Christmas dinner shopping list

A Christmas dinner needs more than the ingredients for the main meal. Plan food and drinks for the number of guests, then check whether you have enough plates, glasses, cutlery and serving dishes before you shop. This list also covers table linens, Christmas decorations, lighting and the kitchen equipment needed to prepare and serve the meal. Buy fresh vegetables and chilled drinks close to the event, while non-food supplies can be sorted earlier.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Dining tablesqty 3
Chairsqty 20
Buffet table
Coat rack

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 24
Deep platesqty 24
Dessert platesqty 24
Coffee cupsqty 24
Water glassesqty 24
Wine glassesqty 24
Champagne glassesqty 24
Dinner cutlery setsqty 24
Serving spoonsqty 6
Serving plattersqty 6
Carafesqty 4

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 3
Napkinsqty 30
Christmas wreathsqty 2
Christmas baublesqty 30
Christmas garlandqty 4
Table decorationsqty 6
Name badgesqty 24

Lighting

String lightsqty 4
LED candlesqty 12

Equipment

Coffee maker
Kettle
Coolersqty 2

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 3
Chef's knivesqty 3
Roasting pansqty 2
Baking dishesqty 3
Measuring cupsqty 2
Mixing bowlsqty 4
Aluminum foil
Cling film
Serving tongsqty 4

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 3
Bucketsqty 2
Mopsqty 2
Dustpan and brush

Catering

Groceries
- Beef roulade - 4 kg
- Potatoes - 5 kg
- Carrots - 2 kg
- Parsnips - 1 kg
- Brussels sprouts - 2 kg
- Red cabbage - 2 jars
- Onions - 2 kg
- Garlic - 3 bulbs
- Celery - 1 stalk
- Leeks - 4 pieces
- Mushrooms - 1 kg
- Pumpkin - 2 pieces
- Arugula - 300 gram
- Lamb's lettuce - 300 grams
- Cherry Tomatoes - 1 kg
- Cucumbers - 3 pieces
- Apples - 2 kg
- Pears - 2 kg
- Cranberry sauce - 2 jars
- Gravy - 2 liters
- Beef broth - 4 liters
- Vegetable broth - 3 liters
- Cooking cream - 2 liters
- Unsalted butter - 1 kg
- Olive oil - 1 liter
- Whipped cream - 1 liter
- Crème fraîche - 1 kg
- Parmesan cheese - 500 grams
- Goat cheese - 400 grams
- Eggs - 12 pieces
- Puff pastry - 4 rolls
- Baguettes - 6 pieces
- Dinner rolls - 30 pieces
- Herb butter - 500 grams
- Nut mix - 1 kg
- Raisins - 500 grams
- Dark chocolate - 500 grams
- Vanilla ice cream - 3 liters
- Christmas cookies - 3 packs
- Cinnamon - 1 jar
- Nutmeg - 1 jar
- Rosemary - 3 bunches
- Thyme - 3 bunches
- Bay leaves - 1 bag
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 bottle
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Mayonnaise - 1 jar
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Red wine - 8 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Alcohol-free beer - 12 bottles
- Beer - 24 bottles
- Champagne - 4 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 liter
- Orange juice - 4 liters
- Cola - 4 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 12 bottles
- Spa Rood - 6 bottles
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 4 liters
- Sugar - 1 kg
- Honey - 1 jar
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 1 pack
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 2 packs

Tips

Allow two to three drinks per guest for the first hour, then about one drink per person per hour. Add water for the table and chill the drinks before guests arrive.
Count tableware by guest rather than by place setting: one dinner plate, one deep plate, one dessert plate, one dinner cutlery set, one water glass and one wine glass per person, plus a few spares.
Buy serving spoons, platters and carafes before cooking day. Dishes that stay in the oven or on the hob cannot also be used for serving.
Check dietary requirements before finalising the menu and shopping. Keep at least one clearly identified alternative portion available for each confirmed requirement.
Do the main shop far enough ahead to prepare dessert and the sauce base in advance, but leave vegetables and other short-life ingredients until one or two days before dinner.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for Christmas dinner per person?: For a four-course dinner, allow roughly 500–700 g of food per adult across all courses, depending on the menu. Add around 10% extra for popular dishes and leftovers, and plan children’s portions separately.
How many plates and glasses do I need for Christmas dinner?: For each guest, plan one dinner plate, one deep plate, one dessert plate, one coffee cup, one water glass, one wine glass and one cutlery set. Keep at least two to four spare place settings available for breakage, seconds or unexpected guests.
When should I buy Christmas dinner ingredients?: Buy drinks, dry goods and decorations up to two weeks ahead. Buy fresh vegetables and dairy one to two days before dinner, and prepare dessert or a sauce base according to the recipe’s storage time.
What do I need to serve Christmas dinner?: You need serving platters, serving spoons and carafes in addition to the plates and cutlery at the table. Check these at least one week before dinner, because missing servingware is difficult to replace on the day.

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