How to Plan a Stress-Free Holiday Dinner (Without Losing Your Mind)

Between family coming into town, last-minute errands, and a never-ending to-do list, it’s easy to let stress take over. But hear this: hosting a holiday dinner doesn’t have to feel like a high-pressure performance.

With a little planning and a realistic mindset, you can pull off a festive, delicious holiday meal—without losing your mind in the process.

Embrace the Crazy

I know you’re heard this time and time again, but I’ll add to it: It doesn’t have to be perfect.

I navigate stressful holiday meals by embracing two things: Delegate and Accept the Ridiculous.

Keep it simple – paper plates and other disposables are fine. I’m normally the queen of reusable (Stasher Bags 4 Lyfe) But paper plates are a perfectly acceptable substitute for lightening your load for the holiday meal. Don’t want to go full disposable? Just use paper products at the kid’s table, and the nicer stuff for the adults.
You don’t have to do everything all by yourself; put those high energy kids to use! Have the kids make decorations for the table. Have them cut a bunch of construction paper to use as confetti. Or make namecards for every place setting. Or hang portraits of every guest on the back of their chair. It keeps the kids busy and could be a sweet keepsake, too.

Plan a Menu That’s Doable, Not Pinterest-Perfect

Think simple, crowd-pleasing recipes you actually enjoy making. Now’s not the time to try a 12-step soufflé or a brand-new recipe you’ve never tested. Instead:

Stick with dishes you know
Choose recipes that can be made ahead
Include at least one store-bought shortcut (Trader Joe’s frozen apps count as festive, trust me)

Keep a Meal Time Backup Plan

Proper planning ensures good results. Keep in mind that no matter how well you’ve planned, things can fall apart- and that’s normal!

Your kid could jerk the tablecloth and send the dinner tumbling down. Someone could mess up the sauce and ruin the dinner. So I keep a backup plan in the back of my mind- just to help safeguard against a mental breakdown.

Keep a few DIY Meal Kits on hand to break open in case of emergency
Keep a short list of which restaurants are open- just in case you have to totally throw in the towel
Have the meal be a potluck of sorts; guests bring side dishes, and you do the Main Event (turkey, etc) in your own kitchen. If one meal fails, you’ve got the others to fall back on

Start Prepping Early (Like, Earlier Than You Think)

The key to a calm holiday dinner is spreading the work over a few days. Here’s how:

Grocery shop 3–5 days before the big day
Prep sides and desserts a day or two in advance
Set the table the night before
Write out your cooking schedule and tape it to the fridge

Create Fun, Simple Traditions

It could be a game of Monopoly or a kiddie bake-off. Creating fun, simple traditions that will keep your guests engaged and entertained helps take the pressure off the small talk and creates memories for a lifetime.

Simple, fun traditions like:

making ornaments for each guest to craft together and then bring home.
doing a family breakfast instead of the dinner.
Cookie competition: every guest brings a cookie (homemade or store-bought) and everyone votes on the winner.
take a walk around the neighborhood after your meal
Everyone watches the same movie after the table has been cleared

Ask for Help (Seriously, Do It)

This isn’t a one-person show. Ask your guests to:

Bring a side dish, drink, or dessert
Help clean up after dinner
Entertain the kids while you finish cooking
Remember, people love to contribute—it makes them feel included.

Your guests won’t remember the centerpiece. They’ll remember the laughter, the stories, and the feeling of being together. So pour yourself a glass of something sparkly, take a deep breath, and enjoy your own holiday.

Above all: relax. It’s just dinner. With everything else this year has already thrown at you, you deserve to enjoy it for what it’s worth. Look around, and be thankful for the things you have- the people you love – the food on your table. Wishing you and your family all the best this holiday season!