Family Christmas Gathering ---need easy food ideas.

Mexican theme - people can bring taco shells, pan of enchiladas, guacamole, rice, beans, tamales...people can make their own salads, taco etc.

Mexican theme - tacos and nachos- you can provide the meats (seasoned beef, plain or seasoned chicken) and others can bring the toppings. I wouldn't do chili, but that is because I hate chili.

I'm a big fan of the nacho bar idea also- nachos/taco shells, cheese sauce in a crock, you could have seasoned beef and shredded chicken if you want - there are all kinds of things you could have for toppings - fairly inexpensive, and people can really tailor it to their tastes, even making taco salads....

Where we go it's a potluck with all heavy appetizers like BBQ meatballs, chicken wings, those little bacon wrapped weenies, veggies/dip, bread/spinach dip, pickle dogs, corn chips/cheese sauce, that kind of stuff. It's great because everybody just kind of nibbles all night and no one goes hungry.

We've done bakers and chili. You can tell your dh that this Idaho girl says that's a perfectly acceptable and normal meal combo. Lots of people like chili on their baked potatoes. When my mom is doing a baked potato bar she will do chili and a broccoli cheese topping along with all the other standard potato toppings. You can also have a lettuce mix and people can make a side salad to go with their potato because many of the potato toppings work for salads as well.

My family has also done a nacho bar. It was a big hit, especially my MIL's nacho cheese pumper. She picked it up used from a convenience store. Everyone loves it.

"Mexican" is almost daily in my home. Lol! But it is tamale season. If you don't do that, then like another poster said up thread, do an assortment of appetizers. That's usually what we do in my family since it's different from our usual. Mini deep dish pizzas, egg rolls, fruit trays, meat and cheese trays...a bit of something of everything for everyone.

I am going to follow for more ideas. I know you decided on chili and potatoes but I hope others chime in with ideas.

Oooh! Since it's chili why not have it with other chili drenched foods? Chili cheese hot dogs. Chili cheese burger sliders. Chili cheese baked potatoes. Chili cheese fries and tater tots. Chili Mac. Chili cheese burritos. Chili nachos. There's a whole lot of stuff you can smother with chili!