Holiday Entree Ideas for Every Type of Meat

Whether it’s to liven up the daily dinner table, treat your dinner guests, or make a memorable holiday season meal, trying a new meat dish is a worthwhile challenge. A decent meat dish forms the cornerstone of a delicious meal. So choosing the right meat can make or break your repast. 

Here are a few famous meat ideas to get you cooking!

Boston Butt

Boston butt is a pork shoulder cut, known for its delectable flavor and additional marbling. This meat dish is ideal for enhancing your mealtime. It is excellent roasted and hot for supper and as pulled pork-style sandwiches the next day.

It isn’t challenging learning how to cook Boston butt in the oven. You need to select the right herbs and spices to rub the cut down with, and more importantly, you need the perfect pork shoulder. Look for local farmers that use ethical cattle raising to find meat that not only tastes good but makes you feel good as a person.

Beef Tenderloin

Beef tenderloin makes for a succulent meat joint, and it is, therefore, the perfect meat for your main course. The cut is typically roasted in a hot oven. Serve alongside sautéed mushrooms, a horseradish sauce, and a wine reduction, it makes for a mouth-watering dining experience. 

Brisket

Brisket is delicious when braised for a long time so that it is so tender the meat falls apart. You can serve the dish with a reduction of its braising liquid. 

One of the best things about brisket is that it does not dry out after cooking. You can cook it ahead of time without worrying about it being too dry if not served at precisely the right time.

This useful factor will give you more time to spend entertaining with your guests and less pressure on the meal itself. 

Duck

Roasting duck whole is an excellent idea for a special occasion like a birthday or Christmas. Duck is rich and tender, lending itself to a more luxurious meal. You can simmer it in the oven. 

To get that fantastic crispy skin, you can either pre-sear the duck by cooking it in a hot pan for a few minutes or on high oven heat for a while. For this last method, you can turn the oven down to a gentler heat to roast your whole duck. 

Ham 

A ham is a time-old go-to recipe for a delicious meat dish. You can either get a smoked or un-smoked ham from your butcher. The lovely smokey flavor of the latter option is always a win. Usually, you would bake your ham in the oven. Cooking time varies, depending on the size of the ham. 

To finish off the dish, try glazing with maple syrup or with a bourbon and blackberry glaze for something different. 

Goose

If you have a lot of people coming over, roasting a goose is an excellent idea. It is larger than a duck but also quite lovely and full-bodied due to the fat. 

The traditional Alsatian Christmas recipe says to roast the goose with brandy and apples for a sweet and savory treat. Be sure to season the goose well with salt, freshly cracked pepper, and cinnamon. 

Lamb

A juicy leg of lamb is always a beautiful main feature of a meal. Lamb is best when cooked on low heat for a long time. You can either roast or grill your leg of lamb.

A nifty trick is to sear the meat at the end quickly to help seal the moisture inside. 

Happy Cooking, and Happy Holidays!

Whatever type of meat you choose, make sure it is a decent cut. With these holiday meat entrees, you’re sure to have a happy and satiated crowd.