The best Sainsbury’s Christmas food for 2026, from fox bao buns to Christmas pudding liqueur

Orange and maple might not be the first flavours you associate with smoked salmon, but they work surprisingly well here, giving the classic starter a fresh, festive lift. Try it on blinis for an easy starter before the main event.

The festive favourite you know and love has got an upgrade, with chunks of luxurious lobster bringing a richer flavour to the table. The seafood is layered with a classic Marie Rose sauce, but this one is laced with Cognac. Yum!

Available 12 December 2026

Spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your guests, with this ready-to-cook turkey crown. It’s filled with a punchy chestnut, mulled cider, sweet apple and pork stuffing, and finished with a fruity, treacle glaze and layer of smoky bacon. We’re already hoping there’s enough leftovers for Boxing Day turkey sandwiches.

And make sure you serve alongside the Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Discovery Old English Pigs in Blankets which have a lovely chunky texture and warming spice.

We're firm believers that cauliflower cheese belongs on the Christmas table (alongside Yorkshire puddings, too – controversial, we know!). Sainsbury's goes all in on the cheese here, with a Welsh rarebit-inspired sauce that makes this far more indulgent than your average veggie side.

Containing a whole cooked Canadian lobster (!), calamari, a selection of juicy prawns and more, this impressive seafood platter is a real talking point. With over a kilo of seafood, plus all the accompaniments to bring it to life, there's plenty here to keep a crowd happy – even if a few last-minute guests turn up.

If you've got family round on Boxing Day, this is surely the most economical way of feeding them. Serving up to 14 people, this delicious gammon joint works out at just £1.78 a head! Sweet and salty, with a festive caramelised sticky fig glaze, it provides all the flavour without hours of prep.

Picture the scene: a candle flickering, a freshly poured glass of wine and this hot, oozy camembert before you. Bliss. It also makes an easy centrepiece for a Christmas buffet, with guests able to dip in and help themselves.

The creamy cheese is topped with a spicy cranberry glaze, for a suitably festive finish. Just add crusty bread.

If we were giving out awards for cutest party food, these fox bao buns would surely be a strong contender. Beneath the adorable faces are pillowy-soft steamed buns filled with pork-flavoured shredded vegetables.

They're vegan, cook in just two minutes in the microwave and are guaranteed to liven up even the beige-est of buffets.

Made with soured cream, mayonnaise and Pecorino, then shaped like a Christmas tree and topped with vibrant pesto and sun-dried tomatoes, this rich, creamy dip is perfect for parties. Frankly, you could dip just about anything into it.

These mini siders will get any party started, pairing crunchy chicken with smoky barbecue sauce inside a soft pretzel-style bun. Small enough to eat in two bites, but satisfying enough to feel like the real deal, we're sold.

If you're planning a Christmas cocktail or two, keep this clementine liqueur close at hand. Bright and tart with a syrupy richness and subtle bitter finish, try serving it ice cold and topping up with sparkling wine. Consider your festive spritz sorted.

Is it even Christmas without a fun, festive liqueur being offered? Packed with warming spice and notes of dried fruit, this is a comforting pour, and it would make a deliciously indulgent spiced hot chocolate. Frankly, who needs dessert?