Budget Christmas Dinner Menu - Complete Savvy Suppers Guide

Christmas dinner doesn't have to break the bank or stress you out! This complete Savvy Suppers menu gives you a spectacular festive feast that's affordable, delicious, and surprisingly simple to prepare. From golden roast chicken to crispy roasties and a nostalgic trifle, everything you need is right here.

Welcome to Savvy Suppers - my budget-friendly approach to Christmas dinner that proves you don't need to spend a fortune to create something truly special. This complete menu feeds 6-8 people with a show stopping roast chicken as the centrepiece, surrounded by the crispiest roast potatoes you've ever made, vibrant vegetable sides, fresh zingy salad, and a nostalgic trifle to finish. The total cost? A fraction of what you'd spend on a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

What makes this menu so clever is that it uses smart money-saving tricks throughout - like buying pre-stuffed chicken (cheaper than buying separately!), using frozen peas (affordable and always on hand), and turning your potato boiling water into liquid gold for the easiest gravy ever. Every recipe has been designed to work together seamlessly, with timing built in so nothing clashes in the oven and you're not overwhelmed on the day. This is Christmas dinner that lets you actually enjoy the celebration rather than spending all day stressed in the kitchen.

Whether you're cooking Christmas dinner for the first time, working with a tight budget, or simply want to strip back the fuss and focus on what really matters. Good food and good company. This menu is for you. Let me walk you through every dish, the clever shortcuts, and how it all comes together for a stress-free Christmas feast. And even if you are not making this exact menu and want help organising your christmas prep and run up to christmas, I have made a Christmas Cheat Sheet, it is everything you need to know about making Christmas in the kitchen STRESS FREE!

Why This Menu Works So Well

Budget-friendly brilliance: Every recipe uses affordable, accessible ingredients. The pre-stuffed chicken is cheaper than buying chicken and stuffing separately. Frozen peas are cheap and taste AMAZING. Tinned fruit in the trifle keeps costs down while still looking spectacular.

Smart timing: The chicken roasts while you prepare everything else. The trifle is made ahead. The potatoes time perfectly with the chicken's resting period. The salad comes together in 10 minutes. Nothing competes for oven space.

Minimal stress: No complicated techniques or fancy equipment needed. These are straightforward recipes that deliver impressive results without the faff.

Feeds a crowd: This complete menu comfortably serves 6-8 people, with likely leftovers for Boxing Day - which is honestly the best bit about Christmas dinner!

Clever shortcuts: From the pre-stuffed chicken to using potato water for gravy, every recipe includes smart tricks that save time and money without compromising on flavour.

The Complete Savvy Suppers Christmas Menu

The Main Event: Roast Chicken & Easy Pan Gravy

The star of your Christmas table! A golden, perfectly roasted pre-stuffed chicken (already cheaper than buying them separately) served with the easiest, most delicious pan gravy you've ever made. The genius trick? Using the flavoured water from boiling your roast potatoes to create rich, flavourful gravy in minutes - no stock cubes required unless you added one to your potato water.

Why it's brilliant: The pre-stuffed chicken saves you money and effort. While it roasts, you can prep everything else. After it rests, you'll use those beautiful pan juices combined with your saved potato water to create restaurant-quality gravy. Garnish with fresh sage and purple sage flowers if you can find them for a simple way to make it look absolutely stunning.

Timing: 1 hour 30 minutes roasting, plus 15 minutes resting

Get the full Roast Chicken & Easy Pan Gravy recipe →

The Supporting Stars

Ultimate Roast Potatoes

These are hands down the best roast potatoes you'll ever make. The game-changing secret? Boiling them in customised flavoured water (with onion, garlic, herbs, and aromatics of your choice) before roasting. This infuses them with incredible flavour from the inside out. After draining, you ruffle them up to create maximum fluffy edges, coat them in cornflour and seasonings, then roast in smoking hot fat until impossibly crispy. The result? Shatteringly crisp exteriors and fluffy, flavourful insides.

The genius move: Save that flavoured potato water! It's packed with potato starch and all those delicious aromatics - it becomes the foundation for your incredible chicken gravy.

Timing: 1 hour 15 minutes total (can prep ahead in the morning)

Get the full Ultimate Roast Potatoes recipe →

Peas with Caramelised Onions & Lemon Garlic Breadcrumbs

Transform humble frozen peas into a side dish worthy of Christmas dinner. Sweet, slowly caramelised onions combine with vibrant green peas and a generous scattering of crispy, golden breadcrumbs infused with garlic and fresh lemon zest. It's the perfect example of how you can elevate simple, affordable ingredients into something truly special.

Budget win: Uses a bag of frozen peas and turns stale bread into delicious breadcrumb topping - zero waste!

Timing: 30 minutes (components can be made ahead)

Get the full Peas with Caramelised Onions & Lemon Garlic Breadcrumbs recipe →

Courgette, Feta & Chilli Salad

The light, crisp, refreshing counterpoint to all the rich dishes on your table. Long, elegant ribbons of courgette (made with a vegetable peeler) tossed in a punchy lemon and chilli dressing, then crowned with a generous "feta snowstorm." If you're growing courgettes in your garden, this means one less thing to buy!

Freshness factor: Dressed at the last minute so it stays vibrant and crisp. The perfect palate cleanser that cuts through the richness of the roast.

Timing: 10 minutes, made just before serving

Get the full Courgette, Feta & Chilli Salad recipe →

The Sweet Finale: Cheat's Trifle with Yoghurt

A nostalgic dessert made lighter and easier! This clever cheat's trifle uses Greek yoghurt instead of traditional custard and cream, providing a lovely tangy contrast to the sweet jelly and fruit. Layers of booze-soaked sponge, jewel-coloured jelly, pretty tinned apricots, thick Greek yoghurt (ideally the kind with berry compote), and fresh strawberries create a stunning finish to your Christmas feast.

Make-ahead magic: This is actually better made the day before, then just add the yoghurt and final strawberry decoration before serving.

Timing: 20 minutes prep, plus 2-3 hours setting time (make ahead!)

Get the full Cheat's Trifle with Yoghurt recipe →

Your Complete Christmas Day Timeline

Feeling overwhelmed? Don't be! Here's exactly how to time everything for a stress-free Christmas dinner served at 2pm:

The Day Before (or Morning Of)

• Make the trifle: Assemble all layers except the strawberry topping. Cover and refrigerate.
• Caramelise onions: Make the caramelised onions for the peas. Store in fridge.
• Make breadcrumbs: Toast and flavour the breadcrumbs for the peas. Store at room temperature.
• Prep courgette dressing: Dice chillies, zest and juice lemon.

11:00am - Start the Potatoes

• Peel and cut potatoes
• Add to pot with cold water and your chosen flavourings
• Bring to boil and cook for 10 minutes

11:15am - Prep and Ruffle Potatoes

• Drain potatoes, SAVE THE WATER for gravy
• Ruffle them up in colander
• Let them cool while you prep the chicken

11:30am - Chicken Goes In

• Prep and season the pre-stuffed chicken
• Add fat to roasting tray and heat in 200°C oven
• Coat potatoes in cornflour mixture
• Add potatoes to hot fat, put in oven alongside chicken
• Reduce oven to 180°C

12:00pm - Turn the Potatoes

• Turn potatoes and return to oven
• Relax! Everything is cooking

1:00pm - Chicken is Done

• Remove chicken, transfer to platter, cover loosely with foil
• Leave chicken to rest for 15 minutes
• Keep potatoes in oven
• Make the pan gravy using saved potato water

1:15pm - Final Push

• Remove potatoes from oven (should be golden and crispy)
• Warm peas with onions, prepare breadcrumb topping
• Peel and toss courgettes in with dressing, add feta
• Top trifle with yoghurt and strawberries (dust with icing sugar as you serve it after lunch)
• Carve chicken or bring to table whole

2:00pm - Serve and Enjoy!

Everything hits the table hot, fresh, and absolutely delicious.

Money-Saving Tips for This Menu

Buy pre-stuffed chicken: It's actually cheaper than buying a plain chicken and stuffing separately, plus it saves prep time.

Use frozen peas: Just as nutritious as fresh, a fraction of the price, and always in season.

Save your drippings: When you cook fatty meats throughout the year, save the rendered fat in a jar. It's perfect for roasting potatoes and costs nothing.

Tinned fruit works perfectly: The apricots in the trifle are affordable year-round and look beautiful.

Grow your own: If you have courgettes growing in summer (Christmas time in New Zealand), you've just saved money on the salad.

Use stale bread: Turn old bread into delicious breadcrumbs rather than throwing it away.

Potato water is free gravy: Instead of buying stock cubes, use the flavoured water from your potatoes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I make this menu if I'm vegetarian? A: You'd need to replace the chicken with a vegetarian roast or stuffed vegetable main. The sides (potatoes, peas, salad) are already vegetarian, and can be made vegan by using oil instead of butter/dripping.

Q: What if I can't find pre-stuffed chicken? A: Buy a plain chicken and either stuff it yourself with shop-bought stuffing mix, or make the stuffing separately and serve alongside.

Q: Can I prep anything further ahead than the day before? A: The trifle can be made 1 days ahead. The onions for the peas can be caramelised 2 days ahead. Everything else is best done the day of or day before.

Q: What if I need to feed more people? A: This menu scales beautifully. For 10-12 people, use a larger chicken (or add a second small one), double the potatoes and sides, and make 1.5 times the trifle recipe.

Q: How much will this menu cost? A: Costs vary by location, but expect to spend roughly NZ$50-65 (or 25-40 english pounds) for the entire menu serving 6-8 people. Compare that to $80-120+ for a traditional turkey dinner!

Q: Can I customize the flavours? A: Absolutely! The potato water can be flavoured however you like - traditional herbs, Indian spices, Cajun seasoning. The trifle can use different jelly flavours and fruits. Make it your own!

Why Savvy Suppers is Different

This isn't about cutting corners or compromising on flavour. Savvy Suppers is about being smart with your choices. It's about recognising that a pre-stuffed chicken is actually a clever purchase, not a cop-out. It's about seeing the value in frozen peas and tinned fruit when used well. It's about understanding that the flavoured water you'd normally pour down the drain can become the most incredible gravy.

Every recipe in this menu has been designed with real life in mind - real budgets, real kitchens, real time constraints. But the results? They're anything but ordinary. This is a Christmas dinner that looks spectacular, tastes incredible, and costs a fraction of what you'd expect. It's also a Christmas dinner that lets you enjoy the day rather than spending it stressed and exhausted in the kitchen.

Make It Your Own

While this menu works beautifully as written, feel free to adapt it to your family's preferences:

• Swap the courgette salad for a different fresh salad if courgettes aren't your thing
• Change the jelly and fruit flavours in the trifle to family favourites
• Customize the potato flavourings to match your preferred taste profile
• Add extra sides if you're feeding a larger crowd
• Include bread sauce or cranberry sauce if those are family traditions

The beauty of this menu is its flexibility. The core principles - budget-friendly ingredients, clever shortcuts, minimal stress - remain the same regardless of how you tweak the details.

Complete Shopping List

Proteins & Dairy

• 1 x 1.5kg pre-stuffed chicken
• 100-200g feta cheese
• 450g Greek yoghurt (preferably with berry compote)

Vegetables & Herbs

• 6-12 large floury potatoes
• 4 small courgettes
• 1 large onion (for peas)
• 1 onion (for potato water)
• 1 bulb garlic (for potato water)
• 1 garlic clove (for breadcrumbs)
• Fresh thyme and rosemary
• Fresh mint (optional but lovely)
• 1 red chilli

Frozen & Tinned

• 500g frozen peas
• 1 x 410g tin apricot halves
• 1 supermarket sponge cake

Pantry

• 100-150ml fat for roasting (beef dripping, duck fat, or oil)
• Olive oil
• Cornflour
• Plain flour
• 50-75g breadcrumbs (or stale bread)
• 85g jelly crystals
• Sherry or brandy (or fruit juice)
• Salt, pepper, and your preferred seasonings

Fresh Fruit

• 2 lemons
• 250g fresh strawberries

Final Thoughts

Christmas dinner should be a celebration, not a source of stress. This Savvy Suppers menu proves you can create a spectacular festive feast without breaking the bank or spending all day in the kitchen. Each recipe has been carefully chosen to work together seamlessly, with smart timing and clever shortcuts that make the whole process manageable and even enjoyable.

The result? A golden roast chicken with incredible gravy, the crispiest roast potatoes you've ever made, vibrant and flavourful vegetable sides, a fresh zingy salad, and a nostalgic trifle that everyone will love. All for a fraction of the cost of a traditional Christmas dinner, and with so much less stress.

So this Christmas, try the Savvy Suppers approach. Your wallet will thank you, your stress levels will thank you, and most importantly, you'll actually get to sit down and enjoy Christmas dinner with the people you love. Because that's what it's really all about.

Ready to Get Started?

Click through to each recipe below for full instructions, tips, and all the details you need to create your own Savvy Suppers Christmas feast:

• Ultimate Roast Potatoes - The Best Crispy Roasties Recipe
• Roast Chicken & Easy Pan Gravy - Simple Christmas Dinner Main
• Peas with Caramelised Onions & Lemon Garlic Breadcrumbs
• Courgette, Feta & Chilli Salad - Fresh Christmas Side Dish
• Cheat's Trifle with Yoghurt - Easy No-Custard Christmas Dessert

Happy cooking, and Merry Christmas!

Del x

This is the complete Savvy Suppers Christmas Dinner menu. affordable, delicious, and stress-free. Everything you need to create a spectacular festive feast without breaking the bank or spending all day in the kitchen. Real food, real budgets, real life. That's Savvy Suppers.