Friendsmas food ideas for festive celebrations

From potlucks recipes to grazing boards and picky bits, find the best ideas for celebrating Christmas with friends. Plus, discover festive drinks and cocktails to celebrate in style.

Food Editor

Emily Lambe

What is Friendsmas?

Friendsmas is a fun way to celebrate the festive season with a group of friends while reserving the big day for family. Whether it’s a potluck dinner or a cocktail party with picky bits, the menu is up to you – this is all about festive fun with your mates, without the stress! Not sure where to start? See our Friendsmas food ideas, including our top picks from the Foodhall, for all your hosting essentials.

Christmas food in store

Friendsmas food ideas

Make the season extra special with a fun and festive Friendsmas gathering. Find new ways with party food recipes or whip up a batch of Christmas sweet treats.

Christmas recipes

Friendsmas Christmas dinner

Go traditional with a showstopping Christmas dinner. Nail the perfect turkey, like our award-winning Oakham Hot Maple Glazed Turkey Crown, basted with turkey stock and filled with Italian chestnut stuffing. And load up on all the sides and trimmings like our crispy, golden Beef Dripping Roast Potatoes and our Best Ever Pigs in Blankets, double-wrapped in a whole rasher of outdoor-bred bacon.

How to cook the best Christmas dinner

Potluck Friendsmas ideas

Invite your guests to bring a dish to share, adding a personal touch to the festivities. Make a large main for sharing like our spinach and ricotta broken lasagne, made with a handful of shortcut ingredients. This one-pan spicy ’nduja chicken adds a warming kick, infused with North Italian Barolo wine, spicy chilli and aromatic wild fennel. For a veggie option, serve our hearty cauliflower caponata with buttery garlic bread.

Potluck food ideas

Friendsmas picky bits

Throw a casual Friendsmas celebration with a selection of party food and picky bits. Pop into the Foodhall to load up on our four-for-three party food, like our Mini Turkey Toasties with a rich gravy for dunking or Paella Bites with tender black tiger prawns pieces. Or load up on expertly crafted charcuterie and exclusive cheese to make an impressive grazing board.

Party food in store

Friendsmas drinks and cocktails

Pop open a bottle of our Classics Cremant de Bourgogne, with notes of peach blossom, apricot and redcurrants, or opt for a non-alcoholic Winter Berry Spritz, infused with a hint of mulled spices. Make a big batch of our Christmas punch to share, topped off with effervescent Prosecco. Add a touch of Christmas sparkle with our Prosecco cocktails –choose from amaretto spritz, mulled wine bellini, or sparkling Kir Royale.

Best Christmas drinks

How to host Friendsmas

First, pick your theme and plan a menu to cater to any dietary restrictions, like our top gluten-free Christmas food ideas.
To make hosting easier, see our make-ahead recipes to cut back on prep time on the day of.
Hosting doesn’t have to break the bank – discover our budget recipes, using our quality ingredients you know and love at an everyday price.
For a twist on Friendsmas, try a cosy brunch with our Christmas breakfast ideas. Load up on flaky pastries and fruity Buck’s Fizz.

Published 12.17.2025