BEST Christmas
Day RECIPES
Fill the festive table with our pick of the best celebratory dishes for the big day. There’s turkey and other mouthwatering mains, classic sides and sauces, irresistible desserts, and party-worthy cocktails. Add ingredients straight to your trolley from our recipe pages. Looking for ready-made dishes? Browse our Christmas food here.
Christmas MAINS
Kick off the festivities with one of these dazzling centrepiece recipes, from classic turkeys to hearty meat-free mains.
Perfect roast turkey
The hero of the season is back. Our Cookery school star chef Alex Szrok shows how to cook the perfect roast turkey. Here’s how to make yours special.
Fennel and citrus roast turkey
This Italian-inspired recipe is a game-changer – cooking the bird in wine results in juicy, flavoursome meat, while the herbs and fennel seeds add freshness and aroma.
Smoked paprika and maple glazed ham
The paprika-spiked glaze gives this magnificent ham a sweet smokiness. Serve alongside your turkey on Christmas Day or cold on Boxing Day.
Mushroom and chestnut Wellington
Rich, hearty flavours like mushrooms, chestnuts and goat’s cheese mean everyone will want a taste of this impressive meat-free Christmas main.
Christmas SIDES & SAUCES
It wouldn’t be Christmas without the roast potatoes, honey-drizzled parsnips and porty cranberry sauce – and we’re always on team Brussels sprout.
Perfect roast potatoes
Light and fluffy? Golden and crispy? We’ve got you covered. Our Cookery school star chef Alex Szrok shows how to cook the perfect roast potatoes.
Perfect roast potatoes
Just two ingredients are needed to make crisp on the outside, fluffy in the middle roasties. Keep it simple with olive or vegetable oil, or try goose or duck fat for extra rich flavour.
Stove-top sage & onion stuffing
Whether you like yours meaty, full of herbs, slightly sweet or a tad crispy, our stuffing recipes are sure to please. Try this traditional flavour combination, cooked on the hob.
Braised red cabbage
No festive table is complete without a gorgeous plummy mound of sweet and sour cabbage. It’s best made the day before and left overnight for the flavours to develop.
Stir-fried sprouts with chestnuts and pancetta
The humble Brussels sprout divides opinion across the country. But we think this recipe, combined with sweet chestnuts and salty pancetta, is pretty irresistible.
Honey mustard roast carrots & parsnips
This recipe results in crisp, caramelised edges and the deliciously sticky glaze is no more demanding than a salad dressing.
Bread sauce
The secret to a rich bread sauce is to allow plenty of time for the flavours to infuse into the milk – this one has festive notes of bay leaf, nutmeg and clove.
Cranberry sauce
This Christmas favourite works well with an injection of citrus or a few drops of port.
Sticky pigs in blankets
Succulent sausages tucked tightly in a bacon blanket are one of the best things about Christmas. Follow this simple recipe for perfect pigs every time.
The best Christmas gravy
Martha Collison helps you rest easy knowing this flavour-packed gravy is ready and waiting ahead of the big day.
Christmas DESSERTS
There’s always room for dessert, especially ones as delicious as these mouth-watering homemade masterpieces.
Classic Christmas pudding
If you’ve never tried making your own, give this recipe a go – nothing gets you in the seasonal spirit quite like stirring up a traditional Christmas pud.
Meringue, madeleine and winter berry trifle
With its layers of custard, fruit compote and cream, and scattering of meringue and roasted hazelnuts, this trifle is as pretty as a picture.
Chocolate Yule log
The light sponge is a cinch to roll, meaning you can achieve that satisfying swirl of rich buttercream without the stress.
Christmas COCKTAILS
If there was ever a time to warm up and make merry with a delicious drink, it's Christmas. Snuggle by the fire with one of these festive tipples, or browse our alcohol-free recipes.
The zesty spritz
It’s not Christmas without bubbles! Lightly fruity Crémant blends beautifully with zesty, herby notes.
Hazelnut rum espresso martini
A splash of nutty rum adds an extra-special touch to this after-dinner treat.
Clover club gin cocktail
This pretty pink drink, fresh with raspberry and lemon, offers a nice alternative to the richness of the season.
Seasonal meat guide
Fancy trying something different this year? Take a look at our beef, lamb, goose and more.
More Christmas recipes
Traditional, on-trend or with a twist, we have hundreds of festive dishes and menu ideas for all diets, plus delicious recipes for edible gifts.