10 Sunday roast recipes that are truly epic (2024)

Roast chicken with basil, mint and pistachio pesto

Pesto and chicken is a brilliant combination and it’s a real knockout in this roast chicken recipe. Whizz up the basil, mint and pistachio pesto in no time at all, then use to stuff and cover a whole chicken for a gorgeously green, fresh and herby main course.

Roast chicken with lemon, oregano and olive breadcrumb stuffing

If a traditional roast chicken is your preferred Sunday lunch of choice, give this one a try. The incredible lemon, sourdough and olive stuffing is good enough to eat on its own! Not that we’ve done that…

Roast topside of beef

This is one of our most popular roast beef recipes of all time. A majestic topside joint is coated in mustard, sugar and sea salt (that’s it!), then roasted until juicy and still pink in the middle. Serve with crisp roast potatoes and beef dripping gravy. Click here to watch a video on how to make the entire meal!

Roast rib of beef with beef dripping chips and stilton hollandaise

We’ll say it one more time for the people in the back: roast rib of beef, beef dripping chips and stilton hollandaise. Just let that sink in for a minute… This is special occasion-worthy stuff.

Slow-roast pork belly with sherry gravy and mint relish

The key to perfectly cooking pork belly is to roast it low and slow in the oven until wonderfully tender, before whacking up the heat at the final moment to achieve its infamous crispy crackling. Delicious served with a sharp mint relish.

Slow-roast pork shoulder with leeks and cannellini beans

We owe Georgina Hayden for this marinated pork shoulder dish, which she’s cooked on a bed of silky leeks, hearty cannellini beans, fennel, white wine and mustard. It’s cooked for up to four hours, until the meat is tender and the vegetables are soft and caramelised.

Roast leg of lamb with rosemary and garlic pesto

Rosemary works really well with roast lamb, so we’ve made a clever pesto with this fragrant herb and used it as a flavoursome rub to really make this joint sing. Make sure to let the meat rest for at least 45 minutes to ensure it’s properly juicy when you’re ready to serve.

Slow-roast shoulder of lamb with chargrilled vegetables

If you hadn’t already guessed, we’re huge fans of slow-roasting meat – it produces such deliciously tender results and requires very little effort to achieve. Test out this technique with Paul Merrett’s shoulder of lamb recipe. He’s served it on a bed of gooey polenta and sweet roasted vegetables for something slightly different to your standard Sunday lunch.

Maple-glazed parsnip, chestnut and feta loaf

We often turn to this mouth-watering savoury loaf during the winter months. It’s prepared with hearty winter ingredients – including parsnips, leeks, mushrooms and chestnuts – and made all the more tasty with a generous helping of feta cheese. Contrasting these umami flavours is the sticky-sweet maple glaze, which makes this fantastic vegetarian showstopper ever so moreish!

Cauliflower wellington

We’ve stolen and developed the luxurious flavours of a traditional beef wellington to create this wow-factor veggie dish. The cauliflower is covered in a layer of creamy mushroom pate, plus a good grating of cheddar, before being wrapped up in a coat of puff pastry.

Our favourite Sunday roast side dishes…

Cauliflower, leek and blue cheese gratin

One of the best bits about this cheesy gratin is the crunchy breadcrumb and flaked almond topping. Break through the crunchy top layer to reveal an oozy cauliflower and blue cheese sauce.

Roast potatoes with polenta, balsamic and thyme

A great roast potato has GOT to be crunchy, which is why we’ve coated these golden beauties with polenta. Pretty nifty, don’t you think? Drizzle over a mix of balsamic vinegar, garlic and thyme during the final 20 minutes of cooking for a fabulous sweet-but-tangy kick.

Spiced honey fondant parsnips and carrots

Let sweet carrots and parsnips reach their full potential with a drizzle of honey and plenty of butter.

Fennel, taleggio, potato and parmesan gratin

There’s no denying that this gratin is rich, but that’s all the more reason to reserve (and enjoy) it for a truly special occasion. It uses two really punchy cheeses – taleggio and parmesan – for plenty of tangy flavour, plus a generous pouring of double cream. If this doesn’t take your Sunday lunch up a notch, we don’t know what will.

Bay-scented smashed roast potatoes

These skin-on potatoes are smashed during the final minutes of roasting for crispy results. Swap them out for roasties at your next Sunday lunch.

Time for dessert? Explore our favourite nostalgic puddings and finish things on a cosy note.

10 Sunday roast recipes that are truly epic (2024)

FAQs

10 Sunday roast recipes that are truly epic? ›

"For me, the three key elements of a perfect Sunday roast are potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, and cauliflower cheese. For the perfect potatoes always go for starchy ones: King Edwards are my favourite. I tend to steam them rather than boil, and then let them dry, then bash and cook them with beef fat and sunflower oil.

What makes a good Sunday Roast? ›

"For me, the three key elements of a perfect Sunday roast are potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, and cauliflower cheese. For the perfect potatoes always go for starchy ones: King Edwards are my favourite. I tend to steam them rather than boil, and then let them dry, then bash and cook them with beef fat and sunflower oil.

What are the most popular items on a Sunday Roast? ›

The five most important roast items, and the percentage of the British public who selected them, are:
  • Gravy - 97%
  • Roast Potatoes - 94%
  • Meat - 84%
  • Yorkshire Puddings - 84%
  • Carrots - 81%

What is the best meat for a Sunday Roast? ›

For roasts, the best cuts include rib (on the bone or boned and rolled), sirloin, top rump and fillet. For quick cooking, try fillet, entrecôte, rib eye, sirloin or rump steaks. Brisket, topside and silverside are good for pot roasts, and stewing and braising steak are good for stews and casseroles.

What is a fun fact about the Sunday Roast? ›

The British have always enjoyed eating beef. So much so that, since the 15th century, the royal guards have been known as Beefeaters. The tradition of eating roast beef on a Sunday was established during the reign of King Henry VII, who seized the crown in 1485 and ruled until his death in 1509.

What is the secret to a perfect roast? ›

The secret to making tender roast beef:

It's all about cooking low and slow. With a cut of meat like this, a longer cook time will give you better, more tender results. Ideally, all roasted meats would be seared on all sides in a hot skillet to develop a golden, delicious crust.

How do you elevate a Sunday roast? ›

Warm asparagus and lettuce with mint or jersey royals with broad beans and serrano ham might just steal the show… A proper roast wouldn't be complete without gravy. We've also got recipes for bread, cranberry and mint sauces, plus yorkshire puddings, indulgent gratins, creamy dauphinois and cauliflower cheese.

What is in a classic Sunday roast? ›

It consists of roasted meat, roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes and accompaniments such as Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, gravy, and condiments such as apple sauce, mint sauce, or redcurrant sauce.

What is in a traditional English Sunday roast? ›

Sunday roast, or roast dinner, is a traditional British meal of roasted meat, potatoes, and accompaniments like Yorkshire pudding, vegetables, stuffing, gravy, and various condiments depending on the meat.

What is the best and most tender roast? ›

Tenderloin. The most tender roast of all—it's under the spine— with almost no fat or flavor. It's tapered in shape, the middle being the "center cut." The labor involved and waste produced in trimming and tying a tenderloin drives up the price. Top sirloin roast.

What time should you have a Sunday Roast? ›

At dinner time, which is approx 20:00 or 20:30 in the evening, however it is usually served as Sunday Lunch at say 13:00. A lighter more informal meal in the evening is known as supper and the timing is more flexible.

What is the most tender beef joint for roasting? ›

Topside, silverside and top rump

These three prime cuts are all fantastic for roasting, as they are very tender and can be carved into large lean slices. However, because the muscles used for these cuts carry less marbling, they are usually sold 'barded'.

What is the best tasting roast? ›

What are the best beef roasts?
  • Chuck Roast. The boneless chuck roast is among the most popular roasts on the market due to its incredible beefy taste, fat content (it's well marbled), and effortless cooking process. ...
  • Rump Roast. ...
  • Bottom Round Roast. ...
  • Sirloin Tip Roast. ...
  • Pot Roast (Shoulder Roast) ...
  • Tri-tip. ...
  • Picanha.
Apr 22, 2023

What country invented Sunday roast? ›

The British peoples love affair with the traditional Sunday Roast is believed to have begun way back in 15th century Britain during the reign of King Henry VII. Every Sunday, after church, his royal guards would enjoy a ritual of freshly roasted beef, this is where the affectionate term “Beefeaters” came from!

What can you eat on a Sunday instead of a roast? ›

20 Sunday dinner ideas
  • Nduja lasagne. ...
  • Harissa roast salmon with lemon & chickpea couscous. ...
  • Slow cooker gochujang short ribs with apple slaw. ...
  • Vegetarian enchiladas. ...
  • Spatchco*ck peri-peri chicken. ...
  • No-fuss shepherd's pie. ...
  • Leek, cheese & potato pie. ...
  • Chicken arrabbiata stew with parmesan dumplings.

Are Sunday roasts good for you? ›

Roast dinners make great comfort food, but they aren't always that healthy. Our easy swaps mean they don't have to be bad news for your waistline or cholesterol levels, as Hannah Forster explains. Whether it's a quiet Sunday or a big get-together with family and friends, we all love a traditional roast dinner.

What makes a Sunday dinner a Sunday dinner? ›

Historically, it is a meal that brings people together on a Sunday afternoon with a large roasted joint of meat served alongside potatoes, vegetables, and gravy.

How do you elevate a roast dinner? ›

Elevate your roast dinner by roasting your potatoes in hot beef dripping with garlic, rosemary, thyme and butter.

What makes the most tender roast? ›

Tenderloin. The most tender roast of all—it's under the spine— with almost no fat or flavor. It's tapered in shape, the middle being the "center cut." The labor involved and waste produced in trimming and tying a tenderloin drives up the price.

How can I improve my roast dinner? ›

Always bring the meat to room temperature before putting it into a preheated oven, as this will ensure an even cook. If you're doing a roast chicken, get the perfect crispy chicken skin by patting the skin dry before cooking, rubbing with salt to draw out moisture and avoiding basting during cooking.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 5786

Rating: 5 / 5 (70 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Birthday: 1996-05-19

Address: Apt. 114 873 White Lodge, Libbyfurt, CA 93006

Phone: +5983010455207

Job: Legacy Representative

Hobby: Blacksmithing, Urban exploration, Sudoku, Slacklining, Creative writing, Community, Letterboxing

Introduction: My name is Merrill Bechtelar CPA, I am a clean, agreeable, glorious, magnificent, witty, enchanting, comfortable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.