The Ultimate Holiday Catering Checklist for Restaurant Operators

52 percent of catering-focused businesses make $1 million to $7.5 million in sales every year, and the holidays are a prime chance to claim a share. Orders cluster into a few high-pressure days, so success rests on four pillars: order timelines, staffing, portioning, and equipment. A checklist keeps chaos at bay, controls costs, and turns first-time customers into repeat clients all season long.

Steps to Run a Smooth Holiday Catering Program

Part 1: Thanksgiving Catering Checklist

Thanksgiving catering centers on a few classic dishes in high volume. Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday in November each year, so work backward from that date.

6 to 8 weeks out

• Finalize menu, packages, and pricing
• Set pre-order deadlines and a capacity-based order cap
• Open pre-orders and promote to past customers

3 to 4 weeks out

• Draft Thanksgiving week schedules

1 to 2 weeks out

• Close pre-orders and tally counts by item
• Place final produce, dairy, and dry goods orders
• Assign staggered pickup and delivery slots
• Build the production schedule, mapping oven, burner, and cooler space

3 to 5 days out

• Thaw turkeys under refrigeration, allowing extra days for large birds
• Prep items that hold well, such as cranberry sauce and pie fillings
• Label and stage equipment, packaging, and tickets

1 to 2 days out

• Bake pies; prep vegetables, sides, and gravy bases
• Pre-pack dry and cold items; do a final supply count

Thanksgiving catering portions per guest 

Item	Portion
Bone-in turkey	1 to 1.5 lb
Boneless turkey breast	about ½ lb
Mashed potatoes	4 to 6 oz
Stuffing	4 to 5 oz
Gravy	2 to 3 oz
Cranberry sauce	about 2 oz
Vegetable sides	3 to 4 oz
Rolls	1 to 2
Pie	1 slice (8 per pie)

Part 2: Christmas Catering Checklist

Catering Christmas meals means a wider range of orders, from family-style Christmas dinner catering to office events and holiday party catering. Christmas falls on Friday in 2026, and many parties land in the weeks before, so your season starts earlier and runs longer than Thanksgiving.

8 to 10 weeks out

• Finalize Christmas dinner and holiday party menus, packages, and pricing
•  Open bookings for parties and corporate events, which fill first
• Set pre-order deadlines for dinner packages

4 to 6 weeks out

• Order roasts, hams, specialty items, and packaging
• Confirm guest counts, dietary needs, and service style for each party

2 weeks out through day of

• Close pre-orders and tally counts
• Stagger pickups, deliveries, and event setups

Christmas catering portions per guest

Item	Portion
Bone-in prime rib	about 1 lb
Boneless prime rib	8 to 10 oz
Bone-in ham	½ to ¾ lb
Boneless ham	? to ½ lb
Roasted potatoes or sides	4 to 5 oz
Cocktail-style appetizers (party)	6 to 8 pieces

Staffing for Holiday Catering

Schedule to peak demand, not a typical week. Assign production leads for proteins, sides, and desserts, and add prep crew in the days before each holiday. Dedicate a packing team to labels, allergen notes, and ticket checks, plus a pickup point person and confirmed drivers. Plan for heavy pan turnover with extra dishwashing and sanitation help, keep on-call backup for call-outs, and assign a food safety lead to every shift for temperature checks. For holiday party catering, add servers and a setup-and-breakdown crew.

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Holiday Party Catering Equipment Checklist

Kitchen Equipment:

• Knives, carving knives, cutting boards, roasting pans with racks, hotel pans, baking sheets
• Tongs, spoons, ladles, portion scoops, mixing bowls, stockpots
• Thermometers 
• Pie plates, tart pans, and cooling racks for desserts

Containers, To-Go Supplies, Catering Essentials

• Cambros and insulated carriers
• Chafing dishes with Sterno
• To-go containers, lids, packaging, and allergen and reheating labels

Beverage Supplies 

• Pitchers, ice buckets, and cups
• Coffee station supplies
• For parties with a bar: corkscrew, bottle opener, shakers, ice scoop, bar towels

Cleaning Supplies

• Dish soap, sponges, towels, and wipes
• Sanitizers
• Mops, buckets, disposable gloves

Stock Up on Holiday Catering Essentials at US Foods CHEF'STORE

CHEF’STORE carries only premium catering products at competitive prices. Discover essential beverage supplies, bar garnishes, professional cleaning products, and durable cooking equipment and more holiday menu essentials. 

Stop by one of our many locations or get your products delivered.