21 Impressive Thanksgiving Mains to Serve Instead of Turkey (2024)

A big bird isn't for everyone, and this Thanksgiving might just be the one to part with tradition. But if not turkey, then what? Our alternatives to turkey for Thanksgiving will be met with just as much—or more—enthusiasm. The selections are diverse and just as dazzling as a whole or carved bird. They're also beautiful enough to stand on their own. Whichever entrée you pick, don't let the fact that it's a nontraditional choice hold you back from making plenty of holiday sides.

Beef Wellington

Take all the effort that you were going to put into roasting a turkey and make beef Wellington instead—it's a guaranteed showstopper. Though old-school, you'll find that this dish stands up to the test of time. Traditionally, it consists of beef tenderloin coated in pate and a mushroom mixture, sometimes wrapped in Parma ham, and is then encrusted in flaky golden buttery puff pastry. It's really a meal in one.

• Beef Wellington
• Mini Beef Wellingtons
• Pork Wellington with Prosciutto and Spinach-Mushroom Stuffing

Crown Roast: Lamb or Pork

For a centerpiece that rivals a whole bird, consider a crown roast. These gorgeous, circular roasts cook in a fraction of the amount of time it takes to roast a turkey. They serve a crowd, and they are served with stuffing. With 16 chops around a pork crown roast, there's enough to serve up to 16 guests—and with lamb, enough to serve six to eight (lamb chops are much smaller). These beautiful crowns look complicated but are actually easy and fun to put together—and the end result is such a reward. Have your butcher prep the meat and form a crown with two racks of meat.

• Crown Roast of Pork with Chestnut-Rye Dressing
• Crown Roast of Pork with Wild Mushroom Stuffing
• Crown Roast of Lamb with Pilaf Stuffing
  

Roasted Tenderloin

Just as its name implies, tenderloin is one of the most tender cuts of beef and pork. It also cooks fast and looks absolutely festive sliced on a platter with roasted vegetables and herbs as a garnish. A quality tenderloin is delicious with just salt and pepper and a great herb or horseradish sauce, but for the holiday, we recommend trying our marinated beef tenderloin (which infuses a tart Worcestershire and lemon marinade into the meat), adding a festive crust like our leek crusted beef tenderloin, or serving it with harissa and vegetables in our pork with couscous and vegetables recipe.

• Marinated Beef Tenderloin
• Leek Crusted Beef Tenderloin
• Pork with Couscous and Vegetables
  

Vegetarian Entrees

If you're swapping out turkey for a vegetable main, select a dish that feels different than the sides. The best route? Think big. Place a whole roasted cauliflower in the center of the table with a tasty sauce alongside, or bring out a platter of stuffed squash—these acorn squash with mixed grain stuffing are quite beautiful adorned with a pomegranate relish. Another option is to slice up our hearty broccoli and potato samosa pie.

• Whole Roasted Cauliflower
• Acorn Squash With Mixed Grain Stuffing
• Broccoli and Potato Samosa Pie

Seafood

While seafood might seem outside of the box for Thanksgiving, here is some food for thought: Culinary historians believe the original Thanksgiving feast consisted mainly of seafood. A side of salmon doesn't take long to roast in the oven, and it's delicious when spread with a brown sugar and maple glaze before being baked. We also love slow-baked citrus salmon with carrots—it makes a colorful centerpiece to your holiday feast. If you live somewhere warm or can brave a few steps into the cold, grilled lobster is a delightful and decadent centerpiece for the Thanksgiving table.

• Salmon with Brown Sugar and Mustard Glaze
• Slow-Baked Citrus Salmon With Carrots
• Grilled Lobster

Other Birds

Sometimes, roasting a whole turkey is just too much—too much time, effort, and maybe even too much food. For smaller crowds, swap the turkey with chicken, Cornish game hens, or stuff and roast individual quails for each guest, which is very elegant for a plated meal. Our roast chicken with sourdough stuffing, pomegranate roast chicken, and cranberry stuffed cornish game hen bring a festive Thanksgiving vibe to the table.

• Roast Chicken with Sourdough Stuffing
• Pomegranate Roast Chicken
• Cranberry Stuffed Cornish Game Hen

Ham

Last but not least, baked ham has all the warm, rich fall flavors we expect in a Thanksgiving spread. It's equally as fun to carve tableside, and slices of leftover ham make excellent sandwiches. Looking for a place to start? Use our foolproof guide to baking ham and make your baked ham a bit more seasonal by serving it with a jammy pomegranate glaze or with pears and cranberries.

• Our Foolproof Method for Baking Ham
• Pomegranate-Glazed Ham with Jammy Cipollinis
• Honeyed Ham with Pears and Cranberries