Christmas dinner shopping list
How much to buy for Christmas dinner, per person and for the whole table, and when to buy it. The amounts are generous enough for seconds without a fridge full of leftover sprouts.
How much to buy for Christmas dinner
| What | Per person | For 4 | For 6 | For 8 | For 10 | For 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole turkey | 500 g (1 lb) | 3 kg | 3 kg | 4 kg | 5 kg | 6 kg |
| Or turkey crown | 250 g | 1 kg | 1½ kg | 2 kg | 2½ kg | 3 kg |
| Potatoes, for roasting | 250 g | 1 kg | 1½ kg | 2 kg | 2½ kg | 3 kg |
| Parsnips | 100 g | 400 g | 600 g | 800 g | 1 kg | 1.2 kg |
| Carrots | 100 g | 400 g | 600 g | 800 g | 1 kg | 1.2 kg |
| Brussels sprouts | 100 g | 400 g | 600 g | 800 g | 1 kg | 1.2 kg |
| Red cabbage | 75 g | half a cabbage | half a cabbage | 1 small cabbage | 1 small cabbage | 1 small cabbage |
| Pigs in blankets | 3 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 | 36 |
| Stuffing | 75 g (2 balls) | 300 g | 450 g | 600 g | 750 g | 900 g |
| Gravy | 125 ml | 500 ml | 750 ml | 1 litre | 1.25 litres | 1.5 litres |
| Cranberry sauce | 1 tbsp | 1 jar | 1 jar | 2 jars | 2 jars | 2 jars |
| Bread sauce | 75 ml | 300 ml | 450 ml | 600 ml | 750 ml | 900 ml |
| Christmas pudding | 1 slice | 1 × 450 g | 1 × 450 g | 1 × 900 g | 2 × 900 g | 2 × 900 g |
| Cream or custard | 75 ml | 300 ml | 450 ml | 600 ml | 750 ml | 900 ml |
Not sure what size turkey? See turkey size per person.
The full list
Meat
- Turkey (whole, crown or boneless joint), ordered by early December
- Pigs in blankets, or chipolatas and streaky bacon to make them
- Sausage meat for stuffing
- Chicken wings or turkey giblets for the gravy
Vegetables
- Floury potatoes (Maris Piper or King Edward)
- Parsnips
- Carrots
- Brussels sprouts
- Red cabbage, an apple and an onion
- Onions, garlic, celery and fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary, sage, bay)
- Lemons
Fridge and freezer
- Butter, plenty
- Goose fat or beef dripping, for the roast potatoes
- Milk, for the bread sauce
- Double cream or brandy butter
- Frozen peas, as a back-up green
Cupboard
- Stuffing mix or breadcrumbs
- Cranberry sauce, or cranberries and sugar
- Gravy granules, stock cubes and plain flour
- Christmas pudding
- Cloves, nutmeg and bay leaves for the bread sauce
- Vinegar and brown sugar for the red cabbage
Kit
- A roasting tin big enough for the turkey
- A meat thermometer
- Foil, baking paper and cling film
- Tea towels for resting the turkey
When to buy it
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Late November to early December | Order the turkey and any meat from the butcher. Buy the Christmas pudding, cranberry sauce and cupboard things. |
| Up to a month before | Buy what you’ll freeze or make ahead: sausage meat, chipolatas and bacon, and the gravy ingredients. See the make-ahead plan. |
| A week before | Collect or buy a frozen turkey so it has time to thaw: see the thawing calculator. |
| 22–23 December | Fresh vegetables, herbs, cream and milk. Collect a fresh turkey. |
Questions
How many potatoes per person for Christmas dinner?
About 250 g (2–3 medium potatoes) per person for roast potatoes, or 300 g if they’re the only potato and people like seconds.
How many pigs in blankets per person?
Three each is the usual amount, and four if they’re popular at your table.
How many sprouts per person?
About 100 g, which is 6–8 sprouts.
When should I buy vegetables for Christmas dinner?
On 22 or 23 December, so they’re fresh. Potatoes, carrots and parsnips keep for a week somewhere cool and dark, so you can buy them earlier.
Times are a guide: ovens and joints vary. Always check meat with a thermometer before serving. FeastFlow’s times come from British Turkey, AHDB and USDA guidance, last checked 11 November 2026.