Festive food traditions are a large part of the Christmas season, but there's nothing wrong with mixing things up a bit. Whether you want to try something completely different for Christmas dinner, or just want to add a little pizazz to your favourite roast, look no further than these fantastic recipes.
Here is our guide to the best festive Christmas recipes to make for your main course.
Click through each one for the full recipe and whip up some of our fantastic festive side dishes to go with them too.
Beef fillet with horseradish and prosciutto
Wrapping this alternative Christmas roast in ham adds flavour and protects the meat, resulting in a really tender cut of beef.
Sticky treacle-glazed ham
A fantastic alternative to turkey. Eat as the main meal, then use it for Boxing Day brunch or cook one as a back up for unexpected guests. Plus, the stock makes delicious gravy.
Roast goose with potato stuffing
If you fancy a change from turkey this year, this free range roast goose is bursting with flavour.
Duck with apples, beetroot, sausages and bread sauce
This exciting combination from Valentine Warner will make a memorable feast. All you need to do is set aside an afternoon for making it.
Crispy bacon-basted turkey
Make Christmas dinner even more special with our top tips for the juiciest meat ever, infused with smoky goodness from an indulgent bacon butter baste.
Succulent braised venison
Venison benefits from long, slow cooking, and this Scottish dish develops a beautifully earthy sweetness - try it as an alternative to Christmas turkey, or for Hogmanay.
Cider-cured gammon
Steven Lamb from River Cottage shares his top recipe for Boxing Day gammon.
Layered squash, barley and spinach pie
A spectacular veggie Christmas centrepiece - when sliced, it looks stunning, and the flavours go brilliantly with all your favourite traditional trimmings.
Squash and blue cheese Wellington
Having one of these vegetarian pastry rolls in the freezer is ideal for entertaining at the last minute, or as a vegetarian Christmas main.
Some recipes courtesy of our friends at BBC Good Food magazine.
Looking to create a festive table this season? Check out our guide to the best Christmas tablecloth.
