The obvious roast choices for your Christmas feast are the ham and turkey. But sometimes it pays to switch it up a little. A roast side of trout makes for an impressive centrepiece for the Christmas spread, and to keep things luxe, a roast duck or goose will be sure to please guests. Roast pork, lamb and chicken? We have these Christmas-ready recipes, too, plus roast beef recipes galore. Time to carve it up.
Not ready to take the plunge just yet? We still have Christmas ham and Christmas turkey recipes at your disposal.
Best Christmas roasts that aren’t ham or turkey 2024
Sean Moran’s famous roast chicken with bread sauce
Leave your other roast chicken recipes at the door. This is the best recipe for the perfect roast chook.
.png?resize=760%2C608)
Roast pork rack with lemon myrtle and cranberry stuffing
This aromatic, slow-cooked roast pork rack is a feast for the senses. It marries classic roast flavours like cranberry and garlic with native Australian ingredients.
Coral trout with saffron and Sherry-roasted onions
Is there anything more showstopping than a whole baked fish?
Harissa-roasted lamb rump with pomegranate and eggplant
Elevate your next Sunday lunch with this simple Middle Eastern twist on the classic roast.
Danielle Alvarez’s slow-cooked ocean trout with peas, and Meyer lemon and fennel salsa
This recipe for slow-cooked ocean trout comes courtesy of chef Danielle Alvarez.
Roast ocean trout with cucumber and preserved lemon salad
Excellent served warm or cold, so you could cook the trout a day ahead and just whip up the salad before serving.
Soy-roast duck with mandarin
Soy-roast duck with mandarin recipe – Heat 1 tbsp oil in a wok or large deep frying pan over medium-high heat. Add duck breast-side down and cook, turning, until golden brown all over (5-6 minutes).
Phil Wood’s baked snapper with pistou
Need an easy fish dish for a dinner party? Laura’s head chef shows you how.
Roast beef with Yorkshire pudding
A Sunday roast was traditionally served with a French claret, but an Australian one is just as fabulous, writes Max Allen.
Sean Moran’s pork belly roasted with fennel, radicchio and figs
A pork roast enhanced with sweet, salty and sharp flavours.
Andrew McConnell’s roast goose with prunes, port and walnuts
Go all out this Christmas with roast goose – it’s worth the investment.
Spiced roast duck with peaches and oranges
Made for the Christmas main event.
Duck with orange and quatre épices
What could be better than duck and orange?
Ben Russell’s roasted mustard-glazed duck with peach, fennel and almond salad
Try a classic mustard glaze on roast duck and unlock whole new levels of flavour. Aria Brisbane’s Ben Russell leads the way.
Andrew McConnell’s roasted duck breast with spiced quince, anise crumb and mead sauce
Don’t skip the quince. It adds a wonderful texture and subtle acid, making it the an ideal foil to the duck.
Slow-roast duck with orange
A long slow roast means intense flavours of orange, game and brandy.
Spice-roasted duck with figs
Duck is the ideal main attraction for a smaller Christmas gathering, particularly when spiced and paired with lush summer figs.
Roast duck with cherries and roast kipfler potatoes
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for roast duck with cherries and roast kipfler potatoes.
Burnt honey and pineapple-glazed duck
Duck à l’orange meets Chinese barbecued duck in this slightly sweet and sticky centrepiece. Begin this recipe a day ahead.
Nonna’s rice-stuffed chicken by Matteo Tine
The Bar Carolina chef shares a family recipe that’s close to his heart.
Roast chicken with preserved lemon and herbs
The ultra-tang of preserved lemons takes this roasted chook to another level, thanks to this recipe from Fleet restaurant.
Yoghurt roast chicken
The yoghurt helps slowly tenderise the chook, producing super-moist, pull-apart chicken flesh with a caramelised skin. You’ll never look back.
Lardo-barded lemon chicken
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for lardo-barded lemon chicken.
Spiced-yoghurt roast chicken with potato and ginger stuffing
Australian Gourmet Traveller wine match recipe for Indian-spiced roast chicken.
Paul Carmichael’s curried lamb leg
Restaurant Momofuku Seiobo chef Paul Carmichael slow-cooks his curried lamb leg “until it falls off the bone.” It’s as excellent as it sounds.
Roast lamb leg with pan gravy by Leonardo’s Pizza Palace
The leg is the best part of lamb, according to Nick Stanton. It’s best to roast it simply, with gravy on the side, of course.
Eight-hour lamb shoulder with pearl couscous and labne
The ultimate Sunday roast.
Roast rolled lamb loin with anchovies and rosemary
Roast lamb loin is the perfect match for anchovies and rosemary; a fragrant and salty twist on a classic dish.
Slow-roasted lamb rack with white beans and black garlic aïoli
Take it low and slow with our recipe for slow-roasted lamb rack with white beans and punchy black garlic aïoli.
How to make porchetta
Including how to score the perfect crackling.
How to make the perfect roast pork
Mike McEnearney, of Kitchen by Mike, on how to get proper pork crackling.
Roasted pork with the best crackling and roasted nectarines
However hot it is outside, this roast pork is worth the oven time.
Spice-roasted pork with coleslaw
Cooking this pork slowly makes for a wonderfully tender roast that’s heavily scented with the flavours of cinnamon and star anise.
Roast shoulder of pork
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for roast shoulder of pork by Brigitte Hafner.
Sean Moran’s slow-roasted pork shoulder with fennel
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for slow-roasted pork shoulder with fennel by Sean Moran.
Slow-cooked pork shoulder with plums
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for slow-cooked pork shoulder with plums.
Embla’s fennel-spiced pork rack
“This is all about the quality of your pork. Seek out heritage-breed black Berkshire pigs that have been raised humanely and it will make all the difference,” says Dave Verheul. Begin this recipe a day ahead to marinate the pork.
Jacqui Challinor’s roast pork shoulder with ajo blanco
If pork and crackling are your Christmas essentials, this dish will tick all the boxes.
Barbecued lamb in baharat and yoghurt
Barbecued lamb leftovers are perfect for wraps and salads to serve on Boxing Day. Begin this recipe a day ahead.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%
Native ad body.
Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%