Timing is everything

Christmas 2025
Christmas 2025
Christmas 2025
Christmas 2025
Christmas 2025
Phil Christmas 2025

Some people think Christmas lunch is a mountain to climb. Fear not; here is my Christmas Lunch Timetable to help turn the mountain into a molehill. After 46 years of using this method with 26 of them on ITV’s This Morning you can be sure it’s a well tested method.

Complete with a Smoked Salmon starter, a Turkey main course including vegetables, Pigs in Blankets, and lovely fluffy Roast Potatoes, and, last but not least, the classic Christmas Pudding for dessert, all finished off with some delicious Mulled Wine.

The sound of cooking turkey may seem quite daunting at first, but I think we’re just out of practice. So, stick with my recipe, and you’ll be perfectly fine. It really is easy!

Everything is Gluten-Free, so everyone can just enjoy the day.​

9:30 am

  • Preheat the oven to 200 ºC, Gas 6-7.
  • Prepare the Stuffing.
  • Prepare the Turkey.
Christmas 2025

Phil’s Perfect Roast Turkey

This is a delicious and easy roast recipe that won't let you down on the big day! My method is different from traditional methods and has a unique set of preparation and cooking steps. If you follow these simple steps closely, you will have a perfectly cooked, succulent turkey in just a couple of hours.
If you are still a little apprehensive, I have been showing this recipe on This Morning for 26 years and have been professionally cooking it for 45 years.
 View Recipe

Chestnut Thyme Bramley Apple Cherry Stuffing

Sweet chestnuts, earthy thyme, tangy Bramley apples, and tart cherries are perfect for adding a burst of flavour to your turkey.
This is enough for a 5kg bird.
 View Recipe

Christmas Cranberry & Apple Sauce

My festive sauce combines tart cranberries and sweet apples, cooked together with warm spices to create the perfect accompaniment for Christmas dinner.
 View Recipe

Stuffed Turkey Cooking Times

Weight
Kg (lbs)
Steam for
Brown for
Resting time
to 1Kg
(to 2lbs)		45-50 mins20 mins1 hr
1 to 3Kg
(2 to 6½lbs)		1 hr 15-30 mins20 mins1 hr
3 to 4Kg
(6½ to 9lbs)		1 hr 30 mins**20 mins1 hr
4 to 5Kg
(9 to 11lbs)		2 hrs*20 mins1 hr
5 to 7.5Kg
(11 to 16½lbs)		2 hrs 30 mins*20-30 mins1 hr
7.5 to 10Kg
(16½ to 22lbs)		3 hrs 15 mins*20-30 mins1 hr
10 to 15Kg
(22 to 33lbs)		3 hrs 45 mins*20-30 mins1 hr
*  possibly 15 mins more ** maybe slightly more

Turkey Crown Cooking Times

Weight
Kg (lbs)
Steam for
Brown for
Resting time
to 1Kg
(to 2lbs)		45-50 mins20 mins1 hr
1 to 3Kg
(2 to 6½lbs)		1 hr 15 mins**20 mins1 hr
3 to 4Kg
(6½ to 9lbs)		1 hr 30 mins**20 mins1 hr
4 to 6Kg
(9 to 13lbs)		2 hrs*20 mins1 hr
*  possibly 15 mins more ** maybe slightly more

10:00 am

  • Place the stuffed turkey and the vegetables in a deep tray, add the wine and hot stock, cover tightly, and pop them in the oven.
  • Make the Mulled Wine, finish it, and keep it warm, covered, or better yet, place it in a thermos flask.

Christmas Mulled Wine / Gluhwein

No Christmas would be complete without it. Not tried it? You don't know what you're missing. So here's my take on this lovely, hot yuletide drink.
 View Recipe
Gluhwein

10:30 am

  • While the Turkey is in the oven, prepare the veg and pre-cook them ready for going into the oven.
  • Blanch the parsnips, carrots and potatoes separately in boiling water, drain well and cover.

Brussel Sprouts with Garlic & Chestnuts

Brussels sprouts, you either love them or you can’t stand the sight of them.
They are delicious. Not only are they good for the real Christmas lunch, but they are an absolute must for Boxing Day bubble and squeak. This is one of only two vegetables that I recommend being slightly overcooked, and the other is potatoes. They can be prepared the day before and be ready for cooking.
 View Recipe

Roast Potatoes

The best way I have found to cook crispy, crunchy roast potatoes is to blanch them in boiling water until the edges start to crumble away. Drain well, then cook in very hot dripping or goose or duck fat, and only turn them once. That really is it!
 View Recipe

Gluten-Free Roasted, Honey Parsnips & Carrots

For perfectly roasted honey parsnips and carrots, blanch in boiling water for a few minutes. Drain well and cook in hot oil until the edges are crispy. Finish with some honey for the last five minutes. To serve, sprinkle with some stuffing mix and cumin. Delicious!
 View Recipe

11:00 am

  • Prepare the Salmon starter, if you didn’t manage to do this yesterday. Also, prepare the Pigs in Blankets for cooking later on. 
  • Place the Christmas pudding over a pan of boiling water to heat through gently, or get it ready to warm in the microwave.
  • Make up the bread sauce and pop it into a simmering water bath, and cook slowly, covered.

Gluten-Free Pigs in Blankets

I know this looks like a simple recipe, but quality is very important. Like all simple great things, quality is very important. Good-quality Gluten-Free sausages are very important, and dry-cured British bacon is the only option for this recipe. I allow two sausage rolls per person.
 View Recipe

Easy Smoked Salmon Mousse with Avocado & Dill

A creamy smoked salmon mousse blended with avocado and dill, perfect for spreading on crackers or toast. Fresh, light, and flavourful.
It can be made the day before.
 View Recipe

12:00 noon

  • Your Turkey should be ready now; carefully remove it from the oven and unwrap it. Drain off the juices and skim, place this back on the stove and simmer gently to reduce for a fuller flavour. Thicken, strain and keep warm.
  • Check to make sure the bird is cooked through. If not, cook for another 20 minutes.
  • Once it’s cooked, brush with melted butter, turn the oven up to 230ºC, Gas 8 and brown the skin for 15 minutes, then leave to rest wrapped in tin foil until you are ready to serve.

12:20 pm

    • Return the oven to 200ºC, Gas 6-7.
    • Melt the dripping in 2 trays. Add the potatoes to one tray, season well, and pop them in the oven. 
    • Now, do the same with the carrots and parsnips.
    • Put sprouts on.

Brussel Sprouts with Garlic & Chestnuts

Brussels sprouts, you either love them or you can’t stand the sight of them.
They are delicious. Not only are they good for the real Christmas lunch, but they are an absolute must for Boxing Day bubble and squeak. This is one of only two vegetables that I recommend being slightly overcooked, and the other is potatoes. They can be prepared the day before and be ready for cooking.
 View Recipe

Roast Potatoes

The best way I have found to cook crispy, crunchy roast potatoes is to blanch them in boiling water until the edges start to crumble away. Drain well, then cook in very hot dripping or goose or duck fat, and only turn them once. That really is it!
 View Recipe

Gluten-Free Roasted, Honey Parsnips & Carrots

For perfectly roasted honey parsnips and carrots, blanch in boiling water for a few minutes. Drain well and cook in hot oil until the edges are crispy. Finish with some honey for the last five minutes. To serve, sprinkle with some stuffing mix and cumin. Delicious!
 View Recipe

12:30 pm

  • Pop the blanched leeks into a pan, add the cream, and season with a little nutmeg. Warm through and keep warm. (See the Turkey recipe for the leeks)
  • Turn the Potatoes. Honey the Carrots and parsnips, and return them to the oven. However, keep an eye on the Parsnips, which can burn easily. 
  • Drain the Brussels; add the ginger to the sprouts. Keep warm and covered. 

12:45 pm

  • Put the Pigs in Blankets in the oven. 
  • Turn the oven down so things don’t burn while you eat your starter.

Gluten-Free Pigs in Blankets

I know this looks like a simple recipe, but quality is very important. Like all simple great things, quality is very important. Good-quality Gluten-Free sausages are very important, and dry-cured British bacon is the only option for this recipe. I allow two sausage rolls per person.
 View Recipe

1:00 pm (ish, don't worry too much about the time)

  • Open a bottle of fizz or pour out the Mulled Wine.
  • Eat your starter while everything is finishing off, and keeping warm in the oven.

1:15 pm

Everything should now be ready to bring together and serve the main course:

  • Drain the potatoes and carrots & parsnips and place them in hot bowls.
  • Spoon the stuffing into bowls and serve.
  • Serve all vegetables, sauces and pigs in blankets.
  • Turn the oven off and slide in the mince pies, but leave the door open so they do not burn.
  • Finally, carve the turkey and serve on hot plates.

Enjoy your Christmas Dinner with the family!

The Christmas Pudding will take about 60 minutes to heat through by steaming in a pan of boiling water with a cover, so pop it in as you are serving up. This way, you can have it soon after your Christmas dinner, and you might ‘just’ squeeze in a couple of Mince Pies while you wait.

Gluten-Free Golden Christmas Pudding

This is one of my favourite Christmas pudding recipes ever. It tastes fabulous and is Gluten-Free, so, everyone can enjoy it.
 View Recipe

Spiced Christmas Day Pudding Sauce

My sauce brings out the best in your Christmas pudding, but you know what, it's also fantastic over gently warmed mince pies. Enjoy.
 View Recipe

Christmas 2025
Christmas 2025
Christmas 2025
Christmas 2025