We know how much you guys love potatoes! So we’ve put together this tasty guide that has you covered this festive season.
From classic crispy roast potato recipes to indulgent creamy bakes, Christmas Day feasts to Boxing Day brunches, there are so many ways to bring joy with the humble spud. Check out our perfect picks.
FESTIVE PARTY NIBBLES
These little beauties work brilliantly as a festive nibble, their crispy edges taken up a notch with a polenta and walnut sprinkle. Mix and match the stuffings in the accompanying pigs-in-blankets: try dates, dried cranberries, mustard, chillies, sage, cheese or even pickled onions. Works great with veggie sausages too.
A stuffed baked potato skin is a fabulously comforting thing, and one that will keep your guests coming back for more. The potato is scooped out and mashed with Gorgonzola, before being stuffed back in and served with rocket and mustard fruit (glacé fruits that are flavoured with mustard). Use up your Christmas cheese board leftovers and any soft herbs for a practical and budget-friendly option.
Your guests (of all ages!) will love these crispy spirals. Surprisingly easy to make, and dusted with smoked paprika, ground cumin, garlic powder and Parmesan cheese, they bring a burst of flavour to any festive gathering. Great with the lemon yoghurt, but feel free to serve alongside your favourite dips.
Easy to make, but there’s nothing basic about the flavours! These latkes are a beautiful canapé idea that you can serve with a whole range of Christmassy toppings. Crispy fried potato and onion topped with woody herbs such as sage, rosemary and thyme, finished with a spiced soured cream – what’s not to like?!
Crispy roast potatoes are a real treat. Hasselbacked, basted in butter, drizzled in honey and topped with Gorgonzola cheese – these really are next level. Be quick – they’ll be gone in seconds!
CHRISTMAS DAY SIDES
Christmas potatoes are the best, right? Try Jamie’s tip of gently squashing the potatoes part-way through cooking to create epic roasties with maximum crunch! Jamie chooses Maris Piper potatoes for their ability to create the perfect fluffy middle, so add them to your festive shop.
Cooking for an extended family at Christmas can be tricky when everyone has their favourite flavours. Jamie gives you options here: olive oil and rosemary; butter, sage and clementine; or goose fat, thyme and bay. There’s something here for everyone.
Calling all citrus lovers! These Christmas potatoes use orange, sage and garlic to pep them up. Perfect with duck, pork and turkey; you could have fun with this one and use any seasonal citrus fruit you like – blood oranges, clementines, mandarins or satsumas would all be great.
Christmas is the perfect time of year to indulge, so why not try these cheesy, creamy scalloped potatoes? Thin slices of potato are layered up and baked in a Gruyère and Cheddar cheese sauce. Perfect as an alternative to cauliflower cheese, or as part of a Boxing Day spread with cold meats.
Are you looking for a healthier alternative to potato dauphinoise? These Boulangère potatoes use vegetable stock instead of cream to create a warming dish with heaps of flavour. Feel free to use dried herbs here if you like, it’ll still be totally delicious.
We know how popular mashed potato is, and it’s the perfect accompaniment to your Christmas meal. This recipe uses celeriac and potato, which gives it a lovely earthy flavour; perfect for pairing with roasted veggies and meats, and for soaking up that all-important gravy. See Jamie’s tips for getting ahead with the prep.
Are you inspired to make some seriously elegant, fancy-looking sides this Christmas? Then these crispy layered potatoes are for you! Finely sliced potatoes are layered up and baked with rosemary and thyme, then weighed down overnight and cooked again for a golden, satisfying (and impressive) crunch.
A deliciously indulgent side, this potato al forno is so good that it can also make a lovely lunch – ideal with a fresh, crunchy salad to balance out all that Christmas creaminess. The sauce is a fragrant mix of anchovies, Parmesan cheese, nutmeg, bay and rosemary, which works so well with the potatoes, fennel and onions. A total treat.
Want to save time this Christmas but still deliver on flavour? Try Jamie’s easy potato dauphinoise, which is ready in under 30 minutes. A great recipe for low-key Christmas gatherings; these potatoes would be fantastic with a festive salmon, as well as braised or roasted veggies, such as cabbage, chard, beetroot and fennel.
BOXING DAY BRUNCH
Bubble and squeak is arguably the king of leftovers. Here, Jamie shares his tips for creating the ultimate crispy and golden gorgeousness. It’s great to have ticking away in the background while you get any other dishes ready for your Boxing Day brunch.
A comforting potato recipe for your Boxing Day brunch. These potato cakes are essentially fried mashed potato; so what’s not to love?! Beautiful with smoked salmon, a poached egg or, if you fancy, some leftover pigs-in-blankets and turkey.
For those of you seeking something a little spicy on Boxing Day, try this chorizo and potato hash. Perfect for using up leftover potatoes from Christmas Day, this one-pan dish is super easy to throw together. If you don’t have chorizo, try adding in leftover stuffing with a pinch of smoked paprika.
Are you planning on cooking roast beef this Christmas? This recipe is ideal for using up any leftover beef shin or brisket and mashed potato. It takes a little bit of time to coat the cakes in panko breadcrumbs, but it’s well worth the effort for these super crispy beauties! Fantastic with poached eggs.
Potatoes, smoked fish and horseradish are a seriously satisfying combo. Add in any soft herbs you have; a mixture of dill, parsley and chives is Jamie’s go-to. Super easy to throw together and budget-friendly to boot, it’s a fantastic way to kick off Boxing Day!
Want more inspiration on how to use spuds this Christmas? Check out our favourite potato recipes and how to cook roast potatoes articles.
For more Christmas party planning, check out Jamie’s beautiful celebration menu.
