Make-ahead Christmas dinner recipes
Whether you call it Christmas dinner or lunch – your Christmas main meal planning just got easier. Browse our collection of make-ahead Christmas dinner recipes including soups, terrines, pâtés and sausage rolls.
Check out the Make-ahead Christmas sides collection too, full of our best stress-free options.
Showing 1-16 of 60 recipes
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Vegetarian pie recipes
Ottolenghi’s butternut crunch pie
This ruffled filo pie from team Ottolenghi cleverly treads the line between sweet and savoury, with a top note of zingy heat thanks to a scattering of pickled chillies.
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Easy
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Christmas trimmings, sides and sauces
Christmas cabbage with hazelnuts, olives and raisins
Jazz up your Christmas cabbage. Treat savoy like a salad, combining shredded leaves with nuts, olives, raisins, herbs and pomegranate seeds.
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Easy
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Christmas main courses that aren't turkey
Venison wellington
Venison wellington makes a fabulous alternative to Christmas turkey. Try this prep-ahead recipe from top chefs, Chris and Jeff Galvin.
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Easy
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Vegan Christmas recipes
Confit parsnip and carrot crumble
Got a vegan guest for Christmas? This vegetable crumble for one makes a hearty and impressive Christmas main, and has a rich, creamy sauce.
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Easy
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Make-ahead Christmas recipes
Caramelised onion, pear and chestnut stuffing
Get ready for Christmas with this make-ahead chestnut stuffing recipe from Chantelle Nicholson. Freeze, then defrost when ready to bake.
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Easy
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Make-ahead Christmas starters
Individual smoked salmon terrines for Christmas
Looking for a salmon starter? Make this easy to prepare smoked salmon terrine recipe as a starter to serve at a dinner party, or Christmas lunch...
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Easy
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Vegetarian Christmas dinner recipes
Porcini mushroom and vegetable nut roast
Forget those uninspiring veggie offerings of Christmases past – this updated porcini mushoom and vegetable nut roast is so satisfying.
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Easy
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Christmas turkey recipes
One-pan roast turkey cushion with trimmings
An all-in-one Christmas lunch for a group of six to eight people. Find out how to make a turkey cushion stuffed with sausage and lentils.
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Medium
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Vegan Christmas recipes
Vegan miso mushroom, squash and chestnut wellington
This vegan wellington recipe combines miso mushrooms, sweet butternut squash and chestnuts in vegan puff pastry. It's an absolute delight!
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Medium
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Canapé recipes
Simple cheese straws
Cheese straws are the ultimate party food and these are quick and easy to make. You can use any leftover hard cheese to make them.
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Easy
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Duck recipes
Confit duck with lentils
Chef Henry Harris's confit duck legs, served with lentils, may seem like a labour of love but the end results are well worth the effort.
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Medium
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Make-ahead Christmas dinner recipes
Game pie with leeks
This richly filled game pie makes an incredible festive centrepiece. Serve each slice with a simple salad for your Boxing Day lunch.
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Easy
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Make-ahead Christmas dinner recipes
Game hot-water crust pie
Mixed game pie nestled in a baked hot water crust pastry – it's great hot or cold.
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Easy
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December seasonal recipes
Turkey cushion with fruity sausagemeat stuffing
On a budget? Try a turkey cushion for Christmas. This recipe feeds a group of four to five, but could stretch to more with generous sides
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Easy
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Alternative Christmas roast recipes
Halloumi and pistachio nut roast
This epic halloumi and pistachio nut roast is packed full of flavour and a healthy helping of wow-factor. It's great for a big get-together.
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Easy
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Slow cook recipes
Oxtail braised in Guinness
Oxtail is slow-cooked in Guinness and good-quality beef stock until the meat becomes melt-in-the-mouth and the sauce turns dark, rich and gravy-like.
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Easy
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