The holidays are a time for gathering and good food, but not everyone has the time, resources or ability to prepare a big meal.
Fortunately, some Sioux Falls businesses and community groups are offering a variety of options to make the season a little easier.
From convenient heat-and-serve holiday meals to free Christmas dinners for those in need, here’s where you can find a helping hand—and a hearty meal—this holiday season.
Any restaurants, businesses or organizations we missed? Email vbender@gannett.com to add a location for Christmas take-and-bake meals or free holiday meals.
Ham served during Christmas dinner.
Take-and-bake/Catering
(Note: Nearly all restaurants have a deadline for the orders, so be sure to order soon).
Hy-Vee: Hy-Vee’s catered Christmas meals include ham and turkey dinners, a prime rib party pack, a number of Christmas brunch options and holiday meal items a la carte. Packages range from a meal for two to 12 people. And what’s Christmas dinner without dessert? The Hy-Vee Bakery department has prebaked a variety of 10-inch holiday pies from apple to French silk to pumpkin.
Honey Baked Ham: Place orders for holiday meals that serve groups of 4, 6, 12, 16 and even 19. Choose from signature honey baked ham, turkey and a variety of side dishes.
Cracker Barrel: The Cracker Barrel’s Holiday Heat n’ Serve feast serves between four to 10 people. The meals include breakfast items, sugar-cured ham, prime rib, dressing, gravy, cranberry relish, mac n’ cheese, two sides, rolls, apple streusel pie and pecan pie. Pre-order online now for pickup between Dec. 21-28.
Fat Kid Filly’s: The food truck is offering custom holiday take and bake meals through the end of the year. There are a variety of shredded meats, including steak, corn beef, turkey, chicken and pork, and sides and desserts to choose from. Customers should order at least 48 hours in advance. Tax and delivery charges are included. Call 605-240-0615 or send a Facebook message to Fat Kid Filly’s page.
Look’s Marketplace and Bakery: Look’s Marketplace provides a variety of catered meal choices for the holidays including breads, pies, traditional holiday items such as turkey and ham and crab legs, prime rib, oysters and more. Deadline to order for Christmas is Sunday, Dec. 22, and orders can be placed in-person or online.
Queen City Bakery: Order holiday goodies by Friday, Dec. 20. Options include quiche, holiday cheeseball, pies, cakes and gingerbread. Pickups are Dec. 22-24. Orders can be placed online under the Holiday 2024 heading, in-person or by calling 605-274-6060.
Wood Fired Catering: Order heat and serve Christmas meals with a choice of carved turkey, sliced ham or sliced brisket, as well as sides and other delicious options. Call 605-251-2486.
Free holiday meals
The Banquet: The Banquet meal ministry is serving breakfast from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. on Christmas Eve at the downtown location. The Banquet Downtown will also serve an evening meal from 4:15 to 7 p.m. The west-side location will serve dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. Christmas Eve. The Banquet downtown is located at 900 E. 8th St. and The Banquet-West is at 710 N. Marion Rd.
Bishop Dudley Hospitality House: The Bishop Dudley House will be serving a holiday meal on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at its downtown location at 101 N. Indiana Ave. Both meals will feature turkey and ham, side dishes and desserts. Christmas Eve’s meal will be served at 11:30 a.m., and on Christmas Day at noon. Popcorn, holiday activities in the dayroom, music and other festivities will be conducted by volunteers. There will also be Christmas stockings given out to guests, and gifts and stockings will be distributed to guests staying at the Center For Families at 409 N. Western Ave.
Feeding South Dakota: During the month of December, all Feeding South Dakota mobile food locations are distributing boxes with holiday meal items such as stuffing, potatoes and gravy, green beans, etc. This includes pork that was donated by Pipestone Veterinary Services. Feeding South Dakota anticipates serving 14,000 families throughout the state in December with these boxes. To find a food distribution site, visit feedingsouthdakota.org and click on Find Food.
More: ‘Always room at the table.” How 2 SD organizations are helping the many faces of hunger
St. Francis House: On Sunday, Dec. 22, individuals who are staying or have previously stayed at the St. Francis House, along with their children, are invited to a Christmas party. On Christmas Day, gifts will be distributed to guests after a meal of homemade waffles. An evening meal will be served at 6 p.m. on Christmas night. The St. Francis House is located at 210 N. Sherman Ave.
Union Gospel Mission: Union Gospel Mission will serve three meals a day on Christmas Day from 11:30 a.m. to noon, 1:30-2 p.m., and 2:30-3 p.m. with prayer services in the chapel in between. The meals are served at the Men’s Center at 220 N. Weber Ave. in Sioux Falls. They will also be doing a toy giveaway and handing out backpacks with hygiene products, as well as a clothing voucher for the Union Gospel Mission Thrift Store. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. Union Gospel Mission is located at 701 E. 8th St.
More: How this CEO dug Union Gospel Mission out of debt, changed philosophy by ‘striking forward’
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Where to order ready-made or free Christmas dinners in Sioux Falls