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The best turkey crowns for Christmas 2026, tried and tested

Which turkey crown took the, err, crown in our taste tests?

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Whether it’s your first time cooking Christmas dinner, you’re feeding less people this year, or you just fancy making your life easier, a faff-free turkey crown is undoubtedly the best way to go.

Taken from the top part of the bird, the crown is quicker to cook, easier to carve and better suited to smaller gatherings. It should also take up less space in your oven.

This year, the Good Housekeeping Institute tried a wide selection of fresh and frozen prepared birds to find the tastiest turkey crown, so you can be confident your feast will go off without a hitch.

Best turkey crowns for Christmas 2026


The best Christmas food and drink for 2026, revealed

How do you keep a turkey crown moist while cooking?

We followed each brand’s cooking instructions to the letter and were impressed with the results, with many using innovative methods – such as “roast-in-the-bag" – to lock in moisture.

Generally, the trick to ensuring the family tucks into a juicy crown on Christmas Day is to add a little liquid to the bottom of your roasting tray. You could do this by smearing the skin in extra butter or oil, seasoning with herbs and topping with bacon for extra flavour.

This fail-safe glazed turkey crown recipe will take the guesswork out of cooking times; however, it’s always a good idea to use a meat thermometer if you have one to hand. When you stick the thermometer into the thickest parts of the breast and leg, it should read 72°C or over for two minutes — and don’t forget it will continue to cook after you’ve taken it out of the oven. Alternatively, insert a skewer and check the juices are running clear.

How we test turkey crowns

The Good Housekeeping Institute tried a wide range of turkey crowns, cooking them according to the packet instructions and serving them “blind” to avoid any brand bias. They evaluated a selection of fresh and frozen birds from supermarkets and online butchers, in a variety of weights, so you can be sure you’re tucking into the tastiest meat on the big day.

Looking for the best whole turkeys? We’ve ranked those too.

1
Best turkey crown

Tesco Finest British Free Range Bronze Turkey Crown with a Pork, Cranberry & Chestnut Stuffing

UK Taste Approved(GH)
Finest British Free Range Bronze Turkey Crown with a Pork, Cranberry & Chestnut Stuffing
1
Best turkey crown

Tesco Finest British Free Range Bronze Turkey Crown with a Pork, Cranberry & Chestnut Stuffing

Score: 84/100

A clear favourite with our panellists, Tesco's turkey crown is beautifully tender with a sweet pork, cranberry and chestnut stuffing that cuts through the buttery richness of the meat. Moist and full-flavoured, it's a crowd-pleasing centrepiece that takes some of the hard work out of Christmas dinner.

Key specifications

Weight1.85-2.35kg
Welfare standardFree-range
Fresh or frozenFresh
Serves8-10
Available19 December 2026
2
Runner-up turkey crown

Morrisons The Best Basted Stuffed Turkey Joint

UK Taste Approved(GH)
The Best Basted Stuffed Turkey Joint
2
Runner-up turkey crown

Morrisons The Best Basted Stuffed Turkey Joint

Score: 83/100

Morrisons has chucked the whole kitchen sink at this one, so all you need to do is slide it into the oven. The juicy turkey meat is complemented by the sweet, herby pork, apple, cranberry and smoked chestnut stuffing, then wrapped in salty, smoky bacon. Full of festive flavour without being overwhelming, it's an easy win for the big day.

Key specifications

Weight1.2kg
Welfare standardNot provided
Fresh or frozenFresh
Serves4-6
Available20 December 2026
3

Sainsbury’s Turkey Crown with a Mulled Cider & Chestnut Stuffing Topped with a Spiced Apple and Treacle Glaze

UK Taste Approved(GH)
Turkey Crown with a Mulled Cider & Chestnut Stuffing Topped with a Spiced Apple and Treacle Glaze
3

Sainsbury’s Turkey Crown with a Mulled Cider & Chestnut Stuffing Topped with a Spiced Apple and Treacle Glaze

Score: 80/100

Deliciously aromatic, this crown comes with a punchy chestnut, mulled cider, sweet apple and pork stuffing that really makes each bite sing. Most testers thought it paired beautifully with the breast meat, although some found it a little overpowering. It's topped with salty bacon that adds a hint of smokiness to the lovely, crisp skin.

Key specifications

Weight1.9-2.5kg
Welfare standardFree-range
Fresh or frozenFresh
Serves8
Available22 December 2026
4

Waitrose No.1 Slow Cooked Double Butter Basted Free Range Turkey Crown

UK Taste Approved(GH)
No.1 Slow Cooked Double Butter Basted Free Range Turkey Crown
4

Waitrose No.1 Slow Cooked Double Butter Basted Free Range Turkey Crown

Score: 79/100

Slow-cooked and double-basted with plenty of butter, Waitrose's crown is exceptionally tender, with a soft texture. The pork, sage and onion stuffing brings a sweet, spiced warmth that one tester likened to 'Christmas cake'. Easy to carve and delicately flavoured, it's a fuss-free option for Christmas Day.

Key specifications

Weight2kg
Welfare standardFree-range
Fresh or frozenFresh
Serves6
Available20 December
5

Lidl Norfolk Free Range Stuffed Bronze Turkey Crown With a British Pork, Chestnut, Onion & Thyme Stuffing, Topped With British Bacon

UK Taste Approved(GH)
Norfolk Free Range Stuffed Bronze Turkey Crown With a British Pork, Chestnut, Onion & Thyme Stuffing, Topped With British Bacon
5

Lidl Norfolk Free Range Stuffed Bronze Turkey Crown With a British Pork, Chestnut, Onion & Thyme Stuffing, Topped With British Bacon

Score: 78/100

Packed with sage, chestnut and apple, Lidl's turkey crown is filled with an impressive stuffing that works well with the smoky bacon. A comforting and Christmassy combo without the faff.

Weight1.5-2.5kg
Welfare standardFree-range, RSPCA-assured
Fresh or frozenFresh
Serves4-6
Available19 December 2026
6
Best frozen turkey crown

COOK Stuffed Crown of Turkey for Eight

UK Taste Approved(GH)
Stuffed Crown of Turkey for Eight
6
Best frozen turkey crown

COOK Stuffed Crown of Turkey for Eight

Score: 77/100

For a Christmas centrepiece you can keep stashed in the freezer, COOK has you covered. Testers described the tender turkey as 'melt-in-the-mouth', with herby pork, cranberry and apricot stuffing complemented by crisp, salty bacon.

Topped with orange slices and bay leaf, all you need to remember is to defrost it in time for the main event.

Key specifications

Weight2.6kg
Welfare standardHigher-welfare
Fresh or frozenFrozen
Serves8
Available28 October
7

Exceptional by ASDA Free Range & Corn-Fed Norfolk SlateTraditional Heritage Breed Stuffed Turkey Parcel

UK Taste Approved(GH)
Free Range & Corn-Fed Norfolk SlateTraditional Heritage Breed Stuffed Turkey Parcel
7

Exceptional by ASDA Free Range & Corn-Fed Norfolk SlateTraditional Heritage Breed Stuffed Turkey Parcel

Score: 76/100

For something a little different this year, ASDA has reimagined the classic crown, turning it into a boneless parcel of turkey breast wrapped in dry-cured, smoked bacon.

For a little extra theatre, carve it at the table where the herby stuffing will be revealed. Testers thought it worked well, and it’s a top choice for smaller gatherings if you don’t want to end up eating turkey curry for weeks to come.

Key specifications

Weight1.2kg
Welfare standardFree-range
Fresh or frozenFresh
Serves4-6
Available13 October
8

Edenmoor Free Range Turkey Crown

UK Taste Approved(GH)
Free Range Turkey Crown
8

Edenmoor Free Range Turkey Crown

Credit: MATT AUSTIN

Score: 75/100

Formerly Piper's Farm, online butcher Edenmoor knows a thing or two about quality poultry. Rich and buttery, with crisp golden skin, this turkey has a fuller flavour than most. Some testers found it a little salty, but overall it's a great choice if you like a more robust Christmas bird.

Key specifications

Weight2.8-5.3kg
Welfare standardFree-range
Fresh or frozenFresh
Serves6-12
Available20 November 2026
9
Best cook-in-the-bag turkey crown

Aldi Roly Poly Stuffed Crown

UK Taste Approved(GH)
Roly Poly Stuffed Crown
9
Best cook-in-the-bag turkey crown

Aldi Roly Poly Stuffed Crown

Score: 74/100

Aldi’s Roly Poly turkey returns for another year. Served with well-seasoned fruity pork, cranberry and orange stuffing, you cook it in the bag for extra ease (no need to clean the oven after!). Our panel loved the tender meat, although some would have liked the bacon to be crispier. You can’t win ‘em all.

Key specifications

Weight1.5-2.3kg
Welfare standardRSPCA-assured
Fresh or frozenFresh
Serves8-11
Available19 December 2026
10
Best organic turkey crown

Kelly Bronze Turkey Breast Joint

UK Taste Approved(GH)
Turkey Breast Joint
10
Best organic turkey crown

Kelly Bronze Turkey Breast Joint

Score: 73/100

This organic, free-range KellyBronze joint is worth it if you have the budget, meeting the highest welfare standards.

A great size for four people, our panel told us it had a natural, delicate flavour and thought it would make a fantastic base for you to add your own glaze or marinade.

Key specifications

Weight1-1.5kg
Welfare standardOrganic
Fresh or frozenFresh
Serves4
Available22 December 2026
11
Best charity initiative

Field & Flower Free Range Bronze Frenchbeer Turkey Crown

UK Taste Approved(GH)
Free Range Bronze Frenchbeer Turkey Crown
11
Best charity initiative

Field & Flower Free Range Bronze Frenchbeer Turkey Crown

Score: 72/100

Field and Flower's turkey crown lets the quality of the meat do the talking, with a delicate, buttery flavour and gentle herby seasoning. Better still, every turkey crown sold helps support FareShare South West, with the remaining leg meat donated to FareShare South West this Christmas.

Key specifications

Weight3-4kg
Welfare standardFree-range
Fresh or frozenFresh
Serves8
Available19 December 2026
12

Iceland Luxury Perfect Double Bacon Turkey

UK Taste Approved(GH)
Luxury Perfect Double Bacon Turkey
12

Iceland Luxury Perfect Double Bacon Turkey

Score: 71/100

For smaller gatherings, Iceland’s well-priced turkey crown weighs in at 1.5kg, which should serve around four people. Our testers enjoyed the delicate flavour, and super herby stuffing.

Available 24 November 2026

Key specifications

Weight1.5kg
Welfare standardNot provided
Fresh or frozenFrozen
Serves6-8
Available17 November 2026
Headshot of Stacey Smith
Stacey Smith
Senior Food & Drink Editor

Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila.   Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine.    Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business.    You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk

Headshot of Georgia Turnell
Tested byGeorgia Turnell
GHI Food & Drink Tester

Georgia has been part of the hospitality industry for the last nine years. Her starting point was the world-renowned Le Cordon Bleu culinary school where she gained a Diplôme de Pâtisserie. She has worked at a number of well-known restaurants and bakeries including The Club at the Ivy and Ottolenghi, Notting Hill where she was the head pastry chef. Most recently, Georgia worked at The Clink Bakery inside HMP Brixton, which aims to reduce reoffending through teaching. She is an expert in all things baked goods and holds a WSET level 2 in wine.