Tips for Stress-Free Holiday Entertaining

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Having a holiday party doesn’t have to be stressful.  Today I’m sharing tips for stress-free holiday entertaining so we can all relax this holiday season and enjoy spending time with family and friends.

Holiday Entertaining TIps

The holidays are right around the corner and it’s time to start planning holiday gatherings with all our favorite people.  We travel for Christmas but always host a Friendsgiving with all our friends in Virginia Beach.  Most of us our military so we don’t have family in the area.  Instead of traveling for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, it’s just easier to celebrate with our great friends.  Plus, our friends are more like family to us anyways so we always have a blast together.

The holidays are right around the corner and it’s time to start planning holiday gatherings with all our favorite people. We travel for Christmas but always host a Friendsgiving with all our friends in Virginia Beach.  Most of us our military so we don’t have family in the area. Instead of traveling for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, it’s justeasier to celebrate with our great friends. Plus, our friends are more like family to us anyways so we always have a blast together.

Tips for Stress-Free Holiday Entertaining

Today I’m excited to share a few of my favorite entertaining tips that I’ve learned over the years. It’s no fun to entertain if you’re stressed out so I’m sharing stress-free holiday entertaining tips that will make your holiday parties easier and less stressful.

Plan ahead and keep things simple

First of all, you have to plan your meals ahead of time but keep your menu easy. Make finger foods and recipes that don’t call for a lot of ingredients.

This delicious 3 Ingredient Cream Cheese Sausage Dip is the perfect dip for entertaining! It can be whipped up in less than 15 minutes and calls for Jimmy Dean® Sausage which means it’s going to taste amazing!

It’s okay to use paper and plastic. 

I know this hard to do but it’s okay to use paper plates and plastic cups.  It will make clean up so much easier.  Also, set out a permanent marker so guests can label their cups.

Have everyone bring a dish

Don’t be afraid to ask people to bring food. Our Friendsgiving celebrations are always potluck style. Everyone brings a few different dishes to share and everyone brings a tupperware container for leftovers. We have way too much food and it’s the best!

Prepare as much of your food ahead of time

You don’t need to be in the kitchen cooking while your guests are having fun without you.  Choose a menu where you can prepare food ahead of time.

Bacon, Tomato, and Parmesan Bean Salad

This Bacon, Tomato, and Parmesan Bean Salad is a great holiday salad because it can be made a few hours before your guests arrive.

Set up stations

It makes things so much easier if you set up a drink station and little appetizer stations.  This keeps people out of the kitchen and out of your way.  It also makes people walk around and mingle.

Use your slow cooker 

I’m all about using my slow cooker to make appetizers.  I especially love slow cooker meals that I can just dump and walk away.

This recipe for Slow Cooker Cranberry BBQ Little Smokies is AMAZING and only calls for 3 ingredients.  Another fabulous 3 ingredient recipe but this one is even better because it cooks right in your slow cooker.  And, the combination of Hillshire Farm® Lit’l Smokies® Smoked Sausage and cranberry sauce is perfect for the holidays.

Double or triple line your trashcan

Genius!  This, of course, makes taking out the trash a breeze especially when you have a houseful of people.

Buy Items in Bulk

I’ve saved the best tip for last! Tis the season to stock up on everything you need for holiday entertaining thanks to Sam’s Club’s large pack sizes and other Club member benefits.  I love shopping at Sam’s club for food, home decor, gifts, and wine.  They have the best wine prices and I always find the best gifts while shopping at Sam’s Club.

Sam's Club Holiday Entertaining

You can thank me later for this fabulous tip.  Buying items at Sam’s Club makes entertaining so much easier.  Plus, they have everything you need to host a fabulous holiday gathering.

I made sure to stock up on Wright® Brand Bacon, Jimmy Dean® Sausage, Tyson® Cornish Hens, and Hillshire Farm® Lit’l Smokies® Smoked Sausage so I can make all of my favorite recipes for our holiday gatherings.  You can never have too much bacon or sausage – I’ll just tell you that right now.

What’s your favorite holiday entertaining tip that makes your get-together less stressful?  Please share so we can relax and have fun during all our holiday parties.

https://karacreates.com/tips-stress-free-holiday-entertaining/

Slow Cooker Cranberry BBQ Little Smokies

Kara
This recipe for Slow Cooker Cranberry BBQ Little Smokies is the perfect holiday appetizer!  Just 3 ingredients in the slow cooker is all you need to make this festive dish.
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Ingredients
  

  • 1 large pack 32 oz little smokies
  • 1 can jellied cranberry sauce
  • 2 cups bbq sauce

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients in slow cooker and stir to combine.
  • Cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours.
  • Serve warm.
Did you make this recipe? Tag @karacreatesblog on Instagram and Facebook!

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One Comment

  1. Thank you for sharing the tips. That little smokies recipe looks so awesome! I can’t wait to try it.