Christmas Dinner Shopping List

Plan your Christmas dinner shopping in two rounds: buy pantry items and decorations early, then get fresh groceries close to the meal. Use your confirmed guest list to work out plates, glasses, cutlery and drink quantities before you shop. Allow extra time for dietary requirements, special ingredients and dishes that need chilling or preparation. This list covers the practical items people often forget until the table is being set.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Dining tablesqty 4
Chairsqty 24
Side tablesqty 2
Coat rack

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 28
Soup bowlsqty 28
Dessert platesqty 28
Water glassesqty 28
Wine glassesqty 28
Coffee cupsqty 28
Cutlery setsqty 28

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 4
Table runnersqty 4
Cloth napkinsqty 28
Christmas arrangementsqty 4
Christmas baublesqty 30
Name badgesqty 28
Christmas tree

Lighting

String lightsqty 3
LED candlesqty 24
Candle holdersqty 4

Equipment

Bluetooth speaker
Extension cordsqty 3
Power stripsqty 3
Kitchen timerqty 2

Kitchen

Roasting pansqty 2
Baking dishesqty 4
Serving plattersqty 8
Serving spoonsqty 8
Soup ladlesqty 3
Serving tongsqty 4
Meat thermometer
Carving knife
Cutting boardsqty 4
Storage binsqty 12

Cleaning

Dish brushesqty 2
Cleaning clothsqty 8
Bucketsqty 2
Trash binsqty 3

Catering

Groceries
- Turkey - 2 pieces of 5 kilograms
- Vegetarian nut roll - 4 servings
- Pumpkin - 4 kilogram
- Onions - 2 kilograms
- Garlic - 3 bulbs
- Vegetable stock - 6 liters
- Cooking cream - 2 liters
- Baguettes - 6 pieces
- Butter - 1 kilogram
- Potatoes - 7 kilograms
- Carrots - 3 kilograms
- Parsnips - 2 kilogram
- Brussels sprouts - 3 kilograms
- Red cabbage - 3 kilograms
- Apples - 3 kilograms
- Fresh cranberries - 1 kilogram
- Cranberry sauce - 2 jars
- Gravy powder - 4 bags
- Beef stock - 2 liters
- Olive oil - 1 liter
- Sunflower oil - 1 liter
- Wheat flour - 1 kilogram
- Cornstarch - 1 pack
- Granulated sugar - 2 kilograms
- Powdered sugar - 500 grams
- Dark chocolate - 1,5 kilogram
- Eggs - 30 pieces
- Whipped cream - 3 liters
- Vanilla sugar - 4 sachets
- Cinnamon - 1 jar
- Nutmeg - 1 jar
- Thyme - 4 bunches
- Rosemary - 4 bunches
- Parsley - 3 bunches
- Bay leaf - 1 bag
- Salt - 500 grams
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Poultry herb mix - 2 jars
- Cheese selection - 2 kilogram
- Crackers - 6 packs
- Grapes - 2 kilogram
- Unsalted nuts - 1 kilogram
- Baguettes for cheese board - 4 pieces
- Bubbles - 6 bottles
- Alcohol-free bubbles - 3 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 12 bottles
- Spa Rood - 6 bottles
- Red wine - 8 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 liters
- Cola - 4 liters
- Cola Zero - 4 liters
- Coffee - 1 kilogram
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 4 liters
- Honey - 1 jar
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 1 box
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 1 pack
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls

Tips

Plan for two to three drinks per person during the first hour, then about one drink per person for each additional hour. Chill drinks at least four hours before guests arrive, and keep non-alcoholic options available.
Count every place setting against the final guest list: one dinner plate, soup bowl, dessert plate, water glass, wine glass, coffee cup and cutlery set per person, plus at least two spare settings.
Buy non-perishable ingredients, napkins, candles and decoration items 5 to 7 days ahead. Leave fresh vegetables, herbs and other short-life groceries until 1 to 2 days before dinner.
Check serving equipment before shopping for food. You need a suitable serving platter or dish for each main course and side, plus one serving spoon for each dish and a soup ladle if soup is on the menu.
Set aside extension cords, power strips and lighting before decorating. Test string lights, LED candles and the Bluetooth speaker at least one day ahead so missing batteries, cables or sockets do not delay dinner.

Frequently asked questions

How much food should I buy for a Christmas dinner?: Use the confirmed guest count and the menu portions as your base, then allow roughly 10% extra for popular main dishes and side dishes. For 10 guests, that means planning portions for 11 people, especially if you want leftovers.
How many glasses and plates do I need for Christmas dinner?: Provide one dinner plate, soup bowl, dessert plate, water glass, wine glass and coffee cup per guest, with 2 to 3 spare settings. For 12 guests, prepare at least 14 or 15 of each frequently used item if washing up during dinner is not practical.
When should I buy groceries for Christmas dinner?: Buy pantry goods and non-perishables 5 to 7 days before the dinner. Purchase fresh vegetables, herbs and other short-life ingredients 1 to 2 days beforehand, and prepare items such as dessert or soup according to how long they keep.
How many drinks do I need per person for Christmas dinner?: Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour and about one per person for every later hour. For a four-hour dinner with 10 guests, that is approximately 50 to 60 drinks in total, including water and non-alcoholic choices.

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