Tired of the same old Thanksgiving turkey roasted in the oven til the skin turns a lovely golden brown?
If youre really looking to spice things up in 2021, check out these totally over-the-top turkey — and a few downsized but delicious — recipes. No one will forget Thanksgiving dinner this year if the bird is covered in edible glitter or pickles!
Thanksgiving is synonymous with turkey, but that doesn’t mean you can’t shake up tradition! If you want to try something new this year, here are 10 delicious non-turkey main dishes perfect for the holiday table.
Frequency of Entities:
- Turkey: 15
- Thanksgiving: 10
- Recipes: 10
- Dinner: 5
- Dishes: 5
- Tofu: 2
- Ham: 2
- Roast: 2
- Vegetarian: 1
- Vegan: 1
1. Roast Pork with Apples and Onions
Forget turkey – this juicy pork roast is the star of the show! The sweet apples and onions complement the savory meat perfectly. Rubbing the roast with thyme, sage and garlic adds wonderful fall flavor. Serve with your favorite sides like mashed potatoes, stuffing and Brussels sprouts.
2. Baked Ham with Pineapple Glaze
You can’t go wrong with a classic honey baked ham, made even more festive with a sweet and tangy pineapple glaze on top. Choose a boneless ham for easy carving. Pair it with cheesy scalloped potatoes, roasted veggies and dinner rolls for a delicious non-turkey meal.
3. Vegetarian Lentil and Mushroom Wellington
Meatless feasters will love this impressive vegetarian main dish. Lentils, mushrooms and spinach get wrapped up in flaky puff pastry to create a savory vegetarian Wellington. Cut into it to reveal the magnificent layers! It’s protein-packed and satisfying.
4. Seared Tofu Roast with Cranberry Herb Relish
For a vegan option, try this flavorful tofu roast with sweet and tangy cranberry-herb relish The tofu gets a quick sear to lock in the flavor, then roasts to crispy, chewy perfection. Your Thanksgiving guests will be amazed by the creativity!
5. Garlic Rosemary Roast Chicken
Whole roasted chicken is an easy and budget-friendly alternative to turkey Rub it with garlic, rosemary, thyme and lemon for incredible flavor Your home will smell like the holidays as it roasts to golden brown. Carve at the table for a memorable presentation.
6. Cornbread Stuffed Acorn Squash
Go vegetarian with these eye-catching stuffed acorn squash. They’re filled with savory cornbread stuffing, brown rice, pecans, cranberries and apples. Top with melted butter for extra richness. Each person gets their own hearty squash!
7. Sheet Pan Pork Tenderloin with Veggies
Simplify your cooking by roasting the pork and veggies together on one sheet pan! Brush pork tenderloin with maple mustard glaze and surround it with potatoes, carrots, parsnips and Brussels sprouts. A complete holiday meal ready in under an hour.
8. Beef Tenderloin with Red Wine Sauce
For an elegant, restaurant-quality dish, try seared beef tenderloin steaks with a silky red wine reduction sauce. Season the steaks aggressively with salt and pepper and sear hot and fast. Let the steaks rest before slicing. Serve with garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus.
9. Pumpkin Ravioli with Brown Butter Sage Sauce
Delight vegetarians with this seasonal fall entree: pumpkin ravioli tossed with nutty brown butter and fragrant fresh sage. The tender pasta pillows are filled with a blend of roasted pumpkin, cheese, and herbs. This pasta main is elegant yet easy to make.
10. Seitan Roast Stuffed with Wild Rice
Seitan (wheat gluten) makes a hearty vegan main when stuffed with wild rice, pecans, cranberries and herbs. Slice the protein-packed seitan to reveal the colorful filling within. Drizzle with gravy or cranberry sauce for even more holiday flair.
So this Thanksgiving, feel free to skip the turkey in favor of these creative recipes. With delicious options like juicy roasts, plant-based entrees, savory pies and pastas, you can serve up a holiday feast full of new flavors! Your guests will be thrilled by the unexpected dishes.
Giada’s Turkey Breast Porchetta
Carving a turkey in front of your assembled friends and family is rarely a lot of fun — and this year, many of us are choosing to downsize due to COVID-19. This boned, stuffed, and rolled breast made in the style of stuffed and roasted pork shoulder, is tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. It’s also a dream to slice and serve. Note that the turkey breast is seasoned a day before roasting.
Love Cajun spice? Try it on a turkey this Thanksgiving. This version shows uses the classic seasoning with paprika, thyme oregano, garlic powder and cayenne pepper for a kick. Its not totally wacky (after all, Popeyes offers a Thanksgiving turkey special every year) but it is definitely delicious.
Just add 2 pounds of melted butter to the seasoning, pour it over the turkey and gently massage it into the skin before roasting.
This original recipe from TODAY Food makes a super flavorful turkey by soaking it in a dill pickle brine overnight. For added spiciness, include chopped jalapeno, habanero or any other hot pepper of your choice to the brine and choose the juice from zesty pickles instead.
The brine also has garlic, black peppercorns, mustard seed, celery seed and dill seed to pack an even greater punch.
Got a family who loves bacon on everything? Give this bacon-wrapped bird a try! The fat from the bacon helps keep the meat moist and also imparts a deliciously smoky, salty flavor.
The recipe calls for making a lattice from bacon strips and then laying the weave on top of the turkey prior to roasting. With its criss-crossed strips of bacon, this turkey is as pretty as it is delicious.
Elizabeth Heiskell’s Pillowcase Turkey with Million-Dollar Gravy
A pillowcase? Yep. Elizabeth Heiskells grandmother said covering the turkey during cooking keeps the skin from being overdone and seals in the maximum amount of moisture to keep your bird juicy and delicious. Dont have a pillowcase to spare? Dont worry — you can use cheesecloth.