23 Delicious & Easy Christmas Dinner Main Course Recipes for a Memorable Holiday Feast

The festive season is a truly magical time, filled with warmth, laughter, and the joy of gathering with loved ones. At the heart of any holiday celebration is often a spectacular meal, and the Christmas dinner main course is undeniably the star of the show. While the thought of preparing an elaborate holiday feast can sometimes feel overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be. This collection is dedicated to bringing you 23 delicious, yet surprisingly easy, main course ideas that promise to impress your guests without keeping you chained to the kitchen.

Imagine your family and friends gathered around the table, sharing stories and making cherished new memories, all while savoring a beautifully cooked meal. From comforting oven roasts that fill your home with irresistible aromas to convenient slow cooker dishes that practically cook themselves, and from elegant fish preparations to hearty vegetarian options, this guide offers something to delight every palate and cater to various dietary preferences. We’ve carefully curated these recipes to ensure a stress-free and truly delicious Christmas dinner experience, allowing you more time to enjoy the most wonderful time of the year.

A high-angle photo collage featuring 8 different main courses for Christmas dinner, showcasing a variety of meat, fish, and vegetarian options.

For many, Christmas dinner evokes images of cherished traditions and beloved family recipes, whether it’s a succulent roulade or a perfectly glazed ham. While these classics hold a special place in our hearts, the culinary world offers an abundance of other fantastic main dishes waiting to be discovered. To help you navigate through these delightful options and find the ideal centerpiece for your holiday spread, we’ve thoughtfully divided our recommendations into clear, easy-to-browse categories. Simply jump to the section that best suits your taste and culinary adventure!

Oven-Baked Meats
Slow Cooker Prepared
Other Meat Dinners
Fish Recipes
Vegetarian

Oven-Baked Meats

There’s a special kind of magic that an oven-baked main course brings to the Christmas table. The sheer act of roasting fills your home with comforting, enticing aromas, building anticipation for the festive meal to come. These dishes often require minimal active cooking, allowing you to focus on other holiday preparations or simply savor precious moments with your loved ones. Our selection of oven-baked meat recipes ranges from impressive roasts to sophisticated roulades, all designed to deliver maximum flavor with relative ease. Perfect as a grand centerpiece, these recipes promise tender, juicy results that will be the highlight of your holiday feast, ensuring a memorable and delicious experience for everyone.

A square photo with a white plate of ham on the bone. A sauce ladle filled with cumberland sauce and some sauce in the background. A white background

Baked Ham with Cumberland Sauce

Ham meets the delicious taste of Cumberland sauce. A match made in heaven for a tasty Christmas dinner! This classic combination offers a perfect balance of savory and sweet, making it an irresistible holiday centerpiece.

A square photo with strips of sirloin steak garnished with parsley and served with shallot and carrots

Roasted Sirloin Steak with Red Wine Sauce

Let the oven do its work with this juicy sirloin steak, flavored with delicious red wine. A classic dish with a modern twist, perfect for a sophisticated Christmas dinner that’s both elegant and comforting.

A square photo with a white dish with rosemary and a stuffed roulade with onion, honey and thyme.

Dutch Rollade Recipe

A crispy exterior reveals a delicious filling. The oven does all the work for a perfect filled roulade, ensuring a tender and flavorful meat roll for your holiday table that’s both traditional and impressive.

A square photo showing a roasted chicken with orange and honey glaze on a white plate

Perfect Glazed Roast Chicken

Let your kitchen smell of the delicious aroma of roasted chicken! Enjoy a perfectly cooked chicken, covered in a delicious orange-ginger glaze, straight from the oven – a delightful alternative to turkey for your festive table.

A square photograph showing part of a pink plate with chicken roulade slices on top and a white background

Dutch Chicken Rollade

A juicy exterior conceals a tasty filling. The oven creates a masterpiece of stuffed chicken roulade, offering a unique and flavorful twist on traditional chicken that’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

A square photo with two hams covered with a cola mustard sauce. Three slices cut off. A fork pierces a slice

Ham with Cola and Mustard Glaze

An oven-baked ham gets a surprising twist with a Coca Cola glaze. A sweet and tangy meeting of flavors that will delight your guests, making for an unexpectedly delicious holiday main.

Asian Rack of Lamb

Be surprised by the sweet and savory flavors of a soy sauce marinade, perfectly applied to a juicy rack of lamb from the oven. An elegant and exotic choice for your holiday table that promises a burst of unexpected flavor.

A square photo of a gray plate with duck breast fillet, 3 slices cut off and a balsamic sauce with honey

Oven Roast Duck Breast with Honey Balsamic Sauce

Duck breast gets a shiny upgrade with a honey-balsamic sauce. A perfect balance between sweet and savory, making for an exquisitely rich and festive main course that is sure to impress your guests.

Classic Beef Wellington

Channel your inner chef with this classic Beef Wellington. A golden, flaky crust envelops juicy, tender beef, creating a true work of art and an unforgettable holiday showstopper that will be the centerpiece of your feast.

A square photo with a plate with open saltimbocca and a bowl of spaghetti in the background

Veal Saltimbocca with Mozzarella

Italian finesse meets tender veal, baked with fresh sage and melted mozzarella. An ode to simplicity and taste, bringing sophisticated flavors to your Christmas table for a truly gourmet experience.

Slow Cooker Prepared

For those looking to minimize kitchen chaos and maximize precious time with loved ones during the bustling holiday season, slow cooker recipes are an absolute revelation. These incredible dishes allow for truly hands-off cooking, gently simmering to tender perfection over several hours while you attend to other festive preparations, or simply relax and enjoy the holiday atmosphere. The result is consistently fork-tender, flavor-packed meats that practically melt in your mouth, all achieved with minimal fuss. Discover how your slow cooker can be your ultimate kitchen ally this Christmas, delivering delicious and impressive main courses with an effortless touch.

A square photo of roast beef with bacon, two slices of which have been cut off. A fork pierces a slice

Slow Cooker Bacon Wrapped Roast Beef

Let the slow cooker do the work for a juicy roast beef wrapped in crispy bacon. A taste sensation in every bite, perfect for a fuss-free yet impressive holiday meal that’s rich in flavor.

A square photo with a ham cut with three slices and gravy in front. A baking paper underneath and rosemary on top.

Slow Cooker Fresh Ham

Ham gets a festive twist with a glaze of maple syrup from the slow cooker. Juicy and full of flavor, this ham will be a crowd-pleaser with minimal effort, allowing you to enjoy your guests.

Other Meat Dinners

Beyond the classic grand roasts and convenient slow-cooked meals, there’s a dynamic world of other fantastic meat dishes that can elevate your Christmas dinner. This section highlights versatile and sometimes quicker options that certainly don’t compromise on flavor or festive appeal. Whether you’re seeking a unique cut of meat, an unexpected international flair, or a dish that leverages modern cooking methods like the air fryer for speed and crispiness, these recipes offer exciting alternatives to keep your holiday menu fresh and exciting. Explore these delightful and diverse options for a truly memorable and delicious Christmas feast that stands out from the crowd.

A white plate with a steak a la loetje baked on it. A pink and white tea towel in the background

Dutch Steak Bali

Spoil your guests with a delicious Bali steak. Spicy, flavorful, and a real treat, offering an exotic touch to your Christmas dinner that’s both bold and satisfying.

Christmas dinner: deer beef, green beans and mashed potato

Discover the elegant flavors of tender venison steak, crispy haricots verts, and silky smooth mashed potatoes – a perfect combination for an unforgettable Christmas dinner that is both rustic and refined.

A square photo with a piece of sirloin steak with a piece cut off on a pink plate. Herb butter melts on the sirloin steak

Air Fryer Sirloin Steak

A perfectly baked sirloin steak, prepared in no time with the Air fryer. Fast, simple and tasty, making a quick yet gourmet meal for a smaller Christmas gathering or a delightful treat for two.

A square photo with a white dish with strips of beef tongue and Madeira sauce. In the background a bowl with extra sauce on a white background

Beef Tongue in Madeira Sauce

Enjoy the refined taste of beef tongue, perfectly combined with a rich Madeira sauce. A culinary adventure that offers a unique and gourmet experience for your holiday table, surprising and delighting your guests.

Chicken breast filet with orange sauce on a white plate. A square photo

20-Minute Skillet Chicken in Orange Thyme Sauce

Serve a surprising piece of meat: tender chicken covered with a delicious orange-thyme sauce. A real treat that’s quick to prepare, perfect for when time is of the essence but flavor is paramount for your festive meal.

Fish Recipes

For a lighter yet equally elegant Christmas dinner, fish main courses offer a refreshing and sophisticated alternative to traditional heavy meat dishes. Seafood brings a delicate flavor profile and often cooks more quickly, making it a wonderful choice for a festive meal that feels special without being overly indulgent. Our curated fish recipes combine fresh, vibrant flavors with impressive presentations, ensuring your holiday table is both delicious and visually stunning. From flaky, herb-crusted salmon to creamy cod risottos, these dishes are sure to delight all your guests, providing a truly memorable and exquisite dining experience.

A square photo of a pink plate on a white background. Two baked salmon fillets with red wine herb butter on the plate. In the background a pink and white tea towel.

Salmon with a Red Wine Compound Butter

Salmon in the leading role, baked to perfection and topped with creamy red wine with shallot herb butter. An elegant dish that impresses with its rich flavors and sophisticated presentation, perfect for a festive occasion.

Photo of a white plate with a gold spoon. The plate is filled with risotto with zucchini and cheese. On top of that are two slices of fried cod

Cod Risotto with Zucchini

A creamy risotto, filled with soft zucchini rice and delicate cod. A delicious dish that will warm your heart and taste buds, offering comfort and elegance in one delightful Christmas main.

A square photo with a skillet filled with cod and a creamy white wine lemon sauce.

Cod with White Wine Sauce

Add a touch of elegance to your Christmas dinner with our recipe for Cod with White Wine Sauce. The soft texture of the cod meets the refined taste of a delicious white wine sauce, creating a truly luxurious holiday main.

Vegetarian

Christmas dinner should be a joyous and inclusive occasion for everyone at the table, and that absolutely includes offering spectacular vegetarian main courses that are far more exciting than mere side dishes. This dedicated section showcases flavorful, satisfying, and truly festive vegetarian options that can stand proudly as the star of your holiday table. From creamy, aromatic risottos to hearty, savory quiches, these recipes are thoughtfully crafted to impress even the most devoted meat-eaters, ensuring a diverse, delicious, and truly memorable feast for all your guests this Christmas season.

A blue dish with risotto, chestnut mushrooms and herbs. A hand takes a spoon. A white background

Risotto ai Funghi

Dive into a creamy world of risotto, perfectly combined with earthy chestnut mushrooms. A feast of flavors on your plate that offers a rich and comforting vegetarian option for Christmas, satisfying even the heartiest appetites.

A square photo of a quiche with a point cut out. A blue background where the quiche is located

Pumpkin Sweet Potato Quiche with Roasted Garlic

Surprise your guests with this sweet potato and pumpkin quiche, where the warm notes of sweet potato, crunchy nuts and creamy sauce come together in a delicious savory pie, perfect for a hearty vegetarian feast.

A square photo with spaghetti with mushrooms in cream sauce

Creamy Garlic Mushroom Pasta

A simple, yet delicious dish where the rich flavor of mushrooms merges with the velvety cream sauce. Prepare for a flavor explosion in every bite. Buon appetito! This hearty pasta is a satisfying choice for a festive Christmas main.

We sincerely hope this curated collection of 23 delicious and easy Christmas dinner main course recipes inspires your holiday cooking and helps you create an unforgettable feast for your loved ones. Whether you choose a grand oven roast, a convenient slow cooker option, an elegant fish dish, or a hearty vegetarian masterpiece, remember that the most important ingredients are the joy you share and the cherished memories you make with your family and friends. May your Christmas table be overflowing with wonderful food, warm conversations, and heartwarming moments. Wishing you a truly delightful, delicious, and Merry Christmas!

And for even more Christmas recipe inspiration, be sure to explore here:

More Christmas Recipes

24 Festive Christmas Dinner Recipes