Festive Feast on a Budget: The Best Supermarkets for Christmas Dinner Savings

The holiday season has arrived! Many households are looking to make their Christmas dinner both special and affordable. Our savings experts here at BravoVoucher have conducted a recent study to find which UK supermarkets offer the most budget-friendly options for a traditional Christmas dinner for a family of four. They considered the total cost of 16 festive dinner items, including a medium turkey crown, pigs in blankets, Yorkshire puddings, seasonal vegetables, condiments, and a Christmas pudding. Let’s uncover the results! 

• Aldi is the cheapest supermarket to purchase Christmas dinner ingredients for a family of four, at £32.54. 
• Lidl and Tesco rank as the second and third cheapest supermarkets for Christmas dinner, respectively. 
• Marks & Spencer is the most expensive supermarket for Christmas dinner, at £54.35. 

The Top 5 Cheapest Supermarkets for Christmas Dinner 

Knowing which supermarkets offer the best value can make all the difference when planning the perfect Christmas dinner on a budget. Our study has found the top five cheapest supermarkets where you can get all the festive essentials. Let’s take a closer look at the best options for affordable Christmas dinner shopping this year:

1. Aldi - The winner 

Aldi is the cheapest supermarket for Christmas dinner this year, costing a total of £32.54. The supermarket offers the joint cheapest medium frozen turkey crown at £16.49, with 12 frozen pigs in blankets costing £1.99, and a Christmas pudding at £1.99. 

2. Lidl 

Ranking second is Lidl, costing a total of £32.61. Lidl’s medium frozen turkey crown also costs £16.49, with 12 frozen pigs in blankets priced at £1.99, and Christmas pudding at £1.99. While similar in price to its budget rival Aldi, the price of Lidl's swede was found to be slightly more expensive at 62p compared to 49p at Aldi. 

3. Tesco 

Tesco placed third, costing a total of £38.76. Tesco prices a medium frozen turkey crown at £19.50, with 12 frozen pigs in blankets costing £2.50, and a Christmas pudding priced at £3.25. 

4. Asda 

Asda ranks fourth, costing a total of £38.89. A medium frozen turkey crown at Asda costs £19.00, with 12 frozen pigs in blankets costing £3.25, and a Christmas pudding priced at £3.00. 

5. Morrisons 

Rounding out the top five is Morrisons, costing a total of £40.98. This supermarket prices a medium frozen turkey crown at £21.00, with 12 frozen pigs in blankets costing £2.99, and a Christmas pudding at £2.50. 

The list doesn’t stop there! Not too far behind we have Sainsbury’s in sixth with a total of £42.52, and Waitrose in seventh costing a total of £50.25. A bit pricier compared to the top 5 but overall still great options if you are looking for an affordable yet delicious Christmas dinner. 

The cost of a Christmas dinner at the biggest UK supermarkets: 

The Most Expensive Supermarket for Christmas Dinner 

If you are willing to splurge on quality or have more room in your budget, there is a supermarket that offers all of the Christmas dinner essentials but at a higher cost.  

Marks & Spencer is the most expensive supermarket for Christmas dinner, ranking eighth at £54.35 - 67% more expensive than the equivalent food shop at Aldi. A medium frozen turkey crown at M&S also costs £25.00, with 12 frozen pigs in blankets costing £4.25, and a Christmas pudding priced at £4.00. This supermarket also has the highest price for frozen cauliflower cheese, at £4.50.

Our CEO and Co-founder, Marco Farnararo, spoke on our research findings, he commented:

“With inflation impacting food prices, many households are feeling the squeeze. A traditional Christmas dinner is something people cherish and may prioritise, but rising costs can make it harder to afford. By comparing prices, people can make more informed decisions, potentially stretching their budgets in order to prepare a festive meal without overspending. 

“When a supermarket is seen as offering the "cheapest Christmas dinner," it can significantly improve its public image. For instance, discount chains like Aldi and Lidl have built reputations for affordability, and a low-cost Christmas dinner reinforces that perception. Meanwhile, premium retailers like Marks & Spencer may focus on promoting quality rather than the lowest price, showing how different brands prioritise either value or quality in their marketing.” 

Our results show that planning a festive Christmas dinner on a budget doesn't mean compromising on quality or tradition. Aldi leads the way as the most affordable option, while Marks & Spencer provides higher-end options. There are supermarket options for every budget that won’t compromise a delightful Christmas feast. 

ENDS 

Sources: 

Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Marks and Spencer 

Methodology: 

The total cost of 16 Christmas dinner items was calculated for eight major UK supermarket chains, to find which were the least and most expensive. The items included were: 

• Medium frozen turkey crown 
• Maris Piper potatoes (2kg - 2.5kg) 
• Carrots (1kg) 
• Brussels sprouts (500g) 
• Parsnips (500g) 
• Swede (one unit) 
• Broccoli (one unit) 
• Frozen cauliflower cheese (one pack) 
• Frozen garden peas (725g - 1kg) 
• 12 frozen pigs in blankets  
• 12 frozen Yorkshire puddings 
• Chicken gravy granule (one container) 
• Cranberry sauce (one jar) 
• Mint sauce (one jar) 
• Stuffing mix (140 – 250g) 
• Christmas pudding (400g) 

Prices for certain products were not included on Lidl’s website; these prices were taken directly from the store.  

Breakdown of prices for each supermarket: 

Aldi: 

Lidl:

Tesco: 

Asda: 

Morrisons: 

Sainsbury's

Waitrose 

Marks & Spencer