Looking for inspiration on what main dishes to serve at Christmas lunch or dinner?  I've got you covered. Choose from a range of delicious classic recipes like Roasted Chicken, Ham or Turkey. Your guests will love these impressive Christmas mains that are secretly effortless to prepare.   

multiple images of Christmas mains with text overlay "20 Christmas Mains".

Tired of the same old, same old and want to do something different for Christmas this year? I've scoured the internet for the most delicious Christmas Main Dishes that will be perfect for your Christmas lunch or dinner.

It’s true that the most popular Christmas main dishes are usually Roast Turkey/Chicken and Glazed Ham. But every family, no matter where they are, has their own special holiday recipes. Even with the same main ingredients, the seasonings and sides often vary, giving each dish its own unique flavor and story.

You can see from the list I’ve shared that there are some ways to cook Roast Chicken or Turkey. Even Glazed Ham comes in all sorts of delicious variations!

The popularity of these dishes also comes from how easy the main ingredients are to find. They’re simple to prepare and made with protein-rich ingredients that are filling and satisfying.

WHY YOU'LL LOVE THESE CHRISTMAS MAIN DISHES LIST

  • Most of the dishes on this list are timeless classics that people always look for during the Christmas season.
  • The dishes I’ve included here can easily be made in smaller portions or scaled up to serve a crowd. Whether you're cooking for a small group or feeding a crowd there's something in here for everyone.
  • All of these recipes can be presented beautifully, making them perfect for your holiday mood. Each dish is full of flavor and will look very impressive on your Christmas table this year. 

Looking for some side dishes to go with your mains? Be sure to check out these 30 Christmas Side Dishes and 20+ Easy Christmas Salads.

Also if you think you'll have a lot of holiday ham leftover I've put together a lift of 25 Leftover Ham Recipes that will be a big help!

Whole roast chicken on a white plate.

Roast Chicken with Lemon and Rosemary - a classic oven roasted chicken recipe that is perfect every time. This baked whole chicken is very easy to prepare and bursting with flavour. The perfect centrepiece for your Christmas feast.

turkey breast sliced on a white serving platter.

So easy to make and loaded with flavour, this succulent Slow Cooker Turkey Breast and the easy turkey gravy is the perfect festive centrepiece for a smaller gathering. This holiday dish is perfect if you want less fuss and less leftovers but maximum flavour.

leg of lamb being carved on a white plate.

This slow roasted leg of lamb is ultra easy and very forgiving. It does take patience, but you'll be rewarded with the most tender, fall-off-the-bone lamb! I made this for Christmas last year and there was rave reviews.

roast chicken and potatoes on a white plate.

Bring a taste of the Mediterranean to dinner with this Greek Roast Chicken and Potatoes. This one pot is filled with Greek flavours like lemon garlic and oregano - a fresh twist on the classic roast. The chicken is oven roasted to perfection and you'll love the crispy skin and juicy, tender meat.

Bourbon Honey Baked Ham

This holiday season you can have normal ham – or you can have Bourbon Honey Baked Ham instead! Sweet and smoky, studded with cloves, and broiled for that delightfully crispy skin, this is one unforgettable main course.

Orange Cranberry Pork Loin Roast

This Pork Loin Roast recipe is the perfect holiday main dish! This Orange Cranberry Pork Loin Roast is juicy, delicious, and super festive. Add this roasted pork recipe to your Christmas table!

Easy One Pan Maple Glazed Pork with Apples & Onions

This Easy One Pan Maple Glazed Pork with Apples and Onions is a delicious and healthy holiday-inspired main dish made in one pan in less than an hour!

Slow Cooker Orange Bourbon Maple Glazed Ham

Looking to level up your ham? Try this Orange Bourbon Maple Glazed Ham instead. It's conveniently prepared in the slow cooker, freeing up your oven on the big day!

butterflied chicken on a wooden board.

This Butterflied Roast Chicken is bursting with flavour and would make an impressive centrepiece for your Christmas dinner feast.

Pork Roast With Crackle

When it comes to crowd pleasers it's hard to go past a pork roast with delicious crispy crackle. Perfect for Christmas lunch or dinner.

Slow Roast Turkey

There might not be anything more classic than a juicy and tender Turkey. This delicious Turkey from Sprinkles and Sprouts is slow roasted to perfection!

Roasted Cornish Game Hens with Garlic, Herbs and Lemon

Roasted Cornish Game Hens with Garlic, Herbs and Lemon is a traditional and timeless Christmas main dish. Perfectly crispy, perfectly moist and perfectly flavorful!

Smoked Pulled Pork

Have a unique Christmas feast with this Carolina-style Smoked Pulled Pork recipe. It's made with a pork shoulder (aka Boston butt) in a wood smoker or pellet grill using a homemade, easy barbecue spice rub made from pantry ingredients you already have on hand.

Holiday Rosemary Garlic Pork Roast

This crispy skin, bone-in pork roast is the ultimate effortless holiday roast. It's also easy to carve and serve!

corned beef being sliced on a white plate.

Learn how to make corned beef in your slow cooker for the easiest, most tender corned beef ever. Don't pass corned beef off as only suited for St Patrick's Day, it's perfect for Christmas dinner too!

turkey being carved.

Smoked turkey is a tasty twist on more traditional turkey recipes. With the skin stuffed with fragrant orange butter and herbs, this is one tasty bird.

Slow Cooker Ham with Honey Marmalade Mustard Glaze

Free up the oven and cook your ham in the slow cooker. This ham is covered with a honey marmalade mustard glaze - delicious!

Honey Roast Duck

If you are looking for something a little bit different to serve on Christmas day or a Sunday Roast, then why not try this Honey Roast Duck. Crispy roasted duck with a little sweetness from the honey and orange and a hint of thyme.

Balsamic Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Another great main you can pull off outside of the oven - Balsamic Slow Cooker Pot Roast! Easy, healthy make-ahead main dish recipe that takes 5 minutes of prep time!

Baked Ham with Citrus Glaze

Another classic ham recipe that is absolutely irresistible - Baked Ham with Citrus Glaze. The glaze is quick and easy to prepare!

Christmas main dishes are the centrepiece for the whole meal. If you're catering for a large crowd you may want to choose at least two or three different mains to wow your guests with.  

Now that you've browsed through 20 delicious options, the only question is what will you be making for Christmas this year?

If you’ve tried any of these Christmas Main Dishes I’d love to hear how you enjoyed them! Pop a comment below! 

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