10+ Christmas Pork Recipes to Delight Your Holiday Feast

Christmas is a time for celebration, delicious food, and family gatherings. When planning your holiday meals, consider adding a festive touch with pork dishes that are sure to impress your guests.

From tender roasts to flavorful sides, pork can be a versatile and tasty choice for your Christmas menu. The combination of savory flavors and festive spices makes for hearty meals that everyone will love.

Maple-Glazed Pork Roast

Maple-glazed pork roast is a delicious choice for your Christmas meal. The glaze made from maple syrup and mustard gives it a sweet yet tangy flavor. It’s simple to prepare and will impress your guests.

To make this roast, season your pork with salt and pepper. Searing it first adds a nice texture. You can then pour the maple glaze over the pork before baking.

Bake the pork until it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C). This takes about one hour, depending on the size of the roast. The result is a juicy pork roast with a flavorful crust.

Ingredients

• 1 pork loin roast
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Season the pork roast with salt and pepper.
3. Sear the roast in a hot pan until browned on all sides.
4. Mix the maple syrup, mustard, soy sauce, and vinegar in a bowl.
5. Pour the glaze over the roast.
6. Roast for about one hour or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C).

2) Crispy Pork Belly with Honey Garlic Sauce

Crispy pork belly is a tasty choice for Christmas dinner. This dish combines rich flavors with a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce. It’s sure to impress your guests.

To start, you’ll need to prepare the pork belly. Slice it into thick pieces and cook until the skin is golden and crispy. This usually takes about 30 minutes in the oven at 450°F (230°C).

While the pork is roasting, you can make your honey garlic sauce. Combine honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, and a splash of vinegar in a small saucepan. Heat it gently until mixed well.

Once the pork belly is ready, brush it with the sauce for added flavor. This will give it a delicious glaze that caramelizes as it cooks.

Serve the pork belly slices hot, drizzled with extra sauce if you like. Your family will love this tasty holiday dish.

Ingredients

• Pork belly
• Honey
• Soy sauce
• Garlic
• Vinegar

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).
2. Slice pork belly into thick pieces.
3. Roast pork belly in the oven for 30 minutes.
4. In a pan, mix honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, and vinegar.
5. Brush sauce on pork belly before serving.

3) Cherry-Glazed Ham with Brown Sugar

Cherry-glazed ham with brown sugar is a delightful addition to your Christmas feast. The sweet and tangy glaze adds rich flavor to the ham and impresses your guests.

To prepare, you’ll first score the ham in a diamond pattern. This helps the glaze soak in and creates a beautiful presentation.

In a small saucepan, combine cherry jam, brown sugar, mustard, and a pinch of cinnamon. Heat until the mixture simmers and thickens slightly.

Baste the ham with this delicious glaze during the last 30 minutes of cooking. Bake the ham at 325°F (163°C) until it reaches your desired temperature.

The result is a beautifully caramelized ham that tastes as good as it looks.

Ingredients

• 1 fully cooked ham
• 1 cup cherry jam
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C).
2. Score the ham in a diamond pattern.
3. In a saucepan, mix cherry jam, brown sugar, mustard, and cinnamon.
4. Heat until simmering and slightly thickened.
5. Baste the ham with the glaze in the last 30 minutes.
6. Bake until warmed through, then serve.

4) Pork Loin with Cranberry Stuffing

Pork loin with cranberry stuffing is a perfect dish for your Christmas table. The sweet and tangy flavors of cranberries complement the savory pork beautifully.

To start, you’ll want a boneless pork loin, about 2 to 3 pounds. You can butterfly it for stuffing, which makes it easier to fill with your mixture of cranberries, apples, and nuts.

Begin by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). Prepare your stuffing and carefully roll and secure the pork with kitchen string.

After that, you can rub the outside of the pork with seasoning to enhance its flavor. Sear the pork on the stove to lock in juices, then roast it in the oven. Cook until it reaches 145°F (63°C), around 35 to 45 minutes.

Ingredients

• 2-3 lb boneless pork loin
• 1 cup cranberries
• 1 apple, chopped
• 1/2 cup nuts (like pecans)
• Seasoning of choice
• Cooking oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Butterfly the pork loin.
3. Prepare stuffing with cranberries, apple, and nuts.
4. Fill and roll the pork loin; secure with string.
5. Season the outside of the pork.
6. Sear the pork in a hot pan with oil.
7. Roast in oven until internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C).

5) Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Onion

Roasted pork tenderloin with apples and onions is a delightful dish for Christmas. The sweet apples and savory onions pair wonderfully with the juicy pork.

To start, you will want to preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Season your pork tenderloin with salt and pepper to enhance the flavors.

In a skillet, heat some oil over medium-high heat. Sear the pork until browned on all sides. Then, add sliced apples and onions to the skillet.

Pour a sweet glaze over the pork and place the skillet in the oven. Roast for about 25 minutes, or until the pork is fully cooked. Let it rest for a few minutes before slicing.

Ingredients

• 1 pork tenderloin
• 2 apples, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 tablespoons oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Sweet glaze (like honey or maple syrup)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. Season pork with salt and pepper.
3. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
4. Sear the pork until browned.
5. Add apples and onions to the skillet.
6. Pour the glaze over the tenderloin.
7. Roast in the oven for 25 minutes.
8. Let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

6) Pineapple-Glazed Baked Ham

Pineapple-glazed baked ham is a delightful dish often served during the holidays. The combination of sweet pineapple and brown sugar creates a delicious glaze that enhances the flavor of the ham.

Start by preheating your oven to 325°F (165°C). Score the surface of the ham to help the glaze stick better. In a bowl, mix pineapple juice, brown sugar, mustard, and a touch of cloves.

Spread this mixture over the ham. Press it into the scored cuts to ensure all the flavors soak in. Bake the ham uncovered for about 90 minutes. Make sure to use a meat thermometer, aiming for an internal temperature of 140°F (60°C).

This ham pairs well with various sides and makes for a festive centerpiece.

Ingredients

• 1 fully cooked ham (about 8-10 pounds)
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon mustard
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C).
2. Score the ham’s surface.
3. In a bowl, mix pineapple juice, brown sugar, mustard, and cloves.
4. Spread the glaze over the ham.
5. Bake uncovered for 90 minutes.
6. Check the temperature; it should reach 140°F (60°C).

7) Pork Rib Roast with Plum Chutney

Pork rib roast is a delicious choice for a Christmas dinner. Pairing it with plum chutney adds a sweet and tangy flavor that complements the meat perfectly.

For this recipe, you will need a 4-pound boneless pork loin roast. Start by seasoning it with garlic, thyme, soy sauce, and pepper. The plum chutney is easy to make and brings a lovely balance to the dish.

As you cook the roast at 325°F (about 160°C), the flavors will blend beautifully. Serve it with your homemade plum chutney for a delightful holiday meal.

Ingredients

• 4-pound boneless pork loin roast
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 cup sherry
• 2 tablespoons dried thyme
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon ground mustard
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 cup plum jam
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 cup cold water

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C).
2. In a small bowl, mix garlic, thyme, soy sauce, and pepper.
3. Rub the mixture all over the pork loin roast.
4. Place the roast in a roasting pan.
5. Roast in the oven for about 2 hours.
6. For the chutney, combine plum jam, cornstarch, and cold water in a saucepan.
7. Heat until thickened, stirring often.
8. Serve the roast with plum chutney on the side.

8) Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder

Cider-braised pork shoulder is a delicious and comforting dish perfect for the holiday season. This recipe brings out the rich flavors in the pork, making it a favorite at Christmas dinners.

Start by seasoning the pork shoulder with generous amounts of salt. Heat some oil in a heavy pot over high heat, then brown the pork on all sides for about 3 to 4 minutes each.

Next, remove the pork from the pot and add onions to the oil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook the onions for around 2 minutes, seasoning with a pinch of salt and pepper.

After this, combine the pork back into the pot with apple cider and chicken broth. Bring it all to a boil. Cover the pot and braise in the oven at 275°F (135°C) for about 3 hours until the pork is very tender.

Ingredients

• Boneless pork shoulder
• Salt
• Oil
• Onions
• Apple cider
• Chicken broth

Cooking Instructions

1. Season the pork shoulder with salt.
2. Heat oil in a pot and brown the pork for 3-4 minutes on each side.
3. Remove the pork, then add chopped onions to the pot.
4. Cook onions on medium heat for 2 minutes.
5. Add the pork back with apple cider and chicken broth.
6. Bring to a boil, then cover and braise in the oven at 275°F (135°C) for 3 hours.

9) Garlic and Herb-Crusted Pork Leg

A garlic and herb-crusted pork leg is a delicious option for your holiday meal. The mix of garlic, rosemary, and thyme gives it a wonderful aroma and flavor.

Start by rubbing the pork leg with olive oil and seasoning it with your favorite herbs. This simple step helps enhance the taste. You can also add salt and pepper to suit your taste.

Place the pork leg in a roasting pan with some chopped vegetables like onions and carrots. Adding some white wine can elevate the flavor.

Roast it in the oven at 325°F (160°C) for about three hours, or until the meat is tender.

Let the pork rest for a while before serving. This ensures that the juices stay locked in, making each slice juicy.

Ingredients

• 1 pork leg (about 5-7 pounds)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4-5 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup white wine
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C).
2. Rub olive oil over the pork leg.
3. Season with garlic, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper.
4. Place chopped onion and carrots in a roasting pan.
5. Put the pork leg on top of the vegetables.
6. Pour white wine around the pork.
7. Roast for about three hours, until tender.
8. Let it rest before slicing and serving.

10) Pork Chops with Pear and Cranberry Sauce

Pork chops with pear and cranberry sauce is a delightful dish that blends savory and sweet flavors perfectly. The juicy pork combines well with the tart cranberries and the sweetness of ripe pears.

To start, season your boneless pork chops with salt and pepper. Then, heat a skillet and brown them for a nice crust. This adds flavor and texture to your dish.

Next, create the sauce by cooking sliced onions, cranberries, and diced pears in the same skillet. Add a splash of apple cider or juice for extra sweetness. This mixture becomes a tasty sauce that complements the pork beautifully.

Bake everything together in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (62.8°C).

Enjoy this festive dish with your loved ones.

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Season pork chops with salt and pepper.
3. Brown pork chops in a skillet.
4. Remove pork and cook onions, cranberries, and pears.
5. Add apple cider to the skillet.
6. Nestle pork chops back in and bake for 15 minutes.