Taste tested: The best supermarket Christmas food 2024

Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Free From Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies
Unlike other free-from biscuits we’ve tasted, these are malty, nutty and have a great crunchy bite. A base of Belgian milk chocolate brings a silky smoothness to this textural titan. £3 for 150g (8 cookies), available from Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference 8 King Prawns in Duvets with Tomato Dipping Sauce
A creative twist on the classic prawn cocktail. Tail-on and notably juicy king prawns are wrapped in a light blanket of crisp dough and served with a tangy tomato sauce. Very moreish. £5.25 (serves 4), available from Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference 12 Dinky Dim Sum Veggie Selection
Creative, fun and super tasty. These bite-size dim sum vegan nibbles are the spitting image of little carrots, tomatoes and peas – and flavoured to match their appearance. £5.25 for 280g, available from Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Slow Cooked Proper Christmas Dinner Box
Buttermilk-brined turkey breast topped with pork & chestnut stuffing, wrapped in dry-cured bacon, with roasties, carrots, parsnips, pigs in blankets and gravy – all sorted in an hour. An alternative to a family takeaway in the festive run-up, perhaps? £45 for 3.55kg (serves 4), available from Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Proper Pigs in Blankets
‘Proper’ is a wholly accurate descriptor here, with the size, richness and quality of the sausages and bacon reigning supreme. A stellar Christmas performance from Sainsbury’s and well worth their place on the buffet table. £4.25 for 6 (294g), available from Sainsbury’s

M&S

M&S 12 Halloumi in Blankets with Hot Honey
Hot (as in chilli-spiked) honey is everywhere this year, but M&S has nailed it by drizzling it over these halloumi in blankets. Salty, squeaky but with a spiced sweetness, these won’t last long once the family arrive. £5.50 for 240g, available from M&S and Ocado

M&S Turkey Feast Lasagne
Who said Christmas cooking needs to be such a slog? This microwave wonder is a warming and wholesome festive spin on a ready meal classic. The sautéed leeks are a nice touch. £10 for 750g (serves 2), available from M&S and Ocado

M&S Collection Popping Down the Chimney Dessert
Major points for the fun design and originality of this intriguing dessert. The chocolate rooftop houses a dark and milk chocolate mousse, as well as a sumptuous butterscotch caramel sauce on a white chocolate and toasted popcorn base. If it sounds like a lot, it’s because it is – Merry Christmas.
£25 for 1.1kg (serves 10), available from M&S

M&S Collection Nocciolato Panettone
Open this up and just inhale the rich buttery, citrus and vanilla scents. With Turkish sultanas, Sicilian candied orange and a crisp hazelnut and almond topping, this is zesty and light – enjoy with a Christmas morning coffee. £20 for 1kg (serves 12), available from M&S and Ocado

M&S 5-Year-Old Cornish Cruncher Vintage Cheddar
Dense, creamy and with a crunchy bite, this special edition cheddar is aged not for two or three years but FIVE, and packs a massive punch. A few slices would pair nicely with a small glass of after-dinner port. £6 for 250g, available from M&S and Ocado

Tesco

Tesco Plant Chef 10 No-Prawn Tempuras
Crispy but fresh, light but with plenty going on, these jackfruit and king oyster mushroom tempuras are ideal for dipping into mango chutney, sweet chilli dip or just regular mayo. The gluten-free batter ensures these are A-OK for the whole crowd. £2.50 for 150g, available from Tesco

Tesco Finest Salmon, Pomegranate & Prosecco Starters
Light, bright and fresh. A layer of pomegranate jelly is topped with a prosecco marie-rose-style sauce, Scottish honey-roast salmon flakes and smoked salmon. A lighter touch to get things started. £6 for 150g (serves 2), available from Tesco

Tesco Finest Roasted Vegetable & Cranberry Star
Fit to burst with sweet butternut squash and parsnip alongside chestnuts and cranberries, this puff pastry star puts the Christmas veg firmly in the spotlight where it belongs. £6 for 340g (serves 6), available from Tesco

Tesco Finest Butternut Wellington (Vegan)
Our veggie/vegan standout. Sweet and tangy butternut squash joins forces with herby mushroom duxelles to form the beating heart of an outstandingly crisp and balanced vegan wellington. £7 for 485g (serves 3-4), available from Tesco

Tesco Finest Scottish Salmon Plait
Our choice for the best in show for salmon this year. Creamy and incredibly fresh fish seasoned with a sweet maple and black pepper glaze. Ideal for those Betwixtmas days. £18 for 840g, available in from Tesco

Tesco Finest Chef’s Collection Morello Cherry Chocolate Delice
Belgian chocolate mousse and spiced morello cherry compote layered with a chocolate sponge on a crisp cocoa feuilletine base. There’s even some liquid gold shimmer for you to personalise the design. Will be responsible for after-dinner naps nationwide. £20 for 900g, available in from Tesco

Waitrose

Waitrose No.1 Jewelled Cointreau and Cranberry Christmas Pudding
A classic delivered with an elegant glacé cherry and almond topping. This traditional pud is concentrated, plump and laced with orange liqueur, delivering a welcome hot, boozy boost. £15 for 800g (serves 8), available from Waitrose

Waitrose No.1 Crispy Bacon Carbonara Cups
Italians, look away now… The crispness of the maple-cured bacon cups filled with the creaminess of the spaghetti carbonara and cheddar is sumptuous and moreish. Impossible to have just one. £8 for 250g (12 cups), available from Waitrose

Asda

Asda Exceptional Lobster, Prawn and Scallop Thermidor
Vintage cheddar with lobster, prawns and scallops is a winning combination with a creamy thermidor sauce and crisp crumb topping. Concentrated and rich – a treat for Christmas Eve, perhaps. £12 for 500g (serves 2), available from Asda

Asda Exceptional Bone-in Beef Pie
Delicious all-butter pastry crust containing slow-cooked Aberdeen Angus beef, caramelised onions, mushrooms, bacon and salsa truffina. Decadent but accessible. The marrow bone recalls a Desperate Dan pie – fine and dandy. £12 for 1kg (serves 4), available from Asda

Asda Exceptional 6-Month Matured Jewelled Christmas Pudding Wreath
Spicy, sweet and matured for six months, this pud has a glorious glazed fruit topping that gives it the wow-factor. The body of the pud is chock-full of Turkish vine fruit, dates and figs – this deserves a generous splash of fresh cream. £8 for 500g (serves 5), available from Asda

Morrisons

Morrisons The Best Clementine and White Chocolate Cheesecake
Bright, zesty and vibrant – a welcome reprieve from the richness onslaught of the holiday season.The biscuit base is topped with fresh clementine conserve and finished with a Belgian white chocolate Christmas tree and bronze sprinkles. £7.50 for 506g (serves 6), available from Morrisons

Booths

Booths All Butter Mince Pies
Of all the mince pies we’ve scoffed this year (and that’s a lot!), these all-butter beauties from Booths are the champions. Light, crumbly pastry, properly filled and beautifully spiced. Simple, classic and delicious. £3.75 for 360g (pack of 6), available from Booths

Co-op

Co-op Irresistible All Butter Cinnamon Sugar Knots
We just can’t give these up! For the third year on the trot, we’ve had to rave about these sugary spiced biscuits. This is what Christmas tastes like. £1.80 for 150g, available from Co-op

Great Taste Award-winners

Like buying from independent producers too? We asked our friends over at the Great Taste Awards to recommend this year’s 3-star standouts for adding a little magic throughout all the festivities

Contour Coffee 58% Milk Chocolate
The judges said “Beautifully crafted chocolate thins… A lovely snap and strong chocolatey aroma followed by a slow, smooth melt on the tongue… The rounded flavour starts with rich caramel and finishes with a hint of citrus.” Perfect posh after-dinner chocs. £13.80 for 75g (20 discs), available from Contour Chocolate

Hop & Roll Sri Lankan Roasted Curry Powder
Make a special turkey curry with this powder. The judges said: “We love this curry powder and its fresh, fragrant combination of herbs and spices. It has a deep, intense, complex aroma and a bright, vibrant flavour. There’s plenty of heat, which is backed up by notes of menthol, grass, herbs and aromatics – lively, varied and well balanced.” £6.50 for 50g, available from Hop & Roll

Due Vittorie Aged Apple Cider Vinegar
For a superior winter salad dressing. The judges said: “An exceptional vinegar that’s beautifully crisp with a tart, refreshing apple flavour on the palate. The sweetness is perfectly balanced against the acidity and there’s a delicious caramel toffee quality.” £5.85 for 250ml, available from Artisan Olive Oil Company

Lussa Gin 42%
The judges said: “This is a superb Isle of Jura gin with exquisite qualities. There’s a pleasing nose, a bright, salty tang to the flavour and hot, pleasant finish. There’s a lot going on: sweetness, peppermint and citrus with a subtle, herbaceous bouquet. It’s a complex and clever gin.” £42 for 70cl, available from Lussa Gin

Shortbread House of Edinburgh Cheese Sablés with Cumin
Add these to your Boxing Day spread. The judges said: “These are gorgeous little biscuits in every respect – visually, aromatically and in taste and flavour… They have a good short texture that’s not greasy at all… The mouthfeel is lovely with well-balanced crumbliness… and there’s a distinctive sharp tang from the cheese.” £3.95 for 80g, available from Shortbread House

Planning your festive feasting? Visit our Christmas hub for make-ahead starters, mains and desserts; menu inspiration; festive baking ideas and more.