While Christmas in the US is predominantly associated with turkeys and ham, there are alternatives. With thousands of frozen turkeys having to be ordered well in advance (to make sure that you get yours), why not try something different on your Christmas table?

Try beef instead

Meat buyers for the shopping retailer Meijer report that over five million pounds of ham and 50,000 turkeys are sold by their stores in the weeks before Christmas. But many want beef instead, choosing Certified Angus Beef.

One popular choice the retailer recommends is the standing rib Roast.

Also known as the bone-in or prime rib it is an excellent choice for the Christmas dinner. This roast is rich, flavorful, tender, juicy, and looks good on the table.

If you’re looking for more of a wow factor, try a strip roast for best results. Also described as the Kansas City strip roast or New York strip roast it is lean, tender, and flavorful.

A more elegant roast is the tenderloin. Described as the crown jewel of extravagant holiday meals, it makes an excellent beef Wellington. It’s lean, with a mild flavor, and very tender.

The top sirloin roast is also very popular. Also known as a round tip roast or crescent roast it is lean and flavorful but can be tough so preparation is key.

Lots of recipes

If you’re not sure how to cook them, then you’re in luck. Meijer also offers the "12 Roasts of Christmas" recipes for every roast.

  • Standing Ribeye
  • Tenderloin with Horseradish Sauce
  • Garlic & Rosemary Studded Strip
  • Classic Marinated London Broil
  • Cranberry Top Sirloin
  • Brined Eye of Round
  • Bottom Round Pot Roast with Mushroom Onion Sauce
  • Herb Tenderloin
  • Herb-Rubbed Top Round
  • Easy Pot
  • Slow Cooker Braised Pot Roast with Root Vegetables
  • Bloody Mary London Broil

In order to assist you with your special holiday meal, the Certified Angus Beef Brand offers an app called Roast Perfect available on iTunes and Google Play for Android devices.

The app can help you create the roast of your Christmas dreams.

The Perfect Roast app not only gives you recipes for creating that ideal roast dinner, but it offers information on how to pick the right meat from the beginning.

Sections include Select A Roast, Recipes & Tips, Roast Timer, Favorite Recipes, and Why Our Beef Is Better.

The Select A Roast feature allows you to tell the app how many people you’ll be serving at your meal and will then recommend the size of roast depending on which type you choose. If you don’t have a relationship with your local butcher, this is the next best thing.

If someone questions you choosing a beef roast this year, remind them that people have been choosing beef since the 17th century.