Alternative Christmas roast recipes

Not a fan of turkey or just fancy doing something different this year? Browse our alternative Christmas roast recipes for some new festive inspiration. Choose from beef, game, chicken, goose  and showstopping vegetarian dishes.


A gold glitter roundel, with the words GLOW UP! in the centre

Our Glow Up mini recipes, including a luscious sage and nutmeg garlic butter to rub under the turkey’s skin or toss with veg, are a great way to jazz up your festive alternatives too.

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Roast guinea fowl with fennel, shallot and white wine sauce

Alternative Christmas roast recipes

Roast guinea fowl with fennel, shallot and white wine sauce

This guinea fowl roast with thyme butter, bacon and a rich white wine sauce serves four, making it a special...

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Slow-cooked pork shoulder stuffed with orange and prunes

Roast recipes

Slow-cooked pork shoulder stuffed with orange and prunes

This roast pork shoulder boasts meltingly rich and tender meat, cut through with apple, orange and sweet prunes. The perfect...

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Pierna mechada (Mexican roast pork leg)

Christmas recipes from around the world

Pierna mechada (Mexican roast pork leg)

This flavour-packed Mexican roast pork leg with adobo is enjoyed at Christmas, says chef Adriana Cavita. Here, she shares her...

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Herby tamarind lamb with baked jollof rice

Alternative Christmas roast recipes

Herby tamarind lamb with baked jollof rice

This tamarind and herb-stuffed lamb leg with baked jollof rice recipe is a celebratory Senegalese-inspired one-pot by award-winning author and...

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Christmas roast goose

Alternative Christmas roast recipes

Christmas roast goose

Make roast goose the star of Christmas dinner. Roasting the legs separately ensures everything is perfectly cooked, while the long...

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Sauerkraut-stuffed duck with roast apples and mulled wine gravy

Duck recipes

Sauerkraut-stuffed duck with roast apples and mulled wine gravy

This festive roast duck sings with mulled wine flavours. A cinnamon, clove, star anise and nutmeg rub spices the duck’s...

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Pot-roast guinea fowl with chestnuts and spiced gravy

Chestnut recipes

Pot-roast guinea fowl with chestnuts and spiced gravy

Guinea fowl is perfect for pot braising, a method ideal for keeping this lean bird moist and tender. The heady...

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Pernil (Puerto Rican slow-roasted pork)

Alternative Christmas roast recipes

Pernil (Puerto Rican slow-roasted pork)

Keshia Sakarah shares her recipe for pernil. This Puerto Rican slow-roasted pork (usually leg or shoulder) is often served at...

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Brioche and thyme butter-stuffed chicken crown

Alternative Christmas roast recipes

Brioche and thyme butter-stuffed chicken crown

A top-quality chicken makes a great alternative to turkey for a small Christmas gathering. It’s cheaper and less prone to...

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Marmalade porchetta with salsa verde

Alternative Christmas roast recipes

Marmalade porchetta with salsa verde

Cherie Denham puts a British spin on Italian porchetta (slow-roasted pork). The citrussy sweetness in the marmalade works wonders with...

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Roast chicken with comté mushroom sauce

Alternative Christmas roast recipes

Roast chicken with comté mushroom sauce

Everyone loves a simple roast chicken but, as with most things in life, it’s made even better with lashings of...

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Nut roast balls, onion gravy and greens

Easy vegan recipes

Nut roast balls, onion gravy and greens

Clodagh McKenna’s nut roast balls with rich onion gravy and greens makes a fantastic vegan alternative to roast dinner or...

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Salt-baked celeriac with tahini

Christmas recipes for four

Salt-baked celeriac with tahini

Salt-baked celeriac makes an easy but impressive vegan centrepiece. Serve on a colourful lentil and pomegranate salad with tahini sauce...

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Slow-cooked lamb shoulder with sherry and green olives

Favourite lamb recipes

Slow-cooked lamb shoulder with sherry and green olives

José Pizarro’s slow-cooked lamb shoulder is roasted with oregano, olives and sherry to create a wonderful mix of flavours and...

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Whole roasted satay cauliflower

Tahini recipes

Whole roasted satay cauliflower

Marcus Wareing’s whole roasted satay cauliflower elevates the humble veg to star ingredient. The moreish satay marinade works with many...

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Michel Roux Jr’s roast duck with spiced pears

Duck recipes

Michel Roux Jr’s roast duck with spiced pears

Michel Roux Jr’s Christmas roast duck makes a decadent festive dinner for two. The meat is tender and the crisp...

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