The Ultimate Christmas Dinner Checklist
Christmas is, hands down, the busiest time here at COOK. Over the years we’ve cooked Christmas Dinner for tens of thousands of families, so we’ve learnt a thing or two about Christmas dinner essentials along the way.
Without further ado, here’s a definitive Christmas dinner checklist for anyone gearing up to cook on the big day.
Download Christmas Dinner checklist
Your Christmas Dinner Checklist
If you’re planning on leaving the COOKing to us this year, free-ing you up to Christmas, we hope our Christmas day dinner checklist is helpful. It’s a reminder of all the bits we can help with for your festive feast.
In an ideal world, the guest list would be finalised, but we all know life doesn’t work like that! Frozen is brilliant for accommodating fluctuating guest numbers … whatever you don’t use at Christmas can see you through Twixtmas.
Don’t forget to allow for different dietary requirements when going through your Christmas dinner food list – which can change like the seasons. And don’t forget what you’ve bought! There’s nothing more annoying than finding your bread sauce in August … writing up a menu for the day can help.
Nibbles
With the best will in the world, Christmas dinner isn’t always the most punctual of meals. Keep people going with a few nibbles. We can help with crisps, nuts, cheesey nibbles and lots of different Christmas canapés to see you through.
Christmas Starters
Serving up an extra course makes a meal feel extra special. You don’t want anything too filling, but the starters really help to turn a meal into a feast. If you’re catering for different diets, have a look at our fish, seafood, veggie, vegan and meat options.
Christmas Mains
Whether you’re sticking with a traditional turkey or fancy a bit of a change, we’ve got centrepieces galore. Some are available in different portion sizes which makes it easy to have a couple of alternatives.
You’ll also want to consider plenty of Christmas sides and trimmings as part of your food for Christmas dinner list, some will argue they’re the best bit. You might want to intentionally buy more than you need to make sure there are leftovers. Boxing Day just isn’t the same without sarnies stuffed full of … well, everything!
And then there are the sauces and condiments – Gravy, Cranberry Sauce, Bread Sauce. These are the most frequently forgotten elements, so worth checking and double checking.
Pudding
Even if we’re full to bursting, we somehow manage to find space for pud. You can always have a breather before the final course if needs be. As part of your Christmas dinner list, don’t forget ice cream, cream or custard to go with things like Christmas Pudding.
Drinks
Non-alcoholic drinks are becoming more and more popular, and we’ve got some of the best. Keep some soft drinks on standby in the fridge, or if you fancy something warming that will make the house smell deliciously Christmassy, try making a mulled wine or apple cider with our Mulling Syrup.
Other Bits
We hope that’s all the foodie bits seen to, just don’t forget the all-important non-foodie bits like: crackers, tin foil, bin bags and washing up liquid … (which is of course for other peoples’ benefit, not yours, the cook NEVER washes up).
We’ve got some other articles that might be helpful for the big day along with our Christmas dinner food list - Christmas dinner timings & Ten Steps to a Stress-free Christmas.
The People
Head count.
An obvious one you need to have on your Christmas dinner list, maybe, but you need to know your numbers to know how much Christmas food you need to cook … and don’t forget to confirm a fortnight beforehand, as plans change. Little ones will eat less and teenagers (and certain adults!) may have hollow legs and will eat more than you expect. Be realistic but generous with your Christmas dinner essentials checklist. Too much is better than too little when it comes to Christmas dinner, especially if the Boxing Day menu is all about leftovers, you’ll need to make sure there are some!
Special Diets.
Just because no-one in your immediate family is gluten intolerant or a vegan, don’t make assumptions about your guests when putting together a hosting Christmas checklist. Diets can change over time and a firm favourite for a child one year can become their kryptonite the next. If you are hosting a vegetarian or vegan, remember that can impact how you make your gravy, the stuffing you use, the fat you roast potatoes in, and more. These are conversations you need to have. If you’re struggling to cater for dietary requirements, check out our vegan Christmas dinner and vegetarian Christmas dinner that can be delivered directly to your door.
Each to Their Own.
What do you need on your Christmas dinner checklist? Turkey, obviously. Roast potatoes, obviously. All on the list of Christmas day essentials. But bread sauce? A glass of fizz? A smoked salmon starter? A cheese board? Not everyone’s Christmas food list of essential components for a great lunch will match up, so check with everyone who will be at your table on the 25th on what makes Christmas, Christmas.
The Table
Food is only half of the battle - how to set up the room is another important part of your Christmas day checklist. Unless your dining room looks like it’s from Downton Abbey, if you’re hosting you’ll need to get creative. So how do you make the most of your space over Christmas?
Buffet.
If there’s no way to have everyone seated at the same time, why not go for a buffet? Either have the traditional roast, or just embrace it and set out a range of Christmas desserts for guests to tuck into. Our delicious Christmas buffet treats should be on your Christmas dinner food list if you have the whole family round! Prepare bits in advance, dress the table nicely, and it could be the start of a glorious new tradition in your home.
The Kitchen
This is the mission control when it comes to putting a large part of your Christmas dinner checklist into action. Treat it with respect.
Keep It Clean.
All chefs in busy kitchens know, you must clean as you go. Nominate a skivvy to help out with the washing up during the busiest times and don’t let your sideboards get swamped.
Outsource.
Let’s get this out the way: here at COOK we make a cracking Christmas lunch and, obviously, we’ll be chuffed if you try it. But, whether you come to us or not, don’t set yourself up for a frantic morning by making everything from scratch. Stuffing, cranberry sauce, pigs in blankets … what looks like a few little jobs quickly adds up to a whole morning’s work, so farm some of the jobs out.
Rest the Turkey.
If you’re having the traditional Christmas roast – or any roast meat as a Christmas main for that matter – be sure to let it rest. As one of the main essentials for Christmas dinner, you want to make sure you do it justice. Wrapping it in foil and covering will not only improve the taste and texture, it will also free up cooking space, essential if you’re cooking the lot in one oven. Even if you don’t need the space, you should let a turkey rest for at least 20 minutes, although it will still be fine for up to an hour and a half. That leaves you lots of time to sort out everything else.
Timing is Everything.
You might have an oven timer, but on December 25th, you’ll need more than one if you’re going to pull off everything on your Christmas dinner list. You’ll find them on most phones today, so it needn’t be an added cost. When you’re working through your Christmas dinner checklist, timings often get forgotten, so make a detailed list of what needs to go in when (and check it twice) and set those timers as you go. All being well, it will ensure everything will be ready to serve at the same time. If you’re COOKing our Christmas dinner, you’ll find a takeaway checklist in our shops telling you the order things need to go in, and come out of, the oven. When we say we’ve done it all for you…we mean it!
The Little Extras
How can you really make your Christmas memorable? Focus on the little details. Adding a few thoughtful touches will make your lunch go down in family history. These small things are absolutely Christmas dinner must haves, and it’s important not to overlook them.
Crackers.
The landfill sites of our planet don’t need any more plastic moustaches, tiny packs of cards or fortune-telling fish. Why not make your own crackers for Christmas Day? It’s better for the environment and you can add little gifts that will be really appreciated. Miniatures of a favourite dram, a Lego figure for the children, little bars of a nice soap, wooden golf tees, chocolates and even socks are all great options. Plus, the jokes can be as inappropriate as you dare. It’s also a good job to outsource to children if you’re struggling to keep up with your Christmas dinner checklist (along with place cards) in the lead up to Christmas. Or, if you have friends / family coming and they want to contribute, crackers are always a good suggestion (you can’t really mess up with crackers!)
Temperature check.
Some of us are warm blooded, some run colder…but as a general rule the older we get, the colder we get. If you don’t want to run the house at furnace-temperature, then make sure there are a few blankets around the place to pop over knees or shoulders. Placing a few over the backs of chairs at the dinner table is also helpful as sitting still for a long time can get chilly for some.
Traditions.
There can be a lot of pressure at Christmas to make it an unforgettable occasion, but the one thing that people rarely forget are the traditions, because they happen year after year. It might be a ritual that was handed down to you, or one that you want to hand down to others, but it’s worth giving it a little thought. They don’t have to cost a penny, but they can be a very precious part of your Christmas dinner list, because they are, after all, the things that make Christmas, Christmas.
