Best turkey crowns for Christmas 2024

Score: 89/100

A clear favourite with testers, our winning turkey was succulent and juicy, with a sweet and sticky treacle glaze, and nutty stuffing. Testers thought it would make the perfect centrepiece for Christmas 2024, saying they would definitely recommend it to family and friends.

Score: 87/100

Proving value and great flavour can go hand in hand, Lidl’s free-range turkey is a top choice for those on a budget. It stood out due to its rich, natural flavour and crisp, umami skin. Beautifully moist and buttery, this simple crown is the ultimate blank canvas for you to add your own twist.

Score: 85/100

Tesco’s easy-carve turkey crown comes with a fruity cranberry stuffing that’s packed with flavour and complements the succulent meat. It’s finished with a maple and stem ginger glaze, and the crisp chestnut-smoked bacon adds a delicious salty note. Overall, it’s very memorable, and would make Christmas dinner feel very special.

Score: 84/100

Aldi’s comically named Roly Poly turkey was described as “very tasty’” by our testers, due to its crispy skin and succulent texture. Simple but delicious, the buttery roasted meat is a great base for you to add your own rubs or marinade.

Score: 84/100

Iceland’s convenient turkey crown comes frozen, so you can buy ahead and spread the cost of the big day, or have it on standby for entertaining family throughout the festive period. It was well-seasoned and filled our test kitchen with the aroma of rotisserie chicken, with wonderfully crispy skin.

Score: 82/100

COOK turkeys are free to roam outdoors 24 hours a day and are raised on a natural diet. In addition to the herby pork, apricot and cranberry stuffing, there’s also a parsley and lemon centre for an added flavour boost.

The whole thing is wrapped in streaky bacon and topped with lemon and bay leaf for good measure — just be sure to factor in defrosting time ahead of cooking.

Score: 82/100

If budget allows, this organic, free-range KellyBronze is raised to the highest welfare standards, and is often referred to as the Rolls-Royce of turkeys. That quality shone through on the plate, with testers repeatedly describing it as incredibly “natural” tasting.

Score: 82/100

This free-range crown is wrapped in crisp, streaky bacon and finished with salted butter, rosemary and bay leaf, leaving you nothing to do but cook and carve. The fruity apricot and cranberry stuffing proved a real highlight, pairing well with the naturally sweet meat.

Score: 79/100

Asda’s new premium “Exceptional” range makes its Christmas debut this year, with a focus on quality ingredients. This crown is a prime example, with its juicy, melt-in-the-mouth texture, bolstered by smoky bacon and orange-flavoured, chestnut stuffing.

Score: 78/100

'Tis the season for stuffing – and it’s the standout element here. Pork sausage meat is seasoned with pear and warming winter herbs and spices, providing a strong flavour injection to the succulent turkey meat and crispy bacon.

Score: 78/100

Don’t overlook convenience store Co-op for the main event this year, as its budget-friendly turkey achieved a solid score with our panel. It’s the ideal size for a couple and comes complete with a distinctive cranberry and chestnut stuffing.

Score: 78/100

Morrisons has packed this turkey with a full-flavoured red onion and sage stuffing, before wrapping it in crispy bacon, leaving you to get on with the important job of hosting. Testers thought it was well-seasoned, with the sage particularly distinct.