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Plan the perfect holiday party with my Simple Buffet Ideas! This collection of perfect crowd-feeding recipes makes menu planning for a holiday get-together or special occasion so much easier. From breakfast buffet food to buffet desserts, you will find everything you need on this list!
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Holiday Menu Planning
Holiday menu planning does not have to be stressful! I love planning for the holidays, but the trick to coming up with the perfect menu and not stressing yourself out is to plan it all ahead of time.
Serving your meals buffet-style is the perfect solution to holiday stress. Plan it all out beforehand, then prep and serve. The best part is, simple buffet ideas give you more time to spend with your guests.
Buffet food ideas also allow your guests to personalize their dinner, so it’s a great choice to serve a buffet when you know you’ll be hosting picky eaters or guests with food allergies.
And, it’s just plain fun! Who doesn’t love a buffet?
Breakfast Buffet Food
Make it an all-you-can-eat breakfast with our easy and simple breakfast buffet ideas!
Amazing Sausage Egg and Cheese Casserole
Sausage Breakfast Casserole with Crescent Rolls is an easy breakfast that’s great for feeding a crowd! Filling, hearty, and so delicious!
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Starbucks Egg Bites (Copycat Recipe)
Just like the popular gruyere and bacon Starbucks egg bites, these sous vide egg bites are rich, velvety, and perfect for an on-the-go breakfast!
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Instant Pot Sausage Gravy Recipe
Our Instant Pot Sausage Gravy Recipe is the easiest way to make the most delicious southern sausage gravy and biscuits ever, using a few secret ingredients!
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Banana Bread Waffles Recipe
Banana Bread Waffles are quick, easy, and so delicious! You'll love every bite of this comforting, homemade waffle recipe.
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Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Recipe
My crispy Air Fryer Bacon recipe will change the way you make bacon! It is so much easier than making bacon on the stove or in the oven and takes just 10 minutes to do.
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Gluten Free Donuts
Gluten Free Donuts are a fun recipe you need right now! Soft, fluffy and tossed in a cinnamon sugar mixture, you’d never guess these donuts are GLUTEN FREE!
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Amazing Strawberry Crepes
My easy Strawberry Crepes recipe is a beautiful breakfast or dessert you can make using simple ingredients in minutes!
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Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
My Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes are as crispy and delicious as they come. This easy air fryer recipe is perfect for cooking up a simple, quick breakfast the whole family will love!
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Easy Appetizers for a Crowd
Simple party food is a must for buffet appetizers! Try our favorites:
Cucumber Canapés with Shrimp
Cucumber canapes with shrimp are easy to prepare fancy appetizers with a refreshing homemade tzatziki filling and vibrant herb topping!
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Bacon Jalapeño Deviled Eggs with Cream Cheese
Bacon Jalapeño Deviled Eggs with Cream Cheese take classic deviled eggs to a whole new level of delicious!
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Spinach Puff Pastry
These easy Spinach Puff Pastry appetizers with bacon are a delicious golden puff pastry filled with cheesy creamed spinach and plenty of bacon. It is a simple buffet menu idea for holiday parties and would be a great addition to your Easy Football Food menu for game day!
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Arugula Burrata Salad Recipe
Creamy burrata cheese with salty prosciutto, fresh Parmesan, and crisp arugula, all seasoned with sea salt, pepper, and drizzled olive oil… that's our incredible Arugula Burrata Salad Recipe!
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Mexican Street Corn Dip
My Mexican Street Corn Dip is cheesy, creamy, and so delicious! With a kick of heat from jalapeno and tajin seasoning, this hot corn dip recipe has it all. Perfect for parties!
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Shrimp Shumai
Shrimp shumai is a tasty and EASY staple dim sum recipe made with ginger and garlic shrimp, water chestnuts, and a soy sauce mixture, served as dumplings!
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Beer Cheese Dip (Obatzda)
This creamy and flavorful beer cheese dip (also called Obatzda) is an authentic German dip perfect for dipping pretzels, sliced meats, and more.
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Soft Pretzel Recipe
Perfect for dipping and sharing, this fluffy soft pretzel recipe is SO easy to make at home and delicious, too! Try these buttery soft pretzels with your favorite cheese dip.
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Prosciutto Pinwheels with Gruyere Cheese and Puff Pastry
These Gruyere and Prosciutto Puff Pastry Pinwheels are perfect for a New Year’s Eve party! This festive appetizer is easy to make, flaky, and decadent.
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Casseroles for a Crowd
Casseroles make the easiest buffet menu ideas! Our favorites are easy to make, simple to store, and reheat in a pinch.
Easy Mexican Street Corn Casserole
My Mexican Street Corn Casserole recipe uses simple ingredients to turn your favorite elote recipe into the perfect party side dish!
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Vegetable Au Gratin – Vegetables in Cheese Sauce
Learn how to make vegetable au gratin using root vegetables in under an hour! These roasted vegetables with cheese sauce are a perfect holiday side dish.
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Southern Sweet Potato Casserole
Creamy whipped sweet potatoes with cinnamon and nutmeg are topped with a crunchy brown sugar pecan topping in this Southern Sweet Potato Casserole.
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Baked Creamed Corn Casserole Recipe
With only 5 ingredients and 3 simple steps to follow, this is the easiest Baked Creamed Corn Casserole recipe that takes just 30 minutes to bake!
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Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Our recipe for Easy Mashed Potatoes in Instant Pot results in buttery, creamy, and delicious potatoes.
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Gluten Free Green Bean Casserole
This Gluten Free Green Bean Casserole recipe is so comforting and made from scratch! It's the perfect easy Thanksgiving side dish. Made with fresh veggies!
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Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes are ready in under 30 minutes! Deliciously cheesy and creamy, these au gratin potatoes make the perfect holiday side dish!
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Best Creamy Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Follow my guide on How to Make Creamy Mashed Potatoes for the best creamy mashed potatoes recipe you can make in 5 easy steps!
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Gluten Free Potatoes Au Gratin
Our Gluten Free Potatoes Au Gratin is a classic side dish recipe that's perfect for Sunday supper or the holidays. It's bursting with flavor from creamy garlic potatoes and a cheesy crust!
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Vegetable Buffet Dishes
Vegetable side dishes make such simple buffet ideas! They pair well with everything and are so simple to prepare and serve.
Green Bean Almondine
Crisp green bean almondine is a simple side dish made extra special with the addition of buttery, pan fried almonds and fresh dill! There is no better reason to start eating your greens than these green beans with almonds.
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Air Fryer Mushrooms
Light, crispy, and easy AIR FRYER MUSHROOMS are a flavorful appetizer you’ll love! Fried mushrooms make an easy game day appetizer, PERFECT for dipping.
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Garlic Parmesan Roasted Carrots
These Garlic Parmesan Roasted Carrots are the perfect addition to your Easy Easter Side Dishes! Whole, peeled carrots are seasoned simply with salt, pepper, and oregano, drizzled with a little garlic oil, and roasted until tender. Finish with a sprinkling of freshly grated Parmesan and melted butter for an easy and delicious springtime side.
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Amazing Button Mushrooms Recipe
Mushrooms are caramelized in butter and olive oil and sautéed with garlic and herbs in this BUTTON MUSHROOMS RECIPE for the perfect side for any entrée!
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Easy Garlic Butter Potatoes
Garlicky, buttery, and oh-so-crispy, our Garlic Roasted Small Potatoes make a delicious side dish for every meal from beef to chicken.
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Amazing Instant Pot Carrots Recipe
Instant Pot Candied Carrots are ready in no time! Made with a maple syrup and brown sugar glaze, these carrots taste delicious. Perfect for a holiday meal!
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Sautéed Mushrooms and Onions
Using only a few SIMPLE ingredients, quick and easy sautéed mushrooms and onions are the PERFECT versatile side dish for steak, burgers, chicken or pork!
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Buffet Salads
Salads are a must for filling out your party food buffet ideas! Here are our best salad recipes for a crowd:
Roasted Artichoke Hearts Salad Recipe
Roasted Artichoke Salad is one of the easiest and prettiest holiday salad recipes you should be serving all season long! The roasted artichokes combined with the tangy burst of fresh basil vinaigrette is the perfect festive salad and a delicious way to start your meal.
Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad
Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad is a delicious warm salad recipe you will crave more and more of! It's a perfect holiday side dish, with Parmesan, pecans, cranberries, and garlic.
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Zesty & Tangy Orange and Fennel Salad
With its bright, sweet, and zesty flavors, Orange and Fennel Salad is a perfect side salad or citrus salad recipe for lunch!
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Grilled Chicken Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
Complete with crisp, fresh veggies and deliciously creamy buttermilk ranch dressing, my Grilled Chicken Salad is a must-try for the summer!
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Broccoli Apple Salad
This Broccoli Apple Salad is absolutely delicious! Make it with deli turkey and follow the recipe for a complete meal that’s super quick and easy.
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Main Course Ideas for a Buffet
These buffet-style main course ideas are perfect for holiday menu planning!
Slow Roasted Prime Rib
Our Slow Roasted Prime Rib Roast recipe is a melt-in-your-mouth holiday classic. Using only 4 ingredients and hardly any prep work, this is an easy rib roast recipe that will really "wow" your guests!
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Amazing Grilled Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe
Your Thanksgiving plans are about to change forever! Our Juicy Grilled Turkey Recipe has the crispiest skin ever and is so juicy.
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Amazing Instant Pot Ham Recipe
Not only does it taste amazing, but Instant Pot Ham really is the easiest way to make ham. It takes just 15 minutes to cook, and the reverse sear gives it a super flavorful, crispy, and sticky skin.
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Dutch Oven Pot Roast Recipe
The perfect roast for a cold winter night! This Dutch Oven Pot Roast is a family friendly recipe, that is easy to cook and so low effort. Perfect for busy families and novice chefs!
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The Best Honey Glazed Ham Recipe
This is the BEST ham glaze recipe out there! Your guests are going to love our easy Sunday Ham recipe! It is the perfect holiday ham.
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Grilled Crab Legs with Garlic Butter Sauce
Tender, luscious Grilled Crab Legs cook up in just 10 minutes on the grill and pair deliciously with flavorful garlic butter sauce. You will love every bite of this easy grilling recipe!
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Lemon Butter Chicken Recipe
Lemon Butter Chicken is a flavorful dinner made with the most delicious lemon garlic butter sauce ever! An instant family favorite. You will love this easy chicken dinner!
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Buffet Desserts
These are the easiest desserts to make ahead of time for a buffet party!
Chocolate Salami (Salame de Chocolate)
Learn how to make Chocolate Salami, or Salame de Chocolate, using 6 simple ingredients in 15 minutes! Easy, elegant, and delicious!
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Ooey Gooey Butter Cake Recipe
There is no treat as deliciously sweet as Ooey Gooey Butter Cake! Also known as chess cake, chess pie, or chess squares, this simple dessert recipe is a classic Southern food everyone who tries it loves.
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Amazing Instant Pot Cheesecake Recipe
Instant Pot Cheesecake Recipe is SUPER easy and guarantees you a perfect result every time! Easily make perfect homemade cheesecake in your Instant Pot.
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Key Lime Pie Bars
Tart and sweet with a buttery cookie crust, this Key Lime Pie Bars recipe is perfect for spring and summer. Serve it for a backyard BBQ or potluck, and everyone will be asking for the recipe!
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Fresas con Crema Recipe
My Fresas con Crema recipe shows you how easy it is to make a special and memorable dessert for your family without spending hours in the kitchen! In fact, it only takes 10 minutes!
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Gluten Free Fudge Brownies
Totally decadent Gluten Free Fudge Brownies are so tasty, they are crave-worthy! You will never believe how easy it is to prepare these gluten free brownies! They are the perfect dessert for any occasion.
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Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake
Beautiful STRAWBERRY SWIRL CHEESECAKE is an easy dessert recipe made with simple homemade strawberry sauce and smooth, creamy baked cheesecake.
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Zucchini Brownies with Coconut Oil
My Zucchini Brownies with Coconut Oil are so moist, decadently fudgy, and rich. They're ready in just 40 minutes and are so easy to make.
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Carlota de Limón
Sweet and tangy Carlota de Limón is a classic Mexican NO BAKE dessert recipe with layers of Maria biscuits, condensed milk, dulce de leche, and lime juice!
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Strawberry Dump Cake with Bananas
Quick and delicious, this Strawberry Dump Cake with Bananas is a miracle dessert! You can prepare it with almost no efforts but the result will certainly amaze everyone around you!
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Ina Garten Apple Crisp
The most amazing cinnamon baked apples and mouthwatering, delicious, buttery streusel topping make up this Ina Garten Apple Crisp. Every bite is heavenly!
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More Holiday Menu Ideas
- Christmas Side Dishes
- Side Dishes for Ham
- New Year’s Eve Menu Ideas
- Side Dishes for Prime Rib
- Easter Side Dishes
- Popular Thanksgiving Dishes
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Did you enjoy this page? Save it on Pinterest for later!What’s your favorite dish to serve for a buffet? Did you try any of these party food buffet ideas? Let us know in the comments below! We love to hear from you!
Debra Steinbacher says
Cauliflower augratin and angel food cake with strawberries seem to be two things I make for Easter dinner..
Em Beitel says
That sounds amazing, Debra. We’d love to know how you make your cauliflower au gratin!