I keep the books for a family business part time, so I price Christmas dinner the way I price anything else. Line by line, before the menu charms me. Holiday meal catering, in plain terms, means a professional kitchen cooks and delivers the dinner while you host at your own table. Whether that table seats four or twelve, the arithmetic is short once you know the rules. Rx Catering NWA cooks four holiday dinners in its Fayetteville kitchen and delivers them around Northwest Arkansas.
What does holiday meal catering Fayetteville AR cost at ten and twelve guests?
Holiday meal catering from Rx Catering NWA in Fayetteville costs $18.95 per person, with a 10-person minimum. Choose Holiday Ham, Smoked Turkey, Beef Brisket, or Pork Tenderloin, plus a holiday vegetable, a holiday side, and bread. Ten guests come to $189.50 for the food and twelve to $227.40. Orders need 24 hours' notice.
Here is the arithmetic for the two table sizes that matter most.
- Ten guests, the minimum: 10 x $18.95 = $189.50. Add Sweet Potato Casserole as an extra side at $3.50 per person (10 x $3.50 = $35.00) and the food is $224.50.
- Twelve guests: 12 x $18.95 = $227.40. The same extra side is 12 x $3.50 = $42.00, which brings the food to $269.40.
- Twelve guests with dessert: a dozen Mini Cheesecake Bites at $24.99 on top makes $269.40 + $24.99 = $294.39, about $24.53 a guest.
Going from ten guests to twelve adds $37.90, which is two more plates at $18.95. Those are food totals, so confirm the final figure for your date and headcount when you call.
Each dinner is a package. You pick the meat: the ham is glazed and spiral cut, the brisket is slow cooked, and the pork tenderloin is slow smoked. Then comes one holiday vegetable such as Green Bean Casserole or Glazed Carrots, and one holiday side. Sides run from Traditional Cornbread Dressing to Mac & Cheese and Hashbrown Casserole. Bread is Cheese Biscuits, Assorted Rolls, or Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, and a Cranberry Walnut salad is on the menu. The Smoked Turkey dinner comes with dressing, gravy, and cranberry sauce.
Jay Ramsey founded Rx Catering in 2001, and the team brings "60+ years of combined experience" to every order. AY Magazine listed Rx Catering as a "Best Caterer" finalist in 2024. The full menu, the add-on sides, and the delivery towns sit on the Rx Catering NWA page for holiday meal catering in Fayetteville.
What does a catered main course free the host to do?
It frees the host to sit down with the family instead of standing at the stove. I host at home with two kids underfoot. The hour before guests arrive is when the oven, the doorbell, and the children all want me at once. The ham or brisket is the dish that takes the most oven and the most attention, and handing that one to a kitchen changes the whole afternoon.
Rx Catering NWA's trained drivers bring orders to an office, a home, a church hall, or a venue. Hot catered meals come with plates, napkins, cutlery, and serving utensils, so there is nothing to wash afterward. Ask how the hot food will arrive. Office lunches come in insulated carriers ready to serve, and events get chafing dishes set up on site. Tell the kitchen it is a sit-down at home and ask which applies.
With the main course and sides delivered, a host's afternoon list gets short:
- Set the table and find the extra chairs.
- Make the one dish only your family makes, such as the pie your aunt requests every year.
- Open the door with both hands free.
A host with free hands can also watch the clock. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service says hot food should stay at 140°F or warmer. It also says perishable food should not sit out more than two hours, or one hour above 90°F.
Can a table of four or eight still order?
The four holiday dinners start at ten people, so a smaller table calls for a short phone call. Rx Catering NWA says it will customize its menu and invites you to ask about anything not listed. Describe the table: four adults and two kids, or eight with one vegetarian.
The other route is to order the minimum. Ten dinners are $189.50. With six people seated, that is $31.58 a seat ($189.50 / 6), and four dinners become tomorrow's lunch. The USDA's food safety service says leftovers should always be reheated to 165°F, measured with a food thermometer.
Mixed tables are manageable. Gluten-free hot entrées are marked GF on the printed menu. Vegetarian dishes like Veggie Lasagna and Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms are on the regular menu. Hosts who want organic ingredients can ask, because Rx can source them.
How early should you book holiday catering for Christmas?
Rx Catering NWA asks for 24 hours' notice and can deliver the same day if the schedule allows. December fills up, though, so booking earlier is wiser. Book early if your dinner lands on a Friday or Saturday in the weeks before Christmas. The kitchen takes orders Monday through Friday from 6:30 AM to 5 PM and Saturday from 7 AM to 3 PM.
Have four things ready when you call: the headcount, the date, the delivery address, and any allergies. Delivery covers Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville, and the towns around them, plus Fort Smith, Van Buren, and Harrison.
Rx Catering NWA is at 121 West Township Street, Fayetteville, AR 72703, and the phone is (479) 502-9879. Call for anything this article does not cover.
Holiday dinner questions
What is the smallest holiday dinner order?
The four holiday dinners carry a 10-person minimum at $18.95 per person, or $189.50. For fewer guests, ask the kitchen what it can customize.
Does holiday meal catering Fayetteville AR cover vegetarian and gluten-free guests?
Yes, within the regular menu. GF marks the gluten-free hot entrées, and Veggie Lasagna and Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms are vegetarian choices. Tell the kitchen about allergies when you order.
How much does a dinner for twelve cost?
Twelve dinners at $18.95 per person are $227.40 for the food. An extra Sweet Potato Casserole side at $3.50 per person adds $42.00.
How much notice does a holiday dinner need?
Rx Catering NWA asks for 24 hours' notice and delivers same-day when the schedule allows. December fills up, so call early.