Tesco leads 2025 guide to best supermarket Christmas food, with M&S and Waitrose excelling in puds and sides
Tesco Finest Bronze Turkey tops the list for value and ease, with category winners across starters, sauces, veg, dessert and cheese noted; M&S dominates desserts and cheese, while Waitrose shines in cranberry sauce and roasted carrots.
Tesco's Finest Bronze Turkey leads the annual guide to the best supermarket Christmas foods for 2025, according to a shopper-tested roundup that compares starters, mains, sides and desserts across major retailers. The evaluation weighs price, ease of preparation and whether an item could stand as a dinner-table showstopper.
The testing panel identified top picks across categories, with the best starter going to Tesco Finest Scottish Terrine and its Scottish Salmon Terrine 510g also highlighted in the same group. For pâté, Tesco Finest Three Bird Pâté was praised for its richness and portion size, while testers noted the cranberry layer could be overly sweet for some. The best cranberry sauce went to Waitrose Christmas Cranberry Sauce, described as Christmas in a jar thanks to spices and orange. Waitrose Honey Roasted Chantenay Carrots, 500g, were singled out for ease of cooking and a sweet, honeyed finish. Exceptional by Asda Maple Pigs in Blankets, 10 sausages in a 210g pack, were noted for their maple glaze. Waitrose No.1 Stuffing Balls, topped with bacon, smoked chestnuts and sage, were regarded as a luxurious upgrade on a classic. Marks & Spencer Irish White Potatoes, 2.5kg, were praised for fluffy roasties after par-boiling and roasting. Tesco Finest Beef Wellington, 1kg, was described as a showpiece thanks to its 21-day matured beef and mushroom notes, and it freezes well. Tesco Finest Bronze Turkey, 4-5.99kg, offered strong value and generous leftovers. M&S Collection 12 Month Matured Christmas Pudding and M&S Cheesemongers Selection were highlighted as standout pud and cheese options.
Details on the top picks show Tesco's starter featured a centrepiece and was praised for its ready-to-serve convenience, sparing hosts the need to portion out plates. One tester noted it sparked audible gasps when placed on the table, and it was described as a solid showstopper, though the texture could verge on cloying if portions were large. The Three Bird Pâté impressed with its layers of duck liver, chicken liver and turkey breast, bound with pork fat and smoked chestnuts and interleaved with cranberry and redcurrant gel. While indulgent, testers found it filling and generous for larger gatherings, though the cranberry jelly and sweetened cranberries were not to everyone’s taste.
Waitrose's cranberry sauce drew praise for its Christmas-spice profile, with orange zest, clove and cinnamon elevating a traditional jar into a festive note. The Waitrose carrots were described as a time saver for busy cooks, delivering a honeyed finish without lengthy preparation. Asda's maple pigs in blankets earned points for flavour and value, though their sweetness skewed toward a sweeter side for some palates. The Waitrose No.1 stuffing balls, topped with caramelised red onion, smoked chestnuts and bacon lardons, delivered a premium feel, albeit at a higher price. M&S Irish White Potatoes were repeatedly praised for achieving fluffy roasties after parboiling and roasting, while the M&S Beef Wellington impressed as a convenient centrepiece that mimicked a scratch-made roast. The Tesco Finest Bronze Turkey drew attention for its free-range quality and generous leftovers, though cook times required careful timing.
In the dessert and cheese categories, the M&S Collection 12 Month Matured Christmas Pudding stood out for its boozy depth and richness, while the M&S Cheesemongers Selection offered a balanced board for a crowd with a mix of cheddar, blue and soft cheeses. Overall, the guide concluded that Tesco delivered broad value and breadth across the festive spread, with M&S and Waitrose carving out strength in specific segments.
Prices featured in the guide varied by item, with some staples starting under £3 and larger items such as the bronze turkey and beef wellington commanding higher price points. The turkey was highlighted at around £11 per kilogram, making it competitive for families seeking quantity and quality. The 12-month matured pudding and the cheesemonger selection represented premium bets for those prioritising tradition and variety on the cheese board.
The publication notes that all items were prepared and taste-tested to a consistent standard, with cooks following manufacturer directions and reviews focusing on price, flavour, ease of cooking and showmanship. The testing process emphasizes practical home use, not just novelty value, and aims to help shoppers avoid overpaying while still delivering a festive feast.
The verdict places Tesco at the top for overall performance, thanks to breadth of choice, value and confident show-stoppers. M&S leads in the dessert and cheese categories, underscoring its premium appeal, while Waitrose shines in the sauce and vegetable segments. The guidance for consumers remains consistent: plan ahead, book delivery slots early for online orders, and allow time for in-store shopping a few days before Christmas to avoid shortages and spoilage. For those who want a fuss-free but festive table, the guide suggests balancing a showpiece main with reliable sides and a strong pudding to finish.
