Best Christmas food of 2022 ranked in new taste test - with Asda crowned top for turkey

The winners of the annual BBC Good Food Christmas supermarket taste test have been revealed - with Asda taking the crown for best turkey.

The supermarket was praised for its £19.95 roast-in-the-bag turkey crown with pork, sage and onion stuffing and beechwood smoked bacon.

Judges said the bacon on top "helps keep the turkey moist" and praised "the welcome addition of stuffing inside".

"The meat has a good texture and is well seasoned," they said.

Lidl was named best supermarket for pigs in blankets, with their Deluxe range porkers - which didn't have a price at the time of the taste test - branded "a clear winner".

Iceland came first for its £1.75 turkey gravy, described as having "stand-out" flavour that is both "sweet and herby".

Asda also came first for best vegan main for its £5 Extra Special vegan wellington - meaning it scooped two accolades in total.

M&S secured the most wins - six in total - for best vegetarian main, Christmas pudding, classic mince pies, gluten-free mince pies, stollen and hot canapés.

Sainsbury's won three categories outright - best gammon, fish centrepiece and vegan dessert - and came joint first for best alternative Christmas main and showstopper dessert.

Waitrose was top for cranberry sauce and Christmas cake, and came joint first for alternative Christmas main.

Tesco and Aldi both secured just one winner each - best panettone and best flavoured mince pies, respectively.

Lidl was named best supermarket for pigs in blankets (BBC Good Food)

Judges looked at 225 products in 23 categories from 13 supermarkets to find the best Christmas food. You can see the full list of winners below.

BBC Good Food Editor in Chief, Christine Hayes, said: “Our BBC Good Food Christmas Taste Awards are an annual tradition designed to help everyone spend wisely and eat well over the festive season.

“Our experts taste the widest range of products possible to arrive at the best and, as everyone is thinking carefully about their spending, our trusted guide to what to buy is more valuable than ever.

“The supermarkets raise their game every year and the range and quality on offer this year, catering to lots of different diets, are no exception, there are excellently priced products that everyone can enjoy.

“Our BBC Good Food Christmas Taste Awards, along with our tips, advice and thoroughly-tested recipes, will help everyone enjoy new and old festive traditions as they celebrate this Christmas season.”

Turkey

• Winner: Asda roast-in-the-bag turkey crown with pork, sage and onion stuffing with beechwood smoked bacon £19.95 (1.5kg)

Pigs in blankets

• Winner: Lidl Deluxe pigs in blankets (210g)

Gravy

• Winner: Iceland Luxury turkey gravy £1.75 (350g)

Vegetarian main

• Winner: M&S rustic potato, caramelised onion and brie pie £8.00 (500g)

Vegan main

• Winner: Asda Extra Special vegan wellington, £5 (500g)

Gammon

• Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference mulled cider glazed gammon £15 (1.3kg)

Alternative Christmas main

• Joint Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference British boneless rib of beef with mustard & horseradish glaze 1.7kg
• Joint Winner: Waitrose slow cooked ultimate crackling pork belly seast £30 (1.7kg)

Cranberry sauce

• Winner: Waitrose Christmas cranberry sauce £2.25 (300g)

Fish centrepiece

• Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Scottish salmon side £16 (750g)

Smoked salmon

• Winner: Booths triple-smoked salmon side £45 (1kg)

Christmas pudding

• Winner: M&S Collection perfectly matured cherry & orange wreath £12.00 (907g)

Panettone

• Winner: Tesco Finest tiramisu panettone, £10 (750g)

Budget sharing dessert

• Winner: Co-op Irresistible nuts about chocolate star, £6 (571g)

Showstopper dessert

• Joint Winner: Morrison’s The Best passion fruit panna cotta star £7.00 (651g)
• Joint Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference festive Belgian chocolate and salted caramel wreath £12 (650g)

Vegan dessert

• Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference quadruple chocolate cookie no-cheesecake, £6 (500g)

Classic mince pies

• Winner: M&S Collection mince pies, £3.00 (334g)

Flavoured mince pies

• Winner: Aldi Specially Selected rum and salted caramel mince pies, £2.49 (275g)

Gluten-free mince pies

• Winner: M&S made without wheat gluten free mince pies £2.50 (205g)

Christmas cake

• Winner: Waitrose No. 1 Rich fruit cake £18.50 (1.5kg)

Stollen

• Winner: M&S Collections stollen loaf, £7.00 (580g)

Cold canapé

• Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference king prawn mocktails, £5 (75g)

Hot canapé

• Winner: M&S 10 mini steak sandwiches, £7.00

Prices correct at the of the Christmas taste test being released.