Christmas dinner timings

Different number of people, a different-sized turkey or another dinner time? Make your own timetable

Christmas dinner at 1pm

Time	What to do
08:30	Turkey in the oven at 180°C, loosely covered with foil
11:45	Take the foil off. Parboil the potatoes for 10 minutes
12:00	Potatoes into the oven
12:15	Turkey out to rest, once it reaches 75°C. Turn the oven up
12:20	Stuffing in
12:25	Pigs in blankets in
12:30	Parsnips and carrots in
12:45	Make the gravy
12:50	Sprouts on
13:00	Carve and serve
13:00	Pudding on to steam for about an hour, so it's ready after the main course

Christmas dinner at 2pm

Time	What to do
09:30	Turkey in the oven at 180°C, loosely covered with foil
12:45	Take the foil off. Parboil the potatoes for 10 minutes
13:00	Potatoes into the oven
13:15	Turkey out to rest, once it reaches 75°C. Turn the oven up
13:20	Stuffing in
13:25	Pigs in blankets in
13:30	Parsnips and carrots in
13:45	Make the gravy
13:50	Sprouts on
14:00	Carve and serve
14:00	Pudding on to steam for about an hour, so it's ready after the main course

Christmas dinner at 3pm

Time	What to do
10:30	Turkey in the oven at 180°C, loosely covered with foil
13:45	Take the foil off. Parboil the potatoes for 10 minutes
14:00	Potatoes into the oven
14:15	Turkey out to rest, once it reaches 75°C. Turn the oven up
14:20	Stuffing in
14:25	Pigs in blankets in
14:30	Parsnips and carrots in
14:45	Make the gravy
14:50	Sprouts on
15:00	Carve and serve
15:00	Pudding on to steam for about an hour, so it's ready after the main course

Tips for the day

• Times are a guide. Ovens vary, so check the turkey with a thermometer: 75°C in the thickest part.
• Resting the turkey frees up the oven for the potatoes and trimmings.
• Parboil and freeze roast potatoes in advance if you want an easier morning.
• Running late? Push everything back by the same amount; resting can happily stretch a little longer.

Turkey times are based on the Food Standards Scotland turkey cooking guide.