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The best alternative Christmas dinners to buy if you don’t want turkey
Bored of turkey? These are the best roasts and Christmas meats to try this year
Tested by Callum BlackFood and Drink Testing Manager
Don’t fancy serving turkey this Christmas? You’re not alone. The past couple of years have seen the nation change its shopping habits when it comes to Christmas dinner, with many choosing to forgo the traditional in search of more experimental meaty mains or vegetarian centrepieces.
To help you change up your centrepiece, the Good Housekeeping Institute has tested the best alternatives for the big day, and they start from just £10.
Best Christmas meat (that isn't turkey!)
- 1
Best Christmas meat
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Bone in Crackling Gammon with a Festive Spiced Glaze 2.4kg
Read review - 2
Joint runner-up Christmas meat
Aldi Specially Selected Crackling Gammon Joint Sugar Baked 2.5kg
Read review - 3
Joint runner-up Christmas meat
ASDA Exceptional Fig, Whisky & Spiced Honey Gammon Joint 1.55kg
Read review - 4
Best beef
Iceland Luxury Perfect Aberdeen Angus Beef Sirloin with Beef Dripping Butter 1kg
Read review - 5
Best slow-cooked meat
Tesco Finest Slow Cooked 3 Bone-in Beef Short Rib with Bone Marrow, Red Wine and Roast Garlic Gravy
Read review
What can I make instead of turkey for Christmas?
It’s a question many of us find ourselves asking each year, before defaulting to the classic crown or whole bird. However, if you’re not a fan of turkey, or just fancy a change, we’ve found a bumper line-up of alternative meat options, including beef, pork and lamb.
If you’re cooking for a crowd, these joints will make your feast go further; alternatively, you may want to save them for the Boxing Day spread.
As it's Christmas, we were looking for show-stopping centrepieces that create an element of theatre. To earn their spot on this list, they had to pair well with all the classic Christmas trimmings (such as roast potatoes). We also tested a variety of formats, including glazed gammons, slow-cooked specials and bone-in joints.
How we test Christmas mains
Our panel of experts and consumers tested 14 meaty mains suitable for the Christmas period. Each product was cooked and prepared as per the pack instructions, before being presented to the panel without packaging to avoid brand bias.
Served warm, we judged them on aroma, flavour and appearance.
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Bone in Crackling Gammon with a Festive Spiced Glaze 2.4kg
Score: 89/100
A generously sized, bone-in glazed ham is just what you need for an opulent festive feast, and this showstopping centrepiece comes with pre-scored crackling and a mouthwatering, spiced honey glaze – providing all the flavour without hours of prep.
Aldi Specially Selected Crackling Gammon Joint Sugar Baked 2.5kg
Score: 85/100
For maximum impact on a budget, Aldi’s sugar-baked gammon is the ultimate hosting hack. Juicy, sweet and salty, this well-priced joint will make the festive feast go further.
ASDA Exceptional Fig, Whisky & Spiced Honey Gammon Joint 1.55kg
Score: 85/100
Allow ASDA’s festive ham to fill the kitchen with the aromatic scent of sweet fig, smoky whisky and spiced honey, while you get on with preparing the sides. The well-seasoned meat has a pleasingly sticky glaze to lock in moisture, while the flavour remains perfectly balanced.
Available: 21st November 2024
Iceland Luxury Perfect Aberdeen Angus Beef Sirloin with Beef Dripping Butter 1kg
Score: 81/100
Got your heart set on serving beef at this year’s festive feast? Iceland’s succulent sirloin gets our vote. It comes with beef dripping butter for basting, creating that extra depth of flavour, with a little extra richness coming from the fat cap.
Our experts followed the cooking instructions to the letter, resulting in a medium rare middle, which our panellists enjoyed.
Available: 12th November 2024
Tesco Finest Slow Cooked 3 Bone-in Beef Short Rib with Bone Marrow, Red Wine and Roast Garlic Gravy
Score: 80/100
This impactful centrepiece has already been slow-cooked for hours, so you know the texture of the meat will be perfect when you come to re-heat it on the big day. The short rib also comes with a deeply flavoured and glossy red wine and bone marrow gravy. With so much taken care of, you really can’t mess this one up!
Available: 9th December
Score: 79/100
Part of ASDA’s new ultra-premium ‘Exceptional’ range, two racks of Welsh roast lamb are stacked together to make a luxurious main. The flavoursome herby crust adds a final flourish of fragrant rosemary, working in harmony with the charred meat.
Available: 19th December 2024
Score: 79/100
We always recommend having some tasty back-ups in your freezer over the Christmas period in case any unexpected guests make an appearance. And it doesn’t come more impressive than COOK’s British beef sirloin. Aged for 21 days, it’s topped with smoky bacon and finished with a herby stuffing.
The pack even includes a porcini-infused red wine jus for serving, leaving you with plenty of time to socialise. Superb!
Score: 78/100
Served with a rich ruby port and rosemary jus, this succulent shoulder of lamb has been slow-cooked, so it falls off the bone. All you need to do is finish it in the oven. The seasoning successfully enhances the meat, rather than overpowering it. It’s another tasty option where all the hard work has been done for you.
Available: 15th December 2024
Score: 75/100
Beef shin is a great value cut for those on a budget this Christmas. Like others on our list, this one has been slow-cooked for you and presented on the bone for wow-factor at the table. The bone marrow adds heaps of flavour, complementing the oh-so-tender meat.
Available: 15th December 2024
Score: 74/100
Boneless and ready to eat, Dukeshill’s Christmas ham is available in half or whole sizes, depending on the size of your gathering. The glossy orange halves are a lovely finishing touch, adding a touch of sweet acidity. A festive delight for feeding a crowd — expect the compliments to roll in!
Score: 72/100
This quality beef roasting joint is the ideal size for two, or for serving alongside the turkey when catering for larger groups. It’s elevated with festive honey and mustard butter, which adds a subtle warmth and sweetness.
Serve with roast potatoes, and save some for your Boxing Day sandwiches.
Score: 72/100
When roasting beef, the quality matters. So, we think it’s worth investing in this Scottish trimmed rib, which has been matured for 35 days. It’s a beautiful blank canvas to put your own stamp on — we’d recommend serving it rare and thinly sliced.
Co-op Irresistible Hereford Beef Joint with Red Wine and Bone Marrow Gravy 710g
Score: 71/100
Ideal if it’s just the two of you this year, Co-op's compact beef joint required minimal effort in our test kitchen. The tender cut is complemented by a light red wine and bone marrow gravy, leaving you time to get on with prepping the sides.
Available: 11th December 2024
Callum is our Food and Drink Testing Manager and has been part of the world of professional catering for 10 years, from cheffing to food manufacturing. While working in manufacturing he specialised in bespoke product and menu development for several start-ups and well-known brands such as Wrap It Up! and HOP Vietnamese. He holds the WSET Level 2 in wine, a Level 3 in spirits and has a particular interest in agave spirits.
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