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 recipes including soups, terrines, pâtés and even sausage rolls.

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Individual smoked salmon terrines for Christmas

Individual smoked salmon terrines for Christmas

After a classic smoked salmon starter? Make these easy to prepare individual smoked salmon terrines...

Freezable Gluten-free
  • Effort icon Easy
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Porcini mushroom and vegetable nut roast

Porcini mushroom and vegetable nut roast

Forget those uninspiring veggie offerings of Christmases past – this updated porcini mushroom and vegetable nut...

Vegetarian
  • Effort icon Easy
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One-pan roast turkey cushion with trimmings

One-pan roast turkey cushion with trimmings

This is your all-in-one Christmas lunch for a group of six to eight people. Find...

  • Effort icon Medium
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Vegan miso mushroom, squash and chestnut wellington

Vegan miso mushroom, squash and chestnut wellington

This vegan wellington makes a standout centrepiece whatever the occasion. A mixture of miso mushrooms,...

Dairy-free Vegan
  • Effort icon Medium
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Simple cheese straws

Sponsored by Yeo Valley Organic

Simple cheese straws

This scrumptious cheese straw recipe makes the perfect nibble for your Christmas cocktail party and...

  • Effort icon Easy
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Confit duck with lentils

Confit duck with lentils

Chef Henry Harris’s confit duck legs, served with lentils, may seem like a labour of...

Make-ahead
  • Effort icon Medium
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Game pie with leeks

Game pie with leeks

This richly filled game pie makes an incredible festive centrepiece and will surely impress yours...

  • Effort icon Easy
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Game hot-water crust pie

Game hot-water crust pie

Mixed game pie nestled in a baked hot water crust pastry – it’s great hot...

  • Effort icon Easy
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Turkey cushion with fruity sausagemeat stuffing

Turkey cushion with fruity sausagemeat stuffing

On a budget? With a few simple techniques, this turkey cushion recipe show you how...

Dairy-free
  • Effort icon Easy
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Halloumi and pistachio nut roast

Halloumi and pistachio nut roast

Hosting a vegetarian Christmas? This epic halloumi and pistachio nut roast is packed full of...

Vegetarian
  • Effort icon Easy
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Oxtail braised in Guinness

Oxtail braised in Guinness

Oxtail is slow-cooked in Guinness and good-quality beef stock until the meat becomes melt-in-the-mouth and...

Dairy-free
  • Effort icon Easy
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Roast goose with roast apples and onions and potato stuffing

Roast goose with roast apples and onions and...

You won’t miss the turkey with this fabulous roast goose recipe, perfect for Christmas Day....

Dairy-free
  • Effort icon Easy
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Jalapeño, coriander and lime salt crusted ham with mango salsa

Jalapeño, coriander and lime salt crusted ham with...

We’ve given this glorious gammon recipe a bit of a kick with sweet and spicy...

  • Effort icon Medium
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Ham hock terrine

Ham hock terrine

This ham hock terrine recipe is a great starter or buffet item for a large...

  • Effort icon Medium
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Pan-fried chicken supremes in mustard, cream and prune sauce

Pan-fried chicken supremes in mustard, cream and prune...

If you can’t find chicken supremes, you can use skin-on chicken breasts instead – both...

Make-ahead
  • Effort icon Easy
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Sausage and taleggio brioche roll

Sausage and taleggio brioche roll

An impressive centrepiece filled with a gooey, cheesy sausagemeat filling and encased in a soft...

  • Effort icon Easy
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