How to cook the best Christmas dinner

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or tackling it for the first time, cooking the big Christmas feast can be daunting. From catering for guests with different tastes, to planning the big food shop and cooking and carving your turkey, it can feel overwhelming. The key is to plan as much as you can ahead, keep it simple and rely on a few clever shortcuts to save your sanity. And don't stress – Christmas is all about spending time with loved ones, not pulling off a chef-level cooking marathon.

Christmas dinner is all in the planning – how many people are coming? Are you catering for veggie, vegan or gluten-free guests? Which recipes can you make ahead and pop in the freezer to help you on the day? Which dishes are you making from scratch, and which do you want to buy? (Hint – there's no shame in a shop-bought Christmas dessert or ready-made gravy).

Choose the dishes based on your budget, your number of guests and your tastes. Browse our Christmas recipe collection for inspiration and see our festive range in store to build your ultimate Christmas shopping list (opens a PDF file).

• Turkey: The star of the show and a perennial favourite. You can't go wrong with pro chef Tom Kerridge's roast turkey recipe.

• Meat centrepieces: If turkey's not your thing, opt for a rib of beef, beef Wellington, gammon, or salmon en croûte. Browse our Christmas mains for ideas.

• Vegetarian and vegan centrepieces: Make your own (try this nut roast or this mushroom Wellington) or opt for a pre-prepared veggie main.

• Roast potatoes: Try our goose-fat roast potatoes recipe for golden brown beauties.

• Pigs in blankets: Our double-wrapped pigs in blankets, made with a whole rasher of oak and applewood-smoked bacon, are an essential.

• Vegetables and sides: A selection of trimmings like sprouts, parsnips, carrots, and red cabbage adds colour and flavour.

• Gravy and sauces: Don't forget the gravy! Stock up the Christmas store cupboard with condiments like cranberry sauce, chutney and horseradish.

Once you've decided on your dishes, it's time to shop for ingredients. You can pre-order mains, desserts and sides via our restaurant-quality, fuss-free Christmas Food to Order service and collect in store for the big day. Shop for shelf-stable ingredients like condiments, drinks and frozen food ahead of time to help you spread the cost, then buy your fresh produce, like fruit and veg, herbs, cheeses and desserts, nearer the time.

Prepping ahead is the key to Christmas dinner – do as much as you can in advance to save you stress on the day and help you actually enjoy the process.

• 4 weeks ahead: make Christmas cake or Christmas pudding – they only get better with time!

• 3 weeks ahead: make gravy, stuffing or mince pies and store in the freezer.

• 2 weeks ahead: check your shopping list and add any last-minute ingredients.

• 2 days ahead: set the table and lay out which serving dishes and crockery you'll be using. Check you have enough tin foil, roasting trays and bin bags! Prepare this smoked salmon pâté to serve as a starter or canapé.

• 1 day ahead: boil and glaze your ham, brine your turkey and prep all your vegetables (store in the fridge in water). Par-boil your roast potatoes then cool and keep on a tray in the fridge, ready to roast. Defrost any frozen dishes. Make your red cabbage and cauliflower cheese, storing in the fridge ready to reheat the next day. Prepare desserts, like this basque cheesecake or s'mores Christmas rocky road wreath, to keep in the fridge.

Before you get started, write a list with the cooking times of everything you'll need to make and plot out a timing plan to ensure you stay on track. For example:

• 10 AM: Take turkey out of the fridge to come up to room temperature.

• 10:45 AM: Preheat 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.

• 1.15 PM: Roast parsnips and carrots.

• 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. Reheat red cabbage.

• 1.45 PM: Cook fresh vegetables such as sprouts. Heat through gravy and warm plates.

• 2 PM: Carve turkey and serve everything up!

Finish with a wow-worthy Christmas dessert

End your feast on a high with an irresistible pudding.

• Go traditional with a Christmas cake packed full of brandy-soaked fruit or a Christmas pudding to torch at the table .

• Our Christmas pavola looks impressive, but is super easy to make thanks to the pre-made pavlova base.

• Cheesecake is always a good idea – this cherry-laden pistachio basque cheesecake can be made ahead, as can this moreish Malt Ball millionaire's cheesecake.