While the last of the summer sun may still be shining, Christmas planning is well underway at IndyBest. In August we snagged an early look at this year's best beauty advent calendars and now, we’ve had a preview of this year’s festive food lineups. Supermarkets are already unveiling their Christmas menus for 2026 and after seeing some of the dishes first hand, I can say there’s lots to be excited about.
So far, I’ve had a sneak peek at Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Morrisons’s food and drink that you’ll eventually be able to order for the big day – and there are plenty of standout creations. Tesco is playing into our love of pickles with its arancini sticks with chorizo and cornichon, while Morrisons is satisfying our love of pigs in blankets with a giant version for 2026. Over at Sainsbury’s, the supermarket has created a tasty spin on the festive song with its ‘driving home this Christmas’ dessert, featuring chocolate mousse with a hidden brownie salted caramel centre.
Asda shoppers are in for a seafood treat as the supermarket spoils us with lobster tails and black tiger prawns, while Waitrose has 380 new dishes this year spanning party food, main courses and sweets. As ever M&S is injecting some fun and indulgence with starters including lobster, prawn and scallop thermidor en croutes, topped with a mini pastry lobster.
I’ll be updating this page as I get a preview of Aldi, Lidl and Co-op’s selection over the next few weeks, including all the details on prices and when delivery slots open. See this as your one-stop shop to all things festive food for Christmas 2026.
Sainsbury’s Christmas food 2026
- Delivery slots: open now
Sainsbury’s is injecting some flavour into its sharing and grazing range this year with a brie en croute, lobster thermidor crumpets, and scallop and smoked bacon vol au vents on the menu. For something more refined, you can serve up Devon crab rarebit gratins or decadent lobster tails with garlic butter.
Mains look equally enticing, particularly the turkey crown with a pork, chestnut, mulled cider and apple stuffing. The fish option is a crisp Hebridean salmon Wellington and parsley crusted halibut fillet, while there’s a vegan no turkey crown with bacon lattice. From the sides, the pork & apple bacon wrapped stuffing wreath is sure to be a hit.
I’ve already mentioned my favourite dessert, the driving home this Christmas mousse, but the Black Forest cheesecake and a limoncello tiramisu also deserve a mention.
Waitrose Christmas food
- Delivery slots open: 30 September
Waitrose has really ramped things up this year with 380 new releases spanning centrepieces, party food, desserts and bakery treats. There’s plenty of unique dishes in the mix to start – think polar bear bao buns, ham and cheese croissant stacks, and spicy marg olives. For the main event, it has kept things more classic with a double butter basted free range turkey crown stealing the show, while there’s also a whole goose with giblets and British wing rib of beef if you’re not a turkey fan.
The fish options are equally good looking with salmon en papillote with dill and orange butter, and a whole cooked British lobster up for grabs. Vegetarians haven't been forgotten either with a mushroom, malbec and port Wellington to enjoy, which I’ve tried and is up there as the tastiest supermarket veggie main.
Save room for the frosted raspberry snowflake-shaped vanilla mousse, filled with raspberry compôte, or the sweet Polly the polar bear Belgian chocolate cheesecake.
M&S Christmas food
- Food to order slots open: 22 September
The lid has been lifted (well, mostly) on the highly anticipated M&S food for Christmas. It has teased its 2026 offering with festive sweet treats like cinnamon churros twists, and malt and caramel cookie pies landing in the foodhall. In terms of catering for the big day, M&S has pulled the stops out. Picky bits have had a festive makeover with lasagne cups, mini cheese and chutney toasties, prawn sushi sandos and prawn pops to choose from. Meanwhile for an elegant starter, I love the look of the lobster, king prawn and scallop thermidor en croute.
In terms of mains, so far I’ve seen an Oakham turkey crown with Italian chestnut, pancetta and Calabrian orange stuffing. Sides sound equally tempting with a Brussel sprout and leek gratin, goose fat roasting potatoes and wagyu beef dripping Yorkshire pudding. I’ll update this page as I get the full list of mains.
Desserts look equally moreish with a pistachio and chocolate pudding bomb, passion fruit and white chocolate yule log and ‘snow much fun’ dessert, which features a cute penguin scene.
Tesco Christmas food 2026
- Delivery slots: 3 November for anytime delivery saver customers, 5 November for all other customers
The party food looks great from Tesco this year, from nduja pigs in blankets with hot honey sauce and dirty martini olives to king prawn lollipops and veggie spring rolls. When it comes to mains, the East Anglian gold free range turkey steals the show, while if you’re after something less traditional, there is a salt-aged pork loin joint, Scottish roe venison leg and for vegetarians, a maple roasted winter vegetable wellington.
For dessert, I can attest to the deliciousness of the Belgian chocolate and berry délice and Belgian chocolate and caramel molten pudding, while the gluten-free option, the caramelised white chocolate and speculoos cake, looks equally tempting.
Asda Christmas food
- Delivery slots: 13 October for delivery pass customers, 20 October for all other customers
Seafood at Asda takes centre stage this year. I was really wowed when I tasted the fish selection, so there’s really no missing out if you’re pescatarian. For starters, you can choose from lobster tails with thermidor butter, heather honey and orange smoked salmon, and black tiger prawn cocktail – plus more. If you’re not a seafood lover, don’t fret as there are deep filled sausage rolls, pork pies and Brussels pate to dig into before the main course.
Speaking of, you can enjoy a Norfolk slate turkey crown, beef rib, pork rib rack, while a butternut squash wreath is the veggie option. Want zero faff? Asda is releasing a full Christmas dinner that can be prepared from frozen. For dessert, a Black Forest yule log, star-shaped clementine pannacotta, and the yum-yum tower all look impressive.
Morrisons Christmas food 2026
Morrisons has added 290 new dishes into its range this year, with lots to be excited about. To start, serve up the Scottish salmon terrine, potato wild garlic and camembert melt or the read-to-serve deli charcuterie grazing platter. Then there’s a turkey breast joint stuffed with pork, spiced apples and smoked chestnut stuffing, a two-bone beef rib, a rack of pork and lamb rump. For vegetarians, a roasted vegetable and balsamic onion tart is your main.
Desserts do not disappoint either. Choose from decadent options including a chocolate orange star, sticky toffee pudding trifle and a triple chocolate snowman dessert.
For more, we’ve asked experts to recommend the best supermarket wine
