpkin Pie (freezes well)
Snacks
- Cranberry Nut Trail Mix (have a container on the counter for guests to enjoy)
- Cream Cheese Salsa Dip (this is a perfect snack with tortilla chips if you’re playing games)
- Easy Veggie Dip (in case you’re eating veggies with your chips and dip)
- Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip
- Mudballs (great to have on hand for kids)
- No-Bake Chocolate Fudge Bites (great to have on hand for kids)
- No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookie Bites (great to have on hand for kids)
- No-Bake Snickerdoodle Bites (great to have on hand for kids)
- Spicy Avocado Dip (otherwise known as guacamole)
- Whole Wheat Graham Crackers (cut them out with holiday shaped cookie cutters)
Breakfast Foods
- Raspberry Oatmeal Bars (these are delicious to enjoy with guests along with a morning cup of coffee or tea)
- Easy Breakfast Casserole (freezes well)
- Poptarts (freeze well)
- Quick Mix Pancakes (make the mix, then make pancakes quickly for guests)
- Giant Breakfast Cookies (freeze well)
- Chocolate Cheesecake Muffins (freeze well)
- Banana Cheesecake Muffins (freeze well)
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins (freeze well)
- Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Muffins (freeze well)
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Muffins (freeze well)
- Blueberry Cheesecake Muffins (freeze well)
If you’re hosting Thanksgiving or Christmas this year, here are recipes to make your entire traditional Holiday Dinner ahead of time. I do it this way every year:
- Make-Ahead Turkey
- Stuffing Muffins
- Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
- Mashed Potatoes in the Instant Pot
- Oh Good Gravy
- Green Bean Casserole
- How to Make Frozen Pies
- Simple Whipped Sweet Potatoes
- How to make Whipped Cream
- Whole Wheat Stir-and-Pour Dinner Rolls
- Cranberry Sauce
- Simple Cranberry Apple Cider
What do you like to make-ahead to serve to guests?
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