Blog Post

Holiday Beef Recipes: Why Beef Is the Perfect Choice for Festive Meals

The holiday season is a special time of year for spending time with loved ones, creating memories, and most importantly – sharing delicious food!

When choosing the perfect dishes to enjoy with family and friends this festive season, nothing delivers flavor, variety, and satisfaction quite like beef.

From a perfectly-cooked roast packed with flavor to a hearty, soul-warming meatloaf or pot roast, beef is a true crowd-pleaser!

Today, we're exploring why beef is perfect for holiday feasts and sharing some of our favorite recipes to inspire your festive menu.

Why is beef the ideal holiday meat?

There are many reasons a beef dinner is ideal for festive meals, including:

1. Symbol of abundance

Nothing says abundance like a beef meal brimming with flavor. And there’s something truly satisfying about gathering around the table to share the bounty of a delicious beef meal with your loved ones.

2. Delicious flavor

Beef has an irresistible flavor that pairs perfectly with your favorite holiday sides and sauces. From creamy mashed potatoes and gravy to stuffing and roasted veggies, the savory goodness of beef adds something special to every bite of your meal.

3. Variety of beef cuts to choose from

Each cut of beef brings something great to the dinner table. And with so many different cuts of beef to choose from, there’s an option to suit every taste and budget.

4. Flexible cooking options

A perfectly roasted prime rib…juicy grilled steaks…tender braised brisket… Any way you cook your beef, you’ll bring out rich, delicious flavors for a truly unforgettable meal.

5. Excellent nutritional value

Healthy or tasty? Beef gives you the best of both worlds! Whether you make a classic roast beef, a savory brisket, or anything in between – you’ll enjoy tantalizing flavor and excellent nutrition. It’s packed with high-quality protein, iron, and other essential nutrients that support energy and strength, so you’ll be well-fueled for all the holiday fun!

Our favorite holiday beef recipes

Looking for some inspiration for your beef dishes? Why not try out one of these fantastic Certified Angus Beef (CAB) holiday recipes:

Meatloaf

With its blend of CAB ground beef and spices, meatloaf is one of the most popular beef recipes – and it’s ideal for the holidays!

Cooking instructions

Preheat the oven: Heat to 350°F.
Prepare the topping: Combine 1/4 cup of tomato sauce, brown sugar, and mustard. Set aside.
Mix the ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the remaining tomato sauce, ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, chopped onion, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, garlic salt, and pepper. Mix lightly but thoroughly.
Shape the loaf: Form the beef mixture into an 8 x 4-1/2-inch loaf on a rack in a broiler pan.
Add the topping: Spread the prepared topping over the shaped meatloaf.
Bake: Place in the oven and bake for 1 hour, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F on an instant-read thermometer.
Let it rest: After baking, let the meatloaf stand for 10 minutes before slicing.
Serve: Slice, service, and enjoy!

Seared Sirloin Steak with Mushroom Cream Sauce

Cooking instructions:

Preheat oven: Set temperature to 325°F.
Prepare steaks: Brush top sirloin steaks with oil and season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
Sear steaks: In a medium-high skillet, sear steaks 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer to a sheet pan with a wire rack and place in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until steaks reach an internal temperature of 125°F for medium-rare.
Cook mushroom sauce: While steaks cook, melt 2 tablespoons butter in the skillet. Sauté mushrooms over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes. Add remaining 1 tablespoon butter, garlic, and shallots; sauté for 2 more minutes. Stir in beef broth, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and heavy cream. Bring to a simmer, then lower heat to medium-low and simmer for 12 minutes, or until sauce thickens. Stir in fresh thyme and keep warm.
Rest steaks and serve: Allow steaks to rest for 5 minutes, then serve with the warm mushroom cream sauce.
Serve and enjoy: Season steaks and tuck in!

Mississippi Pot Roast

How does a comforting Mississippi Pot Roast sound for warming your soul in this chilly weather? This hearty, flavorful dish couldn’t be easier to make!

Ingredients:

3 pounds of CAB chuck roast
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cracked black pepper
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 (1-ounce) packet ranch dressing mix
1 (1-ounce) packet au jus gravy mix
1 stick unsalted butter (or herb-flavored compound butter)
10 pepperoncini peppers
1/4 cup pepperoncini juice

Cooking instructions:

Prepare the roast: Pat both sides of the roast dry with a paper towel. Season generously with salt and pepper.
Sear the roast: Heat a large skillet (preferably stainless-steel or cast iron) over high heat. Add canola oil, then sear the chuck roast for 2-3 minutes on each side until browned.
Cook in slow cooker: Transfer the seared roast to a slow cooker. Add the ranch dressing mix, au jus gravy mix, butter, pepperoncini peppers, and juice. Set the slow cooker to low and cook for 8 hours.
Serve: Once the roast is fork-tender, shred the beef using two forks and discard any large pieces of fat. Serve and enjoy!

Hungry for more? Why not try downloading the Roast Perfect App for more dish inspo and cooking tips.

Source your holiday beef from Maplecrest Meats!

Located in beautiful Hillsboro, Ohio, our family farm has provided healthy, delicious beef to local communities for over 35 years.

As one of the region’s leading meat delivery services, Maplecrest Meats offers many delicious grass-fed beef options to tantalize your taste buds.

From Certified Angus Beef sirloin steaks, NY strip steak, and stew meat to brisket, beef roast, ground beef patties, and more – we have something to satisfy every palate this festive season.

Explore our monthly subscription boxes or buy in bulk and save with our meat stock-up options. Happy holidays from our table to yours!