Hosting friends and family during the holidays is always something to look forward to, but preparing a big meal for everyone can admittedly become pretty stressful;. Between decorating, cleaning, entertaining the kids, and making sure guests have everything they need, spending hours in the kitchen isn’t realistic most of the time. Thankfully, there are plenty of holiday dinner delivery ideas that make it possible to serve a delicious meal without having to cook everything yourself, thanks to DoorDash.
Whether you’re planning a casual Christmas Eve gathering, hosting relatives for a holiday movie night, or inviting friends over for dinner, ordering food can take a lot of pressure off your plate. With DoorDash, you can explore restaurants in your area and find everything from pizza and barbecue to pasta, burgers, and other crowd favorites. Plus, if you’re ordering frequently throughout the season, DashPass offers exclusive savings and delivery benefits on eligible orders. These holiday dinner delivery ideas make it easier to accommodate different tastes while keeping your hosting plans simple! Here are some of the best holiday dinner delivery ideas to help you feed your guests, save time, and enjoy more of the celebration yourself with the help of DoorDash.
What Are the Best Holiday Dinner Delivery Ideas for Families?
The best holiday dinner delivery ideas are meals that are easy to share, appeal to different tastes, and don’t require much preparation once they arrive. With DoorDash, you can explore local restaurants and find plenty of options for your next holiday gathering without spending hours cooking:
Pizza and Breadsticks for a Casual Christmas Gathering
Pizza is always a crowd favorite, especially when you’re hosting a casual Christmas get together with kids and adults. Order a few different varieties, such as classic pepperoni, cheese, and a specialty pizza for guests who want something different. Add breadsticks, garlic knots, and a couple of salads to round out the meal.
It’s also an easy option for gatherings where people arrive at different times. Set the pizzas out on a serving table, keep plates and napkins nearby, and let everyone grab a slice whenever they’re hungry. There’s no need for a formal dinner setup, which makes hosting feel much more relaxed.
Barbecue Platters for Feeding a Crowd
If you’re feeding a larger group, barbecue is one of those holiday dinner delivery ideas that can make everyone happy without requiring a complicated menu. Many barbecue restaurants offer combinations of smoked brisket, pulled pork, ribs, or chicken, along with hearty sides like macaroni and cheese, baked beans, and coleslaw.
For a Christmas gathering with extended family, consider ordering a few different meats and letting guests build their own plates. Pulled chicken sandwiches are especially convenient for younger kids, while adults can enjoy a more traditional barbecue spread. Check portion sizes before ordering, since platter servings can vary between restaurants.
Italian Pasta Dishes for a Cozy Holiday Dinner
There’s something especially comforting about sitting down to a warm Italian meal during the holidays. Baked ziti, lasagna, chicken Parmesan, and fettuccine Alfredo are all satisfying options that feel appropriate for a festive dinner without requiring you to prepare everything from scratch.
If you’re hosting several families, look for restaurants that offer family portions or larger pasta trays. You can serve the dishes with garlic bread, a Caesar salad, and a few simple appetizers for a complete meal. Pasta is also convenient when you’re feeding children, since familiar dishes like spaghetti and meatballs tend to be popular with younger guests.
Chinese Takeout for a Relaxed Christmas Eve
Chinese takeout is a fun choice for families who prefer a more relaxed Christmas Eve tradition. Instead of preparing another elaborate dinner before Christmas Day, you can order an assortment of dishes and enjoy them while watching holiday movies or spending time together.
Fried rice, lo mein, sesame chicken, dumplings, and spring rolls are great options for sharing. Include a few vegetable dishes or milder selections so guests have some variety. Ordering several different entrees also makes it easy for everyone to sample something new, which can turn dinner into part of the evening’s entertainment.
Burgers and Fries for a Family Holiday Movie Night
Not every holiday gathering needs a traditional Christmas dinner. Sometimes, a few burgers, fries, and milkshakes are exactly what you need for a cozy evening at home. This is particularly true when you’re hosting a family movie night and want something everyone can enjoy without interrupting the festivities.
DoorDash makes it easy to browse burger restaurants in your area and find options for different appetites. Consider ordering classic cheeseburgers for the adults, smaller burgers or chicken tenders for the kids, and a few shareable sides. Once dinner arrives, everyone can settle in with their food and enjoy the movie.
Mexican Food for a Festive Family Feast
Tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and nachos are excellent choices for a holiday dinner that feels a little different from the usual seasonal menu. Mexican food also lends itself to casual entertaining, particularly when you’re hosting friends or family members who enjoy customizing their meals.
For a larger gathering, consider ordering a combination of taco fillings, rice, beans, tortillas, and toppings. Guests can assemble their own plates, while younger children can stick with familiar favorites like cheese quesadillas. Add chips, salsa, and guacamole to give everyone something to snack on while they mingle.
Sandwich Platters for an Afternoon Gathering
If you’re hosting a holiday open house or expecting guests throughout the afternoon, sandwiches can be more practical than a traditional sit down meal. They’re easy to serve, don’t require much cleanup, and allow people to eat whenever they’re ready.
Look for sandwich shops offering assorted subs, wraps, or deli sandwiches that can be divided into smaller portions. Turkey and cheese, Italian subs, grilled chicken sandwiches, and vegetarian wraps provide a good mix of options. Pair them with chips, pasta salad, or fresh fruit for a spread that feels substantial without being overly complicated.
Fried Chicken and Comfort Food for a Casual Dinner
Fried chicken is a particularly good choice when you want something hearty and familiar that appeals to a wide range of ages. Pair crispy chicken with mashed potatoes, biscuits, macaroni and cheese, and coleslaw for a satisfying meal that feels right at home during the holidays.
For gatherings with younger children, chicken tenders can be easier to serve than traditional bone in pieces. You can also order a combination of mild and spicy options to accommodate different preferences. This type of meal works especially well for casual Christmas celebrations when you want comforting food without preparing a full holiday roast.
Mediterranean Food for a Shareable Holiday Spread
Mediterranean cuisine offers plenty of flavorful options for a holiday gathering, especially if you’re looking for something beyond the usual pizza or pasta. Chicken shawarma, grilled kebabs, falafel, hummus, pita bread, and rice are all great choices for creating a generous spread.
One of the advantages of Mediterranean food is how easily you can combine different dishes to accommodate various preferences. For example, guests can enjoy grilled chicken with rice, build pita sandwiches, or put together a plate of falafel and vegetables. It’s an appealing option for a holiday dinner where everyone wants to try a little bit of everything.
Appetizers and Finger Foods for Holiday Parties
Sometimes, the best holiday dinner delivery ideas don’t involve a traditional main course at all. If you’re hosting a Christmas party where guests will be mingling, playing games, or moving between rooms, an assortment of appetizers might be a better fit.
Consider ordering chicken wings, sliders, mozzarella sticks, loaded nachos, or other shareable favorites from restaurants on DoorDash. Arrange everything on platters with dipping sauces and small plates so guests can serve themselves. For a gathering that lasts several hours, you can also bring out different appetizers throughout the evening rather than putting everything on the table at once.
How Can Food Delivery Make Holiday Hosting Easier?
Food delivery can simplify holiday hosting by reducing the time spent cooking, giving guests more meal options, and cutting down on kitchen cleanup. Here are just a few ways that DoorDash food delivery can help with holiday hosting:
1. Spend Less Time Cooking and More Time With Guests
Preparing a large holiday meal can take hours, particularly when you’re making several dishes from scratch. Ordering dinner through DoorDash lets you skip much of that preparation. You can use the extra time to help the kids open presents, catch up with relatives, or participate in the holiday activities you’ve planned.
2. Give Everyone More Options Without Preparing Multiple Meals
Feeding a group with different tastes can be tricky, especially when picky eaters are involved. One child might only want chicken tenders, while another guest prefers something vegetarian. Preparing separate meals for everyone can quickly become exhausting. Depending on the restaurants available in your area, you may be able to order different dishes that accommodate everyone’s preferences.
3. Keep the Kitchen Clean Before Guests Arrive
Having dinner delivered can help keep the kitchen more manageable, particularly when you’ve already spent the morning cleaning the house. Transfer the food to serving dishes if you want a more polished presentation, or use the restaurant’s packaging for a casual gathering. Either way, you’ll have fewer cooking utensils and dishes to wash afterward.
How Can DashPass Help You Save on Holiday Food Delivery?
If you’re planning to order food several times throughout the holiday season, DashPass is definitely worth considering! DoorDash’s membership program offers exclusive benefits on eligible orders, including $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees at participating merchants!
Get Exclusive Savings on Eligible DoorDash Orders
Delivery fees can add to the cost of ordering food, particularly when you’re feeding several people. DashPass members can receive $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on qualifying orders, which may help make holiday takeout more affordable. Eligibility requirements, minimum order amounts, taxes, and other charges still apply, so it’s worth reviewing the details before checking out. The actual savings will depend on your order and the participating restaurant.
Enjoy Convenient Delivery Benefits Throughout the Holidays
DashPass members can access eligible delivery benefits while browsing participating merchants on DoorDash. Delivery estimates are shown when ordering, allowing you to choose an option that works with your plans.
Make Frequent Holiday Orders More Affordable
If you’re only ordering delivery once during the holidays, a membership might not make much difference. However, families who regularly use DoorDash for dinners, weekend gatherings, or other occasions may find that DashPass offers better overall value. For example, you might order Chinese takeout on Christmas Eve, pizza for a family movie night, and sandwiches for a gathering with friends. Eligible savings across several orders could help offset the membership cost. Before signing up, compare the current membership price with how frequently you expect to order and the benefits available in your area.
Use DashPass Beyond Holiday Dinner
DashPass can also be useful once the holiday celebrations are over. Families who frequently order meals during busy school nights, weekends, or special occasions can continue taking advantage of eligible membership benefits throughout the year. DoorDash also offers delivery from participating grocery and retail stores, giving families additional shopping options beyond restaurant meals. For dads managing busy schedules, that flexibility can come in handy when there’s little time to shop or cook. Whether you’re planning another family gathering or simply need an easier dinner option, DashPass may offer ongoing value depending on your ordering habits.
Holiday Dinner Delivery Ideas Made Easy With DoorDash
A fun holiday gathering doesn’t have to involve a super fancy homemade dinner or an entire afternoon spent preparing food. Whether you’re hosting a big family celebration or keeping things casual with a few friends, choosing meals everyone enjoys can make entertaining much easier. With these holiday dinner delivery ideas, you can spend less time worrying about what’s cooking and more time enjoying the people around your table. DoorDash makes it convenient to explore local dining options, while DashPass can offer additional savings and benefits for those planning multiple orders throughout the holiday season.
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