Plan the perfect Christmas menu with this handy guide

If you want to make the perfectly sized Christmas feast this year, this handy guide will make sure nobody goes hungry at your table.

Select the number of people you’re cooking for and plan your meal to perfection with this handy guide from taste.com.au.

From planning the size of your turkey to ensuring you have enough gravy, this guide will be your holy grail this holiday season.

What size turkey do I need?

• 4 to 6 people – 2.5kg/Size 25

• 8 to 10 people – 4.5kg/Size 45

• 10 to 12 people – 6.75kg/Size 67

• 15 to 20 people – 9kg/Size 90

This roast turkey with pancetta stuffing is sure to be a hit (see recipe link at end of article).

What size ham should I cook?

• 10 to 14 serves – 3kg

• 12 to 16 serves – 4kg

• 15 to 20 serves – 5kg

• 18 to 22 serves – 6kg

• 20 to 25 serves – 7kg

• 23 to 27 serves – 8kg

A perfect roast ham is essential (see recipe link at end of article).

How many canapes should I make?

•2 to 4 people – 28 to 56 pieces

•5 to 8 people – 70 to 112 pieces

•9 to 12 people – 126 to 168 pieces

•13 to 16 people – 182 to 224 pieces

•17 to 20 people – 238 to 280 pieces

•21 to 24 people – 294 to 336 pieces

•25 to 28 people – 350 to 392 pieces

•29 to 32 people – 406 to 448 pieces

•33 to 36 people – 462 to 504 pieces

•37 to 40 people – 518 to 560 pieces

These prawn cocktail canapes are a crowd pleaser (see recipe link at end of article).

How much gravy do I need?

• 2 to 4 people – 120mls to 240mls

• 5 to 8 people – 300mls to 480mls

• 9 to 12 people – 540mls to 720mls

• 13 to 16 people – 780mls to 960mls

• 17 to 20 people – 1020mls to 1.2L

• 21 to 24 people – 1.26L to 1.44L

• 25 to 28 people – 1.5L to 1.68L

• 29 to 32 people – 1.74L to 1.92L

• 33 to 36 people – 1.98L to 2.16L

• 37 to 40 people – 2.22L to 2.4L

Every roast needs a flavoursome gravy (see recipe link at end of article).

How much potato salad do I need?

• 2 to 4 people – 500g to 900g

• 5 to 8 people – 1kg to 1.4kg

• 9 to 12 people – 1.5kg to 1.9kg

• 13 to 16 people – 2kg to 2.4kg

• 17 to 20 people – 2.5kg to 2.9kg

• 21 to 24 people – 3kg to 3.4kg

• 25 to 28 people – 3.5kg to 3.9kg

• 29 to 32 people – 4kg to 4.4kg

• 33 to 36 people – 4.5kg to 4.9kg

• 37 to 40 people – 5kg to 5.4kg

Who said potato salad had to be boring? (See recipe link at end of article).

Cooking times

How long to cook ham with a bone?

• 6 people – 30 mins at 180C (1.5-1.6kg)

• 8 people – 40 mins at 180C (2kg)

• 10 people – 50 mins at 180C (2.5kg)

• 12 people – 1 hour at 180C (3kg)

• 14 people – 1 hour 10 mins at 180C (3.5kg)

• 16 people – 1 hour 20 mins at 180C (4kg)

• 18 people – 1 hour 30 mins at 180C (4.5kg)

• 20 people – 1 hour 40 mins at 180C (5kg)

• 22 people – 1 hour 50 mins at 180C (5.5kg)

• 24 people – 2 hours at 180C (6kg)

• 26 people – 2 hours 10 mins at 180C (6.5kg)

Try this pineapple maple-glazed ham (see recipe link at end of article).

How long to cook ham withouta bone?

• 6 people – 30 mins at 180C (1.3kg)

• 8 people – 40 mins at 180C (1.6kg)

• 10 people – 50 mins at 180C (2kg)

• 12 people – 1 hour at 180C (2.4kg)

• 14 people – 1 hour 10 mins at 180C (2.8kg)

• 16 people – 1 hour 20 mins at 180C (3.2kg)

• 18 people – 1 hour 30 mins at 180C (3.6kg)

• 20 people – 1 hour 40 mins at 180C (4kg)

• 22 people – 1 hour 50 mins at 180C (4.4kg)

• 24 people – 2 hours at 180C (4.8kg)

• 26 people – 2 hours 10 mins at 180C (5.2kg)

Level up your Christmas ham with ginger and maple syrup (see recipe link at end of article).

How long to pork roast with a bone?

• 6 people – 1 hour 15 mins at 180C (1.6kg)

• 8 people – 1 hour 30 mins at 180C (2kg)

• 10 people – 1 hour 50 mins at 180C (2.5kg)

• 12 people – 2 hours 15 mins at 180C (3kg)

• 14 people – 2 hours 35 mins at 180C (3.5kg)

• 16 people – 3 hours at 180C (4kg)

• 18 people – 3 hours 20 mins at 180C (4.5kg)

• 20 people – 3 hours 45 mins at 180C (5kg)

• 22 people – 4 hours 10 mins at 180C (5.5kg)

• 24 people – 4 hours 30 mins at 180C (6kg)

• 26 people – 4 hours 50 mins at 180C (6.5kg)

Try this delicious spiced roast pork recipe (see recipe link at end of article).

How long to pork roast without a bone?

• 6 people – 1 hour 15 mins at 180C (1.3kg)

• 8 people – 1 hour 30 mins at 180C (1.6kg)

• 10 people – 1 hour 50 mins at 180C (2kg)

• 12 people – 2 hours 15 mins at 180C (2.4kg)

• 14 people – 2 hours 35 mins at 180C (2.8kg)

• 16 people – 3 hours at 180C (3.2kg)

• 18 people – 3 hours 20 mins at 180C (3.6kg)

• 20 people – 3 hours 45 mins at 180C (4kg)

• 22 people – 4 hours 10 mins at 180C (4.4kg)

• 24 people – 4 hours 30 mins at 180C (4.8kg)

• 26 people – 4 hours 50 mins at 180C (5.2kg)

Nothing beats slow roasted pork (see end of article for recipe link).

Top recipes for a Christmas feast

Roast turkey with pancetta stuffing

Christmas ham with rhubarb-ginger glaze

Every Christmas canape recipe you’ll ever need

Classic gravy

Australia’s best potato salads

See also

Pineapple maple-glazed ham

Christmas ham with ginger and maple syrup

Spiced roast pork

Slow roasted pork

Originally published as Plan the perfect Christmas menu with this handy guide