Pigs in Blankets and Roasties are the UK’s Favourite Christmas Dinner Must-Haves

The supporting side dishes are the showstopping stars for Christmas dinners in 2025, a brand new survey has revealed. Roast turkey has long been the centrepiece of a classic British Christmas dinner however, it seems it’s no longer the favourite and has been dethroned by its festive sidekicks: pigs in blankets, roasties, and stuffing.

Commissioned by artisan fresh pasta and restaurant brand Pasta Evangelists and
conducted by YouGov, here’s what the survey revealed:

• Pigs in blankets is the preferred meaty element of a Christmas dinner taking 62% of the
  votes
• Over half of those who prefer them, (55%) agree there should be more Pigs in blankets at
  Christmas lunch
• Yorkshire puddings do belong on a Christmas dinner based on over half (58%) preferring
  them
• Brussels sprouts are still a popular side dish (52%)
• Non-traditional carbs are creeping in as a selection of under 45-year-olds who celebrate
  Christmas see chips, rice, and mac & cheese as worthy additions (24%

The festive trimmings and sides took the top spots with some surprising contenders, while turkey didn’t even make it into the top three. When it comes to the top meat trimmings, pigs in blankets are a firm favourite with 62% choosing it as their preferred part of the plate, and among them, 55% agreeing that there should be more pigs in blankets at Christmas lunch.

But why does this matter? One British Italian brand with a growing high street presence is determined to help pigs in blankets remain the star of the show this Christmas thanks to the launch of a novel new dish – Pigs in Blankets Ravioli.

And there were a few more surprising results that came up in the research: Roast potatoes came in at the official number one item on the Christmas dinner plate with 82% selecting it as a preferred Christmas lunch item. Other hero festive trimmings were Brussels sprouts with over half (52%) of the British public choosing it, alongside stuffing with 63%. The big debate of a Yorkshire pudding on a Christmas dinner has finally been settled as it seems majority of us are all for it, as 58% confirm that they are needed on the plate.

The survey was conducted by YouGov and commissioned by Pasta Evangelists in festive-food celebration as one of the UK’s favourite festive trimmings gets an Italian twist. Pasta Evangelists is launching Pigs in Blankets Ravioli, a British-Italian fusion dish, as part of its Christmas menu for 2025. This will be available from 20th November on the restaurant’s mouthwatering Christmas menu.

Pasta Evangelists’ festive take sees plump ravioli parcels filled with pigs in blankets and dressed in a luscious cranberry & sage butter. A Christmas crowd-pleaser as well as a festive centrepiece designed to surprise, delight, and get people talking at the table. The star dish will join a lineup of several exciting festive dishes on the new limited-edition menu:

• Pigs in Blankets Ravioli: This season’s star of the show and Pasta Evangelists’ lead festive dish.
• Festive Squash & Chestnut Agnolotti (v): A vegetarian delight, this has agnolotti stuffed with roasted squash and chestnut, served in cranberry & sage butter.
• Black Truffle & Burrata Soli: The most indulgent festive creation. Soli filled with black truffle and
  burrata and dressed in a decadent truffled cacio e pepe sauce.
• Vegan Nut Roast Lasagne (vg): A plant-based showstopper that’s as hearty as it is festive. Layers of
  rich vegan nut roast bedded between creamy pasta sheets for the ultimate vegan centrepiece.

Pasta Evangelists’ Christmas range is available now across all dine-in restaurants, including Harrods Dining Hall and Food Hall until early January. You can even learn how to make these seasonal specials in limited-edition classes at the top-rated Pasta Academy across seven locations until 30th December.

Book online at www.pastaevangelists.com