No Turkey? No Problem! Three Awesome Alternative Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas

When people think of a traditional Thanksgiving meal, the main thing that comes to mind is the turkey. But what if you’re looking to breakaway from tradition or, simple enough, you want to have a turkey-less Thanksgiving? Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered. We did some research and found some delicious alternatives that are just begging to be a part of your holiday culture!

Tofurkey Roast
Tofurkey Roast – ilovevegan.com

Vegan/Vegetarian Alternatives to Turkey

Being vegan or vegetarian is not a trend people! Many people are turning their heads away from meat due to health benefits and to help the environment, but what are some good alternative options during the holidays that are centered around eating a large amount of meat? Easy. Try making turk’y with vegetables and gravy. It’s simple to make and you can add vegetables to make the dish colorful. You can also make breaded turkey-less stuffed roast with gravy. Both dishes are a fun twist on this meat-focused holiday and ingredients can be found at your local grocery store.

Garlic Herb Roasted Chicken
Garlic Herb Roasted Chicken Photo Cred: drizzleanddip.com

Thanksgiving Turkey Alternatives that involve meat

Even if there are meat eaters coming to dinner, that doesn’t mean that you need to have a turkey. Think about going outside the box and having different meat options. Main courses like pork rib roast, roast duck, garlic herb roasted chicken, ham and prime rib are all great options to look into. You can also move away from the typical meats and have a fish dish as the main meat dish. Salmon is always a good option and if you really want to get fancy, have lobster, because, why not? Treat yo’ self! Venture out and enjoy the ride. Any of these tasty dishes will make you change your mind and throw tradition away.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Cinnamon Butternut Squash, Pecans, and Cranberries
Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Cinnamon Butternut Squash, Pecans, and Cranberries – juliasabum.com

Bring Some Staple Dishes to the Table

So you have the main dishes secured, but what else can you bring to add some flavor to the table? That’s not a problem and the good news is you don’t have to get crazy. Stick with the simple, popular dishes. Plates like lasagna and squash are easy to make and you can make things vegetarian if need be.

With the array of options out there, turkey no longer needs to be the main dish at your holiday dinner. Step outside of the box and have a little fun this Thanksgiving.
Happy eating!

– Guest Contributor, Cara Meyers