Christmas Day can be a lot for whoever’s in charge of the cooking – a big roast, all the trimmings, a dessert or two, and often a breakfast or brunch before any of that even starts. The good news is that a little prep now can make a huge difference later.
These make ahead Christmas recipes cover sauces, sides, a soup course and a couple of sweet treats, all designed to be made in advance and simply finished, reheated or baked on the day. Get a few of these into the freezer or fridge over the coming weeks and you’ll free up far more time on Christmas Day itself for presents, family and all the fun of the season.
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Make Ahead Christmas Recipes
#1. Christmas Breakfast Casserole
This Make Ahead Christmas Sausage Breakfast Casserole from Meaningfulmama.com is handy for any big Christmas morning breakfast or brunch. Leave out the mushrooms if you have any mushroom-averse eaters in the house.
It’s a recipe the kids can help prep on Christmas Eve too – then all you need to do on the day is take it from the fridge and bake for about an hour.
Image credit Meaningfulmama
#2. Cranberry and Orange Sauce
Fresh cranberries start appearing in shops from around mid-November, so it’s worth picking up a few extra bags and stashing them in the freezer for later holiday cooking and baking.
You can make this Cranberry and Orange Sauce up to a week in advance – it will keep, covered, in the fridge for that long, ready to serve alongside the turkey.
#3. Do-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
This Do-Ahead Mashed Potatoes recipe from Betty Crocker has just six ingredients (two of which are salt and pepper) and can be made up to 24 hours ahead of time, refrigerated, and baked when you’re ready – a genuinely no-stress, no-fuss side.
Image credit Betty Crocker
Recommended Reading: 8 Alternative Christmas Dinner Ideas That Aren’t Turkey
#4. Red Cabbage with Balsamic Vinegar and Cranberries
This Red Cabbage with Balsamic Vinegar and Cranberries recipe from BBC Good Food will keep for up to four days in the fridge, or up to a month in the freezer, making it a great one to knock out well ahead of the big day.
Image credit BBC Good Food
#5. Jamie Oliver’s Make Ahead Gravy
The great thing about this Turkey Gravy recipe from Jamie Oliver is that you can make it a few days, or even a few weeks, before Christmas and simply finish it off on the day. It uses chicken wings as the base for a rich, deep flavour.
Image credit Jamie Oliver
#6. Crab Bisque
If you like a soup or fish course as part of your Christmas dinner, this Easy Crab Bisque recipe from BHG might be just the thing.
It’s a simple but elegant soup, ready in around 20 minutes, and can be made the night before and gently reheated before serving. No fussy ingredients either – just a tasty combination of things you can pick up at the grocery store.
Image credit BHG
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#7. Mince Pies
Whip up a batch of mincemeat for delicious Mince Pies. This recipe takes less than half an hour to prep but will keep for weeks in a jar in the fridge.
After that, all you need to do is make or buy pastry for the crusts, fill, and pop them in the oven for warm mince pies – with a drop of mulled wine to accompany them, of course.
#8. Golden Roast Potatoes
Don’t spend Christmas morning peeling potatoes. Make these Golden Roast Potatoes from BBC Good Food ahead of time and freeze them for up to a month, then cook straight from frozen on the day.
Image credit BBC Good Food
#9. Star Mint Meringues
These Star Mint Meringues from BHG look stunning and thoroughly Christmassy, and they’re easy to make ahead too – store them at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Image credit BHG
Recommended Reading: 11 Spectacular Seasonal Cupcake Recipes Perfect for Christmas
#10. Make Ahead Christmas Brandy Sauce
Nothing goes better with a traditional Christmas pudding than a boozy sauce. This Brandy Sauce recipe from About Food can be made with either brandy or rum, depending on your preference.
Make your sauce a day or two in advance and refrigerate it, then simply reheat when your Christmas pudding is ready to serve.
Image credit About Food
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead can I really make Christmas dinner?
Quite far, in most cases. Sauces like cranberry and orange or brandy sauce can be made up to a week (or a day or two, for the brandy sauce) in advance and kept in the fridge. Sides such as mashed potatoes and red cabbage can be prepped 24 hours to several days ahead, and some dishes, like the roast potatoes and star mint meringues, can go in the freezer weeks in advance.
Can I freeze make-ahead Christmas sides?
Yes – several of the recipes above are freezer-friendly, including the golden roast potatoes (up to a month) and the red cabbage with balsamic vinegar and cranberries (also up to a month). Star mint meringues freeze well too, for up to three months.
What’s a good make-ahead option for Christmas morning?
A breakfast casserole is ideal, since it can be assembled the night before, kept in the fridge, and simply baked when everyone’s up and ready for a big Christmas morning breakfast or brunch.
Do I need to reheat make-ahead sauces and gravy on the day?
Yes – sauces such as the brandy sauce and Jamie Oliver’s make-ahead gravy are designed to be prepared in advance and then gently reheated or finished off on Christmas Day itself.
Related Articles
- 8 Alternative Christmas Dinner Ideas That Aren’t Turkey
- 8 Brussels Sprouts Recipes the Whole Family Will Eat
- 11 Spectacular Seasonal Cupcake Recipes Perfect for Christmas
Save Yourself Some Time
Not every dish needs to be made from scratch on the day – picking two or three of these to prep in advance can take a lot of pressure off. Bookmark this page so you can come back to it as you plan your Christmas cooking over the next few weeks.
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