Young Brits ditching xmas dinner for pizza, curry and pasta for Festive lunch

For those still planning a roast, pigs in blankets remains the most popular add-on but some of us even put CHIPS as a side dish on the big day

Young Brits are ditching the traditional turkey this Christmas and will serve up pizza, curry or pasta instead.

Almost a fifth plan to mix things up with easier food so they won’t spend hours slaving in the kitchen, Tesco’s festive trends research shows. Just 52% of adults plan to cook a turkey with all the trimmings as folk opt for grub that can be cooked in advance so they can enjoy celebrating with friends and family instead.

Tesco boss Ashwin Prasad said: “This year, many people will be experimenting with what they’ll be serving and going beyond the traditional turkey.”

For those still planning a roast, pigs in blankets remains the most popular add-on. But Gen Z are throwing a spanner in the works again, with a third preferring rice or 23% picking chips as their favourite side.

Brits still love a get-together over Christmas, with almost three quarters expecting to host at some point over the festive period. But many are also quitting booze, with almost a third saying they plan to drink less this year than last.

The average table size for Christmas in the UK will be eight people but in Northern Ireland it stretches to 11. The nicest part about Christmas for most was opening presents, followed by playing games and watching a festive film, the poll found.

But it’s not all a bed of roses as the most stressful moments come when cooking the main meal, washing up afterwards and cleaning the house beforehand. Some 70% of people will have a fake tree this year.

It comes after an Aldi survey last year also found more than three-quarters of Brits aged 18 to 26 would shun turkey and all the trimmings, mince pies and Christmas pudding in favour of other foods.

Coleen Brooke, 23, from Manchester, likes “serving up what people actually like – pizza, curry, fried chicken and cheese-loaded fries, with cheesecake and ice cream for pudding.”

She added: “I’m not sure my parents will be impressed!”