Christmas Dinner Planner
To plan Christmas dinner, count your guests, choose the menu and size the turkey, then check when it needs to start defrosting. Decide what you can prepare on Christmas Eve, and finally work back from your serving time to a cooking schedule. The calculators below cover each step, using UK weights and oven temperatures.
Published by CookingCalculator.co.uk. Last reviewed .
Christmas tools
- Christmas dinner portions calculatorHow much turkey, potatoes, vegetables, stuffing, pigs in blankets and gravy for your guests.
- Christmas dinner shopping listA personalised list grouped by aisle. Tick off, edit, print or copy it on your phone.
- Christmas dinner cost calculatorTotal and cost per person from your list, with your own prices and an optional budget.
- Christmas dinner timings plannerPick your serving time and get a timetable for every dish, with oven clash warnings.
- Turkey cooking time calculatorCooking time, oven temperature and resting time by weight, including stuffed birds.
- Turkey defrosting calculatorHow long a frozen turkey needs in the fridge, and when to move it there.
Christmas dinner planning checklist
- Count your guests. Adults, children and anyone staying for Boxing Day, then size the bird with the portions calculator.
- Fix the menu. Decide the main, and which sides need the oven and which can go on the hob, so you know how much oven time you are asking for.
- Check fridge and oven space. Measure that the turkey and roasting tin fit the oven, count usable shelves, and clear fridge space for defrosting and leftovers.
- Plan defrosting. A frozen turkey can need several days in the fridge. Use the defrosting calculator to find the day to move it.
- Shop in stages. Build a shopping list and estimate the cost. Buy frozen and long-life items early, then fresh vegetables and chilled items closer to the day.
- Prepare ahead. Peel vegetables and make stuffing or sauces the day before where your recipe allows, then build the day itself in the timings planner.
Planning Christmas dinner: common questions
How do I plan Christmas dinner for six people?
For six, a whole turkey of about 4 to 5kg is a common choice, but check the turkey size per person calculator for your appetite and leftovers. Then use the Christmas dinner portions calculator for potatoes and vegetables, the shopping list and cost calculator to shop and budget, and the dinner timings planner for a schedule. The planner page includes a worked example for six with one oven.
How do I work out Christmas dinner cooking times?
Cooking times depend on weight. Use the whole turkey cooking time calculator or the turkey crown calculator, then fit the sides around it with the timings planner. Times are a guide: always check the turkey is cooked through.
When should I start defrosting a frozen turkey?
Large turkeys can take several days in the fridge. The turkey defrosting calculator tells you which day to move it from the freezer.
Can I cook Christmas dinner with one oven?
Usually, yes. The turkey cooks first and rests while the oven is turned up for the potatoes. The Christmas dinner timings planner shows where one oven runs out of room and suggests fixes.
Planning steps and calculators are by CookingCalculator.co.uk. Food-safety advice follows the Food Standards Agency.