I tested Tesco’s budget-friendly Christmas dinner and found two standout items worth getting again
Cardiff: This year, we’re switching things up for Christmas. I’ve been hunting for the best food deals, and when I saw Tesco’s £11 Christmas dinner, I had to try it out as a practice run for the big day.
The deal, available for Clubcard holders starting December 19, includes a turkey that’s supposed to feed six to seven people, along with bags of carrots, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, stuffing, potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, and chicken gravy. They’ve even slashed the price of small, fresh turkeys by 40% to just £3 a kilo for Clubcard users.
The carrots and parsnips are only 15p a bag, and the sage and onion stuffing is just 40p for Clubcard holders. So, when you add it all up, dinner for six comes to a jaw-dropping £11.05.
Interestingly, this year’s price is actually 25p cheaper per person than last year’s deal, which was £2.09 each. It’s nice to see that turkey and Brussels sprout prices are dropping, making Christmas dinner a bit lighter on the wallet this year.
According to BBC research, the cost of Brussels sprouts has dropped by 12%, and a 10lb frozen turkey is £1.21 cheaper than last year. Overall, a family Christmas is expected to cost around £31.66 in 2024, down from £32.18 last year, thanks to slower food price increases as UK inflation eases.
Now, back to the Tesco meal. The delivery was right on time, and there were plenty of veggies to feed six, even with two teenage boys who can eat like there’s no tomorrow! The sage and onion stuffing made 12 balls, so everyone got two. They were decent but a bit dry for the picky teen testers.
While there were no pigs in blankets, the veggies were good quality, and the potatoes were so tasty that I went back for another pack to use on the actual day.
I followed the cooking instructions for the turkey, but it turned out a bit dry, and there wasn’t much left over. I’ll definitely change my approach for Christmas Day. We’re also planning to have a ham, which should help.
The Yorkshire puddings looked tiny when I took them out, but they tasted way better than they looked. There are 15 in a bag, so more than enough for everyone. One of the big hits, along with the potatoes, was the chicken gravy. It was rich and smooth, and I’d definitely grab that again for the big day.
Overall, if this was my Christmas Day option, I think everyone would be happy. It’s great to find something that works on a budget. Sure, there are a few extras not included, but there’s still plenty for everyone.
The Christmas Dinner offer is available in most large Tesco stores for Clubcard customers from December 19 until Christmas Day. For the latest Welsh news, you can sign up for their newsletter.
In addition, Lidl has also cut prices on Christmas trimmings, including potatoes and stuffing mix. Starting December 19, their fresh turkey prices were slashed too, making a Christmas feast for six just £1.87 per person.