We’ve Found The Cheapest Supermarket For Your Christmas Dinner Shopping List
You can still make a delicious Christmas dinner on a budget.
Arguably the best part of the festive season, Christmas dinner holds a special place in our hearts. But there’s no denying that the cost of spuds (and other Christmas food obvs) isn’t getting any cheaper. We’re still feeling the effects of the cost of living crisis around the UK, and research from Stop the Squeeze shows that 43% of Brits feel worse off this year than they did last year. So while our purse strings are firmly tightened, we’re looking at how we can keep costs down when it comes to things like our beloved Christmas dinner.
We’re already tracking the price of the cheapest supermarkets for delivery, so read on to see how your favourite supermarkets fare when it comes to the cost of ALL your Christmas dinner faves. Plus eight of our top tips for making Christmas dinner on a budget.
In this article:
- Comparing the cost of Christmas dinner by supermarket
- Which is the cheapest supermarket for Christmas dinner ingredients?
- 8 tips for making Christmas dinner on a budget
Comparing the cost of Christmas dinner by supermarket
We looked at six supermarkets, breaking down the cost of popular Christmas dinner products, using the cheapest product available on their website to compare prices. There’s some slight variation on sizes which we’ve listed below depending on the shop availability. Prices correct as of 31st October 2024 and we’ll update closer to Christmas so we capture all the best offers from supermarkets.
| Aldi | Tesco | ASDA | Sainsburys | Morrisons | Ocado | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey crown* | £16.49 | £19.50 | £19 | £23 | £22.50 | £45 |
| Whole turkey** | £15.99 | £20 | £16 | £22 | £31.50 | £50 |
| Potatoes (2kg) | £1.25 | £1.35 | £1.35 | £1.35 | £1.55 | £1.35 |
| Gravy granules (150-300g) | £1.09 | £0.50 | £1 | £0.62 | £1.20 | £2 |
| Pigs in blanket (12 pack) | £1.99 | £2.50 | £2.50 | £3 | £2.75 | £4.75 |
| Stuffing | £0.45 | £0.45 | £0.30 | £0.45 | £0.75 | £1.85 |
| Carrots (1kg) | £0.69 | £0.69 | £0.69 | £0.55 | £0.69 | £0.69 |
| Brussels sprouts (500g) | £0.89 | £0.95 | £1 | £1 | £0.89 | £1.20 |
| Parsnips (500g) | £0.55 | £0.55 | £0.75 | £0.75 | £0.75 | £0.75 |
| Yorkshire puddings (12-15) | £0.46 | £0.46 | £0.95 | £0.44 | £1.25 | £2 |
| Vegan centerpiece^ | £2.99 | £5 | – | £3.50 | £2.99 | £8.50 |
| Christmas pudding (400g) | £1.99 | £3.25 | £2.25 | £4.50 | £2.50 | £4 |
| Mince pies (6 pack) | £1.25 | £1.50 | £1.35 | £1.70 | £1.45 | £2.75 |
Which is the cheapest supermarket for Christmas dinner ingredients?
So it’ll probably come as no surprise to anyone that Aldi came out as the cheapest supermarket to get your Christmas dinner ingredients from, with a total cost of £46.08 at the time of writing.
A lot of other supermarkets matched prices with Aldi when it came to vegetables and stuffing, but couldn’t match their meat selection and dessert options.
Closely followed by ASDA at £47 (although worth noting they didn’t have a vegan centrepiece option currently on their website). And shocking absolutely no-one, Ocado came out as the most expensive option, at £125 for the cost of your Christmas dinner. Although we were pleasantly surprised to see reasonable prices across their own range of vegetables and stuffing.
If you want to save money on your meat options, then opting for a full size turkey, while a bigger upfront cost, is more cost-effective than buying a turkey crown. Plus, you’ll be able to take advantage of leftovers and make some cracking Boxing Day sandwiches and curries.
If you’re into our ranking system then wait until you see our list of the best and worst Christmas dinner items.
8 tips for making Christmas dinner on a budget
Now you know where the cheapest place is to do your Christmas dinner shopping, you can start to think about preparing your shopping list. But for those who need a little extra help making Christmas dinner on a budget, we’ve got some top tips.
1. Don’t fear the frozen
Your freezer is your partner in crime to help you get through the day cheaply and cheerfully, so roll your sleeves up and make some space in the drawers and chuck out those two-year old Fab ice lollies that have been lost under the peas. Plus, buying frozen means you won’t have to panic buy fresh ingredients in the days before and be left with a mouldy parsnip and a single Turkey breast to serve to your entire flat.
2. Make your own vegan alternative
For vegetarians and vegans, alternatives can be pricey (although you can always rely on yellow stickered items to save the day). However, making the main course from scratch can work out cheaper than buying a pre-bought vegan alternative, so stock up on puff pastry and veggies to try and attempt your own main course. And you can think a little more outside of the box than stuffed mushrooms…
3. Work to your skill level
For your main meal, while it might be cheaper to buy a whole turkey, breast meat is easier to cook in a small oven (and if you’re not a pro at cooking) and is probably better suited to beginners when it comes to mastering the roast. You don’t want to be that guy who spoils everyone’s favourite part of the day.
4. Think about your leftovers ahead of time
If you’re planning on cooking a whole turkey, then work out a plan so you can make the most of it throughout Christmas. Turkey curry, turkey and cranberry sandwiches, turkey-based risotto.
5. Making your own stock
Once you’ve had your main meal, strip the turkey of the meat and boil the carcass with some leftover veg to make a delicious stock. You can also save vegetable scraps and freeze them for another time so you have the basis of a vegetable stock. That way nothing will go to waste.
6. Use your air fryer
Air fryers can be a great way to speed up the cooking time of your Christmas dinner. In theory, the less time it’s on, the cheaper it will be to run. It might not be able to fit in a whole turkey, but if you cook a turkey crown in your air fryer then use the turkey’s resting time to roast your potatoes. This could cut down your cooking time significantly, using less energy (and also less time spent in the kitchen!).
7. Think about whether you need a turkey
We know, it’s the traditional Christmas centrepiece. But, if you live in a small household, or just can’t fork out for the cost of a turkey, why not buy a couple of chickens instead? At a much cheaper price, and a bit less stressful to cook, chicken could be a great alternative – especially if you’re not that excited about the thought of turkey!
8. Share the cost
If you’re cooking Christmas dinner for your household, then make sure everyone is contributing to the cost. So, someone brings the vegetables, a couple of people buy the turkey and people can bring desserts and snacks. Make sure to coordinate beforehand so when you’re preparing your dinner you know what people need to bring! But this can really help bring the cost down. Christmas is a time of giving, after all!
Don’t forget to download the Student Beans app to find all the best food and drink student discounts. If you’re really strapped this year, then why not see our alternatives to expensive gift-giving.
* medium turkey crown weighing between 2kg-2.5kg for 6-8 people
** medium turkey weighing 3.5kg-4.5kg, price based on per kilo for 6-8 people
^ vegan Christmas dinner centrepiece – if more than one option, use cheapest
