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Christmas Roast makes the perfect holiday meal. Savory beef is roasted perfectly for a hearty and elegant meal that everyone will love.

A platter with slices of Christmas roast beef garnished with herbs, accompanied by a bowl of roasted potatoes. Silver utensils are placed nearby on a white tablecloth. Decorative holly and a sprig of rosemary add a festive touch.
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Christmas dinner usually consists of Christmas Turkey or Christmas Ham but this Christmas roast beef recipe has become the star of the show. This roast cooks fork tender with a delicious glaze and loaded with delicious juices.

Change up your classic holiday feast and make this impressive meal. It is even delicious for any special occasions.

Why We Love Christmas Roast

This Christmas Roast is juicy, delicious and is bursting with flavor. We love to make a fancier cut of meat for our holiday meal but for a budget friendly option use a eye of round roast, pork tenderloin or a chuck roast. You can even roast chicken with the simple seasoning dry rub.

The fresh herbs combined with the simple ingredients makes a rub for the roast and adds flavor to the gravy. You can even top with a horseradish sauce.

Ingredients

A marble countertop showcases a large cut of raw beef, perfect for a Christmas roast, on a white cutting board. It's surrounded by small bowls filled with herbs, spices, olive oil, mustard, minced garlic, and crushed herbs—ready for seasoning.
  • Beef Ribeye Roast – Make with a bone-in or boneless ribeye roast
  • Olive Oil – Feel free to use oil of your choice
  • Cloves Garlic – Learn How to Mince Garlic Cloves
  • Fresh Rosemary and Fresh Thyme – Finely Chopped Fresh Herbs for delicious flavor
  • Smoked Paprika – Check out these Best Paprika Substitute if you are out
  • Lemon – Zest of Lemon add amazing citrus flavor. You can even zest an orange

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.

Seasoning Variation Ideas

Feel free to add in ingredients to the roast rub and broth to change the flavor. Try these delicious variations.

  • Porcini Mushrooms
  • Fennel
  • Anchovy
  • Red Wine
  • Chopped Onion
  • Melted Butter

How to Make Christmas Roast

A raw beef roast rests on a metal rack inside a roasting pan atop a white marble countertop, ready to become the centerpiece of your Christmas feast. In the top right corner, festive sprigs of green holly with red berries add holiday cheer.

Step 1 – Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place the beef roast on a rack inside a large roasting pan. Dry the roast with paper towels before brushing with the seasoning.

A glass bowl filled with a mixed herb marinade and a whisk sits on the marble countertop, ready to complement your Christmas roast. Fresh holly branches with red berries elegantly adorn the top edge of the image, adding a festive touch.

Step 2 – In a small bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons olive oil, minced garlic, rosemary, thyme, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and lemon zest.

A hand spreads a dark herb mixture onto a raw beef roast in a metal roasting pan with a wire rack, capturing the essence of Christmas preparation. The pan rests on a white marble surface, with a festive sprig of holly adorning the corner.

Step 3 – Rub the roast all over with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, then spread the herb mixture generously over the entire roast, pressing it into the meat to create a crust.

A Christmas holiday roast coated with savory herbs and spices sits on a roasting rack inside a metal pan. The pan is placed on a marble countertop, and a festive sprig of holly decorates the top right corner.

Step 4 – Place the roast in the preheated oven and cook at 450°F for 15 minutes to sear and create a golden crust. After 15 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to 325°F. Continue roasting for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 125°F for medium-rare, 135°F for medium.

  • Step 5 – Remove the roast from the oven and cover loosely with aluminum foil. Let it rest for 15 minutes before slicing at room temperature.
  • Step 6 – After resting, slice the roast and serve with your choice of side dishes. Enjoy! 

Expert Tips

  • Sear Roast – For a more pronounced crust, you can sear the roast in a hot skillet before applying the herb paste and roasting. Just make sure to pat the roast dry before searing to get a good crust!
  • Rest Roast – Don’t skip the resting step! This keeps the roast juicy and tender. meat thermometer.
  • Seasoning the Roast – For best results, make sure to cover the entire roast with the seasoning sauce. This will give the roast the best flavor.
A plate with a succulent slice of rare roast beef garnished with herbs is reminiscent of Christmas cheer. Accompanied by roasted baby potatoes and asparagus spears, this festive roast is completed with a fork resting beside the potatoes.

What to Serve with Christmas Roast?

Christmas Roast is the perfect addition to your holiday menu. This roast is delicious served with your favorite veggies such as Green Beans with Bacon Recipe, Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes, Best Sausage Stuffing Recipe and Oven Roasted Carrots Recipe.

Other vegetables that pair well with this juicy roast are Oven Roasted Asparagus, Crockpot Mashed Potatoes Recipe, and Brown Gravy Recipe. We even like to make this Simple Charcuterie Board loaded with cheese, crackers and fresh fruit and Yorkshire Pudding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Cut of Meat is a Christmas Roast?

You can a variety of meat to make a Christmas Roast. We love the cut of beef ribeye but you can also use prime rib roast, beef wellington or a beef tenderloin roast. We like to a richer cut of beef when making a Christmas Roast since it is for a special occasion.

How Do You Cook a Roast so it not Tough?

Make sure to use a instant-read thermometer while cooking a roast so you do not overcook it.

How to Store Leftover Roast

Store leftover Christmas Roast in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

How to Reheat Roast

Reheat the leftover beef in the oven with gravy over the top in a baking dish in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

A plate with a thick slice of pink, juicy prime rib roast garnished with fresh thyme evokes the festive spirit. Accompanied by roasted baby potatoes and bright green asparagus spears, it's a Christmas feast on your plate. A fork is set next to the potatoes.

More Easy Roast Recipes

We love to hear from you! If you make this Christmas Roast Recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review.

A roasted prime rib with a crispy herb crust is sliced on a platter, perfect for a festive Christmas feast. Garnished with fresh rosemary, it's served alongside a bowl of roasted potatoes and a decorative sprig of holly. Silverware sits elegantly beside the plate on a marble surface.

Christmas Roast

5 from 1 vote
Christmas Roast makes the perfect holiday meal. Savory beef is roasted perfectly for a hearty and elegant meal that everyone will love.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Rest TIme: 15 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Servings 8
Cuisine American
Course Main Course
Calories 341

Ingredients

  • 4-5 pound beef ribeye roast bone-in or boneless
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Zest of 1 lemon
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Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place the beef roast on a rack inside a large roasting pan.
  • In a small bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons olive oil, minced garlic, rosemary, thyme, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and lemon zest.
  • Rub the roast all over with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, then spread the herb mixture generously over the entire roast, pressing it into the meat to create a crust.
  • Place the roast in the preheated oven and cook at 450°F for 15 minutes to sear and create a golden crust. After 15 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to 325°F. Continue roasting for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 125°F for medium-rare, 135°F for medium.
  • Remove the roast from the oven and cover loosely with foil. Let it rest for 15 minutes before slicing.
  • After resting, slice the roast and serve with your choice of side dishes. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

For a more pronounced crust, you can sear the roast in a hot skillet before applying the herb paste and roasting. Just make sure to pat the roast dry before searing to get a good crust! Don’t skip the resting step! This keeps the roast juicy and tender.
Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 341kcal, Carbohydrates 2g, Protein 50g, Fat 15g, Saturated Fat 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat 1g, Monounsaturated Fat 8g, Cholesterol 129mg, Sodium 4307mg, Potassium 667mg, Fiber 1g, Sugar 0.1g, Vitamin A 224IU, Vitamin C 105mg, Calcium 650mg, Iron 5mg

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

5 from 1 vote

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  1. Casey says:

    5 stars
    This roast cooked with the best flavor! How loved how easy the ingredients are.