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10 best Easter roasts for the long weekend
We tried traditional lamb, beef, chicken and pork dishes to find those worthy of the occasion
Tested by JoJo Anastasiou and Georgia Turnell
Wondering what to cook this Easter? You’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re looking for a traditional roast lamb served with mint sauce and roasties or something a little different – from roast chicken to pork with crunchy crackling – we’ve tested cuts from Britain’s leading butchers and supermarkets to find the best Easter roasts worthy of a starring role on your table (Easter lands on 20 April this year, just FYI!).
Oh, and don’t worry, we’ve also found the best ready-made roast potatoes to serve alongside your chosen main. And if you have any veggie or vegan guests, we’re also lifting the lid on our experts' best meat-free centrepieces. Need something sweet for after? We’ve also got the best Easter eggs for every chocolate lover.
Best Sunday roasts for Easter 2025
Exceptional by ASDA Free Range Corn-Fed Norfolk Whole Chicken 1.75kg
Read review
How we test Easter roasts
Our panel of experts and consumers tasted 23 meaty mains from independent butchers and leading supermarkets in search of the best centrepieces for your Easter table. Each was blinded to avoid brand bias and prepared according to the packet instructions, before being assessed on its appearance, mouth-watering aroma, value for money and, most importantly, flavour.
Read on to find out who took the coveted top spot in our Easter taste test for 2025...
Score: 85/100
Why not swap the traditional roast lamb for something a little different this year? This rolled and stuffed pork joint will pair perfectly with all your favourite sides.
The crispy, caramelised pork crackling proved to be a standout component, and the lemon, garlic, herbs and fennel seeds complemented the tender meat, without overpowering it.
We recommend serving it with a dollop of apple sauce and stuffing any leftovers into crusty rolls.
Score: 83/100
Chicken can be a well-priced alternative to lamb for Easter, and this roast-in-the-bag bird makes cooking as simple as can be (leaving you more time to socialise).
You can’t beat the aroma of a good roast chicken, and our testers agreed this one smelt incredible. And with deliciously crispy skin and buttery soft meat, it ticked a lot of boxes for our panel.
Score: 83/100
This garlic and herb chicken from Waitrose was equally popular, with one tester telling us that they’d happily “eat this all day”. Naturally sweet, moist and tender, the lively seasoning was spot on and would pair perfectly with fresh spring veg and chicken gravy.
Score: 81/100
ASDA’s chicken filled the kitchen with a “mouth-watering” sweet, buttery aroma. The crispy skin had a gamey, naturally sweet taste that would be enhanced with plenty of gravy. Testers found the meat a little dry, so we recommend reducing the cooking time slightly for the best results.
Score: 80/100
If the Easter weekend simply wouldn’t be complete without roast lamb, this whole leg is the perfect joint for the job. Testers loved the rich flavour, tender meat and well-crisped skin, with some describing it as “perfect”.
Score: 80/100
Another delicious option for your table, ASDA’s tender lamb leg was equally flavoursome, with a natural sweet taste and lightly crisp skin. Our testers said they’d be happy to serve this at Easter and felt it would make an excellent base for you to add your own herbs and seasoning.
Score: 79/100
Alternatively, this whole leg of lamb from Iceland comes frozen, so you can keep it on standby in the freezer for those last-minute gatherings. It has a delicate, sweet flavour and the cooking instructions resulted in rare, pink meat.
Score: 79/100
Amazon’s Red Tractor-approved lamb shanks come with a meaty minted gravy, giving you one less thing to worry about this Easter. The meat itself was very tender and enjoyed by all – a perfect choice for an intimate dinner for two.
Field & Flower Butterflied Leg of Lamb in Thyme & Olive Oil 1.2kg
Score: 78/100
If knife skills are not your strong point, may we suggest Field & Flower’s leg of lamb, which has been expertly butterflied by the brand’s in-house butchers. This technique means the joint will cook much quicker than a bone-in leg, exposing a greater surface area for a meaty char. It’s also pre-marinated in thyme and garlic for a summery flavour, with a juicy melt-in-the-mouth texture.
Score: 77/100
Tesco’s hog roast has a warming, enticing aroma, with a sweet, spiced apple glaze, super crunchy crackling and herbaceous pork, onion and sage stuffing. All you need to do is pop it in the oven and, hey presto, you have a delicioius dinner for four.
These also passed...
- Sainsbury’s Topside of Beef with Salt and Pepper Basting Fats, £19.80 for 900g, Score: 75/100
- The Green Butcher Lamb Leg Joint, £80 for 2.5kg, Score: 75/100
- Daylesford Organic Rolled Shoulder of Lamb, £28.50 for 1.2kg, Score: 75/100
- Morrisons Market Street Beef Topside Joint, £29 for 2kg, Score: 75/100
- Co-op British Lamb Whole Leg, £7 for 2.2kg, Score: 74/100
- Aldi Specially Selected Rack of Lamb with Honey and Rosemary Glaze, £22.99 for 600g, Score: 74/100
- by Amazon Beef Roasting Joint, £16.75 for 1.05kg, Score: 73/100
- Waitrose Beef Roasting Joint with a Honey & Mustard Dripping Melt, £15 for 660g, Score: 72/100
- Aldi Specially Selected Aberdeen Angus 2 Bone Rib of Beef with Salt and Pepper Seasoning, £18.99 for 1.5kg, Score: 70/100
- Co-op Irresistible Hereford Beef Joint, £15 for 900g, Score: 70/100
- Tesco Finest Boneless Lamb Leg with Cornish Sea Salt and Black Pepper, £14.58 for 1.38kg, Score: 70/100
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
Joanna Anastasiou is our Food and Drinks Tester, and has completed certifications in Sensory Foundation and WSET Wine Level 2 training. Prior to this she studied geography with conservation biology at the University of Exeter and trained at Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland. Through this she has developed a passion for sustainability within the food and agricultural sectors. Joanna also volunteers in kitchens with FoodCycle, as well as on multiple wildlife conservation projects, where she formed a particular love for bees!
Georgia has been part of the hospitality industry for the last nine years. Her starting point was the world-renowned Le Cordon Bleu culinary school where she gained a Diplôme de Pâtisserie. She has worked at a number of well-known restaurants and bakeries including The Club at the Ivy and Ottolenghi, Notting Hill where she was the head pastry chef. Most recently, Georgia worked at The Clink Bakery inside HMP Brixton, which aims to reduce reoffending through teaching. She is an expert in all things baked goods and holds a WSET level 2 in wine.
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