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It’s that confusing time of year again – we’re still in the middle of autumn but you can already browse (and possibly even pre-order) a range of Christmas food ahead of the festive season. So while there’s a little way to go before we open our advent calendars, for food-lovers, the countdown has already begun.
Tantalising our taste buds with the promise of showstopping festive feasts, the best supermarket Christmas food is launching fast (Sainsbury’s and M&S have already opened up December delivery slots).
Waitrose was one of the first to launch its festive menu – and it’s impressive. Spanning a whopping 665 products (267 of which are new for 2025), the array of treats on offer span everything from canapés, mince pies (with a twist), plant-based turkey with all the trimmings, and much more.
The supermarket has also called on a range of chefs – including Michel Roux, Angela Hartnett, Andi Oliver and Rick Stein – to create dishes for its festive menu. So we’re in for a real treat. Keep scrolling for all the details.
Waitrose Christmas food to order
Whether you’re putting on a big spread for friends and family or holding a small and intimate affair this Christmas, Waitrose has you covered. There’s a choice of mains, sides, desserts, sandwiches, party food, and much more.
Waitrose Christmas starters
First up, Waitrose’s Christmas starters. While there’s plenty more to choose from, including a whole cooked lobster, sharing platters and a pie, we’ve picked a couple of dishes that caught our eye. One of the most extravagant is the lobster and king prawn velouté pie (£80, Waitrose.com), created with renowned chef and restaurateur Rick Stein. Yes, that’s a lobster’s head sticking out of the pastry.
Those who enjoy fish can also go for scallops and prawns (£15, Waitrose.com) prepared with roasted garlic butter, and topped with parsley, lemon and extra virgin olive oil, with a sourdough crumb. Served in the scallop’s shell, it’s sure to look elegant on the table.
Created by Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett, there’s also arancini (£24, Waitrose.com) with saffron-infused risotto, mozzarella cheese, parmigiano reggiano cheese, and braised veal in a tomato and wine ragù. There’s also Rick Stein’s classic fish soup with golden harissa and parmesan toasts (£25, Waitrose.com), a mainstay of the chef’s seafood restaurant.
Rick Stein’s lobster and king prawn velouté pie
No.1 6 scallops and prawns with garlic butter and samphire
Angela Hartnett’s eight osso buco arancini
Rick Stein’s classic fish soup with harissa croutons
Waitrose Christmas mains
Moving onto the main event, there are, of course, plenty of turkey options to choose from. There’s even a “turkey bauble” (£50, Waitrose.com). New for 2025, and one of the supermarket’s hero launches, it features a free-range turkey breast made with a stuffing centre and wrapped in dry-cured beechwood smoked bacon, all topped off with a cranberry and orange glaze.
Waitrose has also launched a No.1 turkey, chicken and duck pie with a champagne sauce (£40, Waitrose.com). It sounds perfect if you’re looking to swap in the traditional for something a little bit different and extra indulgent. The sauce is made with double cream and crème frâiche, champagne butter, and brandy – it’s fair to say this is extremely unlikely to end up as Boxing Day leftovers.
As for fish, there’s No.1 stuffed Scottish salmon with prawns and salsa verde drizzle (£50, Waitrose.com), and a salmon roulade wellington filled with ricotta, spinach and pine nuts (£40, Waitrose.com), and more to look forward to.
Looking to be another decadent addition to your Christmas dinner, there’s also a No.1 wagyu beef pie (£40, Waitrose.com). It’s filled with wagyu beef, red wine and port and finished with all-butter puff pastry, complete with a pastry cow’s head design – you can’t say Waitrose doesn’t go the extra mile when it comes to getting creative. Although at £40 for the pie, it doesn’t come cheap.
Angela Hartnett’s stuffed duck with marsala gravy is another new main course for Christmas 2025 – an entire duck, stuffed with pork, apricot, cep mushrooms, chestnuts and almonds, and finished with duck stock and marsala gravy (£70, Waitrose.com).
Vegan and vegetarian options include a No.1 mushroom, malbec and port wellington (£14, Waitrose.com), and a cauliflower cheese galette crown (£14, Waitrose.com).
No.1 free range turkey bauble
Waitrose Angela Hartnett’s stuffed duck with marsala gravy
Waitrose No.1 mushroom, malbec and port wellington
Waitrose Christmas party food
To ensure your festive soirée is well catered for, Waitrose is also offering party food to order. Several party platters include the No.1 32-piece prawn canape pack (£24, Waitrose.com), including tempura and king prawn toasts. For pastry-lovers to tear (and hopefully share), there’s the No.1 pork, turkey and cranberry sausage roll ‘snowflake’ (£10, Waitrose.com) with a beetroot and parsley crumb over seasoned pork, turkey and cranberry butter. Plus, there’s a No.1 pork pie with featuring a pastry star design (£20, Waitrose.com).
Meanwhile, party guests who prefer fish will make a beeline for the salmon with caramelised orange slices, cranberries and a zesty citrus glaze (£35, Waitrose.com). And the luxury seafood platter (£60, Waitrose.com) with smoked salmon paté, king prawns and more, is sure to impress.
No.1 pork, turkey and cranberry sausage roll snowflake
Waitrose orange and cranberry side of salmon with a citrus glaze
No.1 starry night pork pie
Waitrose Christmas desserts
Desserts sound just as mouth-watering. The No.1 ‘Nutcracker’ dessert (£20, Waitrose.com) of chocolate and hazelnut mousse comes with an ambre lustre dusting. There’s also a Sicilian lemon and mascarpone delice (£18, Waitrose.com), a triple-chocolate yule log (£18, Waitrose.com), and a ‘cheeky chocolate robin cake’ (£28, Waitrose.com) – chocolate buttercream-filled chocolate sponge. We’re eyeing up the toffee apple pudding with crème fraîche (£20, Waitrose.com), and the No.1 chocolate ganache torte (£14, Waitrose.com).
Waitrose No.1 Nutcracker dessert
Waitrose No.1 Sicilian lemon and mascarpone delice
Michel Roux’s toffee apple pudding with crème fraîche
When is Waitrose food to order available?
Waitrose’s Christmas food to order service officially opened on 24 September, giving you plenty of time to browse its festive range and plan your perfect holiday spread. Whether you’re looking for a show-stopping centrepiece, classic sides, or indulgent desserts, you’ll be able to pre-order everything you need well in advance of the big day. In terms of delivery and collection dates, you can now book your slot for either delivery or collection between 20-24 December. Book now to secure a delivery spot from 6am to 10pm on 20, 21, 22 December, or from 6am to 6pm on 23 and 24 December.
Looking for more festive inspiration? Browse the best beauty advent calendars for 2025, hand-picked by our beauty writer
Dining and Cooking