Food & Cooking Recipes Holidays & Events Mastering the Holiday Meal 14 Small Roasts for Your Holiday Meals These entrées will delight at a more intimate feast. By Rebecca Morris Rebecca Morris Rebecca is a writer for MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines and Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer is an experienced food editor, writer, and recipe developer. She manages the Martha Stewart recipe archive and is always curious about new ingredients and the best techniques. She has been working in food media for over 20 years. Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 4, 2024 Close If you're feeding a smaller group this year and need a festive—but not enormous—roast as the centerpiece of your feast, look no further. We've gathered our favorite small roasts, from pork rib roast to roast chicken, from whole roasted cauliflower to beef tenderloin. They range from feeding a family of four to a party of eight, and what these roasts lack in size, they make up for in presentations worthy of special occasions. These stellar options will make your meal look and taste celebratory. These 30-Minute Meals Are Just What You Need During the Busy Holiday Season 01 of 14 Mini Beef Wellingtons Marcus Nilsson It's fun for everyone to have their own special parcel of beef tenderloin wrapped in flaky puff pastry. Another bonus? This recipe is freezer-friendly, which means you can bake just what you need and save the rest for another night. View Recipe 02 of 14 Pork Roast With Lady Apples and Seckel Pears This sweet and fruity pork rib roast is the perfect option if you want to serve a smaller cut of meat that still delivers the wow factor. View Recipe 03 of 14 Herb-Roasted Chicken and Vegetables Having trouble finding a tiny turkey? We suggest opting for a fancy stuffed chicken instead. It's easy to make this beloved bird feel a bit more special when you follow a recipe like this one. Throw carrots and other vegetables in and it becomes a one-pot dinner! View Recipe 04 of 14 Acorn Squash With Mixed-Grain Stuffing Louise Hagger Festive and delicious, acorn squash halves are the perfect portion size for a plant-based entree. And when the stuffing is as delicious (and healthy) as this inspired bread-free combination of wheatberries or spelt plus millet, two kinds of mushrooms, golden raisins, spices, and fresh parsley, you know it’s a winning dish. Another bonus, the squash can be made ahead and reheated for serving. View Recipe 05 of 14 Marinated Beef Tenderloin Chris Court Here’s dinner for eight, or for four with leftovers. And no roasting pan is necessary: this beef tenderloin is cooked in an oven-safe skillet. It’s marinated in a lively mixture of Worcestershire sauce, garlic, lemon, and oil, then cooks quickly under the broiler. View Recipe 06 of 14 Vinegar-Braised Pork Shoulder Chops Con Poulos This main dish tastes great and won't break the budget, either. Pulling double duty as a tenderizer and flavor, a vinegar-based braising liquid is what makes this pork dish truly special. View Recipe 07 of 14 Whole Roasted Cauliflower With Green Herb Sauce Martyn Thompson As well as being an impressive centerpiece, whole-roasted cauliflower makes a great anchor to a vegan or vegetarian meal. Pair it with a bright herb sauce and perhaps this vegan mushroom-leek stuffing. View Recipe 08 of 14 Sage and Garlic Crusted Pork Tenderloin If your holiday gathering is smaller this year, swap the bigger roast for something more petite. This easy pork tenderloin coated with aromatic garlic and sage fits the bill. As a bonus, it's ready in just 40 minutes. View Recipe 09 of 14 Herb-Coated Beef Tenderloin with Roasted-Garlic Aioli Chris Simpson A mouth-watering roast? Yes, this recipe is an all-around winner. Our herb-coated beef tenderloin and creamy garlic aioli require little hands-on time, and you can enjoy the main at room temperature. View Recipe 10 of 14 Stuffed Turkey Breast David M. Russell For an extra-easy stuffed bird, this no-truss turkey recipe can't be beaten. It's the perfect small roast to make for Thanksgiving in lieu of the traditional whole turkey. View Recipe 11 of 14 Winter-Vegetable-and-Gouda Gratin Nico Schinco A cheesy, colorful, hearty gratin becomes the perfect vegetarian roast to share in a small gathering. View Recipe 12 of 14 Walnut-Stuffed Chicken Roulades Marcus Nilsson A cozy entrée for an at-home feast, here, whole-grain crackers and walnuts stand in for breadcrumbs to coat the chicken, while the mushrooms add a smoky finish to the stuffing and provide iron, along with the spinach. View Recipe 13 of 14 Apple-Braised Turkey Thighs If the months of November and December could be summed up in a recipe, this may be the one. Turkey thighs are braised in a mixture of apple cider, cider vinegar, fresh apples, and shallots for savory depth. View Recipe 14 of 14 Chicken Roasted Over Lemons and Onions Bryan Gardner Our test kitchen’s ultimate roast chicken recipe skips the stuffing. Instead, the focus is on roasting the bird to perfection with a crispy brown skin and moist meat. The chicken is salted ahead, a key step, then roasted on a sheet pan over a bed of sliced lemons and onions, which you can enjoy along with the chicken. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit