Tesco leads 2025 guide to best supermarket Christmas food

Tesco topped a year-end test of supermarket Christmas offerings for 2025, with its Finest Bronze Turkey and a broad range of festive staples earning top marks across 11 categories. The evaluation, conducted by a Daily Mail lifestyle team, looked at everything from starters to desserts and considered price, ease of preparation and the ability of items to act as a centerpiece at the dining table. The exercise aimed to show that it’s possible to assemble an impressive Christmas spread without overspending.

Among the top picks, the winners across categories included Best starter — Tesco Finest Scottish Terrine; Best pâté — Tesco Finest Three Bird Pâté; Best cranberry sauce — Waitrose Christmas Cranberry Sauce; Best carrots — Waitrose Honey Roasted Chantenay Carrots; Best pigs in blankets — Exceptional by Asda Maple Pigs in Blankets; Best stuffing — Waitrose No.1 Stuffing Balls; Best potatoes — Marks & Spencer Irish White Potatoes; Best beef main — Tesco Finest Beef Fillet Wellington; Best turkey — Tesco Finest Bronze Whole Turkey; Best dessert — M&S Collection 12 Month Christmas Pudding; and Best cheese — M&S Cheesemonger Selection. The roundup underscores the breadth of options shoppers can consider, from reliably traditional to more elevated showpieces, with price and practicality weighing into the final scores.

The testing process, the publication notes, weighed not only flavor but also how easy each item is to cook and whether it could stand as a dinner-table centerpiece. Each product was prepared or served exactly as instructed and tasted by a single reviewer to keep comparisons consistent. The panel also considered how well the items paired with other expected courses and sides, and whether they offered value for money relative to price points. The conclusions highlighted Tesco’s broad range and competitive pricing as a major strength, while also pointing to standout specialist lines from other retailers.

In the starter category, testers praised Tesco Finest Scottish Terrine for its presentation and guest appeal, noting that it made a striking centrepiece while requiring minimal preparation. The accompanying Scottish Salmon Terrine variant was highlighted for flavor and its ability to serve as a crowd-pleasing starter without the need to portion individually. The Three Bird Pâté from Tesco was described as decadent and filling, offering generous portions that could accommodate larger gatherings, though some tasters found the cranberry layer overly sweet.

Waitrose’s Christmas Cranberry Sauce stood out for its spice profile and orange zest, which reviewers described as giving the traditional sauce a festive lift. Priced around £3 a jar, it was lauded as a versatile accompaniment that pairs nicely with crackers and cheeses; some testers noted its texture could be gloopy in certain preparations. A jarred “Christmas in a jar” sentiment was used to convey its holiday feel.

For vegetables, Waitrose Honey Roasted Chantenay Carrots were praised for ease of cooking and reliable flavor, with testers noting the honey glaze offered a pleasant sweetness that brightened the veg course. The 500g pack, priced around £2.25, was described as a time-saver, though the carrots did shrink a bit during roasting. As with many prepared sides, the convenience factor was a key part of their appeal.

The pigs in blankets category showcased Asda’s Exceptional Maple Pigs in Blankets, a 10-pack option finished with a maple glaze and a subtle chili note. Reviewers called them a tasty twist on a traditional staple and noted good value at about £3.97 for ten; a few tasters found the sweetness pronounced and suggested that a milder alternative might suit purists who prefer a more classic profile.

Waitrose No.1 Stuffing Balls earned top marks for elevating a familiar roast staple. The balls featured a pork-based stuffing with caramelized red onion, smoked chestnuts and bacon lardons, a combination some testers found luxurious. However, several tasters remarked that the flavor profile was not completely uniform throughout each ball, with some bites delivering more chestnut or bacon than others. At £8 for 12 balls, it’s a premium option, but many found the sacrifice worthwhile for a slightly more gourmet finish.

Marks & Spencer Irish White Potatoes, at 2.5kg, were praised for producing crispy, fluffy roast potatoes after a parboil and roast. The tester found they delivered reliably with the right texture, and their performance in an air fryer was noted as a convenient modern shortcut for busy cooks.

In the beef mains category, Tesco Finest Beef Fillet Wellington was highlighted for its presentation and depth of flavor, thanks to a 21-day matured beef fillet wrapped in a crispy pastry with porcini mushrooms. Reviewers appreciated that the dish could be frozen and cooked from frozen, offering practical planning benefits for those who prepare ahead. The Wellington is priced around £35 for a single 1kg unit, which suitable for a modest Christmas gathering of about four but less practical for larger families.

In the turkey category, the Tesco Finest Free Range Bronze Whole Turkey ranged from 4 to 5.99 kilograms. Priced around £11 per kilogram, it was praised for its meat quality and the giblets included for making a traditional stuffing. Cooking times were reported as longer than the package’s stated hour-and-a-half guideline, which required careful timing by the cook to ensure crispy skin and juicy meat. The turkey’s free-range designation and the overall value proposition underlined why it remained a popular choice for a central holiday dish.

For dessert, the M&S Collection 12 Month Mature Christmas Pudding was described as boozy and indulgent, with brandy and cognac notes throughout the fruit-rich steam pudding. Reviewers noted its richness allowed smaller portions to go further, though re-heating could stiffen the texture for some tasters. The pudding’s complexity and traditional styling made it a preferred pick for many testers seeking a classic finish to the meal.

Cheese boards were anchored by the M&S Cheesemonger Selection, a 900-gram assortment designed to cover a range of palates. The sampler included Red Leicester, a mature Cheddar, Blue Stilton and a soft cheese such as a triple-cream style, with tasters appreciating the balance of strengths across the board. Some reviewers noted that the blue cheese portion could overwhelm others in a large cheese board, suggesting a more balanced mix might be ideal for shared platters. Overall, the selection was praised for its convenience and quality, aligning with the broader finding that Marks & Spencer offers strong puddings and cheese options for a curated festive spread.

Verdict and guidance from the test highlighted that Tesco’s breadth of selection and competitive pricing made it the overall favorite for Christmas 2025. Marks & Spencer emerged as the go-to for traditional desserts and cheese, while Waitrose and Asda delivered strong performances in specific categories that value-minded shoppers may want to consider for add-ons or upgrades. The report also offered practical buying tips: book online delivery slots as early as possible to secure preferred windows, and if shopping in-store, plan to visit a few days before Christmas to avoid shortages or spoilage. Tests emphasized that the best holiday shopping strategy combines trusted staples with a few premium items to create a memorable, stress-free feast.

Images accompanying the piece illustrate a spread of prepared items and festive boards, with photographs showing a range of dishes and presentation options that reflect the study’s focus on centerpiece potential and guest appeal. The report underscores that shoppers can assemble a comprehensive Christmas menu without overspending when they balance value and quality across retailers.

Overall, the 2025 guide reinforces Tesco as the leading destination for Christmas food across multiple categories, while highlighting standout items from Waitrose, Marks & Spencer and Asda that may appeal to shoppers seeking specific items to elevate their festive table. The publication notes that buyers should start planning early, take advantage of promotions, and consider the convenience of ready-made or semi-prepared options to ensure a smooth and festive holiday season.