Tips on cooking Christmas dinner for large group

Tips on cooking Christmas dinner for large group - Family Preparing Food in the Kitchen

Hi all and Merry Christmas.

Ok so I stupidly volunteered to cook Christmas dinner for 11 people (9 adults and 2 children) this year!

So was looking for tips/hacks on timings for getting everything cooked on time.

Initial ideas are;

Roast the Turkey for the time it takes to cook, then take it out and let it rest for up to 2 hours. Towards the end of cooking the turkey, stick in the stuffing and cook so it comes out at the same time as the turkey.

In the 2 hours resting time, roast the Carrots and Parsnips for 11 people (these are going to be par boiled bight before). Once they are out, stick in the roast potatoes (again par boiled). Towards the end of the potatoes roasting, start boiling the brussel sprouts. At this time I will warm up pre-made gravy and add turkey juices.

At the end of the potatoes cooking, stick the stuffing and other roast veg back in the oven to heat back up. Take the turkey out and carve, then serve everything warm.

Does this sound like the best way to do things? What is the maximum time you would let your Turkey rest?



Best Answer

We did the best turkey ever on Thanksgiving. Butterflying was the key http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2012/11/butterfiled-roast-turkey-with-gravy-recipe.html.

It cuts down massively on oven time, tastes great, was fun to prepare with my son.

The oven is fairly hot, which is better for doing potatoes etc at the same time. You can do oven potatoes in the skin: no foil, just poke the potatoes with a fork a few time and rub olive oil on the skin, 45 minutes or so at 425. It also makes the turkey very easy to carve, so that's faster and a lot less messy when dinner time comes.

If you do potatoes and turkey in the oven, you have still the whole stop top for the rest, so perhaps you should choose dishes that not need an oven.




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Quick Answer about "Tips on cooking Christmas dinner for large group"

  • Prepare your menu and plan. Preparation is key and if you can get your menu sorted out before hitting the supermarkets, then you will feel far more in control. ...
  • Make sure you have the right equipment. ...
  • Ask for help! ...
  • Have lots of bowls of the same dish.


  • What parts of Christmas dinner can I prepare in advance?

    10 tips for preparing Christmas dinner in advance
    • Make your pudding on Stir Up Sunday. ...
    • Make your mincemeat. ...
    • Roll up brandy butter. ...
    • Freeze your cranberry sauce. ...
    • Get a head start on stuffing. ...
    • Mix together sauces and marinades. ...
    • Clean your prawns. ...
    • Prep veggies the day before.


    How do you prepare food for a large group?

  • Go for a buffet setup instead of individual plates. ...
  • Use slow cookers, chafing dishes, or warming trays to keep food at the right temperature. ...
  • Make space at your table by using multi-height serving platters. ...
  • Use your crock-pot for desserts. ...
  • Make large dishes that can easily be doubled.


  • How do you host a perfect Christmas dinner?

    Our team have gathered some simple tips to help you host the perfect Christmas dinner.
  • Prepare vegetables on Christmas Eve.
  • Organise your kitchen equipment.
  • Allow family to help.
  • Set your table decor on Christmas Eve.
  • Keep things simple.
  • Christmas is a time for caring.




  • Make Christmas Day easier on yourself! with my top 10 tips for a stress free Christmas Dinner!




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    Images: August de Richelieu, August de Richelieu, August de Richelieu, Nicole Michalou