Festive & Flavorful Holiday Meat Recipes
If you want to whip up an unforgettable holiday dinner, it all starts with the entree.
And whether you like to go the traditional route with beef tenderloin, or something a little different like sweet and sticky chicken, one of these holiday meat recipes is sure to be a hit.
Photo Courtesy of RecipeTin Eats
Sticky Glazed Christmas Chicken
Here's another less than traditional holiday dinner recipe, but one that definitely deserves as much attention as a beef tenderloin or ham.
Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and drumsticks are marinated in a sweet and sticky combination of winter spices, brown sugar, oranges, vinegar, and dijon mustard, before being slow-roasted in the oven for 50 minutes.
This recipe requires a little bit of prep work and waiting time, but it'll be a unique addition to your holiday dinner table.
Photo Courtesy of Once Upon a Chef
Roast Beef Tenderloin with Red Wine Sauce
Here's another take on beef tenderloin that features a red wine sauce rather than an onion-based sauce.
Shallots are cooked up and combined with beef broth, red wine, thyme, sugar, and salt and pepper to create the sauce, while beef is quickly seared and then roasted in the oven.
Serve your tenderloin with the red wine sauce on the side and some mashed potatoes and green beans to bring the meal together.
Roasted Beef Tenderloin with French Onion Au Jus
We'll start off with a fairly traditional entree for Christmas: beef tenderloin!
In this recipe, whole beef tenderloin is rubbed with garlic, thyme, peppercorns, and salt before being topped with onions and slow-roasted in the oven.
Serve your tenderloin with the au jus and your favorite holiday sides.
Find the full recipe at Half Baked Harvest
Sagey Mushroom Walnut Roast
If you want to go the plant-based route, consider this sagey mushroom walnut roast.
Walnuts are toasted and combined with onion, celery, carrots, and mushrooms to create a savory and satisfying loaf.
Top it all off with mushroom gravy and pomegranate seeds for extra flavor and color.
Find the full recipe at Feasting at Home
Party-Ready Pork Roast
Not a fan of beef? Consider this pork roast instead!
Perfectly moist, herby, and full of rich flavor, this roast calls for a pretty specific cut of meat, but all the other ingredients are pantry staples.
Serve your pork roast atop the leeks, baby potatoes, and kale.
Find the full recipe at Bon Appetit
Spiced Pomegranate and Orange Glazed Ham
This spiced pomegranate and orange glazed ham is a great way to celebrate the flavors of the season and enjoy a juicy, succulent slice of holiday meat.
Calling for just 8 simple ingredients, ham is coated with the sweet glaze before being roasted in the oven.
Serve your glazed ham with garlic mashed potatoes and your favorite green veggies.
Find the full recipe at Epicurious
Simple Roasted Turkey Breast for Two
Keeping the holiday gathering extra small this year? This turkey recipe gives you all the holiday meat flavors you want and is the perfect serving size for 2.
Utilizing just the turkey breast rather than the whole bird, this recipe calls for just a few simple ingredients and a little over an hour of your time.
Serve it up with smaller portions of mashed potatoes and veggies for a simple, yet satisfying, holiday dinner at home.
Find the full recipe at Feasting at Home
Red Wine-Braised Short Ribs
If you want to try something a little less traditional, consider this short rib recipe!
Short ribs are cut crosswise and quickly seared before being braised low and slow with red wine and root veggies.
The longer you let these simmer, the more tender they get, so patience is key here.
Find the full recipe at Bon Appetit
Roast Chicken with Lemon, Garlic, and Rosemary
Here's a quick and easy recipe for a whole chicken that's perfectly moist and juicy, and full of lemony-garlic-herby flavor.
The chicken in this recipe is roasted over carrots, potatoes, and onion, so this is really an all-in-one dish if you're looking to keep it simple this holiday.
Serve it with the roasted veggies, and a winter fruit salad to bring it all together.
Find the full recipe at Feasting at Home
More Holiday Meat Recipes to Consider
Maple Mustard Brisket from Co+op
Rolled Stuffed Turkey Breast with Sausage & Herb Stuffing from Once Upon a Chef
Holiday Beef Brisket with Onions from Food & Wine
Holiday Ham with Riesling and Mustard from Bon Appetit
Pomegrante Balsamic Glazed Ribs from Butter Be Ready
Low-and-Slow Rib Roast from Bon Appetit