Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or simply Santa, is the legendary and mythical figure who, in many Western cultures, brings gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24 or on his Feast Day, December 6 (Saint Nicholas Day). The legend may have part of its basis in tales concerning the historical figure of gift giver Saint Nicholas.

While Saint Nicholas was originally portrayed wearing bishop's robes, in modern times, Santa Claus is generally depicted as a plump, jolly, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots. This image became popular in the United States and Canada in the 19th century due to the significant influence of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast. This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, and films. In the United Kingdom and Europe, his depiction is often identical to the American Santa, but he is commonly called Father Christmas.

Although he is intended as a guy in a costume at a mall, Santa somehow knows to bring Stewie Griffin some plutonium in "A Very Special Family Guy Freakin' Christmas". This same episode also features the holiday special Kiss Saves Santa, starring the band KISS, who saves him from a pterodactyl. Mrs. Claus is also in the special.Santa also appears in Stewie's dream in this episode.

When Peter Griffin comes down the chimney of the home of Jack & Sarah to retrieve Stewie in "Love Thy Trophy", he explains to their ethnically diverse adopted children, including Pablo and Li, that he is Santa, and he is practicing for the big day. This sparks an argument between the children, who each believed that Santa Claus originated from their respective ethnicities.

According to the "Untitled Griffin Family History", the state of Kansas mandates the creationist belief that Jeannie, from I Dream of Jeannie, created Santa Claus.

In "Sibling Rivalry", he is caught peeking in on a couple making love, he slowly undoes his top until told to get out.

During Stewie's dinner date with Jillian Russell, he uses Santa as an example of a fat person to force Jillian to purge herself so he can get her teeth in "Prick Up Your Ears".

A mall Santa of Asian origins appears in "Peter's Two Dads".

Santa gets busted for drunk driving in "Stew-Roids". In a parody of Mel Gibson's arrest also for drunk driving, he asks if the arresting officer is Jewish.

Stewie Griffin plans to kill him in "Road to the North Pole", after his opportunity to speak with mall Santa is taken away from him. This year, he requests yellowcake uranium. However, it is revealed that Christmas and its over-commercialization has made Santa overwhelmed. He had to increase his workforce by inbreeding his elves, leaving them severely deformed and some blind, and his reindeer became "wild, feral beasts" by feeding on the elves who wandered out into the snow to die. Stewie and Brian become Santa, and beat the residents of a house they were not supposed to go to. The reindeer eat each other while Stewie and Brian deal with the fiasco at Dan's home. When nobody gets their presents, they bring Santa to Quahog 5 News and pleads with everyone to limit themselves to one gift a year. Everyone in the North Pole returns to normal over the next year, including Santa and the elves' health.

Santa Claus appears in a space suit along with Peter Griffin, Xerxes the falcon and a T-Rex when Peter fantasizes about having his own television show in "Call Girl".

In some appearances, Santa is voiced by Seth MacFarlane. In "Road to the North Pole", he is voiced by Bruce McGill.