Everything You Need to Know About Ordering Whole Foods Catering for the Holidays

Between all of the cookie exchanges, party planning, and gift wrapping, sometimes the last thing you want to do is make an entire holiday spread. But unbeknownst to many, Whole Foods Market has an expansive and customizable catering menu that makes holiday hosting a little less stressful. 

Really, the Amazon-owned grocery chain has practically everything you need for a decadent holiday meal, whether you’re hosting an intimate gathering with a few friends or family members or a full-on feast for a crowd (one that requires an extra table and some folding chairs). Here’s what you need to know about ordering a Whole Foods Christmas dinner this year.

Whole Foods is closed on Christmas Day, and most stores have modified hours on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. This means that if you’re ordering a Whole Foods spread for Christmas day, you’ll have to plan ahead. Be sure to check your local Whole Foods for exact operating hours. 

Whole Foods offers catering year-round for all sorts of parties and get-togethers (even weeknight meals!), including special holiday packages for occasions like Christmas, Hanukkah, and even game-day parties. Shoppers can order Whole Foods catering directly online or call 1-844-936-2428 to place an order. This year, Christmas Day orders must be in before December 22 and picked up by December 24 (ahead of closing hours, which may vary by location).

All catering orders must be placed at least 48 hours before your pickup date and time (which you choose once you place your order online or via phone). After placing your order, you’ll receive an email and a notification in the Amazon app when it’s ready for pickup. Whole Foods advises shoppers who order online to check in via the app shortly ahead of time, so employees can prepare for your pickup. (There’s no recommended timeframe; I typically check in when I am roughly 10 minutes out.) Once you arrive, follow the in-app instructions to pick up your order curbside or in-store. 

Shoppers who place their orders by phone will receive a text once their order is ready with instructions for pickup.

The grocery chain offers 14 Christmas meals, including entire spreads that feed four to 12 people — entrees and sides included. Meals include a variety of holiday classics and seasonal mains (roasted turkey, ham, prime rib, and seafood) along with a mix of sides (mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, casseroles, and more) and appetizers (deviled eggs, shrimp, spinach and artichoke dip, etc.).

Meals range in price from $89.99 to $569.99, are refrigerated for pickup, and include reheating information for serving. Here are a few worth checking out:

• Classic Roast Turkey Breast Meal ($89.99; serves 4): a roast turkey breast with turkey gravy, sea salt and cracked pepper green beans, creamy mashed russet potatoes, herb stuffing, and cranberry orange sauce.
• Maple Bourbon Ham Meal ($159.99; serves 8): a maple bourbon ham with brown sugar citrus glaze, homestyle green bean casserole, maple mashed sweet potatoes, and macaroni and cheese.
• Prime Rib Meal ($259.99; serves 8): salt and pepper prime rib roast with Burgundy red wine jus, citrus-herb asparagus with pine nuts, creamed spinach, and truffled parmesan mashed potatoes. 
• Holiday Extravaganza ($569.99; serves 12): a shrimp trio platter, truffle and chive deviled eggs, spinach and artichoke Parmesan dip, vegetable crudités with hummus, lobster bisque, salt and pepper prime rib roast, maple bourbon ham with brown sugar citrus glaze, sea salt and cracked pepper green beans, creamed spinach, roasted butternut squash with cranberries and sage, creamy mashed russet potatoes, and macaroni and cheese. (IMO, it could feed more like 15 to 16 guests.)

Desserts are not included in the Christmas meals (shocking, right?!). If you want to end your meal with a sweet bite, you can absolutely choose from any number of impressive  pies, cakes, cookies, and more. There’s a large Holiday Dessert Board for $89.99 (brownies, cookies, mini pies, tarts, and more), as well as a stunning Malted Chocolate Bûche de Noël (Yule Log) for $24.99, and Apple Pie for $13.99 just to get you started. 

You can also build your own Christmas spread. The Whole Foods catering menu offers a la carte entrees from $15.99 to $199.99, including a vegetable-forward Rustic Mushroom Galette and Roasted Beef Tenderloin, as well as other raw and seasoned proteins, appetizers, soups, salads, sides, and desserts and bakery items.

You’ll find four Hanukkah meals to feed groups of four to eight and range from $79.99 to $199.99.

• Stuffed Cabbage Meal ($79.99; serves 4): stuffed cabbage with tomato sauce, roasted green beans with peppers, olives and capers, potato latkes with homestyle applesauce, and matzo ball soup.
• Lemon-Herb Roasted Chicken ($89.99; serves 4): lemon-herb roasted bone-in chicken, roasted green beans with peppers, olives and capers, potato latkes with homestyle applesauce, and matzo ball soup.
• Honey-Lemon Salmon ($99.99; serves 4): honey-lemon roasted salmon, roasted green beans with peppers, olives and capers, potato latkes with homestyle applesauce, and matzo ball soup.
• Burgundy Braised Brisket ($199.99; serves 8): Burgundy-braised brisket, roasted green beans with peppers, olives and capers, honey roasted carrots, potato latkes with homestyle applesauce, and matzo ball soup.

Similarly to the Christmas meals, dessert is not included, but there are many to choose from, including a Chocolate Babka and Cinnamon Rugelach for under $10, and an entire Basque Cheesecake for $26.99. 

You can also order a la carte entrees (like this Braised Brisket, Cheese Lasagna, and Honey-Roasted Salmon), as well as select appetizers, soups, salads, sides, and desserts and bakery items.

Whole Foods offers catering year-round, so the menu is full of variety. In addition to breakfast platters and boxed lunches, shoppers can order appetizers, mains, sides, desserts, and whole meals for any occasion. You’ll find sushi trays, a DIY taco bar, pinwheels, sandwiches, salads galore, and even entire sheet cakes that feed 32 people for under  $100. Now that’s something to celebrate.

Are you having a Whole Foods Christmas? Tell us about it in the comments.