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 64 recipes
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Make-ahead stuffing recipes
Sausage, sage, prune and onion stuffing
The two best stuffings are sage and onion or sausage and prune. This one contains both, making it the ultimate Christmas stuffing recipe.
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Easy
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Cabbage recipes
Braised red cabbage
This braised red cabbage offers a sweet-and-sour flavour combo with seasonal spice, cutting through the rich flavours of Christmas dinner.
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Easy
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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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Easy
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Filo pastry recipes
Vegetarian filo Christmas wreath
Food writer Elly Curshen’s spectacular filo-wrapped wreath makes a perfect vegetarian Christmas main or Christmas buffet centerpiece.
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Easy
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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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