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Online grocery shopping has revolutionised the way we do our weekly shop. According to studies from Statista, "over the last decade, the number of British individuals shopping online for food and other groceries has doubled." That's not even accounting for the spike at the beginning of the pandemic.
If you, like so many others, are opting for click and collect or food delivery services instead of heading to your local supermarket, then it's about time you start thinking about buying or pre-ordering your Christmas dinner essentials.
Many supermarkets have already stocked their shelves with Christmas staples, including mince pies, chocolate tins and even party food.
As well as stocking up your cupboards to ensure you have enough goodies for the whole family, many stores are allowing customers to book food order slots so that families can secure their Christmas feasts ahead of time.
Where to pre-order Christmas dinner essentials?
Forget the rumours about shortages! Instead of panic buying, fill up your freezer with Christmas dinner essentials. Many supermarkets are allowing you to choose what's on the menu ahead of time, and you can pick it up in-store closer to December 25. What a great idea!
Here are some of the supermarkets where you can pre-order your Christmas dinner essentials:
If you want to beat the last-minute rush, we've pulled out the best Christmas dinner essentials for you to enjoy.
18 Christmas dinner essentials to add to your shopping list
1 of 18Mindful Chef Traditional Turkey Roast
Fun Christmas hack- you can get two of these Christmas recipe boxes from Mindful Chef and you've got yourself a Christmas day feast for eight. Plus, it's under their healthy range so you get "high-quality protein and plenty of veg".
2 of 18Tesco Finest Christmas Dinner for Two
If you're having a quieter Christmas this year, treat yourself and a loved one to a pre-prepared Xmas dinner from Tesco. It even comes with a bottle of Champagne and two Christmas crackers.
3 of 18The Belvedere Hamper
If you're looking for a very luxurious Christmas, splash out for this M&S Belevedere Hamper- and never worry about running out of food on Christmas day. Inside this hamper, there's everything from main courses, to desserts, snacks to drinks.
4 of 18Tesco Finest British Free Range Two Bird Roast with Pork, Apple & Cranberry stuffing
Why cook turkey when you can dish up Tesco's 2 Bird Roast? Turkey and duck breast is the combination we did not know we were missing- alongside three types of stuffing. Wowee.
5 of 18The Ultimate Cheeseboard Hamper
Is it really Christmas if you haven't eaten your own body weight in cheese? Order the Ultimate Cheeseboard Hamper and receive a "moreish selection of fine cheese, mouth-watering chutneys, exceptional cheese biscuits and of course, an evening of savoury treats wouldn't be complete without a bottle of luxury Tonada Merlot". If you are after a more budget friendly version, Cartwright & Butler also do a cheese selection board for only £30.
6 of 18Tesco Finest Continental Platter (Serves 8)
This Continental Spanish Meats & Manchego Cheese Selection Platter can be served as nibbles or as a starter.
7 of 18Tesco 6 Smoked Salmon Terrine Slices
A great appetizer for Christmas - this is sure to impress all of your friends and family.
8 of 18Tesco British Frozen Large Turkey Breast Crown 2.4-2.8Kg
Throwing a big family celebration? Pop this in the back of the freezer and beat the supermarket queues in the run up to Christmas. Serves eight to ten people.
9 of 18Pig in Blanket Christmas Tree
Pre-order your Pig in Blanket Christmas Tree for collection on 22, 23, 24 December at Sainsbury's. As well as its fun design, it's also delicious to eat!
10 of 18No Beef Wellington
Opt for a vegan, No Beef Wellington instead of the traditional turkey this year. As well as serving three people, this mushroom and pea protein loaf layered with tender spinach leaf and a rich mushroom, porcini and port wine duxelles is delicious.
11 of 18Baileys Original Irish Cream
Whether it's a tipple or an ingredient in your Christmas pudding, a bottle of Baileys is a staple for many adults during the jolly season.
12 of 18Specially Selected Turkey & Stuffing Hand Cooked Crisps
A picky tea or buffet over Christmas isn't the same without a festive flavoured snack. Snap these up from Aldi before they're gone.
13 of 18No.1 Free Range Easy Carve Goose with Quince, Chestnut & Bacon
Go all out for the occasion and prepare a succulent goose for the family. Part deboned for easy carving, this will serve up to 12 guests. Available 20 to 24 December 2021.
14 of 18M&S Cheeseboard Favourites
We weren't lying when we said you can never have too much cheese...
15 of 18Tesco Farmhouse Mixed Vegetables
A mix of carrots, garden peas, broccoli and cauliflower florets, this pack of veggies is good for approximately 12 servings and can be easily tucked away in the freezer.
16 of 18Specially Selected Goose Fat Roast Potatoes
Serve these on Christmas day, and we guarantee your guests ask for seconds!
17 of 18LillyPuds Gluten Free Christmas Pudding
It's time to get out the Christmas pudding, and this gluten-free option is brilliant for anyone with a wheat intolerance.
18 of 18Spiced Sugar Plum Light Up Snow Globe Gin Liqueur & Prosecco Gift Box
Ideal for those post-dinner cocktails, this Spiced Sugar Plum Light Up Snow Globe Gin Liqueur & Prosecco Gift Box is a real winter wonderland.
Heinz Christmas dinner in a tin
Heinz gifted us all this year with an exciting new limited edition product called the "Christmas Dinner Big Soup"- which is basically a Christmas feast in a can. This soup is filled with all your festive favourites, such as "turkey, stuffing, chunky potatoes, brussels sprouts and even pigs in blankets". On top of this, all proceeds are donated to The Soup Kitchen on Tottenham Court Road in London. It's currently out of stock, having sold out in just a couple of hours- but check back with us here to see when Heinz released another restock. It seems the UK can't get enough of this Christmas invention.
What to read next:
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Lily Anderson is a Senior Commercial Content Writer at Bauer Media, where she tests products for titles such as Heat, Closer, What’s the Best and Mother&Baby.
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