The key to a successful no-oven Christmas dinner is smart planning. Think of your air fryer as the tool for crisping and roasting, and your slow cooker as the secret weapon for tender, flavour-packed mains and sides. Your festive menu might look something like this:

Mains:

Slow Cooker Gammon or Air Fryer Turkey Crown

Sides:

Air Fryer Roast Potatoes, Air Fryer Stuffing Balls, and Air Fryer Pigs in Blankets

Desserts:

Something quick and festive featuring festive drinks like Baileys

This mix gives you everything you’d expect from a traditional Christmas dinner… just cooked smarter, not harder.

Your air fryer is the star when it comes to crisp, golden edges and quick results. It takes care of everything that needs that perfect crunch or golden finish.

The slow cooker is your best friend for anything that benefits from low-and-slow cooking. It delivers unbeatable flavour, tender textures and frees you up to enjoy the day.

Here’s how to time it all perfectly without any stress:

Christmas Eve:

• Prep your gammon and get it into the slow cooker if you want it cooked ahead of time. It reheats beautifully the next day.
• Chop your potatoes and vegetables ready for the morning.

Christmas Morning:

• Start your slow cooker gammon early — around 8am if you want to eat at lunchtime.
• Add your slow cooker veggie sides about 3 hours before serving.

A few hours before dinner:

• Preheat your air fryer and get the turkey crown cooking.
• Once the turkey is done, wrap it in foil to rest and pop your air fryer roast potatoes straight in.

Closer to serving:

• Add your air fryer pigs in blankets and stuffing balls — they’ll be ready in around 15 minutes.
• Warm any sides if needed and plate up your stress-free air fryer and slow cooker Christmas dinner.

Can you cook a full Christmas dinner using an air fryer and slow cooker?

Yes! You can cook most of your Christmas dinner using an air fryer and slow cooker, making it easier to prepare everything without relying on your oven. The slow cooker is ideal for cooking turkey, gammon, red cabbage and other dishes that benefit from a longer cooking time, while the air fryer is perfect for crispy roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, stuffing balls, carrots and parsnips. You may still need your hob for gravy and sauces.

What is best to cook in an air fryer on Christmas Day?

An air fryer is brilliant for cooking Christmas dinner trimmings. Some of the best things to cook include:

– Crispy roast potatoes
– Carrots and parsnips
– Pigs in blankets
– Stuffing balls
– Brussels sprouts
– Roast potatoes
– Yorkshire puddings
– Christmas party appetisers

Air fryers are particularly good for foods you want to get crispy and golden without using lots of oil.

What can you cook in a slow cooker for Christmas dinner?

Your slow cooker is ideal for preparing some of the bigger parts of your Christmas dinner while freeing up space in the oven. You can use it to make:

– Slow cooker turkey crown
– Slow cooker gammon
– Red cabbage
– Braised carrots
– Christmas gravy
– Bread sauce
– Slow cooker Christmas pudding

You can get some of these dishes cooking in the morning and leave them to do their thing while you concentrate on the rest of Christmas dinner.

Can you cook a turkey crown in an air fryer?

Yes, a turkey crown can be cooked in an air fryer, provided it fits comfortably and you follow a suitable recipe. Always check that the thickest part of the turkey has reached a safe temperature before serving. A meat thermometer is particularly useful.

Can you cook roast potatoes in an air fryer on Christmas Day?

Air fryer roast potatoes are a great way to get crispy, golden potatoes without taking up valuable oven space. Parboil your potatoes first, drain well and give them a shake to rough up the edges. Toss with a little oil or goose fat, season well and air fry at around 200°C for 25–30 minutes, shaking the basket regularly. Cook in batches if needed so they have enough room to crisp up.

Can you prepare Christmas dinner the day before?

Yes. Preparing as much as possible on Christmas Eve will make Christmas Day much easier. You can:

– Peel and chop your potatoes and store them in cold water in the fridge.
– Prepare your carrots and parsnips.
– Make your stuffing balls.
– Prepare pigs in blankets.
– Make your gravy and cranberry sauce.
– Prepare any slow cooker ingredients so they are ready to go.

Store prepared ingredients safely in the fridge and follow individual recipe storage instructions.

How do you keep Christmas dinner warm while cooking everything?

One of the biggest challenges when cooking Christmas dinner is getting everything ready at the same time. You can keep cooked food warm in a suitably low oven or use an appliance’s keep-warm function where appropriate. Avoid leaving cooked food sitting at room temperature for long periods. Serve food as soon as possible and keep hot food properly hot.

Is it cheaper to cook Christmas dinner in an air fryer and slow cooker?

Using an air fryer and slow cooker can help reduce energy usage compared with relying on a full-sized oven for every dish. However, the actual savings depend on your appliance, cooking time, electricity tariff and how much food you’re preparing. Air fryers are particularly useful for smaller portions and quicker-cooking sides.

How do you make gravy for Christmas dinner without an oven?

You can make delicious Christmas gravy on the hob without needing an oven. Use turkey or chicken stock, meat juices if available, a little flour or cornflour to thicken and season with black pepper and herbs. You can also add a splash of Worcestershire sauce for extra flavour.

Can you cook Christmas dinner for a large family using an air fryer?

Yes, but you’ll need to plan around the size and capacity of your air fryer. Larger families may need to cook certain foods in batches, particularly roast potatoes and vegetables. Using a slow cooker for the main meat and an air fryer for the trimmings can help you prepare a bigger meal without overcrowding your kitchen.

What temperature should turkey be cooked to?

Turkey should be thoroughly cooked before serving. The Food Standards Agency recommends that the centre of poultry reaches 75°C for 30 seconds, or an equivalent safe time and temperature combination. Always check the thickest part with a clean food thermometer and follow the cooking instructions for your particular turkey joint.

Can you reheat Christmas dinner leftovers in an air fryer?

Yes. An air fryer is handy for reheating leftover roast potatoes, pigs in blankets and other trimmings. Make sure leftovers have been refrigerated promptly, ideally within two hours of cooking, and only reheat them once until steaming hot throughout.

The best part of Christmas? The leftovers! And both your gadgets make it easy to turn them into new meals.

• Air Fryer Christmas Toasties: Load leftover turkey and stuffing into a sandwich, air fry until crisp and gooey.
• Slow Cooker Turkey Curry: Add leftover meat to your slow cooker curry sauce for a delicious fakeaway style dinner.
• Slow Cooker Soup: Use leftover veg and stock to make a warming winter soup.

Cooking Christmas dinner doesn’t have to mean chaos. With just an air fryer and a slow cooker, you can serve up a full festive feast — tender meat, crispy sides and all the trimmings — without ever touching the oven. These air fryer Christmas dinner and slow cooker Christmas dinner recipes are proof that with a little planning, you can have all the flavour of a traditional Christmas meal, minus the stress (and washing up).

So plug in your gadgets, pour yourself a festive drink, and get ready for your easiest, most relaxed Christmas yet!!

Nathan 🙂