Your Last minute Christmas kitchen Reset (+ Free checklist and menu planner)
Christmas cooking has a way of taking over the whole house…. there is Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas morning breakfast, the main event, pudding, snacks and the “what is everyone eating tomorrow?” question that hangs around all week.
On top of that you might be hosting extra people, sharing an oven, wrapping presents on the kitchen table and trying to keep kids from bouncing off the walls.
No wonder so many of us end up stuck in the kitchen while everyone else is on the sofa with new toys and gadgets.
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Anyhoo, I’m hear to brighten your day by telling you that you do not need a chef level plan to get sorted in a more streamlined way. You just need one focused hour and a simple way to get your Christmas menu out of your head and onto paper. (This is the Christmas Menu I swear by)..
That is where a Last Minute Christmas Kitchen reset comes in… and if you scroll to the end of this post you can grab our free Last Minute Christmas Kitchen Checklist & Menu Planner printable.
Why a 60 minute Christmas kitchen reset works
Trying to keep a whole Christmas menu in your head is exhausting. You keep thinking “did I remember the potatoes”, “where will the drinks go”, “is there any space in the fridge” and never quite feel on top of it.
A 60 minute reset lets you stop thinking about everything at once and just do the next right job.
The Christmas Kitchen Checklist breaks that hour into four 15 minute chunks. You can use it a couple of days before, on Christmas Eve once the kids are in bed, or on the morning itself if that is when you finally get a quiet window.
You set a timer, start at the top of the list and tick things off. No overthinking, no “where do I even start”.
0–15 minutes clear space and reset the fridge
The first block is all about fast wins.
You do a quick fridge clear, group drinks together, move condiments to the doors and wipe the shelves you have cleared. You clear one main prep worktop and make sure the sink is not stacked with dishes.
You also pull out serving platters, boards and big bowls so you are not rummaging for them with hot dishes in your hands.
Nothing here is fancy, but it is the difference between fighting with your kitchen and feeling like you actually have room to cook.
15–30 minutes chop, prep and pre measure
This is the unglamorous part that pays off the most.
In this block you chop onions, celery, carrots and any garlic you need. You prep potatoes and other veg for roasting or sides and pack them into containers or bags for the fridge.
You label everything so you know what is what, then pre measure ingredients for stuffing, casseroles, bakes and desserts.
Once this chunk is done, Christmas Day is mostly assembly rather than full on from scratch cooking.
30–45 minutes make one make ahead star
The next block is about choosing one hero dish and getting it completely ready.
The checklist gives you ideas like:
- Stuffing or dressing mixed in its baking dish, covered in the fridge
- A veg or potato bake assembled, ready to go in the oven
- Roast potatoes or veg par boiled, ready to crisp
- Dessert baked or assembled, ready to chill
- Cranberry sauce or gravy made ahead
You do not have to do them all. You choose the one that will make you feel instantly calmer once it is ticked off and give it the full 15 minutes.
There is also space for your own custom tasks if your family always has a particular side or pudding.
45–60 minutes set up stations for Christmas Day
The final block is all about making the day itself feel easier.
You set up a simple Christmas morning breakfast and coffee station so everyone knows where to go first thing. You set out mugs, spoons, tea, coffee and some easy breakfast bits in one place.
You create a drinks zone with glasses and kids cups ready, plus a spot for bottles and an ice bucket or cooler.
Then you pull out serving dishes and label them with sticky notes so you know what goes where when everything is ready.
By the end of the hour the kitchen is reset, key jobs are done and your future self is going to be very happy.
Bringing your Christmas menu together
The second part of our printable is a Christmas Menu Planner.
It has simple boxes for starters, mains, sides, desserts and drinks so you can see your whole plan at a glance. No extra fluff, just the bits that matter.
You can use it to sanity check your ideas. If you write down four different puddings and six sides and it feels too much, you can cross a couple out before you have bought or cooked them.
It is also really helpful if you are sharing the cooking. You can show the menu to a partner or relative and say “pick one of these to own” instead of trying to remember everything in conversation.
How to use the Christmas Kitchen Checklist and Menu Planner
To get the most out of it:
- Print the Last Minute Christmas Kitchen Checklist & Menu Planner
- Stick the checklist somewhere you can see it easily in the kitchen
- Pop the menu planner on the fridge
- Set a 60 minute timer for your kitchen power hour
- Tick off each task as you go
- Fill in your menu as you decide what is actually happening
You can hand a pen to a helpful older child or partner and ask them to be in charge of ticking things off or setting up one of the stations.
Once that hour is done and your menu is on paper, you can close the recipe tabs, stop mentally juggling side dishes and go back to actually enjoying the run up to Christmas.
Grab your Christmas Kitchen Last Minute Checklist And Meal Planner
Use this link: to instantly download your printable Christmas Kitchen Checklist and Meal Planner
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Hello, I’m Luci, founder of Mums Make Lists. The site is full of useful and fun ideas for life and seasonal celebrations. Plus a growing selection of instantly downloadable fun printables and party planners. Read more.