This is your ultimate Christmas dinner shopping list

Yahoo Style UK team
·5-min read
Man Christmas food shopping in supermarket with santa outfit on. (Getty Images)
Christmas food shopping doesn't have to be stress-inducing... (Getty Images)

Festive prep is in full swing, which means the dreaded Christmas food shop is just 'round the corner.

While the main meal is something most of us look forward to, the same can’t be said for the idea of fighting our way down the supermarket aisles to get our hands on the last tub of bread sauce.

It’s little wonder therefore that 60% of the nation gets in a panic about Christmas, with the food shop coming out as one of the biggest stresses, according to a previous survey by Sainsbury’s.

It also found that having enough food for the big day is one of the nation’s top five biggest Christmas worries, while nearly a quarter of us (23%) fret about not having enough time to get everything ready.

But in our rush to be well-prepped, we often understandably miss specific festive necessities off the shopping list with the most forgotten foods being the likes of gravy granules, stuffing and cranberry sauce, and one in 20 not remembering the sprouts (perhaps conveniently).

And for those who do aspire to take on Jamie Oliver, Nigella et al in the Christmas cooking stakes, many of us might plan to cook up gravy, mince pies and stuffing ourselves, only to end up buying pre-prepared last-minute. We’ve all been there.

Woman visiting Valencia and exploring local foods at the farmer’s market in Valencia
Make sure you ace Christmas shopping this year. (Getty Images)

Along with the poll, Judith Batchelar, the then-Sainsbury’s director of brand, gave some top tips for fuss-free festive food shopping.

Firstly, it's not just food items that you'll need to get you through the day. "Make sure you have a selection of everyday essentials, like dishwasher tablets, extra toiletries and batteries," said Batchelar.

And it doesn't hurt to be slightly over-prepared. "It’s also worth having a 'just in case' list – such as a few ready-to-cook canapés and a bottle of Prosecco for any unexpected guests," she added.

But above all, Batchelar's main tip was: "Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, there’s no need to cook every bit from scratch – consider choosing pre-prepared dishes that have been deliberately developed to make Christmas easier (like vegetable wellingtons)."

UK plant-based chef and cookbook author Niki Webster of blog RebelRecipes.com has also added her top Christmas dinner shopping tips. "Plan ahead for everything. Make lists – from the menu to the number of guests, recipes if you need them and ingredients needed to purchase," she says. Being prepped and strict with yourself about exactly what you need will also help prevent any impulse buys.

If you've booked a food delivery a couple of days before Christmas, you'll avoid busy shops and secure the main ingredients you need at ease. "You can then shop for any special vegetables or extra ingredients in local shops or markets just before," Webster adds, so these items taste super-fresh.

But if you are making a last-minute dash to the shops – whether that's Sainsbury's or authentic grocery stores – she recommends going early while the shelves are stocked to their fullest.

With many people wanting to save money this year, shop carefully and try not to buy more than you need.

Christmas food items in the shape of a supermarket shopping trolley. (Getty Images)
What can you start to tick off your list? (Getty Images)

To help jog your memory of some of the essential buys, a recent poll of 2,000 UK adults by Instantprint revealed exactly what the nation's ultimate Christmas dinner in 2022 is made up of. This includes roast potatoes (65%), turkey (48%), gravy (47%), sprouts (45%), stuffing (45%), carrots (40%), pigs in blankets (40%), Yorkshire puddings (39%), parsnips (38%) and cranberry sauce (27%).

And to make things even easier, we’ve put together our ultimate Christmas food shopping checklist. From brandy butter to Brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce to chutney, this isn't everything you have to buy, but all possible options in one convenient place.

  • Lemons

  • Limes

  • Oranges

  • Tangerines/Satsumas/Clementines

  • Melons

  • Cranberries

  • Cherries

  • Brussels sprouts

  • Carrots

  • Parsnips

  • Potatoes

  • Onions

  • Ginger

  • Fresh herbs

  • Cucumber

  • Garlic

  • Tomatoes

  • Pre-prepared salad leaves e.g. lettuce/rocket

  • Celery

  • Peas

  • Sweetcorn

  • Avocados

  • Turkey

  • Ham

  • Bacon

  • Pigs in blankets

  • Pancetta

  • Sausages

  • Prawns

  • Smoked salmon

  • Tins of crab meat

  • Veggie or vegan alternatives for the above

  • Ingredients (or pre-bought) for veggie or vegan main dishes

  • Sparkling water

  • Tonic or soda water

  • Fruit juice – apple, orange, cranberry, pineapple

  • Squash

  • Lemonade

  • Coca Cola

  • A fancy drink for children/pregnant ladies and others not drinking alcohol

(See our guide to the best festive cocktails)

  • Choice of spirits – vodka, rum, gin etc.

  • Red wine

  • White wine

  • Champagne/Prosecco or both

  • Beer/lager

  • Brandy (for the Christmas pudding)

Christmas Cheese board appetizers platter with various types of cheese, crackers, jam, fruits and pistachios on a dark background. (Getty Images)
Are you more of a cheeseboard or Christmas pudding kind of person? (Getty Images)

  • Olive oil

  • Salt and pepper

  • Vinegar – white wine, balsamic

  • Stock cubes

  • Honey

  • Jams/marmalade

  • Chutney

  • Mayonnaise

  • Mustard

  • Goose fat

  • Pre-made gravy or granules (meat or veggie)

  • Redcurrant jelly

  • Cranberry sauce

  • Bread sauce

  • Apple sauce

  • Custard

  • Cream – single and double

  • Butter

  • Milk

  • Eggs

  • Plain yoghurt

  • Cheese – a selection for example Stilton, Brie, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Cheddar

  • Cheese biscuits

  • Pre-made pastry – puff, filo, shortcrust

  • Ice cream

  • Sugar

  • Flour

  • Ice

Brussels sprouts on Christmas dinner table. (Getty Images)
You've got to have at least one brussels sprout. (Getty Images)

  • Yorkshire puddings (to save on hassle if not making from scratch)

  • Mince pies

  • Chocolates

  • Nibbles – e.g. crisps, nuts

  • Biscuits

  • Christmas pudding

  • Christmas cake

  • Tin foil

  • Baking paper

  • Cling film

  • Kitchen roll

  • Matches

  • Bin bags

  • Spare batteries

  • Spare lightbulbs

  • Napkins

  • Bread

  • Croissants

  • Breadcrumbs

Watch: Martin Lewis shares 'Christmas shopping quickies' and savings hacks for festive season

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