35 Christmas Roasts Pretty Enough To Be Your Holiday Centerpiece

Boasting a combination of succulent, flavorful meat and shatteringly crisp skin, this impressive bone-in, skin-on roast pork dish has earned its place as the centerpiece of any Christmas dinner spread (but is good enough to make all winter long too).

Get the Puerto Rican Pernil recipe.

The real magic in this sheet-pan dinner is in the savory-sweet, spoonable sauce that the onions transform into. Blending the chicken fat-roasted, charred onions with butter, sweet white vinegar, and crushed red pepper yields a creamy, umami-rich sauce that makes the chicken even more succulent.

Get the Sheet-Pan Roasted Red Onion Chicken recipe.

A cheesy, garlicky, spinach mixture is the perfect balance to a tender salmon fillet. Everything is nestled together in the puff pastry dough, and after 20 minutes in the oven, you’ll have a buttery, flaky crust with perfectly tender salmon inside.

Get the Salmon En Croute recipe.

Honey Baked ham is grand, deliciously smoky, and has a signature caramelized crust all over. Sadly, it’s something you have to plan to order in advance and can be a little pricey. If you didn't have time to order ahead, want to save some money, or just try a homemade version of this classic centerpiece, this copycat recipe is for you.

Get the Copycat Honey Baked Ham recipe.

Prime rib, also referred to as standing rib roast, is a beautiful piece of meat. Whenever we need a truly showstopping holiday roast, we turn to it. A well-cooked prime rib is juicy, full of flavor, and not at all difficult to make.

Get the Perfect Prime Rib recipe.

If you love whole roasted cauliflower, then you have to try our brown sugar BBQ version (just sub in your fave vegan Worcestershire sauce). It's perfect for when you're craving BBQ flavors without the meat.

Get the Brown Sugar BBQ Whole Roasted Cauliflower recipe.

When you’re craving an easy, yet holiday-friendly protein but are tired of old standbys like chicken or turkey, look no further than pork tenderloin. It’s quick-cooking, takes extremely well to countless flavors, and is easy enough for a family meal but remarkable enough for holidays and special occasions.

Get the Roasted Pork Tenderloin recipe.

Tomato butter works wonders on chicken. Not only does it keep the bird moist, but the healthy dose of tomato paste brings a slightly sweet, umami acidity, which chicken could often use.

Get the Tomato-Butter Roast Chicken recipe.

When it comes to stick-to-your-ribs comfort food, it’s difficult to beat tender, flavorful pot roast. The shredded beef meal comes complete with tender potatoes and carrots and a sauce you’ll want to spoon over everything.

Get the Pot Roast recipe.

A breaded fried cutlet is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and these cabbage schnitzels are no exception. Coated in crispy golden brown bread crumbs and drizzled with a luscious mushroom gravy, this vegetarian spin on a meaty classic will delight meat lovers and vegetarians alike.

Get the Cabbage Schnitzel recipe.

If you’re looking for a vegetarian dinner centerpiece, then you can’t beat a whole roasted cauliflower. Gorgeously browned outside and meltingly tender in the middle, its stunningly simple goodness can’t be topped at any vegetarian Christmas dinner.

Get the Whole Roasted Cauliflower recipe.

This gorgeous, whole-roasted stunner is the perfect holiday substitute for vegans. It's savory, sweet, and salty on the outside and super-tender on the inside. Topped with lots of silky mushroom gravy, we doubt anyone at your table will be missing meat.

Get the Whole Roasted Cabbage recipe.

What can we say? A classic is a classic. Intimidated by a whole chicken? Don't be! It's surprisingly easy, and our step-by-step recipe will guide you through the entire process—no prob. Plus, there's nothing better than roast chicken leftovers. 😍

Get the Classic Roast Chicken recipe.

Does anything impress quite the way braised short ribs do? They're the ideal dish to make for company when the weather's cold and you want to stay inside. Serve them alongside creamy dishes like polenta or mashed potatoes for extra comfort.

Get the Braised Short Ribs With 40 Cloves of Garlic recipe.

Now famous for being the national dish of Germany, this “sour roast” usually consists of a large cut of beef, which is marinated for several days in a combination of red wine, vinegar, and spices. Our advice? Start marinating it midweek so it’s ready to be cooked on the weekend.

Get the Sauerbraten recipe.

Roasted, deep-fried, stuffed, we've done it all; however, brick chicken, or chicken under a brick, is one of our most simple and reliable ways to get tender, perfectly cooked chicken and that crispy skin we all crave.

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For the easiest Christmas dinner, make and stuff this cheesy tenderloin up to 3 days ahead of time (store it tightly wrapped in the refrigerator) for dinner that you can pop in the oven about 30 minutes before you're ready to set the table.

Get the Mushroom, Spinach & Gruyère Stuffed Pork Tenderloin recipe.

Get the London Broil recipe.

Now this is a holiday winner. Some people like to make their own puff pastry for their beef Wellington. But we've found that not only is store-bought puff pastry much more convenient, it's also incredibly delicious.

Get the Beef Wellington recipe.

Who says turkey is just for Thanksgiving dinner? This turkey tenderloin is a perfect main dish if you're hosting a smaller holiday gathering this year. Don't forget the roasted potatoes and garlicky green beans!

Get the Turkey Tenderloin recipe.