How to cook the best Christmas dinner
Food Editor
Emily Lambe
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or doing it for the first time, cooking the big Christmas feast can be a handful. There's so much to plan, from buying and prepping the ingredients to getting your turkey just right. We’re here to make your Christmas cooking go smoothly so you can spend more celebration time with loved ones, so learn how to make the best Christmas dinner this year.
Plan your Christmas menu
Cooking Christmas dinner may seem a little overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time tackling this massive feast. But with a little planning you can make the day seamless from start to finish. Begin by deciding on your Christmas menu - picking out which dishes you’d like to serve, how many people you’re feeding and the budget you’d like to spend. If you’re not sure what to make, our online recipe collection is a great place to search for inspiration.
Shop for ingredients
The next step when deciding what to cook at Christmas is to select which dishes you’d like to make from scratch and which ingredients to buy. You can save yourself some effort by picking up pre-made components like sauces and side dishes. Take a look in-store for flavour-boosting ingredients including our Cranberry and Port Sauce and Festive Chutney. Or try picking up our frozen foods to get ahead of the big day.
Prep ahead of Christmas dinner
It’s no secret things can get a little hectic in the kitchen on Christmas Day. Between friends and family running around and drinks on the go, cooking everything from scratch can be a real labour of love. Make the process a little easier on yourself by prepping ahead as much as you can. Prepare simple starters like this party cheese ball and easy desserts such as our chocolate mousse the night before and keep in the fridge until you're ready to serve.
Make a time plan
Before you get started, make an outline of the day and break down the prep and cooking time for each dish you’re serving. Set reminders throughout the day to keep your dinner on track. For example, your day may look like this:
10 AM: Take turkey out of the fridge to come up to room temperature.
10:45 AM: Pre-heat your oven and prep your turkey with seasoning, butter and/or oil and stuffing.
11 AM: Place the turkey in the oven and cook per the pack instructions (we’ve estimated about 2.5 hours here).
1 PM: Preheat oil or fat for roast potatoes in the oven for at least 5 minutes, then add potatoes and cook for 40-45 minutes.
1:30 PM: Take the turkey out of oven and let rest for at least 30 minutes. Place sides like pigs in blankets and stuffing in the oven and cook for 25-30 minutes.
2 PM: Carve turkey and serve Christmas dinner.
Nail the perfect turkey
The turkey is the star of the show when it comes to cooking Christmas dinner and with a few extra steps you can achieve a flawless finish. If you’re not sure where to start, Tom Kerridge’s roast turkey works every time. He uses a brine containing bay leaves, juniper berries and rosemary, infusing the turkey with festive flavours. If you’re still a little nervous to take it on, our extensive turkey guide covers prepping, cooking and carving.
Sort those sides
Arguably the best part of a Christmas dinner, it’s essential to get those trimmings right. You can’t go wrong with Tom Kerridge’s game-changing roast potatoes with rosemary and roasted garlic. Add a pop of green to your plate with our never-soggy sprouts with crispy bacon and crunchy chestnuts. Round everything off with herby pork, sage and chestnut stuffing balls and a pack of our new double-wrapped Best Ever Pigs in Blankets. Remember you can usually free up space in the oven and cook the sides while your bird is resting – so don't feel tempted to cook them too early. Nobody wants soggy sprouts.
Christmas desserts to cook
Finish your feast on a high with an elegant dessert large enough for a crowd. Our traditional Christmas cake is packed full of brandy-soaked fruit, candied peel and flaked almonds. For something a little easier to prepare, try our Christmas pavola using a pre-made base. Or go all-out with gingerbread and try our celebratory ginger cheesecake topped off with crushed biscuits and chocolatey pretzels.
Published 12.2.2024
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