For many, the centrepiece of Christmas Day is a magnificent roast dinner, but preparing it can be a source of immense stress. Supermarket Iceland aims to solve that problem with its popular Christmas dinner in a box, which is back for the 2025 festive season. Priced at just £25 for four people, it promises a complete feast with minimal fuss. Lifestyle editor Rebecca Koncienzcy put the deal to the test to see if it delivers a festive triumph.
What's Inside The £25 Festive Box?
The Iceland Christmas dinner box is a carefully curated selection designed to feed a family of four. For your money, you receive a turkey crown, pigs in blankets, roast potatoes, luxury parsnips, carrots, Brussels sprouts, pork stuffing balls, and gravy. Notably, the price has been held from last year, and an extra item—the stuffing balls—has been added to the package for 2025. The box is available to purchase both in-store and online via Iceland's website.
Cooking & Convenience: A Stress-Free Guide
One of the standout features praised in the review is the meticulously planned cooking instructions. The box includes a clear, step-by-step guide with timer settings, detailing exactly when to put each component into the oven. This "set and forget" oven method is recommended for ultimate simplicity, allowing the cook to socialise rather than slave over the hob.
The process begins with the turkey crown. While that roasts, the cook can relax. Later, the roast potatoes and parsnips join the oven. Only the carrots and sprouts require attention on the hob towards the end, adding a small touch of homemade authenticity. The gravy is simply heated in the microwave, making the entire process remarkably straightforward and anxiety-free.
Flavour Verdict: Hits And One Notable Miss
On the taste front, the Iceland box received high marks for several key components. The turkey was found to be succulent and delicious, with generous portions. The pigs in blankets were a hit, featuring plump sausages and crispy bacon. The roast potatoes earned particular praise for their crispy exterior and fluffy interior, deemed superior to some well-known branded alternatives.
The luxury parsnips, glazed and caramelised, were a surprising success even for non-parsnip fans. The fresh carrots and sprouts provided a sweet and salty contrast, and the shop-bought gravy was described as tasty with herby notes. However, the new addition of pork stuffing balls didn't resonate with the reviewer, who is a fan of traditional sage and onion stuffing and felt the meal was already meat-heavy.
This leads to the reviewer's primary critique: the conspicuous absence of Yorkshire puddings. While not universal on every Christmas table, for households where they are a staple, their omission was keenly felt. The reviewer suggests quickly cooking some in an air fryer to complete the meal.
Final Conclusions & Value For Money
Overall, Iceland's Christmas dinner box is hailed as a foolproof and excellent-value option for easing Christmas Day pressure. The instructions are brilliantly clear, and portions are so generous that leftovers for Boxing Day sandwiches are almost guaranteed. The fact that Iceland has maintained the £25 price point while adding an item is commended.
Rebecca Koncienzcy awarded the box a solid nine out of ten, marking it down primarily for the personal preference on the stuffing and, crucially, the lack of Yorkshires. She concludes that it's one of Iceland's finest deals and even suggests it should be made available year-round to revolutionise Sunday roasts. For anyone dreading the Christmas kitchen marathon, this £25 box presents a compelling, stress-relieving alternative.
