Your Christmas dinner shopping list
Everything for Christmas dinner — the main, the sides, dessert, drinks and Christmas-morning breakfast — with a timeline so the last-minute run is a short one.
Many stores close or cut their hours on Christmas Day, so this list is built to get everything home before the 24th.
The checklist
The main
Sides
Dairy & eggs
Dessert & baking
Christmas morning
Drinks
Extras
Made with HopDrop — the shared grocery list for the whole household · hop-drop.app
When to buy what
- 3 weeks before
Decide the menu and the head count. Order the ham, roast or turkey if your store or butcher takes pre-orders.
- 2 weeks before
Shop the non-perishables: baking supplies, drinks, canned goods and snacks.
- 1 week before
If your main is frozen, check its thawing time and count back from Christmas Day.
- Dec 22–23
Fresh produce, dairy, bread and the Christmas-morning breakfast.
- Christmas Eve
Prep vegetables and desserts, and do a final check against the list while stores are still open.
Tips for a calmer December
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Take stock first
Check the pantry and freezer before you write the list — holiday baking staples often turn out to be there already.
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Plan Christmas morning too
Breakfast is the meal that gets forgotten. Put it on the same list.
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Share the list with everyone hosting
One shared list beats a chain of texts — especially when relatives are each bringing a dish.
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Keep a running “we’re out” list
Anything you run out of in December goes straight on the list, so the last trip is a short one.
Plan Christmas in HopDrop
Make a shopping list for the dinner and a to-do list for the prep, and link them — the “buy groceries” task finishes itself when the shopping’s done. Everyone on the list sees every change live.
How linked to-dos work →Questions
How early should I buy Christmas dinner groceries?
Non-perishables two to three weeks ahead; fresh produce, dairy and bread on December 22–23. Order a ham, roast or turkey early if your store takes pre-orders.
Are grocery stores open on Christmas Day?
Many close or keep short hours on December 25, so plan to have everything home by Christmas Eve.
How do I share a Christmas dinner shopping list with family?
Share one list in HopDrop and assign items or dishes to people. Everyone sees what’s been bought, live, on iPhone and Android.
Can I print this list?
Yes — use the Print button at the top. It prints just the checklist, with checkboxes, ready to stick on the fridge.