Budget Christmas recipes
Going all out for Christmas doesn’t require you to overspend – discover our budget Christmas recipes that still deliver on festive decadence without breaking the bank. These recipes can keep costs per head down or go far in terms of portion servings. Other thrifty ways to make the most of your Christmas budget are to make homemade food gifts, serve wallet-friendly party food, and familiarise yourself with our Christmas leftover recipes.
Try our speedy Glow-Up hacks, from a fruity glaze to brush onto pigs in blankets to a savoury granola to scatter over bread sauce…
Showing 1-16 of 85 recipes
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Orange and clove Christmas tapenade
Olive-based dip tapenade gets an orangey twist and a hint of Christmas spice from the clove. Perfect for festive entertaining – and quick!
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Camembert recipes
Baked camembert with harissa honey
Oozy, gooey cheese drizzled with a fiery, sweet topping; this easy baked camembert with honey recipe is perfect for entertaining.
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Sausage roll recipes
Turkey and cranberry sausage rolls
These turkey and cranberry sausage rolls are perfect for preparing ahead and keeping in the freezer for those last-minute festive occasions.
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Christmas chocolate recipes
Advent calendar chocolate truffles
Enjoy a chocolate truffle a day during the month of December? Customise the recipe by coating the truffles in your favourite toppings.
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Carrot recipes
Vichy carrots
This classic French technique is our favourite way to cook carrots. Add star anise, thyme and lemon for a perfect Christmas side dish.
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Christmas trimmings, sides and sauces
Butter-roast parsnips with hazelnuts and sage
Dish up your best-ever roast parsnips this Christmas. Crisp sage and a scattering of toasted hazelnuts provide flavour and crunch.
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Brussels sprouts recipes
Fondant sprouts with bacon and chestnuts
Crisp, buttery sprouts with chestnuts and bacon is our favourite festive side. A two-step cooking process gets the best out of every sprout.
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Alternative Christmas roast recipes
Air fryer festive traybake with gravy mayo
Everything you love about Christmas dinner in a single traybake, all cooked in the air fryer – perfect if you can’t wait until the big day.
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Carrot recipes
Orange and honey-roast carrots and parsnips
Carrots and parsnips are a key part of a roast dinner because they add colour and sweetness – especially with a good drizzle of honey.
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Red cabbage recipes
Braised red cabbage with pickled walnuts and tarragon
Red cabbage is an essential element of the festive plate, thanks to its sweetness and acidity. Make this Christmas side dish ahead.
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Christmas trimmings, sides and sauces
Christmas peas
Buttery peas flecked with pink grapefruit provide a flash of green at the Christmas table. Not traditional, but zingily flavoursome.
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Christmas trimmings, sides and sauces
Sprouts in blankets
Two Christmas icons combine to make sprouts in blankets. Even sprout haters will change their beliefs when they taste them wrapped in bacon.
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Budget Christmas party food recipes
Pickled walnut and cheese rolls
These moreish walnut and cheese rolls are a perfect no-fuss nibble for Christmas parties. Make them ahead, then pop in the oven on the night.
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Roast chicken recipes
Air fryer roast chicken
Wondering how to roast a chicken in an air fryer? The results are surprisingly good – super-crisp golden skin and, because of the way an air fryer works, the meat remains super juicy.
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Festive desserts
Sweet golden dumplings with ginger sauce
These golden, sweet dumplings are a Christmas favourite in Hungary and Romania. Serve the warm, yeasted buns with a jug of vanilla sauce.
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Brussels sprouts recipes
Garlic butter sprouts
Gently cook sprouts in butter until crisp and caramelised, then add garlic. This is how we cook our sprouts every Christmas.
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