Christmas dinner for 1 adult and 1 18 month old

[Aiguablava]

DS and I are going to be on our own for christmas this year and I really cannot be arsed making a full blown christmas dinner for just the two of us. I also won't have the time to dedicate to cooking anything time consuming if I'm looking after DS on my own so I'm wondering if there are any wintery alternatives that we could have instead. Ideally something that can be mostly prepared the day before and then just put in the oven on the day.

I once saw a vegetarian option on a christmas menu that was a sweet potato and pumpkin crumble or something similar and I thought that sounded nice. I'm looking for something along those lines that uses winter vegetables but could doesn't have to be vegetarian.

Has anyone got any tasty suggestions?

I’d definitely cheat in your shoes! Something like this Veggie Christmas dinner for £20 it’s pretty easy and would still be Festive. I’m pretty sure M&S or Waitrose do similar. Otherwise I’d probably do a steak or tuna steak so quick to cook with veg and carb of choice.

Sausage and root veg traybake realfood.tesco.com/recipes/sausage-and-veg-traybake-with-pesto-sauce.html
Sweet potato wreath www.waitrose.com/home/recipes/recipe_directory/t/the-happy-pear-svegansweetpotatoandcranberrywreath.html
Beetroot tarte tatin www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/beetroot-red-onion-tarte-tatin
Spiced butternut pithiviers www.sanjanafeasts.co.uk/blog/2015/10/spiced-butternut-and-cauliflower-cheese-pithiviers/

M and s. They do a lovely cauliflower cheese and Christmas individual puddings.

Asda do a complete roast dinner chicken thing which has a few pigs in blankets and a few stuffing balls. Would easily be shared between you two plus auntie Bessie roasts etc.
Keep it simple.

I’d personally do ready cooked slices of turkey (from deli counter) and then frozen roast potatoes or ready made mash and those pots of veg that you microwave etc
Or if feeling especially lazy the birds eye roast turkey microwave meal
And then id make sure I had nice cheese and crackers and my favourite chocolates and snacky bits in the fridge

I would do more a tapas kind of meal.

M&S do great selections, esp in M&S shops at garages. Pigs in blankets, veg sticks, dip, miniature puddings.

In your circumstances I would suggest looking at the frozen Christmas range in Lidl, really interesting looking dishes. If it end up just the two of us (adults) think I'll get the beef wellingtons myself with the red cabbage

Thanks for the suggestions. Will check out what is available at M&S and Lidl. The sausage and root vegetable traybake lools fabulous. I might try it out next week and if its a hit with DS it could be a christmas dinner contender.

If you went with the sausage tray bake you could wrap the sausages in bacon like pigs in blankets to make it a bit more Christmassy, actually I’d be tempted to chuck in a few cranberries too.

Mini roast from Aldi? Had it a couple of times and it’s quite nice and really easy to do. Then just add Yorkshire puddings (5 mins), frozen stuffing balls (it comes with them anyway but I love stuffing!), roasties and whatever veg you want.

What is your favourite things to eat that you don't have often?
Don't feel that you must have a roast just because it's Christmas.

In your shoes I'd be bunging a dauphinoise in the oven and having a fillet steak, with a minute steak for days or just the end of mine, with green beans and a mushroomy wine reduction.

Or a lobster: something that's a real treat!

Prawns and fish go really, really well with champagne .

If it was just me I'd have a decent steak too. If I wanted traditional I would go for a tray bake to reduce the faff. My local farm shop does a lovely chicken breast, stuffed and wrapped in bacon that my teens have requested this year. Makes it easy for me.

I’d also have a fillet steak and some luxurious potatoes. Maybe with roasted veg. So easy for 1, yet delicious.

In your shoes I would make a potato dauphinoise the day before and have it on Christmas Day with green beans and a slow cooked half shoulder of lamb. Lamb couldn't be easier to cook, sear it, put in a slow oven on a bed of sliced onions and a couple of carrots and a little bit of white wine leave it for hours. The lamb falls apart when done. Delish.

It's what we might end up having if the restrictions aren't lifted and we spend Christmas Day without the (adult) kids 😬

I'd make a beef casserole. Prepare with root veg day before and just shove in oven and let it blip away until it's in a thick and unctuous sauce, Dessertspoon black treacle helps make sauce thick and tasty. I'd treat myself and buy ready made mashed potato or have a thick slice of an artisan loaf. Boil a few Christmas sprouts if you can be bothered.

If it is only the two of you, what do you want to have?
There is nothing set in stone that says you have to go the whole hog with turkey, stuffing etc. etc.