Southern Christmas Roast Recipe

My oven-baked soul food Christmas roast is tender, juicy, and seasoned with rich Southern herbs and spices for a holiday centerpiece full of "flava!" Slow-roasted to perfection, it delivers that nostalgic, home-for-the-holidays comfort in every bite. A true showstopper for your Christmas table!

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Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 1 20

Total Time: 1 25

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Soul Food, Southern Food

Servings:

Calories: 379kcal

Author: Shaunda Necole • The Soul Food Pot®

Equipment

Large baking pan or dish optional

Ingredients

2-3 pound beef roast prime rib
½ cup beef broth
½ cup balsamic vinegar
2 garlic cloves minced
¼ cup cranberry sauce canned or homemade
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup cranberries fresh
6-8 sprigs thyme fresh
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
In a small bowl, mix together the red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
Rub the seasoning mixture all over the beef roast.
Using a knife, pierce the roast all over, then set it aside.
In a mixing bowl, combine the broth, balsamic vinegar, garlic, cranberry sauce, brown sugar, and olive oil.
Then, pour the mixture into the roasting pan and place the roast into the pan with the marinade.
Add the fresh cranberries and thyme to the pan, and baste the roast with the marinade.
Roast the meat for approximately 20 minutes per pound. This means you should roast a 3 to 5-pound roast for 60 to 140 minutes, or until a meat thermometer reads 140 degrees F for medium-rare. For a well-done roast, continue cooking in 10-minute intervals until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees F.
Once cooked, remove the roast from the oven and let it cool before slicing.
Garnish with fresh cranberry sauce, then slice and serve the Southern Christmas roast with the pan sauce as gravy, and enjoy!

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Nutrition

❤️ Why trust this recipe?

Created + tested by Shaunda Necole, creator of The Soul Food Pot® (real cook, real kitchen). Rooted in African American culinary traditions, with modern shortcuts that don’t sacrifice flavor or legacy. No AI-generated instructions — measurements, timing, and techniques are written, cooked, and verified by Shaunda. Make-it-your-way guidance included, so you can cook confidently with the tools you have.

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