Do you spend hours in the kitchen making Christmas dinner while everyone else lounges around watching Christmas movies? When it goes right, Christmas dinner is one of the best meals of the year — but it can be seriously stressful for whoever’s cooking it.
We’ve put together our favourite tips to save time on Christmas dinner, so you can get a delicious meal on the table without missing out on all the fun happening in the next room.
Are you so busy peeling and cooking vegetables, making gravy, checking on the meat, whipping cream and setting the table that by the time dinner is served you’re too shattered to enjoy it? These time-saving tips will help you prepare properly, so you get a fun family day you can actually be part of.
You may also enjoy: 10 Make Ahead Christmas Recipes to Save You Tons of Time
Tips to Save Time on Christmas Dinner
1. Be Prepared
Cook what you can in advance. From soups and sides to sauces and desserts, get as much done as possible in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Many dishes freeze well — soups, cranberry sauce, red cabbage and mince pies among them — while others can be made and prepped in the final few days.
You can peel and prepare your vegetables the night before, ready to cook the following day. Just store them in a large saucepan of cold, salted water.
You could also set the table the night before. Get the kids involved — they’ll enjoy putting out crackers, designing place cards and making the table look festive for the big day.
You may also enjoy: 8 Simply Scrumptious Christmas Baking Recipes
2. Fill the Freezer
Everything from gravy to bread sauce, stuffing to mince pies can be made well in advance and frozen. Just remember to take everything out the night before, and reheat it thoroughly to the correct temperature on the day.
You may also enjoy: Alternative Rocky Road Christmas Pudding
3. Order In
There are plenty of good pre-prepared options available from supermarkets, restaurants and local suppliers that can save you real time on both prep and cooking. Even a few ready-made sides or desserts will take the pressure off — or you could go all out and get your whole dinner delivered for the ultimate time-saver.
Most importantly, don’t leave the food shopping (or ordering) until the last minute. Aside from the queues, you may find yourself fighting for the last turkey, net of sprouts or tub of cream. Buy what you can in advance and have it delivered or ready for collection in-store.
4. Get Up Early
Any house with kids won’t need to worry about setting an alarm, but if you’re cooking a big turkey or a joint that needs a long time in the oven, get it in early.
This gives you time to rest the meat properly and frees up oven space for those crispy roast potatoes we all love. A crowded oven slows down cooking, so giving everything room to breathe will help it all cook properly and on time.
You may also enjoy: 8 Easy Steps to Cook a Turkey
5. Plan Your Menu
The pressure may be on to impress your guests (or the in-laws), but serving ten types of veg or six different sauces will usually only lead to disaster.
One of the most helpful tips to save time on Christmas dinner is to plan a realistic menu and only attempt what you’re genuinely comfortable making. Two or three side dishes done well will impress far more than ten that come out charred, mushy or cold.
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6. Ask for Help
If it’s your turn to host, you’re already dealing with the prep, cooking, clean-up and cost. Ask your guests to bring something with them — play to their strengths, and let them bring what they do well (or can easily buy) — and dinner will be on the table with a lot less stress on you.
7. Serving Up
Warm the plates in advance, and if family are over, get one person from each household to help with serving. That way you’re not shouting across the table trying to work out who wants what veg, which bit of turkey, or gravy versus sauce.
Alternatively, serve the veg in individual dishes, carve the meat, put sauces in jugs, and let everyone serve themselves. It’s quicker, everyone gets exactly what they want, and there’s usually less waste too.
8. Spread the Meal Throughout the Day
Do you ever leave the table barely able to move? Many families spread the meal out over the day instead — starting with soup, taking a break, then coming back for a fish course or main, followed by another break before cheese and dessert.
This gives everyone time to digest between courses, keeps kids from getting bored waiting for adults to finish, and leaves everyone more relaxed. Some families even squeeze in a walk between courses to build the appetite back up.
9. Washing Up
Assign washing-up duty to whoever hasn’t helped with the prep. Washing as you go also frees up space in the dishwasher or on the draining board, so you’ve got room to serve up when the time comes.
You may also enjoy: Easy Christmas Recipes That Are Sure to Become Family Favourites
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the easiest way to save time on Christmas dinner?
Preparation is the biggest time-saver. Cook and freeze what you can in the weeks beforehand, prep vegetables the night before, and plan a realistic menu so you’re not trying to do too much on the day itself.
What Christmas dinner dishes freeze well?
Soups, cranberry sauce, red cabbage, gravy, bread sauce, stuffing and mince pies all freeze well. Just make sure to defrost and reheat everything thoroughly before serving.
Should I get up early to cook the turkey?
If you’re cooking a large turkey or joint, an early start gives it enough time to cook fully, rest properly, and frees up oven space later for roast potatoes and other sides.
How can I make Christmas dinner less stressful with guests?
Ask guests to bring a dish each, plan a menu you’re confident with, and get help with serving so you’re not doing everything alone. Spreading the meal over a few courses with breaks in between can also take the pressure off.
You Might Also Like
- 10 Make Ahead Christmas Recipes to Save You Tons of Time
- 8 Simply Scrumptious Christmas Baking Recipes
- 8 Easy Steps to Cook a Turkey
- Easy Christmas Recipes That Are Sure to Become Family Favourites
Save This for Later
Christmas dinner day gets hectic fast — bookmark this page or pin it now so you’ve got these tips handy when the prep starts in earnest.
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