Budget Christmas dinner menu

Cauliflower cheese, braised red cabbage and sprouts in separate serving dishes

Starters

Spicy roasted parsnip soup

If you're already planning to have the oven on in the days leading up to Christmas, pop in some parsnips and be rewarded with delicious, silky soup.

For more budget-friendly soup ideas, check out this plant-based leek & potato soup, as well as this meat-free celeriac soup.

Rosemary polenta bites with peperonata

Rosemary polenta bites served on an oval shaped serving platter

These beauties take some time to make, but are well worth it. They also make the most of low-cost ingredients. Free up time on Christmas Day by making the peperonata in advance and the polenta the day before.

Cheesy confit garlic bread

A guaranteed crowd-pleaser, made with slow-cooked garlic for a more mellow flavour.

Cucumber prawn cocktail cups

Try this speedy twist on a classic starter for a simple and low-cost festive starter. Ideal at Christmas time, they‘re served on lettuce leaves and topped with crispy shallots.

Baked ham hock pots

Make brilliant use of storecupboard ingredients and your spices with these easy, no-fuss baked ham hock pots.

Mains

Turkey, bacon & chorizo bombe

Get your turkey, pigs in blankets and stuffing fix all in one with this stunning turkey, bacon & chorizo bombe. Cooking turkey breasts is much cheaper and easier than roasting a whole turkey, and the sausagemeat and bacon wrap helps keep it moist and full of flavour.

Mushroom bourguignon pithivier

Mushroom bourguinon pithivier with a large chunk taken out to reveal the centre

Serve our moreish mushroom bourguignon pithivier as a vegan main course. Use chestnut and portobello mushrooms or another selection of cheaper mushrooms.

Quick-roast Christmas chicken & sticky veg

Quick roast chicken dinner with sticky veg, served on a blue plate

Enjoy an energy- and cost-efficient festive lunch – we’ve used a few tricks to cut down on the oven cooking time, but the result is still a succulent chicken. This is part of Barney Desmazery's Cook Smart Christmas menu.

For more ideas, take a look at our budget Christmas centrepieces.

Air fryer roast dinner

Forgo the oven entirely and make the main roast elements in an air-fryer. Use a microwave to heat the gravy rather than on the hob.

Alternatively, streamline the usually long process of making Christmas dinner with our recipe for slow-cooker turkey.

Veggie loaf

This veggie loaf is a smart and thrifty option for a vegetarian main, combining lentils with chestnut mushrooms, brown rice and walnuts. Top with cranberry sauce for a festive touch.

Sides

Air-fryer pigs in blankets

Make homemade Christmas pigs in blankets easily by using an energy-efficient air-fryer. If you have herbs to hand, add flavourings such as sage leaves.

Roasted roots

Roasted potatoes, carrots, celeriac and parsnips in a white bowl with a serving spoon

Throw your potatoes, carrots, celeriac and parsnips into one tin and roast with goose fat for an irresistible traybake. It’ll free up some much needed space in your oven, too.

Alternatively, you could cook canned potatoes in an air fryer to make these alternative air-fryer roasties.

Microwave cauliflower cheese

Cook the British classic, cauliflower cheese, easily in the microwave. With prep and cook time in under half an hour, it's a worthwhile side.

If you like the look of this, check out this recipe for slow-cooker potato gratin. Slow-cooking offers lovely depth of flavour while saving effort and energy costs.

Charred sprouts with Marmite butter

Charred brussels sprouts with Marmite butter, served on a white side dish

Here's a dish that's sure to get your guests talking: charred sprouts with Marmite butter. It’s cheaper to make than traditional chestnut and bacon sprouts, and you only need a small amount of Marmite to add a super-savoury umami flavour.

Alternatively, make this side with the help of a microwave with our microwave brussels sprouts.