Christmas Roast – Tender, Juicy & Packed With Warm Holiday Flavors

🎉 Introduction

This Christmas Roast is everything a holiday centerpiece should be: tender, deeply flavorful, beautifully browned, and infused with aromatic herbs, garlic, and festive winter ingredients. Whether you use beef roast, pork roast, or lamb, this recipe transforms a simple cut of meat into a show-stopping Christmas dinner worthy of the season.

The meat is slow-roasted until melt-in-your-mouth tender, basted in a rich herb butter, and paired with cozy vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and onions. A glossy pan gravy pulls everything together for a warm, comforting, unforgettable holiday feast.

🧰 Equipment Needed

• Roasting pan or Dutch oven
• Sharp knife
• Mixing bowl
• Meat thermometer
• Aluminum foil
• Baking sheet (optional for veggies)

🛒 Ingredients

For the Roast

(You may use beef chuck roast, top round, prime rib, pork shoulder, or lamb leg)

• 3–4 lb roast (your choice)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 tbsp softened butter
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped
• 6 garlic cloves, smashed
• 1 onion, quartered
• 2 carrots, cut into chunks
• 2 celery stalks, chopped

For the Pan Sauce

• 1 cup beef broth
• ½ cup red wine (optional; can sub broth)
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp flour or cornstarch (for thickening)

👩‍🍳 Directions

Step 1: Season the Roast

Pat roast dry with paper towels.
Mix together:

• butter
• salt
• pepper
• paprika
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• rosemary
• thyme

Rub all over the roast, pressing herbs into the meat.

Step 2: Sear for Flavor

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high.

Sear the roast on all sides until deeply browned (1–2 minutes per side).

Step 3: Prepare the Pan

Place onions, garlic, carrots, and celery in a roasting pan or Dutch oven.

Set the seared roast on top.

Pour in:

• beef broth
• red wine (optional)

Add Worcestershire sauce.

Step 4: Roast

Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C).

Roast for:

• Beef Chuck Roast: 3–4 hours (fall-apart tender)
• Prime Rib: 1.5–2 hours (medium-rare, 130°F)
• Pork Shoulder: 3–4 hours
• Lamb Leg: 2–2.5 hours

Baste with pan juices halfway through.

Cover loosely with foil if browning too quickly.

Step 5: Rest & Make Gravy

Remove roast and rest 15 minutes.

Pour pan drippings into a skillet.

Whisk in:

• Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp flour or cornstarch slurry

Simmer until glossy and thick.

Season with salt and pepper.

Step 6: Serve

Slice or shred roast depending on cut.

Serve with roasted vegetables and warm gravy.

Garnish with:

• rosemary sprigs
• pomegranate seeds
• orange zest

for a festive touch.

🍽️ Servings & Timing

• Servings: 6–8
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 2–4 hours
• Total Time: Varies by roast type

🧊 Storage & Reheating

Refrigerator: 3–4 days
Freezer: 2–3 months

Reheat at 300°F covered with broth or gravy.

🥄 Variations

1. Christmas Herb-Crusted Beef Roast
   Add extra rosemary + thyme + Dijon crust.
2. Cranberry Balsamic Roast
   Add ½ cup cranberry sauce + 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar.
3. Garlic Butter Prime Rib
   Swap olive oil for garlic herb butter.
4. Pork Roast with Apple & Sage
   Add sliced apples + sage leaves to pan.
5. Lamb with Mint & Orange
   Add orange zest + mint to the rub.
6. Italian Christmas Roast
   Add oregano + basil + crushed tomatoes.
7. Spicy Holiday Roast
   Add chili flakes + smoked paprika.
8. Red Wine & Mushroom Roast
   Add sliced mushrooms to roasting pan.
9. Honey-Glazed Roast
   Brush with honey during last 20 minutes.
10. Low-Carb Version
    Skip carrots and use cauliflower + zucchini.

❓ 10 FAQs

1. Which cut of meat is best?
   Chuck roast, prime rib, pork shoulder, or lamb leg.
2. Do I need to marinate?
   Not required—herb butter provides huge flavor.
3. Why sear first?
   Searing builds deep flavor and color.
4. Can I cook this in a slow cooker?
   Yes — 8 hours on low for tender roasts.
5. Do I need a thermometer?
   Highly recommended for beef doneness accuracy.
6. Can I use dried herbs?
   Yes — use 1 tsp dried per 1 tbsp fresh.
7. Can I make gravy without wine?
   Absolutely — just use broth.
8. Why is my roast tough?
   It needed more cooking time (especially chuck/pork).
9. Can I add potatoes?
   Yes — add during last 1–1.5 hours.
10. Can I prep this ahead?
    Yes — season the roast up to 24 hours early.

🏁 Conclusion

This Christmas Roast is tender, flavorful, and beautifully aromatic — a perfect holiday centerpiece that fills your home with warmth and festive cheer. Whether you choose beef, pork, or lamb, this recipe guarantees juicy meat, gorgeous presentation, and a memorable Christmas feast your guests will rave about.

Christmas Roast – Tender, Juicy & Packed With Warm Holiday Flavors

This Christmas Roast is everything a holiday centerpiece should be: tender, deeply flavorful, beautifully browned, and infused with aromatic herbs, garlic, and festive winter ingredients. Whether you use beef roast, pork roast, or lamb, this recipe transforms a simple cut of meat into a show-stopping Christmas dinner worthy of the season. The meat is slow-roasted until melt-in-your-mouth tender, basted in a rich herb butter, and paired with cozy vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and onions. A glossy pan gravy pulls everything together for a warm, comforting, unforgettable holiday feast.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 2 hours hrs

Servings: 6 Servings

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Get Our Best App for Daily Great Recipes 🍽️

Discover warm, delicious, home-style meals — fresh recipes added every day inside Jacky’s Kitchen.

Coming Soon

Ingredients

  

For the Roast

• You may use beef chuck roast, top round, prime rib, pork shoulder, or lamb leg
• 3 –4 lb roast your choice
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 tbsp softened butter
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp fresh rosemary chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme chopped
• 6 garlic cloves smashed
• 1 onion quartered
• 2 carrots cut into chunks
• 2 celery stalks chopped

For the Pan Sauce

• 1 cup beef broth
• ½ cup red wine optional; can sub broth
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp flour or cornstarch for thickening

Get Our Best App for Daily Great Recipes 🍽️

Discover warm, delicious, home-style meals — fresh recipes added every day inside Jacky’s Kitchen.

Coming Soon

Equipment

• Roasting pan or Dutch oven
• Sharp knife
• Mixing bowl
• Meat thermometer
• Aluminum foil
• Baking sheet (optional for veggies)

Method

 

Step 1: Season the Roast

1. Pat roast dry with paper towels.
2. Mix together:
3. butter
4. salt
5. pepper
6. paprika
7. garlic powder
8. onion powder
9. rosemary
10. thyme
11. Rub all over the roast, pressing herbs into the meat.

Step 2: Sear for Flavor

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high.
2. Sear the roast on all sides until deeply browned (1–2 minutes per side).

Step 3: Prepare the Pan

1. Place onions, garlic, carrots, and celery in a roasting pan or Dutch oven.
2. Set the seared roast on top.
3. Pour in:
4. beef broth
5. red wine (optional)
6. Add Worcestershire sauce.

Step 4: Roast

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C).
2. Roast for:
3. Beef Chuck Roast: 3–4 hours (fall-apart tender)
4. Prime Rib: 1.5–2 hours (medium-rare, 130°F)
5. Pork Shoulder: 3–4 hours
6. Lamb Leg: 2–2.5 hours
7. Baste with pan juices halfway through.
8. Cover loosely with foil if browning too quickly.

Step 5: Rest & Make Gravy

1. Remove roast and rest 15 minutes.
2. Pour pan drippings into a skillet.
3. Whisk in:
4. Dijon mustard
5. 1 tbsp flour or cornstarch slurry
6. Simmer until glossy and thick.
7. Season with salt and pepper.

Step 6: Serve

1. Slice or shred roast depending on cut.
2. Serve with roasted vegetables and warm gravy.
3. Garnish with:
4. rosemary sprigs
5. pomegranate seeds
6. orange zest
7. for a festive touch.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Reheating

Refrigerator: 3–4 days
Freezer: 2–3 months

Reheat at 300°F covered with broth or gravy.

🥄 Variations

Christmas Herb-Crusted Beef Roast
Add extra rosemary + thyme + Dijon crust.

Cranberry Balsamic Roast
Add ½ cup cranberry sauce + 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar.

Garlic Butter Prime Rib
Swap olive oil for garlic herb butter.

Pork Roast with Apple & Sage
Add sliced apples + sage leaves to pan.

Lamb with Mint & Orange
Add orange zest + mint to the rub.

Italian Christmas Roast
Add oregano + basil + crushed tomatoes.

Spicy Holiday Roast
Add chili flakes + smoked paprika.

Red Wine & Mushroom Roast
Add sliced mushrooms to roasting pan.

Honey-Glazed Roast
Brush with honey during last 20 minutes.

Low-Carb Version
Skip carrots and use cauliflower + zucchini.

❓ 10 FAQs

Which cut of meat is best?
Chuck roast, prime rib, pork shoulder, or lamb leg.

Do I need to marinate?
Not required—herb butter provides huge flavor.

Why sear first?
Searing builds deep flavor and color.

Can I cook this in a slow cooker?
Yes — 8 hours on low for tender roasts.

Do I need a thermometer?
Highly recommended for beef doneness accuracy.

Can I use dried herbs?
Yes — use 1 tsp dried per 1 tbsp fresh.

Can I make gravy without wine?
Absolutely — just use broth.

Why is my roast tough?
It needed more cooking time (especially chuck/pork).

Can I add potatoes?
Yes — add during last 1–1.5 hours.

Can I prep this ahead?
Yes — season the roast up to 24 hours early.

🏁 Conclusion

This Christmas Roast is tender, flavorful, and beautifully aromatic — a perfect holiday centerpiece that fills your home with warmth and festive cheer. Whether you choose beef, pork, or lamb, this recipe guarantees juicy meat, gorgeous presentation, and a memorable Christmas feast your guests will rave about.