Christmas dinner shopping list

Planning a Christmas dinner means buying more than the ingredients for the menu. You also need enough plates, glasses, serving dishes, coffee equipment and table settings for everyone attending. Use the guest list and dietary requirements to confirm quantities before you shop, then check what is already in stock. Drinks, chilled items and decorations are easy to leave until the last minute, so plan those separately from the food shop.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 55
Coat racksqty 3
Stoolsqty 4

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 60
Deep platesqty 60
Dessert platesqty 60
Coffee cupsqty 60
Water glassesqty 60
Wine glassesqty 60
Coffee spoonsqty 60
Dinner cutlery setsqty 60

Kitchen

Serving spoonsqty 8
Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knivesqty 4
Mixing bowlsqty 6
Baking dishesqty 6
Serving plattersqty 8
Dessert serving traysqty 6
Thermos flasksqty 4
Corkscrewsqty 3

Equipment

Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Coolersqty 4
Food warmersqty 4
Extension cordsqty 4

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 6
Napkin holdersqty 12
Christmas table decorationqty 12
Christmas tree
Christmas baublesqty 40
Name badgesqty 55

Lighting

LED string lightsqty 4
LED candlesqty 24

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Cleaning bucketsqty 2
Broom setsqty 2
Mopsqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Chicken broth - 6 liters
- Winter vegetables - 12 kilogram
- Potatoes - 12 kilogram
- Beef roulade - 7 kilograms
- Vegetarian roulade - 2 kilograms
- Vegetarian broth - 2 liters
- Mushrooms - 3 kilogram
- Onions - 2 kilograms
- Garlic - 6 bulbs
- Carrots - 3 kilogram
- Parsnips - 2 kilograms
- Brussels sprouts - 4 kilograms
- Red cabbage - 4 kilogram
- Apples - 3 kilograms
- Pears - 3 kilograms
- Fresh parsley - 6 bunches
- Fresh thyme - 4 bunches
- Fresh rosemary - 4 bunches
- Bay leaves - 1 bag
- Salt - 1 kilogram
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Nutmeg - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Cinnamon - 1 jar
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Unsalted butter - 2 kilograms
- Cooking cream - 3 liters
- Whipped cream - 3 liters
- Milk - 8 liters
- Eggs - 60 pieces
- Flour - 2 kilograms
- Sugar - 3 kilograms
- Vanilla sugar - 10 sachets
- Gelatin - 4 sachets
- Christmas loaf - 6 pieces
- Cookies - 4 packs
- Chocolate - 1 kilogram
- Berries - 2 kilogram
- Nuts - 1 kilogram
- Christmas cookies - 6 packs
- Coffee - 6 packs
- Tea - 4 boxes
- Herbal tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar cubes - 2 kilogram
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 8 cartons
- Alcohol-free wine - 8 bottles
- Red wine - 12 bottles
- White wine - 8 bottles
- Beer - 3 crates
- Still mineral water - 8 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 8 bottles
- Ice cubes - 8 bags
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Kitchen towels - 8 pcs

Tips

Count tableware for every guest, plus at least 2 extra place settings. Include dinner plates, deep plates, dessert plates, cutlery, water glasses, wine glasses and coffee cups.
Plan drinks by serving stage: allow 2 to 3 drinks per person during the first hour, then about 1 drink per person per hour. Chill bottles early and have coolers ready for overflow.
Buy or reserve serving equipment based on the menu, not just the guest count. Check that you have enough serving spoons, platters, baking dishes, cutting boards and sharp chef’s knives before shopping.
Set aside coffee equipment for the end of the meal. A coffee machine or kettle, coffee cups, coffee spoons and thermos flasks should be ready before dinner starts so they do not compete with cooking space.
Do a stock check at least 2 days before the dinner. This catches commonly forgotten items such as napkin holders, tablecloths, extension cords, food warmers and corkscrews while there is still time to replace them.

Frequently asked questions

How many plates and glasses do I need for a Christmas dinner?: Allow one complete place setting per guest, plus 2 spare settings. For a three-course meal, plan on one dinner plate, one deep plate if needed, one dessert plate, one water glass and one wine glass per person.
How much food and drink should I buy for Christmas dinner?: Base food quantities on the confirmed guest count and recorded dietary requirements, then add about 10% for seconds and unexpected guests. For drinks, allow 2 to 3 per person in the first hour and roughly 1 per person per hour afterwards.
When should I buy and chill Christmas dinner drinks?: Buy shelf-stable drinks several days ahead and check the stock at least 2 days before the dinner. Chill wine, beer and other cold drinks on the day before where possible; use coolers if the refrigerator cannot hold everything.
What do I need for serving and making coffee after Christmas dinner?: Prepare serving platters, serving spoons and dessert trays for the meal, then set aside a coffee machine or kettle, coffee cups, coffee spoons and thermos flasks. Check these items at least 1 day before so the kitchen is not missing equipment during service.

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