Air Fryer Christmas Dinner: A One-Hour Festive Feast (Expert Recipe)

## Air Fryer Christmas Dinner: A One-Hour Festive Feast (Expert Recipe)

Forget hours slaving over a hot stove this Christmas! Air fryer expert and bestselling author Sam Milner shares her revolutionary method for creating a complete, mouthwatering Christmas dinner in a mere 60 minutes. Having mastered the art of air frying since 2012, long before the trend took off, Sam has perfected this time-saving technique, transforming holiday cooking from a marathon into a sprint.

Sam’s journey into air fryer mastery began with simple experiments, gradually incorporating more and more dishes into her repertoire. Christmas became a particularly exciting time to showcase the air fryer’s versatility, starting with pigs in blankets, stuffing, and roast potatoes – and expanding to include mince pies, Christmas cake, cauliflower cheese, and even prepped side dishes for effortless last-minute cooking.

“Two years ago, we even tackled a turducken in the air fryer!” Sam exclaims, highlighting her impressive experience with roasting larger cuts of meat like chicken, turkey crowns, lamb, and gammon. But for ultimate convenience in a single air fryer, Sam recommends focusing on a whole chicken for the centerpiece of your one-hour feast.

The Genius of the All-in-One Air Fryer Christmas Dinner:

This recipe is designed for a small, square-shaped air fryer, but owners of larger, dual-basket models can expect even faster cooking times. Sam’s method cleverly utilizes the space around the chicken to simultaneously cook various components of the meal. The result? A complete Christmas dinner that serves four (or two with generous leftovers) with minimal fuss.

Time-Saving Shortcuts:

To maximize efficiency, consider using pre-made pigs in blankets and stuffing balls. This reduces prep time significantly, leaving you with even more time to relax and enjoy the holiday season. The capacity of your air fryer will determine how much you can cook at once, so keep your model’s size in mind.

Ingredients:

*

For the Vegetables:

Four medium carrots, four medium parsnips, 2 ½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, salt and black pepper.
*

For the Chicken:

One medium whole chicken (giblets removed), 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon dried parsley.
*

For the Brussels Sprouts:

225g Brussels sprouts, ½ tablespoon balsamic vinegar, ½ tablespoon maple syrup, 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning, ½ tablespoon olive oil, salt and pepper.
*

For the Roast Potatoes:

900g medium red potatoes, 1 tablespoon duck or goose fat, 2 teaspoons dried rosemary, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, a pinch of mustard powder, salt and pepper.
*

For the Pigs in Blankets:

Four slices smoked streaky bacon, eight cocktail sausages.
*

For the Stuffing Balls:

340g pork sausage meat, ½ medium onion (diced), 2 teaspoons dried mixed herbs, 2 teaspoons dried thyme, 2 teaspoons dried parsley, 2 large eggs, 120g fresh breadcrumbs, salt and pepper.
*

For the Honey Glaze:

1 tablespoon clear honey

Method:

1.

Prepare the Vegetables:

Peel and slice the carrots and parsnips into sticks. Toss with 1 tbsp olive oil, thyme, salt, and pepper.
2.

Prepare the Chicken:

Place the chicken breast-side down on a board and rub with 1 ½ tbsp olive oil, garlic powder, and parsley.
3.

First Air Fry:

Place carrots, parsnips, and chicken (breast-side down) in the air fryer. Cook at 180°C (350°F) for 25 minutes.
4.

Prepare the Sides:

While the chicken cooks, prepare the pigs in blankets (wrap sausages in bacon), stuffing balls (mix ingredients, roll into balls), and roast potatoes (toss potatoes with duck fat, herbs, and seasoning).
5.

Second Air Fry:

Remove the chicken and place stuffing balls over the vegetables. Cook at 180°C for 5 minutes.
6.

Prepare the Sprouts:

Toss sprouts with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
7.

Third Air Fry:

Remove stuffing and vegetables. Return chicken (breast-side up) and add remaining oil/seasoning. Add potatoes and sprouts to any gaps. Cook at 180°C for 20 minutes, or until chicken reaches 70°C (158°F).
8.

Final Air Fry:

Remove chicken and rest. Add pigs in blankets to the air fryer with the sprouts and potatoes for 5 minutes. Add stuffing, carrots, and parsnips to the air fryer, tossing carrots and parsnips in honey, and cook for 5 minutes.
9.

Serve:

Carve the chicken and serve with all the sides. Enjoy your delicious, stress-free Christmas dinner!

Sam’s expertise extends beyond this single recipe. Her books, *The Complete Air Fryer Cookbook* (a Sunday Times bestseller) and *Air Fryer Easy Every Day*, along with her popular website RecipeThis.com (over one million monthly visits!), offer a wealth of air fryer inspiration. This Christmas, make air frying your secret weapon for a truly unforgettable holiday meal!