---
title: Christmas Dinner in an Air Fryer: Timings and Plan (UK) | Smart Chef
url: https://smartchef.uk/guides/christmas-dinner-in-an-air-fryer
description: How to cook Christmas dinner in a dual drawer air fryer: turkey crown timings, a countdown plan, and how to free up the oven for the trimmings.
---

# Christmas dinner in an air fryer: timings and plan

A dual drawer air fryer won't fit a 6 kg turkey, but it can cook a turkey crown for a smaller table, or take every side dish off the oven's hands. Here is a plan for both.

## Two ways to use the air fryer on Christmas Day

- **Small table (2 to 6 people):** cook a turkey crown or a chicken in drawer 1 and the roast potatoes in drawer 2. With Sync, both finish together and the oven stays free for everything else.

- **Big table (6 or more):** roast the whole turkey in the oven as usual and use both drawers for the sides: roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, parsnips and sprouts. This is the usual oven-space problem solved.

## Turkey crown in the air fryer

Each drawer of the Smart Chef holds 5.5 L, which takes a turkey crown of up to about 1.5 kg (it should sit flat with a little space around it). That serves about 4 to 6 people.

- Take the crown out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking. Pat it dry, rub with butter or oil, and season.

- Place it skin-side down in drawer 1. Cook at 180°C.

- Turn it skin-side up halfway through. If the skin browns too fast, cover it loosely with a small piece of foil, tucked in so the fan can't lift it.

- It is ready when the thickest part reaches 75°C on a food thermometer and the juices run clear. Rest it under foil for 20 minutes before carving.

| Turkey crown | Temperature | Approx. time |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 kg | 180°C | 45–55 min |
| 1.25 kg | 180°C | 55–65 min |
| 1.5 kg | 180°C | 65–75 min |

Times are a guide. Crowns differ in shape, so always check the temperature in the thickest part rather than relying on the clock. A food thermometer costs a few pounds and takes the guesswork out of the big day.

## Countdown plan for a small table

For dinner at 2pm, with the crown in drawer 1 and potatoes in drawer 2:

| Time | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| 11:30 | Take the turkey crown out of the fridge. Peel the potatoes. |
| 12:00 | Parboil the potatoes for 8–10 minutes, drain and leave them to steam dry. |
| 12:15 | Crown in drawer 1 at 180°C for 75 minutes. Oiled potatoes in drawer 2 at 200°C for 30 minutes. Press Sync: drawer 2 waits and starts itself so both finish together. |
| 12:50 | Turn the crown skin-side up. Drawer 2 starts around 13:00; shake the potatoes every 10 minutes after that. |
| 13:30 | Check the crown reaches 75°C. Rest it under foil. Keep the potatoes warm in the oven on low. |
| 13:35 | Pigs in blankets in drawer 1, parsnips in drawer 2, both around 180°C, Sync on. |
| 13:55 | Make the gravy with the resting juices, carve and serve. |

## Sides for a big table

If the turkey is in the oven, run the air fryer in rounds: potatoes and parsnips first, then pigs in blankets and sprouts while the turkey rests. Full times and temperatures for each side are in our [Christmas sides guide](https://smartchef.uk/guides/air-fryer-christmas-sides).

## Tips for the day

- Don't overfill the drawers. A single layer with gaps crisps far better than a heaped pile, so cook in two rounds if needed.

- Use the viewing windows instead of opening the drawers, so the heat stays in.

- Lay out every drawer, tray and timer the night before, and write your timings on a piece of paper by the cooker.

- Turkey safety: defrost a frozen crown fully in the fridge (allow about a day per 2 kg), and never wash raw turkey, as it spreads germs around the sink.

Cooking for one or two this year? A [roast chicken with vegetables](https://smartchef.uk/recipes/sunday-roast-chicken) follows the same method and is ready in under an hour.

Updated 3 November 2026

## More guides

- [Air fryer Christmas sides: roast potatoes, pigs in blankets and more](https://smartchef.uk/guides/air-fryer-christmas-sides)
- [Air fryer Christmas party food and Boxing Day leftovers](https://smartchef.uk/guides/christmas-party-food-and-leftovers)
- [Air fryer cooking times chart (UK)](https://smartchef.uk/guides/air-fryer-cooking-times)
- [Dual drawer vs single drawer air fryer: which is best?](https://smartchef.uk/guides/dual-vs-single-drawer-air-fryer)
- [How to clean an air fryer](https://smartchef.uk/guides/how-to-clean-an-air-fryer)
- [How much does an air fryer cost to run in the UK?](https://smartchef.uk/guides/air-fryer-running-cost-uk)

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