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Christmas dinner for 4, no oven (but slow cooker/airfryer)

14 replies

ColouringPencils · 14/12/2024 09:52

Looking for inspiration as our oven has broken. There are only 4 of us (me, DH and 2 teenagers), all pretty relaxed about what the meal should contain and so I am trying to see this as a challenge, rather than a disaster.

I have the following:

  • airfryer (2 drawer style)
  • slow cooker
  • hob
  • microwave

Currently thinking I could do a ham or beef in the slow cooker, roast potatoes in the airfryer, cauliflower cheese on hob, finished off in airfryer. Veg on the hob - probably steamed broccoli and carrots, red cabbage and a stir fry sprout dish.

Alternatively, could do a chicken and pigs in blankets in the airfryer, but then would probably have to have mash instead of roast potatoes, which might be sad!

I could also do a ham on Christmas eve to have cold with another meat. I haven't done it but think you could cook it on hob/ airfyer. Would chicken drumsticks seem lame? Probably.

Any other ideas? I think my main concern is keeping things warm without an oven. I could probably have 1 or 2 fewer veg, as there are only 4 of us. But we do like them and the leftovers will be used for bubble and squeak and soup. Does it seem like too much?

OP posts:
ColouringPencils · 14/12/2024 09:57

Another option could be to have steak as the meat, which would free up the airfryer for potatoes/ sides...

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TheLadyIsAVamp · 14/12/2024 14:07

I would do beef brisket in the slow cooker because I love it, buy some decent Yorkshire puddings though as I don't think they work in the air fryer. I love roast potatoes done in the air fryer, glazed carrots and parsnips could also go in. I've done a gammon joint in mine too and it worked really well.

Doggymummar · 14/12/2024 14:32

We did Christmas dinner in the ninja last year and will again this year. It's been a whole year since we used the oven. I did the meat in batches in the run up as we had turkey beef pork and gammon, microwave steamer for the veg and then roasties parsnips stuffing pugs in blankets live on the day. Warmed the meat up in gravy on the hob.

TiredEyesToday · 14/12/2024 14:36

It’s really fine- I’ve done it for the last two years as oven is shit.

I actually went maverick and bought a huge decent cut of steak from my butcher and did on the hob- served
2 adults and a child easily- roast potatoes and pigs in blankets in the air fryer in two batches, red cabbage and broccoli on the hob. I’m doing the same again this year.

TiredEyesToday · 14/12/2024 14:37

also the steak was really delicious, and because I wasn’t buying huge joints etc. was able to splurge on something really good

mindutopia · 14/12/2024 14:39

I personally would struggle to do anything but turkey/chicken for Christmas. Ham I do for Boxing Day or New Year’s. Beef is any other Sunday roast.

What I would do is do the chicken in the air fryer, then take out to rest under foil and a towel. Then cook (aunt Bessie’s) roast potatoes and pigs in blankets. You can time them to finish at the same time. Cook all veg on cooker top. Chicken will still be warm and juicy because it’s been rested. Lots of hot gravy too.

mistification · 14/12/2024 14:42

I'd go with chicken thighs and pigs in blankets in the air fryer, wrap in foil to keep warm then use it for the roast potatoes. You could do them and the cauli cheese first then pop them back in on max crisp for a couple of minutes once the chicken and pigs are done.

TwixForTea · 14/12/2024 14:46

I’d do pork with crackling in the airfryer - then leave it to rest until the potatoes are done (in my experience they only take 15 mins to crisp in an airfryer).

Red cabbage, make ahead on the hob and warm through in the microwave.

in the shallow airfryer drawer I’d make stuffing - fry an onion with a little garlic and in some of the pork fat that has come off the meat, mix in seasoned rough fresh breadcrumbs from a good sourdough loaf and plenty of sage, loosely squeeze it together (but don’t force it into balls) and then pop it in the airfryer to sizzle. Insanely unhealthy but it tastes amazing, the whole thing will just be a huge crunch fest.

All the veg on the hob.

Unescorted · 14/12/2024 14:48

You could almost cook the potatoes/ vegetables to finishing and then when your meat is finished double wrap in foil to rest leaving the airfryer free to finish the vege If you want turkey do a boneless roll in the airfryer.

Troubledwords · 14/12/2024 16:25

I'd do either duck breast on the hob, might be tricky with 4 though, or beef in the slow cooker, leaving the airfryer free for roast potatoes, roasted veg, and Yorkshire puds if doing.

Chickdaft · 15/12/2024 03:14

Could pop a turkey crown in the slow cooker, just bit of butter and herbs if it fits. Decant juices into a pan for gravy later and cover the crown on a tray with foil and towel to keep hot.
Then veg on the hob, par boil the spuds then coat in oil and air fry, same with pigs in blankets.
Easy done.

AlmostFingDone · 15/12/2024 03:26

I’m quite attached to turkey at Christmas so I’d probably do a crown in the slow cooker.

Air fryer is great for roast potatoes and pigs in blankets.

I wouldn’t worry too much about keeping things warm. Pour piping hot gravy over the lot when served!

Maddy70 · 15/12/2024 03:27

Turkey steaks and roasties in air fryer

ColouringPencils · 15/12/2024 10:39

Thank you all for your suggestions, and for nobody saying it will be terrible!

Slow cooker turkey crown... do you just brown it in a frying pan and not have to use the oven at all?

Currently quite tempted by either steak or pan fried chicken breast. But then, there won't be any leftovers...

I think my main priority for the airfryer is potatoes.

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