20 Best Christmas Main Course Dinner Recipes to Make This Year

Hosting a Christmas dinner can be stressful, and creating a dinner menu for everyone attending just piles on that stress. You have to think about the main course, the appetizers, the side dishes, and the desserts. But there’s no need to get overworked over Christmas dinner recipes because this jolly holiday is about sharing good food and happy memories with loved ones.

If you are still deciding which Christmas dinner recipes to prepare this holiday season, here are the best Christmas menu ideas to cater to all your needs with hearty main courses. Whether you want a vegan or vegetarian Christmas dinner, are looking for a lavish menu, or just an intimate dinner, these main course Christmas dinner ideas will help you curate a table full of flavors, colors, and memories.

Cauliflower Wellington

For a small party, this vegetarian Christmas dinner recipe is perfect. You need to swap beef for spiced cauliflower for a meat-free holiday dinner. It has a roasted head of cauliflower, slathered with sautéed mushrooms and crushed walnut mash, and wrapped in puff pastry. Follow the full recipe here.

Tangy Honey-Glazed Ham

For meat lovers, Christmas would be incomplete without a ham on the dinner table. Try this tangy honey-glazed ham recipe this season and enjoy the juicy, tender ham infused with zesty flavors of brown sugar, honey, pineapple juice, and Dijon mustard. Follow the full recipe here.

Mushroom Pithivier

For the uninitiated, the pithivier is a dome-shaped pastry enveloping your choice of sweet or savory fillings. For a vegetarian Christmas dinner recipe, this modern mushroom pithivier can be made for a party of four at most with warm, hearty flavors. Follow the full recipe here.

Beef Tenderloin Roast

One of the best Christmas dinner ideas, this beef tenderloin roast will be a treat for meat lovers. It is tender, moist, and juicy. You need very few ingredients to make this roast, but don’t skimp on the beef. Get the premium quality filet mignon roast your budget allows you. Follow the full recipe here.

Maple Orange Glazed Spatchcock Turkey

Think turkey only belongs on the Thanksgiving table? Think again. This maple orange-glazed spatchcock turkey is a citrusy, juicy, sweet recipe that’s perfect for your Christmas dinner. Just open the bird up, flatten it, and roast it. Then baste it in maple orange glaze to turn it into the best turkey you have ever had the pleasure to gobble down. Follow the full recipe here.

Baked Parmesan-Crusted Salmon

If you don’t want chicken, turkey, or ham for your holiday dinner, give this tangy, zesty baked parmesan-crusted salmon with lemon cream sauce a try this year. It will be a show-stopper with its make-ahead components. Follow the full recipe here.

Christmas Eve Lasagna

With a twist on the classic lasagna Bolognese, this Christmas Eve dinner recipe packs layers of rich Bolognese sauce and creamy basil pesto ricotta, offering a dance party to your taste buds with bursting flavors. Its vibrant layers give you the perfect Instagram-worthy festive plate. Follow the full recipe here.

Filipino Roasted Pork Belly

This Filipino roasted pork belly with cherry palapa is a perfect Christmas main course dinner recipe for a group of eight. This colorful dish has summer cherries giving it a fresh zing, paired with fresh herbs and spices. Follow the full recipe here.

Garlic Herb Crust Prime Rib

For garlic lovers, this fail-safe, tender garlic-crusted prime rib is perfect for Christmas dinner. The standing beef rib roast recipe is right there with the best-glazed ham or turkey recipe you have ever tasted. Skeptic? Well, why don’t you give it a try? Follow the full recipe here.

Crumbed Rack of Lamb

This crumbed rack of lamb is prepared with a golden, crunchy crust, infused with Dijon mustard, garlic, and rosemary flavors, and topped with parmesan to give you a mind-blowing Christmas dinner main recipe. This recipe comes together quickly and adds warm aromas to your festive table. Follow the full recipe here.

Beaujolais Nouveau Braised Duck Legs

For an elegant holiday main that brings French-style comfort to your Christmas table, these Beaujolais Nouveau braised duck legs are rich, deeply flavorful, and reminiscent of classic coq au vin. Slow-braised in young red wine with aromatic herbs, carrots, leeks, pearl onions, mushrooms, and a kiss of bacon, the tender duck delivers melt-in-your-mouth indulgence that’s perfect for festive entertaining. Follow the full recipe here.

Roasted Rack of Pork Loin with Mustard & Apricots

If you want a show-stopping pork dish for Christmas, this roasted rack of pork loin delivers big flavor. The savory mustard crust pairs beautifully with sweet apricots, creating a balanced, juicy main course perfect for a holiday feast. Follow the full recipe here.

Fresh Ham with Maple Bourbon Glaze

For a festive Christmas centerpiece that smells like the holidays, this fresh ham with maple bourbon glaze delivers succulent, juicy pork with a crackly, caramelized exterior. The rich maple and bourbon glaze infuses the roast with sweet-smoky flavor, making it a standout main course for your holiday table. Follow the full recipe here.

One‑Pot Christmas Poussin

For a festive twist on classic roast poultry, this one‑pot Christmas poussin gives each guest their own tender young bird roasted with new potatoes and Brussels sprouts, everything cooked together for minimal fuss and maximum holiday flavor. Follow the full recipe here.

Christmas Goose with Goose Leg Sausage Roll & Cranberry Relish

For a truly luxurious Christmas main, this Christmas goose makes a standout centrepiece with crisped goose breast and rich accompaniments. Paired with a goose leg sausage roll, buttery kale, and tangy cranberry relish, it’s an indulgent festive roast that elevates your holiday table with classic seasonal flavours and impressive presentation. Follow the full recipe here.

Gourmet Christmas Turkey

For a memorable Christmas feast, this gourmet turkey turns the classic roast into something truly special. The butchered bird is expertly poached, deboned, and reassembled for perfectly juicy meat throughout, with rich pan juices and gravy that elevate this holiday staple to a standout centrepiece. Follow the full recipe here.

Festive Christmas Quail

For a unique and elegant Christmas main course that breaks with tradition, this festive Christmas quail delivers big flavour in a small package. Jumbo quails are stuffed and roasted with pancetta, aromatics, and seasonal fruits, making a tender, gamey holiday centrepiece that’s both impressive and delicious. Follow the full recipe here.

Broiled Salmon with Blue Cheese, Lemon & Dill

If you want a bold Christmas seafood option, this broiled salmon with blue cheese, lemon, and dill turns rich, flaky fish into a festive showstopper. The tangy blue cheese and bright lemon‑dill combo bring surprising depth to the salmon, making it a memorable alternative to traditional holiday mains. Follow the full recipe here.

The Best Beef Stroganoff

For a cozy, winter‑worthy Christmas main course, Andrew Zimmern’s best beef stroganoff brings tender strips of beef and earthy mushrooms together in a rich, creamy sauce with paprika and caramelized onions. It’s a hearty, comforting dinner option that feels indulgent yet familiar on a festive night. Follow the full recipe here.

Bohemian Roasted Duck with Caraway

For a rustic yet festive Christmas main, this Bohemian roasted duck with caraway delivers crispy skin and rich, succulent meat perfumed with aromatic caraway seeds. It’s a hearty holiday roast that pairs beautifully with seasonal sides and brings old‑world flavour to your celebratory table. Follow the full recipe here.