How to Choose the Right Meat for Holiday Feasts and Winter Gatherings

It’s that time of year again. A time for hosting holiday and winter gatherings with your family and friends. Unfortunately, hosting a gathering can be incredibly stressful, especially when it comes to choosing the right food to serve.

Below, you’ll find the answers you are looking for when it comes to one major holiday gathering situation: what type of meat do I cook? No matter if you are having a party for five people or 25 people, this guide will help steer you in the right direction.

Some Basic Rules of Thumb

When it comes to buying meat, especially for a holiday or winter gathering, there are some basic rules of thumb to follow so that you don’t immediately venture down the wrong path.

How Much is Too Much?

Generally, there are some guidelines about how much meat is the right amount to buy for gatherings.

If you’re planning on buying a bone-in piece of meat (such as a prime rib or rack of lamb), you want to make sure to buy 0.5 pounds (8 ounces) per guest. For a boneless cut of meat, you can go a couple of ounces less per guest.

Don’t Break the Bank

Now that you know how many people you’re feeding and how much meat you’ll likely need, it’s time to decide how much money you’re willing to spend.

Buying meat for a large crowd can be a costly endeavor. Obviously, everyone would love to serve a premium cut of meat, like a prime rib, at the gathering, but if you’re going to have more than a dozen or so people, that might just be too pricey.

For a smaller gathering, however, a nice prime rib or rack of lamb could make for a memorable eating experience.

For larger gatherings or a more cost-effective hosting experience, look at more budget cuts of meat for Christmas roasts, such as a top sirloin roast, sirloin tip roast, and pork loin. As long as they’re prepared well and served correctly, they can be just as tasty as the more expensive options.

Be Honest About Your Skills

It’s important to understand your comfort level when choosing the right meat from your local butcher shop for the holiday gathering.

The last thing you want is to spend the money on a premium cut of meat only to deliver a subpar result. Remember, holiday food is supposed to be a joyous experience.

For a more beginner-friendly cut of meat, look at something like a pork loin roast, top sirloin roast, and bone-in prime rib. These cuts of meat tend to have more fat, making them more tender, or have easier prep and cooking steps.

The Different Meats

By now, you’ve likely narrowed down which cuts of meat are probably best for your budget, guest count, and skill level. But how do you choose between beef, lamb, or pork?

Beef

While there are many different types of roast options with beef, there are a few that stand out as good choices for a holiday gathering.

• Prime Rib Roast: This is great for gatherings, large or small, where you can spend a bit more on premium meat. Prime rib is truly a memorable meal to serve for a special occasion. Again, this is a premium cut of meat, so expect to pay more.
• Beef Tenderloin: While not as flashy as prime rib, beef tenderloin is just as premium and a great choice for smaller parties where you want to present a high quality cut of meat and can spend a little extra per person. This cut is a bit more difficult to cook than others on this list, so it’s important to know you will have to baby this during the cooking process.
• Top Sirloin Roast: This is a meat choice that is great for larger gatherings. Top sirloin roast isn’t going to give the “wow” factor that you might see with a prime rib, but when prepared correctly, it can be a truly tasty option that will satisfy your guests. It’s a wonderful option when you don’t want to break the bank.

Pork

When you’re looking for a tasty meat option that won’t bust your budget but will still deliver a memorable experience for your guests, look no further than pork.

• Pork Loin Roast: The closest thing to a one-size-fits-all approach to holiday meats, a pork loin is a great choice for gatherings with guests who don’t eat red meat and still desire tasty, juicy meat. This is an affordable cut of meat, which is great for large gatherings, but it does require a bit of love during cooking. Don’t overlook the usefulness of a glaze.
• Bone-In Pork Chops: While not a traditional holiday cut of meat, a bone-in pork chop is a great budget option for smaller groups. And with the ability to cook each chop separately, cooking takes far less time than a regular roast, and you can focus on each piece individually.

Lamb

Not as ubiquitous as beef or pork, lamb is a wonderful choice for a holiday meal if you’re having a small gathering with folks who enjoy something a bit less traditional.

• Rack of Lamb: Rack of lamb is a true showstopper of a meat option when it comes to holiday gatherings. It’s a smaller cut, so a rack of lamb is perfect for small, intimate gatherings.
• Leg of Lamb: Another memorable meat choice, leg of lamb provides wonderful flavor (for those who don’t find it too intense). It’s great for smaller gatherings with people who are maybe a little tired of more traditional holiday meals.

Enjoy the Holidays

Lastly, it’s important to remember the real reason you’re hosting a holiday gathering: the experience with family and friends. Don’t be bogged down with stress when cooking, because you don’t want it to take away from the joy of the holidays.