It's that time of year again - time to start planning for Christmas dinner! I know how stressful it can feel to think about cooking such a huge meal for friends and family.
There are so many dishes to prepare, timings to coordinate, and details to keep track of. But never fear - I'm here to take the stress out of Christmas dinner with my Fuss Free Christmas Dinner Menu for 2023.
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This menu has everything you need to wow your guests this festive season.
I've also recommended a few air fryer and slow cooker adaptations of my top festive recipes to assist in freeing up oven space on the big day.
From the main turkey roast to delicious sides and desserts, I've carefully selected Christmas recipes that are easy to make in advance or can be thrown together quickly on the big day.
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Christmas Day Starters
Curried Parsnip & Apple Soup
This delicately spiced curried parsnip and apple soup recipe is a must-try during the winter months! It's easy to make and pairs perfectly with crusty bread.
Servings => 4
Takes => 1 hour 23 minutes
Calories per serving => 210
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Quorn Ham & Stilton Rarebit Bites
The perfect vegetarian appetiser for Christmas Day.
Servings => 6
Takes => 12 minutes
Calories per serving => 423
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Christmas Dinner
Make Ahead
These recipes can be made up to 3 months in advance and frozen!
Easy Slow Cooker Red Cabbage Recipe
Easy slow cooker red cabbage recipe - tender, flavoursome, and perfect as a fuss-free side dish. Make ahead, freeze, or cook fresh for roasts and festive meals.
Servings => 8
Takes => 7 hours 5 minutes
Calories per serving => 86
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Simple Apricot Stuffing Recipe
This simple apricot stuffing recipe is a festive favourite - sweet, savoury, and perfect alongside Christmas turkey, honey roast gammon, roast pork, or roast chicken.
Servings => 6
Takes => 43 minutes
Calories per serving => 344
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Cheesy Brussels Sprouts Gratin with Bacon
A cheesy Brussels sprouts gratin with smoky bacon. A delicious and festive vegetable side dish that the whole family will love, even sprout haters!
Servings => 6
Takes => 45 minutes
Calories per serving => 535
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Quick and Easy Bread Sauce Recipe
This quick and easy bread sauce recipe is the perfect complement to your roast dinner or Christmas lunch. Infused with warm spices and creamy goodness, it's simple and delicious!
Servings => 8
Takes => 20 minutes
Calories per serving => 132
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Easy Cranberry Sauce with Port
An easy cranberry sauce recipe made with fresh or frozen cranberries, port, and clementines.
Servings => 6
Takes => 18 minutes
Calories per serving => 87
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Cook on the day
For 2-4 guests
Easy Air Fryer Turkey Crown
This succulent and juicy air fryer turkey crown is incredibly easy to make and serves up to 4 people with leftovers, making it the perfect centerpiece for a smaller Christmas lunch. The best part? It's ready in just under 50 minutes!
Servings => 4
Takes => 55 minutes
Calories per serving => 394
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For up to 8 guests
Easy Slow Cooker Turkey Crown
Prepare a succulent and flavourful Christmas turkey with just 3 minutes of prep using a slow cooker. The easiest way to enjoy a stress-free festive meal
Servings => 8
Takes => 5 hours 33 minutes
Calories per serving => 352
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Feed a crowd
Easy Honey Roast Gammon
An easy honey roast gammon recipe with a simple honey glaze made with runny honey, English mustard, and crunchy demerara sugar.
Servings => 7
Takes => 4 hours 5 minutes
Calories per serving => 101
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Easy Slow Cooker Roast Beef
A mouthwatering moist slow cooker roast beef recipe with a rich red wine gravy! It's melt-in-the-mouth tender, incredibly juicy, and so easy to make!
Servings => 6
Takes => 8 hours 40 minutes
Calories per serving => 529
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Easy Christmas sides
Crispy Duck Fat Roast Potatoes
Crispy duck fat roast potatoes are an easy and delicious potato side to serve with roast duck, roast chicken, roast beef, and even air fryer turkey crown!
Servings => 6
Takes => 1 hour 10 minutes
Calories per serving => 257
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Quick Air Fryer Roast Potatoes
Crispy roast potatoes in just 25 minutes without parboiling - this quick air fryer roast potatoes recipe is perfect for busy weeknights.
Servings => 4
Takes => 1 hour
Calories per serving => 361
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Honey Roasted Carrots and Parsnips
Add some sweetness to your roast dinner with these easy honey roasted carrots and parsnips. Simple to make and bursting with flavour!
Servings => 6
Takes => 43 minutes
Calories per serving => 165
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Easy Air Fryer Roast Parsnips
A quick and easy recipe for crispy air fryer parsnips with a delicious maple and sea salt glaze. Perfect as a healthy side dish for roast dinners or festive meals!
Servings => 6
Takes => 20 minutes
Calories per serving => 80
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Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts and Chestnuts
Deliciously crispy air fryer Brussels sprouts with crumbled chestnuts and pomegranate seeds! Ready in under 20 minutes!
Servings => 6
Takes => 20 minutes
Calories per serving => 126
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Easy Pan Fried Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Impress your guests this Christmas with an irresistible recipe for pan fried Brussels sprouts with bacon and a tangy balsamic drizzle!
Servings => 4
Takes => 15 minutes
Calories per serving => 209
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Easy Cauliflower Cheese
Cauliflower cheese is a creamy, cheesy side dish featuring tender cauliflower baked in a rich cheese sauce, perfect for roast dinners or as a comforting vegetarian option.
Servings => 4
Takes => 35 minutes
Calories per serving => 455
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Easy Air Fryer Stuffing Balls
Air fryer stuffing balls put a new spin on classic stuffing. These crispy, bite-sized treats using Paxo stuffing mix, are versatile, customisable, and ideal for Christmas dinner or as a quick side dish.
Servings => 6
Takes => 20 minutes
Calories per serving => 115
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Air Fryer Pigs in Blankets
Air fryer pigs in blankets are the perfect addition to any festive feast or Sunday roast.
Servings => 6
Takes => 9 minutes
Calories per serving => 92
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Air Fryer Devils on Horseback (with Maple Sriracha Glaze)
Spice up your party with air fryer devils on horseback (bacon wrapped dates) coated in a sweet and spicy maple sriracha glaze. Air fry in just 5 minutes! Perfect for Christmas.
Servings => 8
Takes => 10 minutes
Calories per serving => 69
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Christmas Desserts
No-Bake Chocolate Orange Tarts
Rich and indulgent no-bake Terry's chocolate orange tarts with a simple no-bake biscuit crust and chocolate orange ganache filling!
Servings => 4
Takes => 2 hours 10 minutes
Calories per serving => 930
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Easy Individual Sherry Trifles
Easy individual sherry trifles made with crumbled Madeira cake, ready-made custard, a cheat's raspberry jelly, and topped with lightly whipped cream.
Servings => 8
Takes => 3 hours 15 minutes
Calories per serving => 300
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Easy Chocolate Honeycomb Torte
An easy chocolate honeycomb torte recipe made with just a handful of storecupboard ingredients including Cadbury crunchie bars!
Servings => 8
Takes => 45 minutes
Calories per serving => 510
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Festive Bakes
Mincemeat Crumble Slice
This easy mincemeat crumble slice recipe puts a delicious twist on traditional mince pies, featuring a buttery oat crumble that perfectly encases a rich, fruity mincemeat filling.
Servings => 12
Takes => 43 minutes
Calories per serving => 386
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Easy Puff Pastry Mince Pies
These easy puff pastry mince pies are light, flaky, and filled with rich fruity mincemeat - an easy, festive treat that's perfect for Christmas
Servings => 12
Takes => 20 minutes
Calories per serving => 196
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Easy White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies
Soft and fudgy white chocolate cranberry blondies packed with sweet white chocolate chips, fruity dried cranberries, and a hint of aromatic vanilla. Perfect as a festive tea time treat!
Servings => 16
Takes => 33 minutes
Calories per serving => 211
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Easy Christmas Tiffin
An easy no-bake Christmas tiffin recipe made with dark and milk chocolate, crushed shortbread biscuits, dried cranberries, and orange zest. Finished with cute Christmas sprinkles on top!
Servings => 16
Takes => 2 hours 10 minutes
Calories per serving => 367
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Easy White Chocolate Tiffin Recipe
An easy white chocolate tiffin recipe made with creamy white chocolate, ginger biscuits, chopped stem ginger, dried cranberries, glace cherries, and sweet fudge pieces.
Servings => 16
Takes => 2 hours 10 minutes
Calories per serving => 300
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Mini Sausage Rolls
Using ready-rolled puff pastry and a tasty filling of sausage meat, apple sauce, and sage & onion stuffing mix, these easy mini sausage rolls make the perfect last-minute party snack.
Servings => 36
Takes => 28 minutes
Calories per serving => 85
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Leftovers Recipes
Easy Leftover Turkey Curry
A simple yet delicious leftover turkey curry, bursting with flavour and ready in just 40 minutes. It's my go-to recipe for Boxing Day
Servings => 4
Takes => 40 minutes
Calories per serving => 419
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Easy Leftover Turkey Fricassee
Quick and easy leftover turkey fricassee recipe using Christmas roast turkey. Ready in just 20 minutes for a delicious and comforting meal!
Servings => 4
Takes => 20 minutes
Calories per serving => 547
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Air Fryer Turkey Toastie
An easy air fryer turkey toastie recipe with bacon, brie, and cranberry sauce. The perfect recipe to use up leftover turkey after Christmas or Thanksgiving.
Servings => 2
Takes => 15 minutes
Calories per serving => 658
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Easy Leftover Gammon Pasta
A delicious leftover gammon pasta recipe with peas. The perfect recipe for leftover ham!
Servings => 4
Takes => 22 minutes
Calories per serving => 810
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Easy Leftover Roast Beef Stroganoff Recipe
Transform your leftover roast beef into a delicious and creamy leftover roast beef stroganoff. With tender strips of roast beef, sautéed mushrooms, and a rich and creamy sauce, this dish is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner!
Servings => 4
Takes => 28 minutes
Calories per serving => 364
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Top tips for success!
Here are some top tips for preparing Christmas dinner:
- Advance Preparation: The key to a successful Christmas dinner is in the preparation. Do as much prep work as you can ahead of time.
- Defrost Properly: Ensure you allow ample time for defrosting any frozen items, especially joints of meat.
- Organise Kitchenware: Organise all your serving dishes, plates, cutlery, glasses, candles, and crackers the night before. This helps avoid any last-minute searches.
- Food Delivery Options: Consider booking a supermarket delivery or click and collect order. Using disposable tin foil containers can also be a huge time-saver and reduce the amount of washing up.
- Enjoy the Day: Most importantly, ensure you enjoy yourself. If you find the preparations overwhelming, there's no harm in opting for ready-made dishes.
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