26 Thanksgiving Turkey Alternatives

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, all of us are scrambling to get our menu plans in order. While turkey is the typical pièce de résistance for this festive meal, there are plenty of reasons why you might be searching for an alternative to serve this holiday season.

Whether you have guests with allergies, ones who are vegetarian, or those who dislike turkey, these recipes from the Daily Meal archives might be just what you have been looking for. Ideas range from alternative meats to casseroles that can round out your menu.

A key to substituting your turkey with something else is to ensure you pay attention to the presentation. Even the most seemingly basic dish can be made special with an elegant garnish. And whatever you do, don't forget to factor in things like what other side dishes you will be serving. You want to guarantee your turkey alternative is complimentary in flavor and texture to the other items adorning your table.

Lastly, since one of the best parts of the Thanksgiving meal includes having plenty of leftovers to nibble on for the next few days, don't forget to make plenty of this alternative dish. After spending that much time in the kitchen, you deserve a break by stocking up on something that will taste even better in the coming days. 

The beauty of this elegant salmon recipe is how quickly it comes together. It can be ready in under 20 minutes, saving significant time when juggling myriad side dishes. You can prepare the salmon ahead of time with the breading. You will want to remove the salmon from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before baking to allow it to come to room temperature.

Consider using wild Alaskan sockeye salmon. And never overcook your salmon. It is best when medium to medium rare. If you use wild Alaskan salmon, its flesh will remain pink even when thoroughly cooked. Don't overcook it, otherwise your fish will be dry.

Recipe: Parmesan Crusted Salmon

The advantage to this recipe is that it is prepared on the stovetop, liberating valuable oven real estate for your other Thanksgiving side dishes. Whatever you do, never skip patting your short ribs dry with a paper towel. This will help them sear more thoroughly, encouraging what is known as the Maillard reaction, which will improve the flavor and aroma of your dish.

Be sure to use a quality red wine in this dish. You will want something that isn't overly oaky or tannic. While you don't want to use an expensive wine, you always want to choose one you enjoy drinking rather than the cooking varieties.

Recipe: Red Wine Beef Short Ribs

Lamb is a meat that screams special occasion. This delightfully simple recipe is quite forgiving. You can assemble the marinade and coat your lamb chops overnight. Giving the meat time to sit in the garlic herb blend will enable those flavors to permeate the flesh thoroughly.

To cook your lamb ahead, pan-sear the chops an hour before your meal until they are medium-rare. This should take approximately three minutes per side. The cooked chops should be wrapped in aluminum foil and rested until the main event. Place the wrapped lamb chops in foil into the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for five minutes before serving them to reheat.

Recipe: Pan-Seared Rosemary Lamb Shoulder Chop

This pot roast recipe is a classic and a showstopper. The sliced beef looks delightfully festive on a platter as part of your Thanksgiving dinner spread. Generally speaking, it is a one-pot meal that includes the starch. Since there will likely be plenty of other starchy side dishes, skip the potatoes.

Try swapping the potatoes with four chopped celery stalks with their leaves intact. This will provide great aromatics for your meat. And for a holiday twist, add one cup of dried apricots, plums, or cherries 15 minutes before the roast is finished. They will rehydrate in the liquid and make a delightful sweet and savory garnish for the beef slices.

Recipe: Sunday Beef Pot Roast

Roasted pork tenderloin is not only quick and easy, it is elegant. The only hitch is that it can dry out if you overcook it. Even if you don't go overboard and remove it from the oven at 140 degrees Fahrenheit, it can still lack juiciness.

For a hint of extra tenderness, try soaking the pork tenderloin in either a cup of white wine or lemon juice in a Ziploc bag for about an hour in the refrigerator before you pat the meat dry and season it. The acidity of the wine or lemon juice will break down the muscle fibers of the meat and make them more supple.

Recipe: Easy Roasted Pork Tenderloin

Steak Diane is a marvelous dish for a fancy dinner party. The velvety sauce is abundant in umami-rich flavors thanks to the mushrooms, tomato paste, cognac, and Worcestershire sauce. Rather than using individual filet mignons, roast a trimmed and tied beef tenderloin weighing between four and five pounds. Pat the tenderloin dry and season with a tablespoon of olive oil, salt, and pepper until well coated. Roast the meat at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 45 minutes until medium rare.

The internal temperature of the beef should be approximately 125 degrees Fahrenheit when you remove it from the oven before allowing it to rest loosely covered in foil for 15 minutes. This will serve 8 to 10 people. Make sure you triple or quadruple the sauce recipe.

Recipe: Classic Steak Diane

This lasagna recipe develops a rich, complex, umami flavor with a slow-cooked yet simple meat and tomato ragu. Try using ground lamb or a combination of pork and beef to make it more festive. If you have trouble serving your lasagna without the layers sliding apart, allow this recipe to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before plating to give the ingredients a chance to set.

For those wanting to prepare this ahead of Thanksgiving, you can assemble the ingredients, refrigerate them, and bake the dish right before your dinner. Just don't forget to remove the lasagna from the refrigerator 20 to 30 minutes before baking to bring it to room temperature.

Recipe: Classic Lasagna

Try whipping up this delightful Malaysian-inspired beef brisket or an exotic twist on beef this Thanksgiving. This recipe takes advantage of a cost-effective cut of meat. It also liberates your oven for other dishes by being a slow-cooked stovetop.

If the spice combination appears to contradict rather than complement the other side dishes on your menu, it won't. The delicate balance between sweet and savory flavors is evident in many dishes served on Thanksgiving, including sweet potato casserole and dressing recipes. To stick with the theme, make a wild rice dressing, which will soak up the luxurious sauce of this dish beautifully.

Recipe: Rendang-Inspired Beef Brisket

Beef Stroganoff is a marvelous comfort food to supplement your Thanksgiving menu. It is easy to prepare, and once you get your ingredients into the crock pot, you can set it and forget it. This will free you and your oven up for all the other sides and desserts you will make for the big day.

Add a hint of freshly grated nutmeg to your mushrooms to introduce sophistication into this recipe. The bright spice will transform this dish. You can also incorporate a green vegetable for a pop of color. Frozen peas, spinach, or edamame would be perfect complements.

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Beef Stroganoff

This inexpensive cut of beef can be fickle to work with as it is rife with connective tissues and dense muscle fibers. The umami-rich marinade helps to break these down, leaving you with a succulent steak. You can marinate this for up to 24 hours, which is convenient when preparing other Thanksgiving dishes.

You can easily triple or quadruple this recipe for a crowd and broil all the steaks right before your meal. Do not forget to allow this steak to rest before carving against the grain. Doing so will help to cut through some of those muscle fibers, making it easier to chew.

Recipe: Broiled Flat Iron Steak

This twist on a classic meatloaf is the perfect alternative to a Thanksgiving turkey. The eggs in the center are fun and delicious. The shredded carrot topping is aesthetically appealing and provides a hint of crunch.

Try soaking your breadcrumbs in 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk or stock for a more supple meatloaf. This will prevent the breadcrumbs from absorbing too much of the fat or juice of the ground beef, leaving them in the meat for a moist, delicious loaf. As a bonus, this meatloaf would be delicious with a classic gravy with a hint of spiciness from hot sauce.

Recipe: Egg-Stuffed Meatloaf

Salisbury steak is one of those recipes that hearkens back to simpler times when TV dinners were all the rage. Since Thanksgiving is a meal all about tradition, what could be more traditional? This quick and easy recipe can be doubled to serve a larger crowd. Another bonus is that it gets cooked on the stovetop, freeing up space in your oven.

Though this dish is more like miniature meatloaves than steak, it can still be an elegant entrée. And it will go perfectly with classic sides like your green bean casserole and mashed potatoes. The best part is that leftovers are almost as delicious the next day.

Recipe: 1-Skillet Salisbury Steak

This elegant and easy one-dish stovetop recipe can easily be made with pork instead of chicken if you want to avoid poultry altogether this Thanksgiving. The Marsala wine, which gives this recipe its distinct flavor, cannot be substituted. You can double or triple this recipe for a crowd.

Add a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg and a squirt of lemon juice to the mushroom sauce to brighten up the flavors in this recipe and make it more festive. This will juxtapose the umami-rich mushrooms with some spice and acidity. Try using assorted mushrooms, like chanterelles, porcini, and cremini, for something more complex and nuanced.

Recipe: One-Pan Chicken Marsala

This easy recipe is the perfect turkey alternative to save time this Thanksgiving. It comes together in around 10 minutes and bakes to juicy perfection in less than 45 minutes. The key is the Greek yogurt, which helps to adhere to the ranch dressing-infused breadcrumbs while simultaneously tenderizing your chicken breasts.

Don't forget to rest the chicken for at least 10 minutes before slicing and serving the breasts. This will help to retain juiciness. If you want to serve a sauce with this, consider something bright and green as an alternative to gravy, like a pesto, chimichurri, or salsa verde.

Recipe: Baked Ranch Chicken

For a delicious and easy vegetarian alternative to turkey that both meat and non-meat eaters alike will love, try this casserole recipe. While this dish features classic summer vegetables, like tomato and zucchini, they may or may not be available at the grocery store or will not be particularly ripe.

You could transform this into a festive fall variation using sweet potato and quince. Prepare the dish as recommended, substituting the sweet potato for the zucchini and the quince for the tomato. The dish will likely take slightly longer to bake but will be the star of your Thanksgiving day feast.

Recipe: Cheesy Tomato And Zucchini Casserole

This recipe is the ultimate mash-up of store-bought ingredients with homemade flavor. The tortellini and jarred pasta sauce will save you a lot of time, while the sautéed vegetables will give it that slow-cooked richness in flavor. As with other mushroom dishes, a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg will help amplify the flavor in this dish.

Add some canned pumpkin for richness and creaminess to give this dish some autumnal flair. You can substitute meat-based tortellini for the cheese one for a more substantial centerpiece to your Thanksgiving dinner. Finally, combine grated parmesan, asiago, and mozzarella for complexity.

Recipe: Vegetable Tortellini Casserole

It may feel un-American to serve a classic British comfort food for Thanksgiving. This Shepherd's Pie is the perfect substitute for a turkey. The combination of ground lamb, mashed potatoes, and vegetables baked to golden perfection screams fall. If lamb is not your jam, you can always substitute ground beef for this dish.

Sweet potatoes can be used instead of regular baking potatoes to infuse this dish with classic Thanksgiving flair. They will be colorful and confer a hint of holiday flair. Because this is a starchy casserole, we recommend sticking to other standard vegetable side dishes, like green bean casserole and creamed corn.

Recipe: Classic Lamb Shepherd's Pie

For a Tex-Mex meets California cuisine spin on Thanksgiving, you might want to try this luxurious plant-based enchilada recipe. The key is using the right tofu to create your mock chorizo. You will generally find tofu in the produce section of your grocery store rather than with the other Asian ingredients. Purchase extra firm tofu and drain it thoroughly to ensure you don't drown your tortillas.

To create a festive spin, substitute spinach tortillas, which are tasty and have a lovely verdant color. Lastly, plenty of vegan cheese alternatives that melt beautifully exist. Topping your enchiladas with these will create that classic gooey enchilada feel.

Recipe: Vegan Enchilada Casserole With Chorizo Tofu Crumbles

This recipe implements the slow cooker, saving time and producing a luscious main dish for your Thanksgiving dinner. If you plan to make this for an earlier meal, consider putting the ingredients into your slow cooker the night before and allowing it to cook overnight. Alternatively, if you plan on serving it later, start this first thing in the morning, and it'll be ready just in time for the main event.

If your family does not enjoy the spicy kick of pepperoncini, try substituting jarred, sliced roasted red peppers. These are milder and sweeter and will introduce a lovely pop of color to this dish.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast

This is a fabulous, simple entrée to serve if you don't have a large crowd coming for Thanksgiving. You can easily double the recipe to accommodate a party of eight. While mahi mahi is delicious, it can sometimes be challenging to obtain. Cod, halibut, grouper, and sea bass are all suitable alternatives with similar texture and flavor.

Whatever you do, you should not skip patting the fish dry before adding it to the oil. This will cause the fish to steam rather than sear. Try garnishing this dish with toasted, chopped macadamia nuts and minced chives for a blast of elegance and crunch.

Recipe: Simple Seared Mahi-Mahi

A flavorful and easy alternative to turkey is this sheet pan chicken teriyaki recipe. Not only does it yield moist chicken, but it also comes with a side dish built-in. For even less cleanup, line your baking sheet with aluminum foil. Save your elbow grease for all the other dishes you will accumulate on Thanksgiving day.

Since green beans are already featured in this recipe, try adding alternatives to your side dish repertoire other than the classic casserole. Something with an Asian flair might be advisable, like a wild rice dressing with peanuts, green onions, and sweet potatoes. Another great option would be a quick stir fry of sweet corn in chili butter.

Recipe: Sheet Pan Teriyaki Chicken

Another simple Tex-Mex-inspired turkey alternative is this enchilada recipe. While the recipe calls for a pressure cooker or Instant Pot to cook the chicken, you can easily bake the chicken in the oven with enchilada sauce, diced onions, and chiles. Place the ingredients into a baking dish and bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 30 to 35 minutes or until the chicken has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

These enchiladas would be great served alongside spicy black beans, guacamole, and a corn casserole with chipotles for a bit of flair. If you plan to make a classic green bean casserole, consider using tortilla chips instead of the French fried onions and substituting the cream of mushroom soup with a cream of jalapeño soup.

Recipe: Chicken Chile And Cheese Enchiladas

These meatballs are the perfect way to utilize the slow cooker, freeing up your oven and stove top for other recipes this Thanksgiving. If you'd like an elegant variation on this recipe, use ground lamb or combine ground pork with the beef. You might also try substituting a jarred spicy Arrabbiata or mushroom sauce to switch things up.

Though these meatballs could easily accompany any classic Thanksgiving side dish, you might consider adding a pasta side. A winter squash casserole with spinach and cheese would be elegant and autumnal, as would a salad made with bacon, roasted Brussels sprouts, and orecchiette.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Meatballs Marinara

This recipe can be assembled ahead and baked right before your Thanksgiving meal. Once you cook the chicken, broccoli, and sauce, combine them and transfer the ingredients into your prepared casserole dish. Cover the whole thing with foil and place it in the refrigerator. Don't add the cracker topping until the dish is ready to bake.

Before baking, remove the casserole from the refrigerator at least 20 to 30 minutes before you place it in the oven. Then add your cracker topping and bake accordingly. For a play on the classic Thanksgiving green bean casserole, you could easily use French fried onions instead of butter crackers as the topping.

Recipe: Skillet Chicken Divan

If you thought the star of Thanksgiving would be the pecan or pumpkin pie, you were wrong. This taco pie takes the cake. It cleverly utilizes tortillas as a pie crust, filling it with seasoned browned ground beef, peppers, and cheese for a melty treat. Try using ground lamb or a combination of ground pork and beef to jazz things up.

Though elotes are not traditional at Thanksgiving, the idea of them can easily be turned into a creamed corn recipe with a pinch of mayo, Mexican crema, cilantro, lime juice, chili powder, and queso fresco. And whatever you do, don't forget to serve sweet potatoes, which will pair perfectly with this dish.

Recipe: Taco Pie Casserole

This one-pot chicken and rice dish has elements of a Spanish paella without the seafood. It uses bone-in chicken thighs, which are delightfully juicy when cooked. If you wanted to add seafood, you could throw in a handful of shrimp along with the rice as this finishes cooking. You may also consider adding a few strands of saffron for color and flavor to make this a special occasion meal.

Since this dish has a built-in starch component, you will want to round out your side dishes with more vegetables. Braised carrots, roasted Brussels sprouts, and creamed spinach would all be suitable accompaniments.

Recipe: 1-Pot Chicken And Rice