Center your meal around one of these festive and hearty mains.

It’s not like Thanksgiving when you know you’ll cook a turkey.

Christmas Day entrees range from roasted chicken to prime riband there is no right or wrong answer.

Southern Living Roast Beef sliced on a platter to serve

Credit:Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Center your meal on one of these festive and hearty main dish recipes.

Not only are these entrees delicious, but they also are the elegant centerpiece your holiday table needs.

Our Test Kitchen recommends serving it with yourfavorite gravy recipe.

Southern Living Rack of Lamb on a platter to serve

Credit:Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Cornish Hens

This chicken dish is a great option for smaller Christmas crowds.

Since its cooked with carrots and baby new potatoes, it also comes with a side dish.

Christmas Goose

Bring an old-fashioned Christmas favorite back this year with a truly traditional main dish recipe.

Southern Living Simple Roasted Turkey on a platter to serve

Credit:Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood

Incredible, and received rave reviews!

The cast-iron skillet and a rainbow of veggies make for pretty presentation and delicious results.

If that isnt high praise, we dont know what is!

Southern Living Southern Cracklin' Pork Roast With Lemony-Herb Sauce

Credit:Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Micah Morton; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch

Our Test Kitchen loves serving this over creamy mashed potatoes.

For tender slices, don’t cook past a meat thermometer registering 130F in the center.

Serve with aMustard-Cream Sauce.

Honey-Glazed Ham - Southern Living

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This cooking technique yields moist, tender ham with a caramelized and crispy rind.

Serve with a sauce for the perfect holiday dish.

The herbaceous parsley sauce adds a welcome note of brightness to the meat.

Southern Living Cornish Hens half of a hen on a plate to serve with vegetables

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This very flavorful and tender lamb pairs well with couscous or butternut puree.

Serve with parsley-mint sauce on the side.

Perfect Beef Tenderloin

When seasoning roasts, this will generally do the trick.

Prime Rib With Horseradish Dipping Sauce

Credit:Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Add one teaspoon of kosher salt per pound of meat.

Plan on about five pounds of meat for every 12 guests.

The beef goes pairs well withHomemade Hot Mustard.

Southern Living French Onion Turkey on a platter to serve

Credit:Dane Tashima; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Fresh orange juice and marmalade give this glaze tons of citrus flavor and create a glossy, sticky exterior.

This recipe gives you three delicious options depending on what your crowd will likesweet, herby, or spicy.

The meat is filled with creamy spinach and leeks and served with a rich mushroom sauce.

Secrets to Best Christmas Goose

Credit: Getty/GMVozd

A mixture of mustard and mayonnaise keeps the meat moist and helps the herbed breadcrumbs adhere.

Freeze the unbaked lasagna for up to three months if you want to plan that far in advance.

Bake until the cheese is browned.

Southern Living Roasted Lamb With Fresh-Herb Sauce on serving platter

Credit:Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Southern Living Roasted Spatchcock Chicken in the pan ready to serve

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Southern Living Pan-Seared Rib-Eye with Mushroom-Hunter’s Sauce sliced on a platter to serve

Credit:Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Slow-Cooker Pork Roast

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Broiled Lamb Chops

a plate filled with bacon-wrapped tenderloin, mashed potatoes, and green beans

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Southern Living Cast-Iron Roast Chicken in the pan ready to serve

Credit:Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Southern Living Onion Braised Brisket on a platter ready to serve

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Southern Living French Onion Pot Roast on a plate to serve with mashed potatoes

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Spice-Rubbed Tenderloin with Mustard-Cream Sauce

Credit: Alison Miksch

Southern Living Baked Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze on a platter to serve

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Brisket with Carrots and Horseradish-Parsley Gremolata

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Herb-Crusted Roasted Leg of Lamb

Credit: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Southern Living Dutch Oven Turkey Breast and Vegetables on a platter to serve

Credit:Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Perfect Beef Tenderloin

Credit: Iain Bagwell

spice-rubbed turkey tenderloin - Southern Living

Credit:Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Baked Ham with Brown Sugar-Citrus Glaze

Credit:Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Southern Living Lemon Roast Chicken With Rainbow Carrots in roasting pan

Credit:Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Sweet-and-Spicy Roast Turkey

Credit:Greg DuPree; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch; Food Stylist: Cat Steele

Glazed spiral-cut ham on white platter

Credit:Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Missie Neville Crawford

Stuffed Beef Tenderloin with Burgundy-Mushroom Sauce

Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith

Southern Living Sweet Tea Brined Ham with Lemon Glaze on a platter to serve

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Herb-Crusted Beef Tenderloin

Credit:GREG DUPREE; FOOD STYLING: CHELSEA ZIMMER; PROP STYLING: CHRISTINE KEELY

Beef Bourguignon

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

maple bourbon glazed ham

Credit: Photographer: Frederick Hardy II, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Vanessa’s Make-Ahead Beefy Lasagna

Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford