Christmas Dinner for 6 guests
A sit-down Christmas dinner for 6: 6 dishes, about 919 g of food a guest (12.25 lb in all), 29 lines on the shopping list and around 32 drinks. 40% of the cooking can happen before the day.
- Dishes
- 6
- Food
- 12.25 lb
- Drinks
- 32
- Shopping lines
- 29
- Turkey
- 9 lb
Sized by the planning engine
The menu, amounts and kitchen check
- · We set food for 2 PM — change it if your timing is different.
Menu for 6
Starters
- Roast beetroot, whipped goat's cheese1 batch · 8 servingson the day
Mains
- Mushroom & chestnut wellington1 batch · 8 servingson the day
Sides
- Braised red cabbage, apple & clove1 batch · 8 servingsday before
- Hard-charred Brussels sprouts1 batch · 6 servingson the day
Bread
- Warm brioche rolls1 batch · 10 servingson the day
Dessert
- Black cake1 batch · 14 servingsday before
About 919 g of food a guest. 40% of the cooking can be done before the day.
Shopping highlights
- Apple2 ea
- Beetroot2.8 lb
- Brussels sprouts1.8 lb
- Citrus for garnish2 ea
- Lemon1 ea
- Mixed mushrooms3.3 lb
- Red cabbage2.8 lb
- Butter14 oz
- Egg5 ea
- Egg wash1 ea
10 of 29 lines. The full list comes with the plan.
Kitchen check
Comfortable
Checked against a starting kitchen of 1 oven and 4 burners — not yours yet. Seats are not counted here: the planner asks for your real number rather than guessing it.
Drinks and cost
- Drinks, all kinds
- 32
- Ice
- 15 lb
- Food, estimated
- $227
About $38 a guest — a planning estimate from typical supermarket costs, not a price.
The turkey
A 9 lb turkey for 6
USDA guidance of 1 lb a person, plus half again for leftovers: 9 lb in all. Thaw in the fridge for 2–3 days, roast unstuffed at 325°F for 2.75–3 hours, and check 165°F with a thermometer.
Countdown
The Christmas dinner timeline, condensed
5 weeks before
- · Confirm who is hosting where and who is coming.
- · Order the meat from a butcher; December slots fill up.
2 weeks before
- · Buy wine, spirits, crackers and non-perishables.
- · Make and freeze pastry, stuffing and gravy base.
1 week before
- · Check dietary needs and share arrival and eating times.
- · Write the Christmas Day cooking schedule, counting back from the meal.
2 days before
- · Collect the meat and do the fresh shop.
- · Make braised red cabbage and cranberry sauce; both improve overnight.
Christmas Eve
- · Assemble the wellingtons and chill them; peel and slice potatoes into water.
- · Lay the table fully, crackers and all.
Christmas Day
- · Bake the dauphinoise first; it holds happily while the mains cook.
- · Bake the wellingtons to finish 15 minutes before serving so they can rest.
Boxing Day
- · Turn leftovers into a bubble and squeak or a pie.
- · Refrigerate leftovers promptly and use them within three to four days.
Other sizes
Christmas dinner for more or fewer
Questions hosts ask
How much food for a Christmas dinner for 6?
About 12.25 lb of finished food, or 919 g a guest across 6 dishes, with mushroom & chestnut wellington as the main. The amounts are sized by the planning engine and include a small margin.
How big a turkey for 6 people?
A 9 lb whole turkey, using the USDA's 1 lb a person plus half again for leftovers. Allow 2–3 days to thaw it in the fridge and 2.75–3 hours to roast it unstuffed at 325°F.
Should a Christmas dinner for 6 be a buffet or a sit-down meal?
A sit-down meal works for 6 if you have a chair for everyone. Count your seats first — the planner never assumes them — and switch to a buffet if you are short.
How many drinks for a Christmas dinner for 6?
About 32 drinks across the party, including alcohol-free ones, and 15 lb of ice.
How far ahead should I start planning?
Start 5 weeks before: confirm who is hosting where and who is coming, and order the meat from a butcher; December slots fill up.
What does a Christmas dinner for 6 cost?
The food in this plan comes to roughly $227, about $38 a guest. That is a planning estimate from typical US supermarket costs, not a price for your shop.
Plan my Christmas dinner for 6
Tell us about your kitchen, your seats and anyone's food needs, and the menu, shopping list and timeline redraw around them.
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