Hosting
Serving pieces for holiday dinner
For a holiday dinner, count your dishes and give each one a vessel: one large platter for the main, bowls for sides, a gravy boat, serving spoons for each dish and trivets to protect the table. Choose a plain white set so everything matches.
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Food looks better on a platter than in the pan, and guests can reach it more easily. The fix is not to buy a pile of dishes; it is to count what you cook and match each dish to a vessel.
A simple rule: one platter, one bowl and one spoon per dish, and a warm spot for what needs to stay hot.
How to choose
- Count the dishes. Write down your menu and list what each dish needs.
- Pick a plain, neutral set. White or cream platters look good with any food.
- Plan warm spots. Chafing dishes and trivets keep sides warm without taking oven space.
- Think about transfers. Make sure each serving dish can go from oven or microwave to table.
If guests will serve themselves, put the spoons at the top of each dish and keep the sauces in small pitchers.
Tools that help
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DOWAN white ceramic oval serving plattersOur pick
Three nesting platters carry the turkey, the sides and the cookies.
- Look for:
- Oven-safe ceramic and an edge that is easy to lift.
- Best for:
- Hosts with a crowd.
-
Pyrex Sculpted glass mixing bowl set with lids
Glass bowls with lids mix, serve and store in one dish.
- Look for:
- A set with several sizes and lids.
- Best for:
- Hosts and potluck guests.
- Skip:
- if you need heat-safe serving bowls only.
-
LE TAUCI ceramic gravy boat with saucer
A gravy boat with a stand keeps the drips off the tablecloth.
- Best for:
- Hosts who serve gravy at the table.
-
Hiware 8-piece serving set
Serving spoons let each dish have its own.
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Amazon Basics acacia wooden serving tray
A serving tray carries drinks and appetizers.
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Disposable chafing dish buffet set
A chafing dish set keeps food warm on a buffet when the oven is full.
- Best for:
- Hosts of a crowd.
-
Zulay stainless steel soup ladle, 12 inch
A good ladle serves gravy and soup with less mess.
- Best for:
- Anyone serving soup.
-
SMARTAKE silicone trivet mats, 6-set
Trivets protect the table from hot dishes.
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Bivvclaz 2-liter glass pitcher with lid
A glass pitcher serves water, cider or iced tea.
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YOTSUBA carving knife and fork set
A long, sharp carving knife and fork make clean slices of turkey or roast.
- Look for:
- A long slicing blade and a guard on the fork.
- Best for:
- Whoever carves at the table.
-
Lodge cast iron pie pan, 9 inch
A cast iron pie pan browns the bottom crust.
-
Extra large bamboo cutting board with over-the-sink design
A large board gives you room to carve and prep and fits over the sink.
- Look for:
- Non-slip feet and a juice groove.
- Best for:
- Hosts with small counters.
What to skip
- Decorative serving pieces that are not heat-safe.
- Large platters that do not fit your fridge or table.
- A different set of serving pieces for each dish.
- Disposable pans as the main serving dish.
Our Thanksgiving buffet setup and food safety page shows how long food can sit out, and hosting kitchen essentials covers the tools. For the place settings, see holiday table setting supplies.
Questions people ask
How many serving dishes do I need?
One for each dish on the menu, plus a spare platter or bowl for refills. Count your recipes, not your guests, and include one for rolls and one for gravy.
How do I keep food warm during dinner?
Use chafing dishes, a slow cooker or a low oven for refills. Food should not sit between 40 and 140 degrees for more than two hours.
Can I serve straight from the cooking pan?
Yes for casual meals, but a serving dish makes the table look better and is easier to pass. Use trivets to protect the table from hot pans.