The Allrecipes Allstars Share Their 8 Best Tips for Holiday Entertaining

I'll never forget the first holiday party I hosted in my small apartment in Brooklyn with my then-boyfriend. I was in my early 20s, and I wanted to make an impressive spread with all sorts of appetizers that I had never made before, and a complicated punch that required multiple days of prep. Well, you can probably guess what happened: I waited until the last minute to start everything, I agonized over having a messy apartment, and I ended up staying in the kitchen cooking well after the party started.

Ultimately, I had a good time. It was a party, after all! But it didn't need to be so overwhelming. And I'm imagining I'm not alone in this situation. To help you (and me) out, I asked the Allrecipes Allstars—our super users—to share their best holiday hosting tips. From creating lists to using grocery shortcuts, these smart tips will help minimize the stress and help you focus on why you're actually hosting: The people!

1. Plan Early

"Plan early! I write out the main holiday menu weeks before the event, and circulate it to the family. Everyone can then choose what to add to the main course. We set up several folding tables, add festive tablecloths, and put out warming plates before guests arrive to facilitate easy placement of dishes." — Diana Bishop

"Make a plan to start cooking ahead of time and print all your recipes together in a binder, choose your tablescape ahead of time, decorate your house and your table the night before the party, only have the ingredients you will need for cooking in your fridge." — Jennifer Aleman

"Start planning ahead! Make a timeline/checklist with different goals for getting things done so you aren't racing to get everything done the day of. Most importantly, don't be afraid to ask for help!" — France Cevallos

"Planning, planning, planning! Plan ahead and prepare as much of your meal as possible in advance. You then can spend time with your family and friends instead of all day in the kitchen." — Pat Bernitt

2. Make a List

"Write lists and don't lose them! Start planning at least a month ahead of time. Don't be afraid to ask for help, both before and day of. If you get overwhelmed, take a step back. No one needs an upset host." — Faith Nettles

"Make lists for EVERYTHING! Share the load—everyone brings something, even if it's beer and soda. Work ahead as much as possible so you can spend time with guests. And EVERYONE helps clean up before leaving." — Vicki Lanzendorf

"I always manage to stress myself out so probably not the best to give advice, but a tip I started utilizing a few years ago is to create an itinerary for the party. Nothing super rigid or set in stone, but just a general flow with moments or activities you don't want to forget and/or run out of time for." — Aimee Broussard

"Holiday menus tend to have a lot of the same foods. Make a list and put it into your recipe box. Use it yearly as a shortcut. As a shopping list and as a menu." — Christina Whaley

3. Prep Ahead as Much As You Can

"I try to prep as much as I can in the days leading up to the party. If I can freeze something without compromising the integrity, I do that as well." — Amy Shen

"Do whatever cooking wise that you can before the big day. Leave only one or two things left to do so you can still enjoy family time." — Bree Clay

"Do as much ahead of time as possible. All deep cleaning should be finished before the prep starts, except for a last-minute spruce-up of the guest bath. Bake cakes the day before, bake pies early in the morning, leaving the oven free for the turkey. Pop dinner rolls in the oven to bake as the turkey rests." — Brenda Venable

"Prep ahead! Do as much as you can ahead of time to reduce stress on yourself. You want to enjoy the holidays as well; so do yourself some favors by taking time to get ahead on your recipes before the 'big day.'" — Kim Shupe

"Prep as much as you can ahead of time. Label serving dishes and put out the week before. When people come over and want to help you won’t be asking a ton of questions." — Stacy Rennie

"Make things ahead of time and freeze them if you can. I have a pie-making day, vegetable-chopping day, etc. This makes getting things done easier." — Donna Michaels

"Try to make things that you can make ahead of time so you have time to enjoy your party and guests." – Traci Eshleman

"Make as much as you can ahead of time." — Amy Leffler

4. Don't Do It Alone

"Many hands make light work; enjoy the process together!" — Megan Simcox

"Make a shared spreadsheet! Everyone wants to contribute in some way, so let them. Keeping a spreadsheet ensures there aren't duplicates, because people can sign up for specific dishes. Also, for people who don't like to cook, put drinks or sundries (paper towels, TP, candles, etc.) on the list of things to bring. Also, don't underestimate the power of planning! I like to start shopping for the holidays months in advance so I can find the best deals. I also usually start prepping at least a month in advance—pie crust and cookie dough can be frozen, many casseroles can be assembled and frozen before baking, etc. Don't leave it all till the last minute, or you'll suck all the fun out of it!" — Ashley Schuering

"If you're having a large bash, hire someone to do the detailed work at the party. For instance, hire a neighbor's kid to walk around and pick up plates and cups, make sure the drink station is full, and help clean up at the end of the night. That way you can socialize without running yourself ragged trying to make sure everyone has a glass of champagne." — Jamie Yost

"If people want to bring a dish let them. Also, let kids help. They like to. It’s surprising how kids can put together a decorated dining table if given some plates and a box of Christmas decor." — Sarah Kornbrek


"Let anyone that wants to bring food do it!! Everyone contributes!!" — Rosanne Robinson

5. Use Grocery Shortcuts

"Buy the frozen appetizers like baby quiches and keep them coming—tray at a time out of the oven." — Amy Barnes

"There are always shortcuts, so find simple recipes with shortcuts like already made pie crust or puff pastry or elevate store-bought dishes with fresh herbs and spices." — Stacey Freeman

"Prep as much as you can ahead of time. Focus on a few really good dishes. Buy what you don’t want to make!" — Jessica Lawson

6. Keep It Simple

"Plan ahead, and keep it simpler than you see on the internet! People have a lot of holiday parties to attend... Make it simple so you can spend quality time with the people you love, enjoying the festive season!" — Ashley Elizabeth

"Keep it simple! Having too many choices usually ends in having too many leftovers." — Christina Perri

"I've learned to take some stress off by scaling down the amount of dishes we make. We were spending so much time making everything and then had too much leftover. Unfortunately, so much was thrown out. Now, we just try to make the favorites, so we can enjoy the time more, have some leftovers without wasting." — Mary Burns

"Cook only dishes you have already cooked and perfected! Start with a festive cocktail or mocktail to cheer the season!!" — Lisa Lynn Backus

"Make easy appetizers, especially if the meal is more complicated." — Amanda Scarlati

7. Set the Atmosphere

"#1 party tip—the atmosphere that is set is always THE most important part of hospitality, and one of the main ways to prepare the atmosphere to be warm and inviting is to be intentional about creating a peaceful environment leading up to the party. Preparation for parties can be stressful for many reasons, and it is sometimes difficult not to feel impatient with other members of the household or to focus on what is lacking in the home during those times. But kindness towards each other and gratitude for both whatever we have and for the guests goes a long way in creating a welcoming home. I'd argue it matters even more so than a well-decorated house or tasty food, although those are helpful in their own way." — Jacolyn Dandreano

8. Try to Relax

"Don’t stress too much about how the house looks—guests are coming to see YOU, not the house. Don’t stress about perfection—just enjoy the time together. And don’t get overly ambitious with what you’re cooking. Spread the love and have a potluck." — Angie Fuller

"Don't panic, and stop trying to get everything ready perfectly on time." — Frances Carden

"Plan but don’t stress. You can’t control everything that goes wrong or goes right. Just breathe and remember why you’re hosting the party to begin with. People won’t remember what went wrong, but they will remember the times that you shared together." — Lisa Altmiller

"Relax and enjoy! If its not fun, its not worth it." — Keri Zrodlowski

"The best tip is don't sweat it and remember to breathe." — Alyson Richardson

"Relax. Just let people have fun!" — LaDonna Langwell

More Helpful Entertaining Tips from the Allstars

"Check your seasonings/spices for freshness! I buy mine at the savory spice shop—they’re the BEST!" — Sarah Stone

"Make cocktails in large batches." — Shelia Johnson

"Do your homework and plan for people with specific dietary needs. You want to offer options so everyone can partake equally." — Nicole Russell

"For a holiday party, set up the food buffet style. Use crock pots to keep food warm. Also, prep food as much as you can ahead of time." — Lorraine Rector

"Always have flavored water station on hand. It looks beautiful and it always goes. Especially if there is lots of booze being served." — Nicole Frack