With something for everyone, buffets make the perfect feast for Christmas parties, Boxing Day or Twixtmas entertaining. From canapés to grazing boards, we've got exciting new buffet food and inspiring recipe ideas for a mouth-wateringly memorable and easy festive spread.
Christmas main dishes
A spectacular seafood platter, succulent gammon with triple-citrus glaze, and a mushroom, malbec & port wellington – these sumptuous serve-yourself centrepieces will be the stars of the show on any buffet table.
These are all from our convenient Food Made To Order service, where you can pre-order a delicious range of prepared food, perfect if you’re short on time or want to take the stress out of entertaining.
NEW No.1 Luxury Seafood Platter (extra large)
A luxurious selection of seafood, perfect for easy festive entertaining: cooked lobster tails, cooked crab claws, whole Madagascan crevettes, No.1 Smoked Salmon Pâté, crab shells filled with crab mousse and white crab meat, tail-on king prawns, and lemon, garlic and parsley king prawns. With cocktail sauce and lemon wedges. Serves 6-8.
NEW No. 1 Slow Cooked Perfectly Pink British Wing Rib of Beef
This is wow-factor roast beef made easy – seasoned with our blend of sea salt and green, black and pink peppercorns, and cooked low and slow for six hours for tender, pink meat. Simply finish it in the oven and serve with its rich Carbenet Sauvignon and thyme jus. Serves 6.
Scottish Salmon en Croute with a Lemon & Mascarpone Sauce
Bring a little luxury to the table with lightly smoked Scottish salmon pieces, lemon and mascarpone sauce, and golden butter puff pastry. Serves 8.
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NEW No.1 Mushroom, Malbec & Port Wellington
A mix of chestnut, portabella and pulled shiitake mushrooms in a rich Malbec and port sauce, wrapped in a spinach pancake and light, flaky plant-based puff pastry. Serves 6.
No.1 Chestnut Smoked Salmon Side
Whole side of Scottish salmon, cured, hung and traditionally kiln-smoked for up to 24 hours over chestnut, oak and beechwood for a fuller flavour. Serves 18.
NEW No.1 Slow Cooked Citrus Glazed Gammon
Succulent free-range gammon, sweet cured and marinated in Christmas spices, slow cooked and finished with a sticky triple-citrus glaze. Bone in for maximum flavour, it's delicious with the Christmas Day turkey or as part of a Boxing Day buffet with buttered potatoes and salad. Serves 8.
Christmas party food ideas
‘Tis the season to wow your guests with small (and tasty) nibbles. Combine some of our crowd-feeders, including Prawn Canapé Selection, Mini Goat's Cheese Vol Au Vents and super-cute Handmade Polar Bear Bao Buns, with hassle-free Christmas canapé winners made by you.
NEW No.1 8 Smoky Garlic & Chilli Prawn Bites
Succulent king prawns are marinated with smoked paprika, garlic and chilli, then dipped in a crisp batter. They come with a punchy bravas sauce for dipping.
Available on 11 November
No.1 Three Bird Rillette
Rich and indulgent, with slow-cooked pulled chicken, turkey and duck seasoned with herbs, garlic and a splash of Sauvignon Blanc. Delicious as a starter or served with crusty bread and salad leaves as a light meal. Serves 5.
Available on 11 November
NEW No.1 8 Handmade Polar Bear Bao Buns
These bao buns make a great talking point. Soft and pillowy with cute polar bear faces, they're filled with shredded vegetables and a sweet, sticky hoisin sauce. Also delicious as part of a family tea during the festive season.
No.1 Wagyu Beef Pie
Crisp, buttery puff pastry filled with slow-cooked Wagyu beef enriched with Wagyu bone marrow and ruby port. The sauce is made with onions sautéed in beef dripping; the pastry is expertly rolled and folded for perfect flaky layers. Finished with a pastry cow's head decoration, it will look truly impressive at the centre of your table. Serves 6.
NO.1 24 Piece Mini Beef Wellington Canapés
Slow-braised beef brisket is combined with rich mushroom duxelles, caramelised red onions and sharp mature Cheddar, all wrapped in buttery puff pastry to be baked at home for a flaky golden crust.
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NEW 32 Piece Prawn Canapé Selection
Includes: 16 Crunchy King Prawn Toasts with a soy, ginger and lime dipping sauce; and 16 Smoky Garlic & Chilli King Prawn Bites featuring king prawns in crispy batter, with bravas dip.
NEW Cheesy Tomato Salsa Hot Melting Dip
A carnival of Mexican-inspired flavours come together in this hot dip. Vibrant tomato salsa with smoked paprika, chilli and lime is topped with Santarella tomatoes, coriander, and extra mature Cheddar and Red Leicester cheese. Heat until golden, then scoop up with warm tortillas. Serves 2.
Available on 9 December
No.1 24 Piece Mini Goat's Cheese & Red Onion Vol Au Vents
Buttery puff pastry cups filled with a red onion jam made from caramelised onions deglazed with red wine and port. Topped with creamy French goat's cheese.
NEW Sausage Roll Yule Log
A sharing sausage roll for festive buffets. Succulent pork, turkey, ham and chestnut filling made with pork stock is seasoned with sage, pepper, rosemary and thyme, all wrapped up in crisp pastry. Serves 8.
Christmas dessert ideas
No matter how much party food your guests pile their plates with, there's always room for something sweet. Lay out (large) spoons for the likes of our new Mandarin Crown Cheesecake and Mini Cakes Winter Selection, while no one young or old will be able to resist our sumptuously sweet Polly the Polar Bear Cheesecake (almost too cute to tuck in to).
NEW Mandarin Crown Cheesecake
A vanilla-flavoured baked cheesecake on a crunchy biscuit base, hiding a secret pocket of mandarin sauce inside. With a light mousse on top, it’s finished with a glossy mandarin glaze. A dazzling centrepiece, destined to be the crowning glory of your Christmas. Serves 10.
Available on 18 December
NEW Gluten Free Chocolate Yule Log
Scrumptious chocolate sponge with a smooth chocolate buttercream. Add your own flourish with a dusting of icing sugar or cocoa powder, or top with fruit. Serves 6-8.
NEW No.1 Mini Cakes Winter Selection
Perfect for a Christmas tea: 12 prettily decorated mini cakes. Four each of chocolate sponges with chocolate buttercream; iced ginger loaf cakes; and golden sponges with vanilla buttercream, cherry jam and edible glitter.
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NEW Frozen No.1 Clementine & Honey Meringue Dessert
A showstopping centrepiece dessert. Brown sugar meringue – crisp on the outside with a soft, mallowy centre – is layered with whipped British cream sweetened with honey and finished with a zingy clementine sauce. A delicious end to any meal. Serves 6.
Available on 5 October
NEW Polly the Polar Bear Cheesecake
A baked Belgian chocolate cheesecake sits on a cocoa biscuit base, topped with Belgian chocolate ganache. Finished with a dusting of sweet ‘snow’ in the shape of our cute festive character Polly the Polar Bear, complete with her signature gold nose. Made to encourage little (and big) smiles. Serves 10.
Available on 18 December
Build your Christmas buffet table
Wondering how to make your buffet look as alluring as possible? Well, a little tablescaping goes a long way.
Start with a festive-themed tablecloth to set the scene. Use baubles, sprigs of holly or brightly-coloured tinned sweets to dot in between dishes, adding an extra pop of Christmas.
When it comes to crockery, not everything needs to match – grab an assortment of bowls, plates and platters to mix things up. Having food at different heights looks effective too, so add levels to your buffet table by using cake stands or upturned baking trays covered with fabric – that festive tea towel at the back of the drawer is just waiting for its big moment.
It's also easy to add a little pizazz to cheeseboards and charcuterie by sprinkling on herbs and edible flowers. Drizzle olive oil over ready-made dips to give them a more homemade look, and pile up bags of crisps into Jenga-like towers. Just watch your guests get stuck in...
Christmas leftovers recipes
Transform Christmas Day leftovers into a delicious Boxing Day or Twixtmas buffet feast.
Leftover turkey recipes
Discover crowd-pleasing dishes, from turkey curry to turkey & sprout pot pie.
Leftover cheese recipes
Dig into Brie & caramelised leek tart, loaded potato skins and plenty more.
Leftover dessert recipes
Christmas pudding doughnuts or Christmas pudding brownies? That is the question.
Christmas drinks
The food’s sorted – now it’s time to fill the fridge with fizz, make plans for homemade punch or stock up on mulled wine to simmer on the hob.
Shop drinks with your groceries
Add wine, fizz, beer, spirits and pre-made cocktails to your food order.
Shop at Waitrose Cellar
Discover our full range of wines, all handpicked by our experts.
Festive cocktail recipes
Get creative and shake up wintry cocktails and mocktails.
Christmas hacks
Looking for Christmas buffet inspiration?
Create an unforgettable Christmas buffet with our range of festive dishes. From elegant canapés to vibrant platters and indulgent desserts, we’ve got a variety of options to suit every taste.
Hosting a large gathering or a cosy dinner? Our selection ensures your spread will be both delicious and memorable. Start with flavourful crisps, nuts, and snacks for a quick, tasty appetiser. Bring a touch of sophistication to the table with rich pâtés and terrines alongside smoked salmon for a hint of luxury. For heartier bites, explore our deli platters, and round off the celebration with delicious desserts and wine, fizz, and festive drinks to toast the occasion.
Whether you’re putting together an extravagant buffet or a more intimate spread, our Christmas party food brings you a delicious selection to make this Christmas truly special.