Recipe Roundup

31 Best Christmas Ham and Holiday Pork Roast Recipes

Because nothing says "Happy Holidays" better than a big, beautiful roast that you can slice into sandwich fixings for days on end.

By The Epicurious Editors

December 20, 2019

A partially sliced Christmas ham coated in a brownsugarandmustard glaze set on a platter garnished with rosemary atop a...

Looking for a new Christmas ham or pork roast to spice up your holidays? We love a classic pineapple-glazed ham or a big crown roast, but sometimes a new recipe is what it takes to make a winter feast feel truly special. Below you'll find our 31 favorite recipes for glazed hams and spiced ones, epic crown roasts, and lower-key options for a stress-free Christmas dinner.

Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog
1/31
Brown Sugar–Mustard Glazed Ham
A long-time favorite of Epicurious reviewers, this impressive roast is perfect for Christmas and so easy to make.
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Photo by Peden & Munk
2/31
How to Cook a Ham
This very classic ham glaze is made with cider vinegar, dry mustard, and brown sugar.
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Photo by Chris Court, Benjamin Dearnley, William Meppem, Con Poulos, Anson Smart
3/31
Spiced Pomegranate and Orange Glazed Ham
Rich, tangy pomegranate molasses amps up the glaze in this festive Christmas ham recipe from Donna Hay.
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Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
4/31
Pineapple-Glazed Ham
Traditional Christmas ham, but better. Chris Morocco's take on the classic pineapple glazed ham adds hot sauce and apple cider vinegar to cut through the sugar.
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Photo by Marcus Nilsson
5/31
Spicy Tamarind-and-Honey–Glazed Spiral Ham
This recipe is a sweet, sour, and spicy take on the classic centerpiece ham, and the leftovers will taste awesome in a mini potato roll.
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Photo by Christopher Testani
6/31
Crown Roast of Pork With Lady Apples and Shallots
Want a show-stopping centerpiece roast to feed a holiday dinner crowd? Crown roast is the answer.
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Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott
7/31
Set-It-and-Forget-It Roast Pork Shoulder
Scoring the skin isn’t just for looks; it helps the fat render and makes the roast easy to slice.
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Photo by Andrew Purcell, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Carrie Purcell
8/31
Cider-Brined, Mustard-Glazed Pork Loin
Try this fresh alternative to holiday ham for your Christmas dinner.
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Ditte Isager
9/31
Roasted Fresh Ham with Citrus and Rye
Unlike traditional holiday ham, fresh ham is uncured and unsmoked. We pack it in an herb cure for several days for incredible flavor and juiciness. When roasted, the skin transforms into addictive, crispy-sweet cracklings that may cause fighting among guests.
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Marcus Nilsson
10/31
Double Rack of Pork with Burnt Orange-Caramel Pan Sauce
Forgo the old-school crown roast by arranging two pork rib roasts with the bones crisscrossed like a military honor-guard salute. Ask your butcher to french the bones by removing excess fat and muscle for a more elegant presentation.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Monica Pierini. Platter Courtesy of Heath Ceramics.
11/31
Smoky Dry-Rubbed Pork Steaks
Pork butt, cut into steaks, gets a smoked paprika rub that makes for a very flavorful Christmas centerpiece. Squeeze the charred citrus halves over the top before serving.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog
12/31
Christmas Pork Tenderloin
Rubbed with garlic, rosemary, and allspice, this bacon-wrapped roast is rich with holiday flavor.
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Photo by Peden + Munk
13/31
Indian-Spiced Pork Roast with Rosemary and Onions
Bored with the ham you've served every year for Christmas? Switch it up with this rack of pork, warmly spiced with cumin, paprika, and pepper.
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Photo by Alex Lau
14/31
Pork Chops with Celery and Almond Salad
Instead of serving everyone individually, cook two giant pork chops (perfumed with garlic and thyme), then slice them up and serve family-style for an easy, elegant presentation.
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