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35 Christmas Roasts Pretty Enough To Be Your Holiday Centerpiece

Here's how to be the Roast Host with the most.

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beef tenderloin sliced on a white platter served with rosemary
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

As you gather with your family and friends during the holidays, your Christmas dinner deserves to truly special, too. What better way to do that than with a classic roast at the center of the table? Whether you want to serve chicken, pork, beef, lamb—or even a meatless main—for your holiday dinner this year, we've got a roast recipe for you. Served with classic holiday sides, our best roast recipes will ensure your Christmas dinner is nothing short of a showstopper.

If you're not used to cooking roasts throughout the year, they may seem a bit intimidating to prepare when the holidays come around. But there's no need to stress! We've got all the easy-to-follow tips for mastering dishes like a classic beef tenderloin, pernil, roast turkey, and even a copycat Honeybaked ham recipe, no matter if this is your first or fiftieth time making it. Gadgets like our trusty Instant Pot and slow cooker are also holiday heroes with many of these dishes. Don't have all day to prep your main course? Our Instant Pot roast, Instant Pot pork tenderloin, and slow-cooker pot roast make impressive dinners with way less effort.

Have vegetarian guests this year? Our whole roasted cabbage, cabbage schnitzel, and balsamic glazed cauliflower are perfect main courses that won't leave anyone feeling left out of a special roast dinner. Plus, they're ultra savory and pretty impressive when set out on the table, so they just might steal some plate real estate for the omnivores and carnivores, too.

The final step to your Christmas roast? The classic sides, of course! Whip up our favorite roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, and our best-ever gravy to complete your roast dinner masterpiece.

1

Puerto Rican Pernil

puerto rican pernil
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: ERIKA JOYCE

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.

2

Sheet-Pan Roasted Red Onion Chicken

paprika dusted chicken roasted on a bed of herby sliced red onions and whole garlic cloves then topped with an umami rich, spoonable sauce made from chicken fat roasted, charred onions, butter, sweet white vinegar, and crushed red pepper
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

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3

Salmon En Croute

layers of salmon and cream spinach inside of puff pastry
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

4

Copycat Honey Baked Ham

copycat honey baked ham
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

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.

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5

Perfect Prime Rib

prime rib sliced with rosemary
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

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.

6

Brown Sugar BBQ Whole Roasted Cauliflower

brown sugar bbq whole roasted cauliflower
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

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7

Roasted Pork Tenderloin

roasted pork tenderloin
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

8

Tomato-Butter Roast Chicken

tomato butter roast chicken
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

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9

Pot Roast

pot roast
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI ; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

10

Cabbage Schnitzel

cabbage schnitzel
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

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11

Whole Roasted Cauliflower

whole roasted cauliflower sliced in a cast iron skillet
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: BEN WEINER

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.

12

Whole Roasted Cabbage

whole roasted cabbage
JOEL GOLDBERG

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.

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13

Classic Roast Chicken

roast chicken tied in a skillet with rosemary
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

14

Braised Short Ribs With 40 Cloves of Garlic

braised short ribs with 40 cloves of garlic
Andrew bui

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.

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15

Sauerbraten

sauerbraten on a plate with red cabbage
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

16

Brick Chicken

brick chicken with a spicy herb pan sauce
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: ERIKA JOYCE

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.

Get the Brick Chicken recipe.

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17

Mushroom, Spinach & Gruyère Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

mushroom spinach and gruyere stuffed pork tenderloin
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

18

London Broil

brown sugar and dijon marinated flank steak, broiled to medium rare, thinly sliced, and served with roasted garlic and herb butter
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLIST: BROOKE CAISON
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19

Beef Wellington

beef wellington sliced with fresh rosemary
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

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.

20

Turkey Tenderloin

turkey tenderloin
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: FRANCESCA ZANI

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.

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