Start planning the main dinner of the year ahead of time! I love cooking for the Christmas holidays, and I’ve made everything from chicken to venison for my family.
Here are my favorite Christmas dinner ideas to serve as the main dish. You will find recipes you can make in the oven, crockpot, or over the grill and with any meat you like: ham, beef, chicken, turkey, or even Cornish hens, lamb, scallops, or venison!
Besides, I will show you recipes that take less than 45 minutes and make a fantastic holiday dinner for a small crowd! You just need to whip up a few sides, and your Christmas table is ready.
Gina’s Rundown:
Why I love it: These recipes bring together comforting flavors, simple prep, and festive presentation—perfect for anyone who wants a beautiful holiday meal without hours in the kitchen.
Christmas Chicken
Beautiful and juicy oven-roasted whole chicken with herbs, oranges, and garlic. I love garnishing it with cranberries or pomegranate seeds, and it is just perfect for a small family celebration.
Get the recipe: Christmas Chicken
Seared Scallops
Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant-level appetizer or main course for Christmas and New Year’s dinner is, hands down, seared scallops! These beauties are ready in 15 minutes and are so delicate and delicious!
Get the recipe: Seared Scallops
Oven Beef Brisket Recipe
I absolutely love brisket, but our winters don’t make me excited about firing up a smoker. A shortcut – you can make a juicy, tender brisket in the oven. It is a great dinner to make ahead, as it needs at least 8 hours to chill.
Get the recipe: Oven Beef Brisket
Ghee Roasted Chicken
Warm and cozy main course for family dinner, this whole chicken is roasted with ghee, paprika, turmeric, garlic, and lemon. The aromas and flavors are simply incredible!
Get the recipe: Ghee Roasted Chicken
Oven Beef Tenderloin
Beef tenderloin is a go-to recipe for Christmas dinner in my family. I’ve made it all possible ways, and I have to say – roasted in the oven is my favorite. I use the simplest ingredients and one secret sauce, and the flavors are a bomb!
Get the recipe: Oven Beef Tenderloin
Dutch Oven Pot Roast
Hearty, flavorful, and comforting, pot roast is an easy win for any family dinner during winter. It is just the best combination of textures, flavors, and it can still be festive enough for an intimate holiday celebration.
Get the recipe: Dutch Oven Pot Roast
Smoked Pork Loin
This smoky, tender pork is a restaurant-level main dish for any occasion. It is super simple and I elevate it by wrapping the whole loin in bacon. Oh, the aromas and juiciness! You won’t believe how perfect it comes out.
Get the recipe: Smoked Pork Loin
Cajun Turkey Breast
A bone-in roasted turkey breast with a homemade dry rub full of bold Cajun spices – incredibly juicy and delicious! It’s a flavorful, smaller alternative to a whole bird for intimate Thanksgiving dinners. The best part? It barely takes an hour to make it.
Get the recipe: Cajun Turkey Breast
Garlic Butter Filet Mignon
Feeling like a chef? Fillet Mignon is a classic restaurant dish, and it is actually not that hard to make at home! With simple ingredients, you can serve a perfectly cooked slice of meat in under 40 minutes!
Get the recipe: Garlic Butter Filet Mignon
Instant Pot Brown Sugar Ham
This pineapple brown sugar ham has a tender, juicy texture every single time. It is also the fastest menu on the list – you can feed 16 people in under 30 minutes!
Get the recipe: Pressure Cooker Brown Sugar Ham
Roasted Cornish Hens
Small Cornish hens are stuffed with herbs and roasted until golden and succulent. A charming, gourmet option for a sophisticated Thanksgiving feast if you want to set the hosting bar really high!
Get the recipe: Roasted Cornish Hens
Crockpot Coca-Cola Ham
Cola is a secret ingredient in many recipes! This glazed ham is baked with a sweet and sticky Coca-Cola reduction that caramelizes beautifully in the oven and it is simply melting in your mouth. An easy, crowd-pleasing main that balances perfectly with Thanksgiving sides and is very budget-friendly because it has only 4 ingredients!
Get the recipe: Coca-Cola Ham
Oven Roast Beef
A classic holiday dinner recipe that is both budget-friendly and delicious. A tender eye of round is seasoned, seared, and slow-roasted to medium-rare perfection. A hearty beef option for those wanting variety on the Thanksgiving menu and something beyond turkey…
Get the recipe: Oven Roast Beef
Smoked Venison Roast
Where are my foodies at? Beyond turkey and beef, let’s not forget one of the most delicious meats – venison. You can marinate venison and smoke it. The result is juicy, tender, gamey richness. A unique, lean protein option for adventurous Thanksgiving menus.
Get the recipe: Smoked Venison Roast
Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
One of my go-to recipes around Thanksgiving is this boneless turkey breast with herbs. You simply roast it in the oven until the meat is juicy and the skin turns crispy, and that’s it! A quick, foolproof choice for smaller Thanksgiving gatherings with family.
Get the recipe: Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
Smoked Ham
Absolutely my favourite ham recipe I make on our Traeger. This spiral-cut ham is glazed and slow-smoked for deep flavor and caramelized edges. An easy, make-ahead centerpiece that feeds a big crowd on Thanksgiving.
Get the recipe: Smoked Ham
Pork Loin Roast
A garlic and herb-rubbed pork loin roasted to juicy perfection with a savory pan gravy – it sounds mouthwatering, doesn’t it?! An elegant, budget-friendly alternative main for Thanksgiving that will easily feed a crowd.
Get the recipe: Pork Loin Roast
Smoked Beef Tenderloin
Rustic, juicy, tender. This whole beef tenderloin is reverse-seared on the smoker for melt-in-your-mouth texture and rich flavor. A luxurious, show-stopping alternative to turkey for Thanksgiving, everyone will rave about (tested many times!)
Get the recipe: Smoked Beef Tenderloin
Smoked Boneless Leg of Lamb
If your family loves lamb meat, this is a great recipe for any holiday dinner – smoked leg of lamb. You just need to season it, and off it goes smoking low and slow. My secret is to finish it with a mint glaze. A bold, aromatic main that brings Mediterranean flair to Thanksgiving.
Get the recipe: Smoked Boneless Leg of Lamb
Air Fryer Honey Baked Ham
I love air fryer recipes – it is completely hands-off, quick, and healthy. I also love making ham. So this recipe brings the two of my favorite things together. With spiced honey glaze, this ham has a perfect flavor profile!
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Honey Baked Ham
Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
No time (or desire) to stand by the stove or check on the oven every 30 minutes? A slow cooker is a life-saving appliance, and you can make a one-pot dinner by cooking the whole chicken to perfection!
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
With these easy mains on the menu, you can relax, enjoy the celebration, and savor every moment around the table.
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