32 Festive Holiday Main Dishes

From standout holiday centerpieces to simple crowd-pleasers, we have all of the main dish recipes that will make any holiday meal, extra special.

For me, the winter holidays are a time for honoring the passed year, showing gratitude to the people in my life, and celebrating family traditions. Our family celebrates Christmas, but regardless of the traditions of your culture, whether it’s Kwanzaa, Hannukah, Yule, or Festivus, I suspect there is one thing in common we all do: We feast! 

There are two kinds of celebratory meals—those that require you to plan ahead, prep, and cook all day long, and those that are so easy and quick that you have time to soak in a warm tub before guests arrive. Pick what works for you. Either will be impressive and delicious! 

Below I've compiled our tried-and-true holiday main dishes. You’ll find recipes for gatherings both intimate and large. Oftentimes our holiday main meals showcase special cuts of meat, so there are lots of crowd-pleasing recipes like chicken, fish, lamb, pork, and beef, but we also have stunning vegetable mains to delight everyone at the table. 

I hope some of these recipes make it on your holiday table! Happy Holidays!

1. Roast Chicken with Carrots

Get Recipe: Roast Chicken with Carrots

A simple roast chicken is great for a smaller gathering. It never fails to impress. Use a large oven-proof skillet and roast the chicken on a bed of carrots and garlic. Lemon and fresh thyme add a welcome brightness.

2. Braised Short Ribs with Root Beer BBQ Sauce

Get Recipe: Braised Short Ribs with Root Beer BBQ Sauce

Contributor Laura Manzano says, "Cover the dish tightly with multiple layers of foil to ensure the steam really stays in there and don’t even think about checking it sooner than 2 1/2 hours. Unwrapping the short ribs and letting all the steam escape adds more time than you think to the cooking process, shaving off time from your life that could be spent eating short ribs instead."

3. Classic Beef Rouladen

Get Recipe: Classic Beef Rouladen

Contributor Devan Grimsrud says, "In Germany, beef round, a very lean area from the back leg of the cow, is sliced very thinly at the butcher counter for rouladen. In the U.S., however, you will not find this exact cut, so you will need to ask your butcher for a thin cut from the round (eye round, top round, or bottom round)."

4. Roast Chicken With Apricot Glaze

Get Recipe: Roast Chicken With Apricot Glaze

Want your roast chicken to have a little wow factor? Coat it with apricot preserves. Once the chicken is fully cooked (internal temperature of 165℉), baste it with apricot preserves and roast it for ten minutes. The skin will get glossy and golden. 

5. Slow Cooker Jambalaya

Get Recipe: Slow Cooker Jambalaya

A slow cooker can help save oven space, especially during busy holiday cooking. This easy classic-ish Creole dish is made in the slow cooker, but it’s still smoky and flavor-packed. To prevent the rice from getting mushy, cook it separately and then mix it in right before serving.

6. Glazed Oxtails

Get Recipe: Glazed Oxtails

Founder Elise Bauer says, "As in any recipe that requires an entire bottle of wine, use a wine that you would enjoy drinking. The flavor of the wine will only be concentrated in this recipe, so if you don't like it to start with, you will not like it in this dish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Barolo, Merlot, or Shiraz will work well in this recipe."

7. Eggplant Parmesan

Get Recipe: Eggplant Parmesan

Founder Elise Bauer says, "This recipe makes 6 cups of homemade marinara sauce. If you’d like to use your own recipe or store-bought sauce, you’ll need the same amount (48 ounces)."

8. Chicken Gumbo with Andouille Sausage

Get Recipe: Chicken Gumbo with Andouille Sausage

Andouille sausage adds an extra kick of spice to this Southern classic filled with chicken thighs, okra, bacon, and a homemade spice mix. This is a great dish for a large gathering since it can serve 10 to 12 guests. 

9. Shrimp Gumbo with Andouille Sausage

Get Recipe: Shrimp Gumbo with Andouille Sausage

Master the roux and make an unforgettable pot of gumbo this holiday. This is a speedier version (with shrimp) of the Chicken Gumbo with Andouille Sausage. It’s ready in about 2 hours. Be careful not to overcook the shrimp, since it can get tough and rubbery. 

10. Instant Pot Pernil (Roast Pork)

Get Recipe: Instant Pot Pernil (Roast Pork)

Contributor Marta Rivera says, "No instant pot? This recipe also includes instructions to make it in the oven."

11. Classic King Crab

Get Recipe: Classic King Crab

No need to spend hours in the kitchen for this holiday main. It comes together in 10 minutes. That’s it! Serve the steamed king crab with melted butter and a generous rice salad. Look for wild-caught crab and remember that it is often par-cooked, so do not over-steam it.

12. Prime Rib

Get Recipe: Prime Rib

A bone-in prime rib, also known as a standing rib roast, is a showstopper for any holiday table. A 10-pound portion will easily feed 10 guests with some leftovers. When buying rib roast, look for even marbling throughout and keep a close eye on the internal temperature while it roasts. A digital thermometer would be super helpful!

13. Beef Wellington

Get Recipe: Beef Wellington

A classic English dish, a beef tenderloin is coated with mustard, mushrooms, and ham, wrapped in puff pastry, then baked until golden brown. It’s a fancy holiday main, but don’t let that intimidate you, especially since you can lean on store-bought frozen puff pastry. Just don’t forget to thaw it before using.

14. Roast Beef

Get Recipe: Classic Roast Beef

It doesn’t have to be expensive to feel special and even fancy. Use whatever roast fits your budget. Prime rib and beef tenderloin are more expensive than rump roast and bottom round, but all will be delicious. Serve with gravy and make Philly Cheesesteaks with leftovers the next day. 

15. Roast Beef Tenderloin with Sautéed Mushrooms

Get Recipe: Roast Beef Tenderloin with Sautéed Mushrooms

Beef tenderloin is the same cut as filet mignon, arguably the crème de la crème of beef. Paired with mushrooms sautéed in the same pan used to sear the beef gives it maximum flavor and minimum dirty dishes. Let the beef rest for about 20 minutes before slicing into it. 

16. Beef Roast Braised in Red Wine

Get Recipe: Beef Pot Roast in Red Wine

Simmer beef chuck roast with a bottle of full-bodied red wine and root vegetables for a special meal fit for your holiday table. Once the roast is cooked, the rich sauce is strained, reduced, and  spooned over the sliced beef. You’ll need about 3 1/2 hours to roast the meat. What about Garlic Mashed Potatoes on the side? 

17. Garlic Herb Butter Prime Rib

Get Recipe: Garlic Herb Butter Prime Rib

Take a seemingly plain prime rib and dress it up with a garlic butter spread. I love that the roasting pan is used for both searing the roast and making the gravy. This thoughtful approach saves on dishes without losing out on flavor.

18. Classic Rack of Lamb

Get Recipe: Classic Rack of Lamb

This rack of lamb is rubbed with a generous amount of olive oil, garlic, fresh rosemary, and thyme. Have the butcher French the rack to expose the ribs or feel free to do it yourself at home. Cook it to an internal temperature of 125°F for rare or 135°F for medium-rare.

19. Beef Brisket Pot Roast

Get Recipe: Beef Brisket Pot Roast

Celebrate Hanukkah with this easy beef brisket recipe. Score the brisket (the side with the layer of fat) to help the fat render as it sears. Use the same pan to cook the onions and then place the brisket on top to braise for about 4 hours. The brisket will be fork tender. This recipe can be adapted for the slow cooker!

20. Instant Pot Beef Brisket

Get Recipe: Instant Pot Beef Brisket

Here is another way to make brisket that frees up the oven! The pressure cooker makes quick work of the brisket. Ready in under 2 hours, this brisket is just as tender as the oven version. Don’t skip the gravy! 

21. Easy Beef Brisket

Get Recipe: Easy Beef Brisket

This three-ingredient (four if you count water) recipe is super simple. The brisket cooks in a BBQ sauce until fork tender. Take advantage of the hot oven and make Roasted Baby Carrots while the cooked brisket rests before slicing. 

22. Slow Cooker Bourbon Short Ribs with Cheesy Grits

Get Recipe: Slow Cooker Bourbon Short Ribs with Cheesy Grits

Let the slow cooker do the work. Cook short ribs, beef broth, vegetables, and a splash (or two!) of bourbon in a slow cooker on low for 8 hours. Cheesy grits are decadent and the perfect accompaniment for this special meal. 

23. Braised Beef Short Ribs

Get Recipe: Braised Beef Short Ribs

Short ribs are braised with mirepoix (onions, carrots, and celery) in red wine for 2 hours. This recipe uses a trick to get rid of the excess fat: After cooking the dish, chill it in the fridge. The fat will solidify, making it easy to remove.

24. Cranberry Glazed Ham

Get Recipe: Cranberry Glazed Ham

Jazz up a spiral cut ham with a glaze of cranberry sauce, oranges, and mustard. It’s festive, delicious, and oh so easy! This glaze will also work for boneless hams if bone-in isn’t available or just too large for a smaller gathering. Look for ham without added water for the best flavor.

25. Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Get Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Tenderloin is a lean cut of pork, so this recipe fills it with a mix of apples and herbs and wraps it with bacon. The bacon helps the tenderloin hold its shape and imparts a smoky flavor. This recipe takes less than an hour to prep and roast but feel free fill it and roll it the day before. 

26. Cranberry Apple Stuffed Pork Loin

Get Recipe: Cranberry Apple Stuffed Pork Loin

Let’s take it just a little further to make this stuffed pork loin look as special as it tastes. Butterfly the pork loin to into a larger and thinner slab so that it can be filled with apples, walnuts, and cranberries, and rolled. When sliced, the twirly inside is so impressive! The pork loin can be rolled and tied up to two days in advance. 

27. Brown Sugar Baked Ham with Pineapple

Get Recipe: Brown Sugar Baked Ham with Pineapple

Ham is an easy and readily available holiday main. Most hams are pre-cooked, so the goal is to warm them all the way through. Like in this recipe, you can add additional flavors with a brown sugar rub and pineapple rings. Totally old school, but still classic and fun! Hope for leftovers so you can make Croque Monsieur Ham and Cheese Sandwiches.

28. Roast Goose

Get Recipe: How To Roast a Goose

If you’ve never cooked a goose, consider this holiday an opportune time to try. This in-depth how-to guide walks you through it. You may need to special order a whole goose early to make sure you have it in time for your special holiday meal.

29. Roast Leg of Lamb

Get Recipe: Roast Leg of Lamb

Either a boneless or bone-in leg of lamb will work for this recipe. Make sure you plan accordingly: It needs to marinate in the fridge for at least 3 hours and then be brought to room temperature before roasting. As will most roasted meats, let it rest for 20 minutes before slicing and serving.

30. Vegan Stuffed Squash with Brown Rice and Mushrooms

Get Recipe: Vegan Stuffed Squash with Brown Rice and Mushrooms

This vegan stuffed squash is a showstopper holiday main. Halved and roasted acorn squash are filled over the brim with brown rice, fragrant herbs, mushrooms, and a little wine. Save time on the big day by prepping the filling and roasting the squash a day ahead.

31. Butternut Squash Lasagna

Get Recipe: Butternut Squash Lasagna

This vegetarian lasagna is layered with a creamy béchamel sauce, a host of cheeses, roasted butternut squash, and lasagna noodles. Assemble it, freeze it, and bake it straight from the freezer if you need something that can be planned way ahead. 

32. Roasted Eggplant and Butternut Squash with Tahini-Yogurt Sauce

Get Recipe: Roasted Eggplant and Butternut Squash with Tahini-Yogurt Sauce

It’s not often that a sheet pan dinner fits the holiday bill, but this one is a star. Take a little extra time to salt, drain, and rinse the eggplants—it helps tame the bitterness. Roast the eggplants and butternut squash at the same time, and then top them with an easy yogurt-tahini sauce. Yum!