Everything You Need to Know About Making a Holiday Roast | Online Butcher Shop (2024)

At this time of year, it seems that everyone is planning for that big holiday dinner. Some of the most frequent questions we get are about holiday roasts: Which type? How big? How many servings? How long to roast? What temperature?

So, we've assembled just about everything we could think of to tell you about planning and preparing one of our rib roasts for your holiday extravaganza.

Everything You Need to Know About Making a Holiday Roast | Online Butcher Shop (1)

Traditional Favorite: Impressive USDA Prime Beef Roasts

Beef roasts are the traditional centerpiece to a holiday meal. Take your dinner to the next level with a dry-aged rib roast, dry-aged boneless shell roast, or tenderloin roast.

Dry-Aged Rib Roasts

One of the most desirable of all beef roasts happens to be Lobel's signature roast.

A traditional choice for festive occasions, these well-aged roasts are impressive in presentation and a delight on the palate—exquisitely flavorful and tender.

  • Bone-In: Choose a roast with the bone for enriched flavor and mouth-watering appeal.
  • Boneless: Select a boneless roast for easier carving and serving.
  • : Can't decide between the convenience of a boneless rib roast and the added flavor of a bone-in roast? Now you can have the best of both worlds by ordering a boned and tied rib roast. We start with our bone-in roast, remove the rib bones for you and then retie them onto the roast. After roasting, simply cut the strings, set the bones aside and enjoy the easiest carving imaginable.

Everything You Need to Know About Making a Holiday Roast | Online Butcher Shop (2)

Check out this video from our good friend Troy of YouTube channel "T-Roy Cooks" as he roasts a 10-pound and makes a homemade gravy.

Dry-Aged Boneless Shell Roasts

Also known as a strip loin roast, Lobel's USDA Prime Dry-Aged Boneless Shell Roast is an ideal selection for serving at dinner parties and buffets because it is so easy to prepare, carve, and serve.

The shell is one side of the short loin—the other side being the tenderloin.

If this roast were cut into individual steaks, you'd have shell steaks, which are more popularly known as strip steaks or New York strip steaks.

So, imagine a whole stack of strip steaks in one piece—this is a roast that is meaty, juicy, and tender with a deliciously beefy flavor. In other words, it's a real crowd-pleaser.

In this video, Troy of YouTube channel "T-Roy Cooks" reverse sears an 8-pounddry-aged shell roast with pan-juice gravy:

Tenderloin Roasts

The tenderloin is one of the most versatile and highly prized of all beef roasts—leaner than most and tender beyond belief.

Whole tenderloins are oblong, about 2 to 2 1/2 inches thick, with tapering ends called the head and the tail. When the head and tail are removed from the tenderloin, the remaining center piece is called Chateaubriand, known as a particularly luxurious and tender roast.

Ourwhole tenderloinroasts come tied with butcher's twine to retain their shape during shipping. Simply snip the twine prior to pan searing or grilling, or snip the twine after roasting.

Our20-ounce Tenderloin Roastis cut from the large end of a whole tenderloin—an economical cut compared to center-cutfilet mignon steaksandChateaubriand roasts, yet it offers the same tenderness and flavor shared by all tenderloin cuts.

Watch as our friend Troy of YouTube channel "T-Roy Cooks" makes Chateaubriand Roast with Red Wine Mushroom Sauce:

Watch as our friend John of YouTube channel "Big Meat Sunday" makes a delectable Beef Wellington from one of our tenderloin roasts:

Rib Roast 101

If you've chosen to prepare a rib roast for your holiday dinner, our Rib Roast 101guide is a great resource for you.

It includes tips on estimating what size roast to buy, what size roasting pan you'll need, how to tell when your roast is done, and some recipes. Everything You Need to Know About Making a Holiday Roast | Online Butcher Shop (3)

Step-by-Step Help for your Holiday Beef Roast

So now that you've selected your roast, help in preparing it is just a click away. Be sure to bookmark our online step-by-step tutorial, How To: Roast a Rib Roast.

You can view and print our photo tutorial for handy stove-side reference.

Every step in the tutorial is accompanied by a corresponding photo so you can read not only how to do it, but you can see it as well. And you can enlarge each photo to see each step in detail.

Or watch our video tutorial and get talked through the process by Stanley Lobel:

Don't forget the gravy!

Whether you're pouring it on roast beef, potatoes, or something else, gravy is an all-important part of any holiday meal. A great roast deserves an equally great gravy. And making homemade gravy is easier than you may think.

Simply follow the instructions found on our step-by-step Culinary DIY: Gravy guide.

Do you usually prepare a big holiday dinner? Do you prepare dinner for Hanukkah, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, or on some other day of the month? Do you prepare a beef roast or some other main course? Do you make your own gravy? What's your favorite menu item for a holiday dinner?

Everything You Need to Know About Making a Holiday Roast | Online Butcher Shop (2024)

FAQs

What is the best cut of beef for a holiday roast? ›

The Prime Rib, the classic holiday roast. With its rich, beefy flavor, you can't go wrong.

How many will a 3 lb roast feed? ›

How Much Roast to Buy per Person (Chart)
Number of guestsPounds of beef
4 people2-3 pounds
6 people3-4 pounds
8 people5-6 pounds
10 people6-7 pounds
2 more rows
Oct 1, 2021

How many pounds of chuck roast per person? ›

Beef chuck roast is an excellent source of protein, vitamin B12 and iron. A serving size is about 3 ounces, which is about the size of a deck of playing cards. A 3-pound roast will make about eight servings.

How much roast beef for 15 people? ›

What weight of meat per person to order?
Boneless MeatNumber of PeopleBone in meat
7lb / 3.18kg14 – 1510lb / 4.54kg
8lb / 3.64kg16 – 1712lb / 5.44kg
9lb / 4.08kg18 – 1914lb / 6.35kg
10lb / 4.54kg20 – 2116lb / 7.25kg
8 more rows

What is the tastiest cut of roast beef? ›

What are the best beef roasts?
  • Chuck Roast. The boneless chuck roast is among the most popular roasts on the market due to its incredible beefy taste, fat content (it's well marbled), and effortless cooking process. ...
  • Rump Roast. ...
  • Bottom Round Roast. ...
  • Sirloin Tip Roast. ...
  • Pot Roast (Shoulder Roast) ...
  • Tri-tip. ...
  • Picanha.
Apr 22, 2023

What cut of roast has the most flavor? ›

The Rib-Eye Roast is the boneless center cut of the rib section. Very well-marbled, tender and flavorful, it is the most desirable and the most expensive of the roasts.

How many hours does it take to cook a 3 pound roast? ›

A three-pound roast usually takes four to five hours to cook thoroughly. A lower, slower setting will take six to eight hours for the most tender finish. Using a bone-in cut will enhance flavor but extend the cooking time.

Which is better, chuck or bottom round roast? ›

Chuck pot roasts have more fat, and therefore more flavor, than those from the round. Beef round roasts suitable for pot roasting are round tip, round rump, bottom round and eye round roasts. Most beef round and chuck pot roasts can be used interchangeably, with only slight adjustments in cooking time.

What size roast for 2 adults? ›

When buying a roast, plan on a pound for every two guests, and a half-pound per two children. Then, add an extra pound just in case, or just because leftover roast makes for delicious future meals! Clark recommends asking your butcher to leave some fat on the outside of the roast—an 1/8- or 1/4-inch fat layer is ideal.

How much salt to put in beef roast? ›

There are some general rules of thumb about how much salt per pound you need. Around 1 tablespoon per pound of meat will give you pretty good coverage for most roasts.

What size roast beef for 4 adults? ›

If cooking beef on the bone, a three-rib roast (about 3kg) will serve about seven to eight people. Calculate roughly 400g per person. If cooking beef off the bone, 1kg will serve four and 1.5kg will serve about six, so 200-300g per person.

What to serve with roast beef? ›

Veggies & Salads
  • Roasted Vegetable Medley (Ratatouille) ...
  • Green Beans in Tomato Sauce. ...
  • Refreshing Cucumber Yogurt Salad. ...
  • Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta Salad. ...
  • Caesar Salad. ...
  • Coleslaw. ...
  • Grilled Asparagus. ...
  • Summer Fruit Salad with Honey Lemon Dressing.
Oct 23, 2023

What is the best cut of roast beef for Christmas dinner? ›

1) Beef Tenderloin

If you love filet mignon, this is the holiday roast for you. Use our beef roasting guide as a resource to help perfectly cook this savory meat to your liking. To ensure moist deliciousness in every bite, always remember to let your meat rest after cooking and before slicing.

What size roast for 12 people? ›

ESTIMATING YOUR ROAST
ServingsBone-In RoastBoneless Roast
5–6 adults6 lb. (3 bones)5 lb.
6–7 adults7 lb. (3-4 bones)6 lb.
8–10 adults10 lb. (5 bones)8 lb.
10–12 adults14 lb. (7 bones)11 lb.
2 more rows

How many people will 10 pounds of roast beef feed? ›

Bone-in roasts: Figure about one-pound per person. A 10-pound roast will feed 8-10 people. Boneless: Allow about a half-pound per person, which should yield about a 6-ounce piece. A 3-pound tenderloin would feed 6 people.

What is the best meat for Christmas roast? ›

The best Christmas meats for your festive feast | Christmas 2022
  1. Goose. Traditional and classic, the goose has slipped in popularity over the years compared to the turkey. ...
  2. Duck. ...
  3. Roasting Chicken. ...
  4. Rib of Beef. ...
  5. co*ckerel. ...
  6. Honey Roast Ham.

What is the best cut of beef for Sunday roast? ›

For roasts, the best cuts include rib (on the bone or boned and rolled), sirloin, top rump and fillet. For quick cooking, try fillet, entrecôte, rib eye, sirloin or rump steaks. Brisket, topside and silverside are good for pot roasts, and stewing and braising steak are good for stews and casseroles.

What beef to buy for Christmas dinner? ›

A tender side of beef for Christmas is the height of luxury. The succulent juiciness of a sirloin or a slow-cooked beef brisket served with a jus made from the meat's natural juices, is something that deserves to be on your Christmas dinner plate this year!

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