A holiday dinner calls for something special, and you can never go wrong with a well-executed roast. They're elegant, they serve a crowd and they're easier to pull off than you might think. Whether you opt for beef, turkey or ham, we've got recipes to guide you and interesting sides to round out the menu.

Beef

Rosemary-Salted Standing Rib Roast

A standing rib roast is an impressive centerpiece for a holiday dinner table. This recipe provides a step-by-step tutorial to achieve the perfectly cooked and seasoned roast flavored with rosemary, garlic and black pepper.

Sides to Match

Barley with Mushrooms

Mushrooms and barley are a classic soup combination, but they also work very well together as a side dish. Onions are slowly cooked until caramelized and tender, then mixed with sauteed mushrooms and cooked barley. Chopped dill provides a pop of herby freshness and color.

Braised Escarole with Pancetta

Crispy pancetta cooked with onions and garlic provides a flavorful base for this escarole side. Escarole can be a bitter green, but braising it until very tender can soften the flavor.

Salt-and-Vinegar Potatoes

These roasted potatoes are for salt and vinegar chip lovers. Halved fingerling potatoes are boiled in a mixture of water and vinegar, then drained and high-heat roasted until browned and crisp. They'll offer a fun alternative to basic mashed potatoes.

Turkey

Prosecco-Roasted Turkey with Herbed Gravy

There are so many ways to roast a turkey. This one is loaded with the aromatic flavors of fennel, apple, lemon and thyme. While the turkey roasts, a bottle of prosecco is added, which gives so much flavor to the pan drippings and makes for the most luxurious gravy.

Sides to Match

Cider-Braised Turnips with Chestnuts

Apple cider provides a depth of sweetness for this vegetable braise. Tender, buttery turnips and leeks are mixed with crumbled chestnuts and dried cherries for the ultimate wintry side.

Grapefruit and Watercress Salad

Sometimes a colorful and refreshing salad is necessary to balance out a holiday menu. Peppery and delicate watercress is paired with grapefruit segments, cool and crunchy endive and a dressing flavored with fresh grapefruit juice and white balsamic vinegar.

Bulgur with Raisins and Pine Nuts

Bulgur might be a surprising choice, but it's great when you want to change up the grains on your dinner table. It’s the perfect nutty, light and fluffy base for a mixture of refreshing herbs, raisins and toasted nuts.

Ham

Mustard-Orange Glazed Ham

Here’s your new foolproof glazed ham recipe. It's perfectly cooked and lacquered with a shiny glaze flavored with orange, clove and mustard. You can also use the same cooking method with an assortment of other glazes — try Apple-Maple, Hoisin-Spice or Pineapple-Apricot!

Sides to Match

Saffron Rice

For this side, a little saffron goes a very long way to provide color and flavor to a basmati rice pilaf finished with fresh cilantro and scallion.

Fennel-Kale Salad with Blood Oranges

Fennel and orange is a classic salad combination. This version is elevated with the addition of tender baby kale, crunchy toasted hazelnuts and creamy gorgonzola cheese.

Thyme-Roasted Rainbow Carrots

Roasted carrots are a versatile side and super easy. Using baby rainbow carrots adds color and elegance to what is otherwise a truly simple dish of roasted vegetables with shallots and thyme.

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