Budget Christmas dinner menu

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

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

Rosemary polenta bites with peperonata

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.

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

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 Christmas chicken with sticky veg

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.

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

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.

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.

Charred sprouts with Marmite butter

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.

Microwave caraway & pomegranate red cabbage