It’s that time of year again folks!
Supermarket and lunch chains are swapping ham and cheese for brie and bacon, as they stock the shelves with Christmas sarnies galore.
Each year the selection gets bigger and bigger and when you’re in a rush on your lunch break, trying to pick between them all can feel like an arduous task.
But fear not, the team at Metro have made the decision a little easier for you in the run up to December, as we’ve tried a bunch of them in a bid to find the best.
Now you won’t have to chew your way through soggy bread, sad spinach leaves and scraps of turkey.
For this taste test, we picked two sandwiches from each of the major supermarkets and high street retailers: One classic Christmas sandwich, and one that’s new and exciting for 2025.
We’ve given each one a rating out of five and shared a breakdown of what’s in it.
Some of our top rated might surprise you — and there was one offering that scored a measly 1/5.
So without further ado, here are our honest reviews…
Tesco
Tesco Finest Turkey BLT, £4.25
What’s in it? A returning item that first launched in 2024, this sandwich is a ‘transatlantic take’ on a classic and features pastrami-style turkey, maple-cured bacon, Emmental cheese, and gherkin mayo, all served on rye and caraway bread.
What we thought: If there’s one thing Americans know how to do, it’s make a sandwich and this is combines some of the best – a BLT and a Turkey Swiss. The combination is an absolute winner, although, admittedly, maybe not the most festive of all flavours. It’s only really Christmassy because it’s got turkey and the maple-cured bacon and cheese make it rather indulgent. But someone who has never been the biggest fan of Christmas sandwiches, I’m really not mad about it. It’s a cracking sandwich, that’s got just the right amount of everything inside and the flavours are fantastic – peppery, smoky and a little sweet, with tang from the pickle mayo.
This is one of the best supermarket sandwiches I’ve ever had, by a long shot.
Verdict: 5/5
Tesco Finest Brie and Bacon Brioche Bagel, £4.50
What’s in it? This one is brand new for Christmas 2025 and sees a soft brioche bagel filled with brie, rashers of applewood smoked maple-cured bacon, finished with a cranberry and chilli chutney and spinach and rocket.
What we thought: Sorry Tesco, just because something is round and has a hole in the middle, it doesn’t mean you should call it a bagel. The bread is too soft and sweet. It’s not bad at all, it’s a very nice brioche – it’s just not a bagel.
Ok, now that little rant is out of the way, onto the rest of the sarnie… The fillings are classic and pair well together, and the chutney has a subtle kick of spice to it, which elevates the whole thing. I imagine it would taste even better if it was popped under the grill for a few minutes, so the brie is wonderfully melty. Overall, this one isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s a solid option if you love a brie and cranberry sandwich at this time of year.
Verdict: 4/5
Pret
Pret’s Veggie Christmas Flatbread
What’s in it? A new option for 2025, according to Pret, this flatbread features: ‘roasted butternut squash, peppery rocket with chestnut & herb stuffing. Served with a spoonful of sage mayo, pistachios and crispy onion.’
What we thought: At Christmas, I’m eating at least 17 pigs in blankets, so I wasn’t convinced a veggie offering could bring the festive vibes. But dare I say it was my favourite of the two from Pret. The butternut squash is tasty, but it’s the stuffing that’s the standout here: crunchy, without being too dry, just the right amount of sweet thanks to the cranberry, and packed full of flavour. The so-called ‘crispy’ onion is anything but, but it tastes good, nonetheless. The whole flatbread is giving ‘delicious nut roast’ that Mary Berry would be proud of. I’m not a massive rocket fan, and there’s a generous layer, but the other flavours were (thankfully) enough to overpower it.
Verdict: 5/5, no notes.
Porchetta & Sage Baguette, £5.50
What’s in it? Slices of Porchetta, a traditional Italian meat, typically infused with herbs and spices. Pret’s version has been ‘rubbed in an apple and rosemary seasoning’, layered on top of sage mayo, hard Italian cheese, dried cranberries, shredded apple and spinach.
What we thought: To look at, the Porchetta Baguette is a bit, well, weird. Thick cut ham and parmesan cheese, but with a layer of greenery, grated apple and fat cranberries thrown around on top. It doesn’t exactly look appetising, but I perhaps judged it a bit too harshly. I liked the Porchetta with it’s herby crust, and the apple is obviously a winning flavour combo – however, I’d have preferred a sauce rather than pieces of crunchy apple. It was just an odd texture combo. The layer of spinach was too thick, and again seemed odd with the thick ham. It could have not been there, and I wouldn’t have missed it. I don’t think I’ll be rushing back to Pret for another one – stick to the reliable chicken caesar and bacon instead.
Verdict: 2/5. Just fine.
Subway
Ultimate Festive Sub
What’s in it? Rotisserie style chicken, bacon, sage & onion stuffing, American-style cheese and rich cranberry sauce – available on new stuffing topped bread.
What we thought: My first impression is that the sandwich looks wet, which isn’t something you ever want a sandwich to be. This was because of the cranberry sauce, which had the most unusual consistency, it was far too liquidy and slimy, and looked incredibly unappetising. But the sub smelled heavenly though, so I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt.
I honestly think this would be a 5/5 if it weren’t for the cranberry sauce, which had a really artificial taste. The rest of the sub was solid, the chicken had nice flavour, the stuffing and the stuffing bread made it feel festive AF and the melted cheese added the indulgence you’d expect from this time of year. Order this without the sauce and you’ll be golden.
Verdict: 4/5
Sainsbury’s
Ho Ho Half and Half, £3.25
What’s in it: One sandwich is pigs under blankets (AKA sausage and bacon) with cranberry chutney and mayonnaise on malted bread, while the other is brie and cranberry chutney with spinach on malted bread.
What we thought: The meat option was solid, with nice herby sausages and salty bacon offset by a tangy – yet not too sweet – chutney. My main gripe here is the amount of filling, as multiple bites yielded bread and sauce only. As for the brie, I wasn’t a fan – I’m not a major brie lover anyway, so maybe cheese fanatics will see this as a plus point, but it was quite overpowering, while wet spinach (and therefore slightly soggy bread) didn’t help.
Verdict: 2/5
What’s in it: Shredded duck, stuffing, gravy mayo, spring onions and mulled wine pickled red cabbage on a brioche roll.
Taste the Difference Shredded Duck and Stuffing Brioche Roll, £4.50
What we thought: Big in size and flavour, and an actually unique take on the standard Christmas sandwich. The roll itself was soft and sweet, as was the duck, while spring onions and red cabbage offered a pleasing crunchy contrast. The stuffing kind of gets lost, but if I hadn’t read the packaging, I wouldn’t have missed it.
Verdict: 4/5
Co-op
Deliciously Dippable Turkey & Gravy Double Dip Wrap, £4.40
What’s in it: This brand new wrap is filled with turkey, honey roasted carrots and spinach with sage & onion stuffing mayo. There’s also two additional extras included: a sage and onion gravy and a rosemary and garlic crumb dip.
What we thought: This is a stellar choice for anyone on the hunt for a more premium Christmas sandwich. The turkey and veggies are brilliant quality and are complimented well by the stuffing mayo. And although the dipping gravy is a really fun and delicious addition – there should be more! The rosemary and garlic crumb on the other hand is pretty pointless and doesn’t add anything to the overall flavours. This definitely hit the spot but I wanted just a bit more decadence.
Verdict: 4/5, so close but just not quite there.
The Turkey Feast Sandwich, £3.50
What’s in it: A festive classic, this sandwich includes turkey breast, mayo, cranberry chutney, smoked British bacon, sage, onion and oat stuffing. The whole thing is then topped with fried onions and placed between two malted bread slices.
What we thought: This sandwich may look like a feast, but it doesn’t taste like one. While there’s plenty of bacon, the turkey is lacking – in both flavour and quantity. The cranberry sauce does add a nice tang however what the sandwich really needs is a serious injection of something green – spinach or lettuce would work well.
Verdict: 2/5, it just wasn’t giving.
Asda
Three Little Piggies Half & Half Wrap, £2.88
What’s in it: You get two flavours: A bacon and sausage wrap with sweet balsamic onion chutney, and a pulled pork wrap with apple sauce.
What we thought: The bacon and sausage wrap is positively packed with meat; bookmark it for soaking up booze the morning after your Christmas party. The black pepper mayonnaise is a great twist, elevating the flavour and giving the whole thing punch. This first wrap is not subtle, so I’m grateful for the pulled pork and apple sauce ‘detox’. The second is a much lighter, sweeter wrap and compliments its heavy-handed counterpart well.
Verdict: 3/5
Ham & Brie Brioche Roll, £3.26
What’s in it: Cream cheese, sliced ham, French brie with a spread of sweet cranberry chutney, soured cream with black pepper, and spinach.
What we thought: The roll-to-filling ratio instantly lets this one down. Even as a fan of brioche, I find myself picking off bits of bread to get to the goodies inside. Said goodies turn out to be disappointing; I can’t taste any soured cream, the spinach is miniscule, and the ham gets lost entirely against the two dominant flavours of brie and cranberry. It’s a good thing brie and cranberry are inherently tasty, or this one would have scored even lower.
Verdict: 2/5
Morrisons
Turkey Lunch, £3.25
What’s in it: The Turkey lunch sandwich is a classic crimbo meal between slices of malted bread featuring turkey, smoked bacon, cranberry chutney (specified on the packaging as chutney not sauce) a, mustard mayo, and stuffing.
What we thought: The sarnie looks a little dry, but I was delighted to find after the first bite that it was anything but. It was actually super flavoursome and moist thanks to the various condiments.
There’s a smoky taste from the bacon that reminds me of a German sausage or frankfurter, which goes very nicely with the sage and onion stuffing.
There’s also a good amount of filling in the sandwich, and every bite is well-proportioned. It doesn’t quite compare to its Pret or M&S counterparts, but if everything tastes and feels high quality. I would certainly buy this sandwich again.
Verdict: 3/5
Brie & Cranberry, £3.25
What’s in it? Creamy sliced brie layered with cranberry sauce and spinach on malted bread.
What we thought: I’m a big fan of brie and cranberry – probably my favourite holiday flavouring pairing.
The bread is a bit lacking in flavour, but for a festive meal deal price, it’s not terrible. The cranberry jam is tangy and there’s no shortage of brie, unlike other supermarket holiday sandwiches I’ve tried in the past.
The spinach adds a decent crunch which is a nice texture so it’s not all squishy and overwhelmed by the cheese. Out of the other Christmas sandwiches, I’d say this is the simplest, but sometimes simple is best.
Verdict: A solid 4/5.
M&S
Turkey Feast, £4
What’s in it: Roast British turkey breast with pork, sage and onion stuffing, onion mayonnaise, cranberry chutney and smoked British bacon on malted brown bread.
What we thought: This one might not be new for 2025, but it’s certainly a showstopper. It passed the butter test, was very neatly presented, and had stunning layering.
Sometimes, sandwiches neglect certain elements in favour of others, but this wasn’t the case here: there was a fairly even amount of chicken, stuffing, and bacon.
If I was going to be a slightly harsh critic, I’d say that I would’ve preferred slightly more cranberry sauce, but that’s only because I live and die by the motto that when it comes to Christmas, nothing is too much.
Verdict: 4/5
Ho Ho Ho-ney Mustard Ham Hock, £4
What’s in it: Honey and mustard pulled ham hock with Cornish Cove Cheddar cheese, mayonnaise and spinach on malted bread.
What we thought: This certainly wasn’t any old bog-standard Christmas sarnie, but a strong alternative and ideal if you’re after something a little bit fancier.
It was gorgeously creamy, and the mustard wasn’t too hot which I appreciated as I’m a fan of a slightly subtler flavour. A highlight for me was, again, just how much butter was in this one. I always put absolute lashings on my dishes at home, as if you haven’t left toothmarks in it (just like you would with cheese) when taking a bite, it’s not enough, IMO.
That said, if I had to pick a favourite, I’d probably just stick to the Turkey Feast. What can I say? I’m a stickler for tradition – and if there’s stuffing involved, then I’m all in. Plus, this one might’ve worked slightly better on white bread, but that could just be my own personal preferences. And a little bit of extra ham wouldn’t have gone amiss.
Verdict: 3.5/5
Aldi
Specially Selected Honey Roast Gammon Ham & Christmas Slaw Bloomer, £2.75
What’s in it: Cured cooked honey roast gammon ham, seasoned carrot, red cabbage and parsnip slaw, hot honey mayo, caramelised apple and pear chutney and spinach on tiger bloomer bread.
What we thought: Really enjoyed the tiger bread – made a nice change from basic bread. Lots of filling in there, generous amount of ham, not too much spinach (a gripe I have) and lots of slaw. A solid sandwich, with nice festive spice in the seasoned slaw and slight sweetness from the chutney that pairs well with the subtle spiciness of the hot honey.
I honestly didn’t think I’d like this sandwich that much, not one I’d normally go for, but it was very good. Tastes like the kind of thing you’d throw together for an easy lunch/supper on Boxing Day.
It only just missed out on full marks as the bread stuck to the roof of my mouth something chronic and made eating it a little bit of a faff after a few bites.
Verdict: 4.5/5
Vegan Festive Feast Wrap, £2.49
What’s in it: A tortilla wrap is filled with parsnip fritters, red cabbage, and apple, as well as cranberry sauce, toasted pumpkin seeds, vegan sage and onion mayonnaise and spinach.
What we thought: While my expectations weren’t exactly sky high (supermarket vegan sandwiches rarely hit the mark), this wrap kept surprising me in the best way.
It’s a mix of many flavours: sweetness from the sweet potato fritter and sultanas, crunch from the pumpkin seeds, and freshness from the red cabbage. The sweetness is never over the top and complements the wrap nicely, wrapping it all up into a delicate but delicious pick-me-up that kept me full for hours.
For just £2.49, this might be my new go-to lunch option. Who knew a festive vegan wrap could be this good?
Verdict: 5/5
Costa
Costa Pigs In Blanket Toastie
What’s in it? Pork sausage and maple-cured bacon, with caramelised onion churtney, inside a sage and onion crumbled cheese-topped bread.
What we thought: I don’t usually go for gimmick-toasties (you can’t beat a ham and cheese in my eyes) but I was surprised by the flavour of this one.
With a nice cheesy, melted top, biting into this one I was met with a flavour bomb of sausage and just a hint of bacon. I was thankful the pigs seemed to be deconstructed, with their blankets more layers on top, rather than wrapped.
Reminded me (in the loosest way ever) of a good Aussie sausage sandwich. Would suggest you eat it piping hot as once it goes cold it’s not as tasty.
Verdict: 3/5
Turkey Feast Sandwich
What’s in it? Turkey, maple-cured bacon, sage and onion stuffing, and cranberry sauce on malted bread.
What we thought: A Christmas classic, I found the flavours not too overpowering, if anything, it was a bit simple for a Christmas sarnie.
The cranberry and turkey breast went well together (as they’re wont to do) but I did find the meat a touch dry. Maybe needs more sauce. It definitely needs more stuffing, if this one does in fact have stuffing. I have a feeling this may be a new 2025 version, sans bacon and stuffing which is a shame. Still, a solid sandwich.
Verdict: 3/5
Starbucks
Festive Turkey Sandwich
What’s in it? Sliced succulent turkey breast, with herby sage and onion stuffing, tangy cranberry sauce, hickory-smoked bacon & rich turkey gravy on soft cranberry bread.
What we thought: I didn’t think I’d like the cranberry bread, as I was worried it would be like a scone stuffed with too many currants, but it was actually really nice and gave the sandwich a hint of sweetness, without being overpowering.
The turkey breast wasn’t exactly succulent but wasn’t dry at all, and you can’t go wrong with the combo of bacon and stuffing
I also really enjoyed the gravy as a departure from cranberry sauce or some oddly festive-flavoured mayo. It was a nice change and despite the concept of cold gravy spread onto bread, it was really tasty.
Verdict: 4/5
Festive Feast Toastie
What’s in it? Cheese topped sourdough filled with sliced chicken breast, a herby sage & onion stuffing, rich gravy, maple-cured bacon, cranberry sauce and Cheddar cheese.
What we thought: I love a good toastie, but this was an underwhelming eat. The top side, with melted cheese had crisped up too much when toasting, while the bottom half had gone completely soggy, making for a really unpleasant mish mash of textures. The filling was standard far for this time of year, but nothing groundbreaking and nothing overly flavourful. I’ll stick to the drinks at Starbucks I think…
Verdict: 2/5
Waitrose
Merry Club’mas Sandwich, £4.50
What’s in it: A sandwich made with cooked shredded chicken, gravy mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, beechwood smoked bacon, umami onions, spinach and chilli relish on buttered malted bread.
What we thought: Not a fan of this one. It felt like a basic chicken sandwich that someone decided to randomly shove a bunch of unnecessary extra things into.
There’s a swicy element as the caramelised onions are quite sweet, but there’s a kick from the chilli jam. The shredded chicken mayo is dull. It’s not very festive and I didn’t love the cold onions.
Verdict: 2/5
Turkey, Stuffing & Bacon, £4.50
What’s in it? Turkey breast, pork, sage and onion stuffing, cranberry and redcurrant chutney, sage and black pepper mayo, and smoked streaky bacon on sliced malted bread.
What we thought: By this point I thought I was over turkey sandwiches, but this Waitrose option was one of the nicest in that category. Generous pieces of turkey, a nice mix of flavours, savory, umami stuffing and a sweet chutney.
This felt like an elevated version of the classic turkey, stuffing and bacon, certainly nicer than your average supermarket sarnie.
Verdict: 4/5
Lidl
Falafel & Cranberry Wrap
What’s in it? A beetroot and chia seed wrap with butternut squash falafel, cranberry sauce plus shredded carrot, spinach and red cabbage.
What we thought: The only thing remotely Christmassy about this wrap is the vivid colours and the cranberry sauce (which there isn’t enough of to be honest). Otherwise it’s pretty much just a falafel wrap.
Regardless, it’s delicious. The falafels are so flavoursome, with a nice kick of spice. The veggie slaw inside provides a great crunch and there’s a little sweetness from the cranberry sauce.
Verdict: 4.5/5
Pigs Under Blankets
What’s in it? Pork sausage, bacon and cranberry sauce on malted bread.
What we thought: This one does what it says on the tin. The bread was soft, but a little dull, and I’m just not a fan of the mixing of two meats in a sandwich like this. The cranberry sauce added a nice sweetness, but really it needs something more.
Verdict: 3/5
Greggs
Festive Flatbread, £3.65
What’s in it: Sage and onion style chicken mayo, sweetcure bacon and a tangy cranberry and red onion relish, all wrapped up in a soft and warm flatbread.
What we thought: The flatbread was burnt, meaning the whole thing was quite tough to eat and we were off to a bad start before a proper bite had been taken.
The sage and onion mayo is the dominating flavour here, it’s very creamy and brings some umami, so it’s essentially a stuffing mayo flatbread.
There’s a bit of tang from the relish, but overall, didn’t love this. Felt a bit sloppy. However, it gets a bonus point for Greggs using flatbread, as it’s something a little different than what everyone else is offering.
Verdict: 1/5
Christmas Lunch Baguette, £3.95
What’s in it: Chicken, sage and onion stuffing, sweetcure bacon, and a layer of Cheddar cheese, all slathered in a cranberry and rd onion relish. There’s also onion gravy and it’s all served hot in a baguette.
What we thought: This looks much more appetising than the flatbread, thanks to all the melty cheese. However, there’s so much going on in here, you could barely taste the cheese, which was disappointing.
It’s a very onion-y, chicken and stuffing baguette. I don’t think the bacon adds anything and it didn’t scream Christmas to me.
Overall, it was quite a confusing eating experience.
Verdict: 2/5
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