50 Christmas Roasts Your Family Will Love

Perfect Prime Rib Roast Recipe

What’s the secret to an extra succulent prime rib roast? Your slow cooker. You may not believe us, and we understand why you’d hesitate to throw a top dollar cut of meat in a crockpot. This is a revolution that must be tasted. And of course, you don’t just season the meat and toss it in the slow cooker, set it and forget it style.

Slow Cooker Mississippi Pork Roast Recipe

Try classic Mississippi pot roast with pork for a juicier, less expensive holiday dinner twist. It’s comforting, super savory, rich, and delicious, and the juicy, tender meat falls apart just like a good pot roast should. It makes a great meal, especially paired with dinner rolls, mashed potatoes or rice.

Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast Recipe

Ranch seasoning gives this old-school family favorite a delicious new spin, and an Instant Pot makes it come together even faster. Serve the tender meat over rice, egg noodles, or mashed potatoes for a hearty supper. If you don’t own a multicooker, don’t worry—this roast cooks up deliciously in a slow cooker (see instructions).

Roast Lamb with Rosemary and Garlic Recipe

This lamb roast is seasoned with just a simple rub of rosemary and garlic; sprinkle the lamb with coarse salt after removing from the oven to really accent the flavors.

Classic Beef Pot Roast Recipe

If you're looking for a traditional pot roast recipe, try this 5-star, no-fail version. Cuts of beef that perform well for pot roasting go by many different names: Blade roast, cross-rib roast (or shoulder clod), seven-bone pot roast, arm pot roast, and boneless chuck roast are all acceptable cuts. Either way, this roast beef recipe will become unbelievably tender and flavorful in the Dutch oven. Make this pot roast on a cold, rainy day for a cozy dinner that the whole family will love. For a slow-cooker version of this beef chuck roast, check out our crock-pot recipes.

Seasoned Roast Turkey Recipe

This gorgeous turkey is seasoned with nine spices for flavor impact. Note that it also releases lots of delectable drippings for some dynamite gravy.

Lemon- and Pepper-crusted Prime Rib Roast with Root Vegetables Recipe

Roast an 8-lb prime rib cut with shallots and red potatoes that have been tossed in olive oil for a hearty holiday entree.  Serve with tequila-infused pan drippings to spoon over meat and vegetables.

Perfect Roast Turkey Recipe

First-time holiday hosts, don’t fear: We’ve got the perfect simple, yet doable turkey recipe that also happens to be super delicious. The bird comes out moist (Butterball turkeys are pre-brined, saving first-time roasters some serious time and cooking space) with a delectably crispy, brown skin.

Za’atar Roasted Chicken over Sumac Potatoes Recipe

If you’re having a crowd, throw this in the oven during cock- tail hour, then pull it out for oohs and aahs. If you’re feeding a smaller group, be happy because this chicken, pulled off the bone and tossed into a salad, makes a killer next-day lunch.

Pork Roast With Carolina Gravy Recipe

If you don't own an instant read thermometer, it's worth purchasing one for this recipe. Cooking this budget-friendly roast to between 180° and 185° ensures incredibly tender slices for a pretty presentation.

Pork Crown Roast Recipe

Even your mother-in-law will request the recipe for this wonderful holiday roast. Save yourself some prep time and ask the butcher to prep and tie the meat for you, or do it yourself at home with our detailed instructions. Either way, let the roast chill uncovered overnight to allow the surface to dry so that a nice crust forms as the meat cooks.

Home-Style Slow-Cooker Pot Roast Recipe

Certain comfort foods are synonymous with Sunday supper, the meal that brings the family together. The convenience of a slow cooker makes it easy to enjoy this classic any day of the week or on a special occasion, like Christmas. Be sure to cut the vegetables into large, uniform pieces so they will hold up during the long cook time.

Crock Pot Easy Pot Roast Recipe

We've adapted this recipe from Phyllis Good's Fix-it and Forget-it Cookbook. Just throw the ingredients in the slow cooker in the morning, and you'll have a meal that the whole family will love by dinnertime. 

Sweet Chile Roasted Salmon Recipe

For your next holiday meal, we highly recommend giving the ham a break and picking up a side of salmon instead. Whether you’re serving it for a special occasion or a casual weeknight meal, this perfectly tender roasted salmon is impressive in every possible way.

Classic Roast Turkey Recipe

This traditional roasted turkey is perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas family dinners.

Peppercorn-And-Coriander-Crusted Beef Rib Roast Recipe

This company-worthy roast requires a little planning ahead but otherwise is fairly hands-off. Call your butcher ahead of time to cut the roast and remove the chine bone. Slow roast the beef up to 2 hours in advance, then sear it just before serving.

Herb and Citrus Roast Leg of Lamb Recipe

It may be an intimidating protein, but if you need to feed a crowd, lamb's the way to go. Orange and lemon in the marinade make for a bright counterpoint to the earthy cumin. Stuff leftovers into pitas, and drizzle with yogurt.

Classic Roast Chicken Recipe

A classic roasted chicken served with greens and your favorite side makes a delicious and easy dinner that never goes out of style. Be prepared to turn on your vent; the high-heat finishing may generate some smoke.

Oven-Braised Pot Roast Recipe

Make this meal on a Sunday and you'll have three dinners taken care of! The recipe yields enough for both Roast Beef Hash on Monday, and Pot Roast Tacos With Chimichurri on Tuesday. That it's just 284 calories per serving doesn't hurt either. 

Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Cabbage Recipe

This modern twist on hearty German fare gets a fiber boost from savoy cabbage and a crunchy-tart finish from cranberries and almonds. Be sure to let the pork rest atop the cabbage mixture; the juices infuse it with rich, meaty flavor.

Roast Chicken With Dukkah and Citrus Over Roasted Vegetables Recipe

This recipe for savory roast chicken and vegetables comes from NYC-based chef and cookbook author, Seamus Mullen. If you find yourself with leftovers, put them to good use in this satisfying soup. 

Tri Tip Roast with Porcini-Shallot Butter Recipe

 If it’s an easy and budget-friendly recipe for entertaining you seek, look no further than this succulent beef tri tip roast. The highly affordable cut of beef is elevated with a dreamy compound butter made with porcini mushrooms, lemon, and shallot. 

Instant Pot Eye of Round Roast Beef Recipe

Sandwiches for Christmas? Why not?! Despite its tempting price tag, you’ve probably walked right on by that eye of round roast in the supermarket meat case more times than you can count. This easy Instant Pot recipe transforms what’s typically considered a less-desirable cut of meat into succulent, perfectly rare roast beef with a richly savory jus.

Everything Bagel Roasted Salmon Recipe

Everything bagel seasoning is an easy but unexpected way to add punch to salmon; the onion flavor is subtle, and the added crunch provides a nice textural contrast to the tender fish. Brushing on honey and mustard adds the perfect sweet and tangy kick.

Fennel-Crusted Rib Roast Recipe

Rub prime rib with freshly ground peppercorns, coriander, and fennel for a heady combination of seasonings that perfectly complements this elegant cut of meat.  A garnish of fresh cranberries and oranges adds vibrant color to your table, making this dish as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the palate.

Pork Roast Recipe

This comforting pork roast recipe is perfect for the holiday season. Bonus: The meaty flavors of the tender pork mix with the savory vegetables to create a beautifully rich gravy. 

Roasted Pork Tenderloin With Golden Potatoes And Herb Dressing Recipe

Some nights, all you want is a simple, satisfying meat-and-potatoes meal you know the whole family will love—that’s where this easy one-dish dinner comes in. A cast-iron skillet is ideal for preparing this budget-friendly, weeknight supper, as it will provide the best caramelization on the pork and potatoes. 

Roasted Pork with Apples and Potatoes Recipe

This meal shows off the sheet pan at its most versatile: The protein, starch, vegetable, and pan sauce all cook to perfection in the same pan. Look for a large apple so the slices retain some texture after roasting. The pan needs to get very, very hot to get a good crust on the pork.

Pan-Seared Pork Chops with Roasted Fennel and Tomatoes Recipe

One pan, a handful of ingredients, and 30 minutes are all you need to put this impressive pork chop skillet dinner on the table. This flavor-packed, single-skillet supper is an easy dinner for two that feels like something special. It’s also an ideal recipe for one, as the leftover chop and veggies reheat well for a next-day lunch worth looking forward to. 

Beef Pot Roast with Turnip Greens Recipe

This pot roast calls for veggies and herbs you can find at your local famers market. If you can't cipollini onions, substitute pearl onions. Other large full-flavored greens like mustard greens or kale will work, as well.

Cider-Glazed Turkey with Roasted Apples Recipe

An overnight wet brine infuses and plumps up the meat so it stays moist. Line a roasting pan with the brining bag before adding the liquid and the turkey so everything stays in place.

Coriander-Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Potatoes Recipe

Crushed whole spices create a beautiful crust on a seared and roasted pork tenderloin. You don't need a spice grinder or mortar and pestle; place the peppercorns and coriander seeds in a ziplock bag and crush gently with a small, heavy skillet until very coarsely ground.

Whole Roasted Chicken with Sweet Potatoes, Fennel, and Apple Recipe

For an easy, seasonal dinner, this whole roasted chicken is the way to go. Perched on a bed of root veggies, fennel, apples, and mushrooms, this chicken becomes irresistibly crispy on the outside and succulent on the inside.

Roast Rack of Lamb with Lavender Recipe

Floral notes of lavender are totally unexpected, but totally welcome, in this unique twist on roasted rack of lamb, a holiday classic.

Slow-Roasted Pork Belly Recipe

This four-ingredient recipe is beautifully simple. A basic, yet delicious, main dish gives your holiday sides much-deserved time in the spotlight.

Roast Duck with Duck Fat Potatoes, Capers, and Parsley Recipe

In this show-stopping centerpiece, the fatty nature of Pekin duck plays to your advantage. Just cut a crosshatch pattern which helps to release the fat while cooking—simultaneously crisping the skin and seasoning the bed of fingerling potatoes underneath.

Porchetta-Style Roast Turkey Recipe

Stuffed with a flavorful herb paste, rolled, tied, and baked skin side out until golden, this succulent roast is the polar opposite of overcooked, bland turkey breast. Jaret Foster of Tournant catering in Portland, Oregon, drew his inspiration from porchetta, the crisp-skinned Italian rolled pork roast traditionally seasoned with garlic, red chile, and fennel.

Slow-Cooked BBQ Pork Roast Recipe

The slow cooker makes any season barbecue season. This pork shoulder simmers in a vinegar- and ketchup-laced liquid until tender and juicy. Top with pickled red onions. Pile the pork onto game-day sandwiches or baked sweet potatoes.

Spice-Roasted Salmon with Roasted Cauliflower Recipe

Moroccan spices blend earthy (cumin) with warm and fragrant (coriander and allspice). Salmon and cauliflower embrace these flavors well. Look for thicker salmon fillets from the upper portion of the fish rather than thinner tail pieces.

Roast Pork with Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes Recipe

This flavor-packed, pork recipe combines sweet and savory for the perfect dinner option.

Slow Cooker Rosemary Beef Chuck Roast Recipe

Set your slow cooker on low and go on about your day knowing that your holiday dinner is gonna be delicious. In this simple set-it-and-forget-it dish, beef chuck roast cooks in a flavor-packed rosemary marinade, full of fresh rosemary leaves and onions for a succulent, highly comforting entree

Honey-Baked Pork Roast Recipe

Instead of the traditional cured ham that’s full of sodium and nitrates, bake the flavors of honey-baked ham into a pork picnic roast. The meat slowly roasts so that the sugar-honey spice rub bakes into a shellac-like crust. And the roast slices like ham, with firm but juicy slices that go perfectly with a simple honey-mustard sauce.

Moroccan Pot Roast Recipe

Of all our Cottage Community Dinners recipes, this is our favorite. It's wonderfully tender and easily feeds a crowd. The combination of flavors is so different from your mom's pot roast, you may never go back! Prep: 20 minutes; Cook: 3 hours 13 minutes.

Pork Roast with Fennel and Apples Recipe

This recipe puts your protein and vegetables on one platter. Toss a salad or make an easy whole-grain side (like quinoa or barley) and dinner is ready.

Garlicky Roasted Lamb with Parsley-Pistacho Gremolata Recipe

“Frenched” leg of lamb means the meat, fat and membranes have been removed from the exposed bone. Ask the butcher to do it for you.

Maple-Mustard Roasted Chicken with Squash and Brussels Sprouts Recipe

We give the large bone-in breasts a head start in the oven so they will be perfectly cooked by the time the vegetables are done. This cut is also rather juicy; you'll want to drain the liquid from the pan before adding the vegetables so they can caramelize evenly.

Peppercorn-Crusted Standing Rib Roast with Roasted Vegetables Recipe

Prepare for "oohs" and "ahhs" when you place this roast on your holiday table. Although it looks difficult, it's truly simple to prepare--slather it with our herb butter the night before; then let your oven do the work.

Perfect Roasted Beef Tenderloin Recipe

This beef tenderloin recipe is magic. The result is delicious enough for a special occasion, yet it is simple enough to be made on a weeknight. You can let the beef tenderloin chill for up to 24 hours, if desired. If you prefer medium, cook the tenderloin until it reaches an internal temperature of 140-145 degrees.

Roasted Herb Turkey and Gravy Recipe

Holiday traditionalists, this turkey is for you. For crisp, golden skin and juicy meat, we coated this beautiful bird with an aromatic infused butter, made with sage, thyme, and fennel seeds. And for the best gravy, we added onions, carrots, and celery to the roasting pan.

Roast Goose with Potatoes, Onions, and Apples Recipe

No roast is more epic than a goose—it is, after all, the bird Charles Dickens forever immortalized in A Christmas Carol. A goose is all dark meat and very rich. The fat that drips from it is excellent for roasting potatoes and vegetables, and the skin turns golden and crisp, the poultry equivalent of pork cracklings.