The hordes have arrived and the fridge is ready to erupt, but pulling together the perfect menu on time, and without breaking a sweat, is easier said than done. With food and guests vying for attention, your time plan is your secret weapon. Our Christmas cooking timeline will help keep your seasonal kitchen a stress-free zone this year, leaving you with less time faffing in the kitchen and more time enjoying Christmas. We've also included our make-ahead recipe plan, so you can get as much prep done before the big day.

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Christmas recipe inspiration

Start by planning out your recipes and work out what you can prepare before Christmas Day. The final push should be all about cooking or reheating, not peeling and chopping. Check out our Christmas dinner recipe collection to pick your perfect menu, complete with centrepiece, sides and sauces. Time everything to perfection using our roast timer calculator and get top turkey every time.

Need a ready-planned day of deliciousness? Pick from our complete Christmas menus, whether you need a vegetarian menu, a last-minute dinner you can whip up in a flash or a healthy Christmas menu.

Printable Christmas time plan

Click on the link below to access a printable version of our Christmas meal time plan, work out what time you'd like to eat and then fill in the gaps. Christmas has never been so easy!

Christmas time plan

To serve our Christmas lunch at 2pm

Recipe inspiration

Here are some recipes you may be wanting to cook as part of a classic Christmas dinner, including a turkey centrepiece and all the trimmings.

Christmas menu – serves eight

Chilli-charred brussels sprouts in a silver bowl

Cider roast turkey
Glazed apples & pears with sticky shallots
Chestnut & cranberry roll
Creamy parsnip & squash bake
Chilli-charred brussels sprouts
Christmas spiced red cabbage
Buttery caraway carrots
Golden roast potatoes
Bread & walnut sauce
Cranberry & champagne sauce

Pudding

Festive date & pecan pudding served with custard Chantilly, and stem ginger & brandy cream.

Getting ahead

Prep for the big day with our festive make-ahead recipes, featuring roast potatoes, sprouts, stuffing and more. All make-ahead dishes should be kept in the fridge or freezer until ready to be cooked.

Golden roast potatoes in a silver bowl

Up to one month ahead

Up to four days ahead

Up to two days ahead

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

Turkey crown on a plate next to cutlery

9.30am: Stuff the turkey, weigh and calculate cooking time. Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5.

10am: Put the turkey in to roast (timings based on a 4.5kg turkey).

11am & 12pm: Check the roasting tin – add more cider if needed.

12.30pm: Remove the foil from the turkey to let it brown.

1pm: Leave the turkey to rest. Put the potatoes in the oven to roast, if frozen (if not, put in at 1.10pm). Make the gravy.

1.30pm: Turn oven up to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Turn the potatoes and add the stuffing roll to the oven to reheat.

1.45pm: Reheat the apples, pears and shallots in the oven if room, or in the microwave if not, adding a little extra glaze. Cover the parsnip bake with foil and put into the oven to reheat. Finish sprouts, carrots, cabbage and cranberry sauce. Take foil off the stuffing roll.

2pm: Serve and enjoy! Warm the pudding in the oven's residual heat while you eat.

Find more Christmas recipe inspiration...

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Discover our Christmas menu ideas:

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