We all know Thanksgiving is incomplete without a good turkey. But not everyone enjoys cooking a turkey for hours. Moreover, there might be a need to switch things up. To solve this problem, I have curated for you a list of delectable turkey alternative recipes for Thanksgiving, for which you can surely thank me!
A Thanksgiving dinner table is all about indulging in great food. It is certainly the highlight of the year for all foodies. So, if food is your life, then a well-laid table with an exciting variety of food is always under your radar.
To help you lay one of the best Thanksgiving tables for your friends and family, I have curated a special list of food for you. They include hand-picked sumptuous recipes that are sure to earn you a lot of compliments.
Now you can surely serve turkey on turkey day, but a mix of great food harmed no nobody. In the list below, you will find some amazing chicken, ham, lobster, rib, and steak main course options. If you are on the lookout for some meatless options, we’ve got some delicious vegetarian options too!
Did I tell you that the list also includes Thanksgiving recipes by some famous chefs? Yes, yes, that’s true! So, take down notes to make the best turkey alternatives for Thanksgiving this year and make the most of Thanksgiving Day by relishing amazing food.
What's In The Post
1. Paula Deen’s Chicken and dressing
Chicken is an excellent alternative to turkey precisely because both are birds! So, roasting or baking a whole chicken for the main course is definitely a great idea. But what if I tell you that you can do a lot more with it using Paula Deen’s chicken and dressing recipe?
This dish brings with it delectable classic southern flavors combined with an array of textures. If you haven’t tried chicken dressing before, this will definitely make you guilty.
Paula Deen’s chicken and dressing recipe is a perfect match of veggies and meat in a single dish. This dish is made with shredded chicken, veggies, bread, biscuits, and a delicious mix of aromatic spices.
Paula Deen’s chicken and dressing recipe is a baked dish that can be served topped with chicken gravy. Excited to try out this recipe? Check out Paula Deen’s chicken and dressing on our website for a sumptuous feast.
2. Gordon Ramsay’s Honey Glazed Ham
Celebrated chef Gordon Ramsay needs no introduction, nor do his recipes. So, to present a lip-smacking main course dish to your guests, try out Gordon Ramsay’s honey-glazed ham recipe.
This ham recipe is pretty simple and takes only a few minutes to prepare. All you gotta do is make a honey glaze and cook the ham with vegetables and spices to give it a delicious taste and aroma. As you must have understood by reading the ingredients, this dish packs sweet and spicy flavors.
Apart from its taste, this dish looks absolutely fancy and festive. The ham is scored with a diamond pattern and studded with cloves. If ham makes your taste buds dance, try out this delicious Gordon Ramsay’s honey-glazed ham recipe.
3. Gordon Ramsay’s Cauliflower Cheese
A Thanksgiving menu is incomplete without meat. But it isn’t even complete without some veggies. While green beans and mashed potatoes are a staple on the Thanksgiving menu, Gordon Ramsay’s cauliflower cheese is an interesting twist.
By the name of the dish, it is quite clear that Gordon Ramsay’s cauliflower cheese contains cauliflower and cheese. It’s a healthier option than the famous mac and cheese.
This dish offers you a crisp bed of baked cauliflower topped with breadcrumbs and a smooth and creamy cheese sauce. The cheese sauce with a blend of three kinds of cheese is to die for! Check out Gordon Ramsay’s cauliflower cheese recipe here.
4. Lobster Tail
Why stick to just chicken or ham when you can also indulge in a delicious seafood feast? Lobsters make for rich and satisfying seafood. So, we make the best use of it by making the lobster tail dish. This dish looks super fancy but is easy to make. It comes together in 30 minutes!
This dish is made with large lobster tails. A buttery garlic herb sauce to smother and eventually broil them under high heat. The cooking technique makes lobster tails tender and juicy. It tastes spectacular with garlic butter notes and a mild kick of heat from the paprika used in the recipe. To make lobster tail this Thanksgiving season, check out its recipe here.
5. Bourbon Lobster
Another lobster dish that is full of flavors is Bourbon lobster. Let me introduce this dish to you by explaining its name. Bourbon is a whisky that is used to flambé lobster.
This dish is topped with a flavorful butter sauce that makes the lobster dazzle. When you bite into the lobster, you experience a delectable mix of flavor and aroma released by the herbs, shallots, and garlic. Bourbon lobster is truly a gourmet meal that you wouldn’t want to miss.
6. Oven-Baked Bobby Flay Baby Back Ribs Recipe
Pork ribs make for an incredible meal. When they are made using Bobby Flay’s recipe, they make for a stellar dish.
Oven-baked baby back ribs are prepared with a perfect blend of spice. It is served after being brushed with barbecue sauce.
The baby ribs are baked in the oven and turn out to be the juiciest and most tender meat. Doesn’t this dish already sound tempting to you and a great alternative to turkey for Thanksgiving? So, check out the oven-baked Bobby Flay baby back ribs recipe here.
7. Bobby Flay Mac And Cheese Carbonara Recipe
Sure, different meats turn out to be an amazing option as an alternative to turkey, but a mac and cheese carbonara is also a great main course. Bobby Flay’s mac and cheese carbonara brin g the iconic flavors of meat, cheese, and macaroni.
This special recipe features three types of cheese, pancetta, eggs, and herbs to deliver the most flavorful dish. Bobby Flay’s mac and cheese carbonara turn out to be creamy and full of umami flavors. To savor these flavors this Thanksgiving season, check out the recipe here.
8. Bobby Flay Fish Tacos Recipe
Move over meats and try out a Mexican dish with fish in it. Bobby Flay’s fish tacos are prepared using a mix of spices, sauces, and toppings.
This dish featured warm tortillas stuffed with grilled fish, spicy and tangy salsa, and colorful, crunchy vegetables. It also features smooth sour cream and hot sauce. You can serve this dish with fresh condiments and sides. Some Mexican rice, nachos, and guacamole would be a great match.
9. Bobby Flay Fajitas Recipe
Another spectacular tex-mex dish that you can try this Thanksgiving season is the flavorful Bobby Flay fajitas recipe. This dish is made with dry rub chicken breast, sauteed vegetables, and a warm tortilla.
The chicken breast is marinated in flavorful spices and a mix of bell peppers is sauteed with onion and garlic. Finally, the tortilla is topped with tangy salsa and cotija cheese.
10. Bobby Flay Spicy BBQ Ribs Recipe
Bobby Flay’s baby back ribs are definitely worth trying, but another ribs recipe that is equally delicious is Bobby Flay’s spicy BBQ ribs. These ribs are the smokiest and most succulent ribs out there.
The tender rib meat is flavored with a spicy BBQ sauce made with a combination of selected seasonings. You can pair this dish with other side dishes for a wholesome meal.
11. Bobby Flay Flank Steak Recipe
Are you a fan of steaks? Then you should definitely try out Bobby Flay’s flank steak recipe. This dish features a grilled steak with tangy and spicy sauce marinade. This flavorful marinade makes the steak spicy and juicy. Most of all, it caramelizes the top to perfection.
The sauce used in the recipe is made with balsamic vinegar that adds mild citrusy notes to it. Apart from this, ingredients like chili powder, paprika, mustard sauce, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, chipotle sauce, brown sugar, honey, and molasses bring their unique flavors. After grilling, the steak turns deep brown or deep red in color. Have a quick look at Bobby Flay’s Flank recipe here.
12. Bobby Flay Fried Chicken Recipe
Fried chicken is one of the most wonderful dishes to indulge in a hearty meal. Crisp, savory, and all things good, you can never go wrong with it. So, skip on turkey this season for fried chicken using Bobby Flay’s recipe.
This dish features chicken marinated in a buttermilk mixture. It is deep-fried until golden brown. The chicken turns out to be crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. I don’t think you need any more introduction or explanation for this dish. Try out this easy peasy Bobby Flay chicken recipe to make the best Thanksgiving meal.
13. Bobby Flay Cornell Chicken Recipe
If you are on the lookout for that one recipe that comes very close to how you make turkey, then your search stops right here. Bobby Flay’s Cornell chicken is made by bringing the chicken first. Then comes the preparation of the spice mixture and sauce.
The chicken is brined with flavorful herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage. Next, a spice rub is made using selected spices and herbs. Lastly, a sweet and spicy sauce is prepared to cook the chicken.
Bobby Flay’s Cornell chicken recipe provides you with a juice, tender, and flavorful chicken dish that is sure to make your festive table a delight for everyone.
14. Bobby Flay Pork Chop Recipe
If you are a pork meat lover, you will love this extraordinary Bobby Flay pork chop recipe. The pork chops are prepared with a marinade made of orange juice, lime juice, oil, and some spices. Then the pork chops are grilled to perfection.
Right before serving this dish, it is drizzled with orange juice, lime juice, oregano, cilantro, and olive oil. Need I say anything more? Check out the Bobby Flay pork chop recipe here.
15. Bobby Flay Lobster Mac and Cheese Recipe
Mac and cheese are undoubtedly a delicious and filling dish. But if I tell you that it can be turned into a gourmet dish by adding lobster meat? Yes, you read that right.
The lobster mac and cheese are made with a creamy sauce, pasta, and lobster meat. This dish is topped with breadcrumbs and anchovy. Mind you, and this dish is not your regular mac and cheese!
This dish is ultra-creamy and rich. The lobster meat adds a body to this dish and, of course, its flavors. The aroma and flavors of herbs play their magic. Find the recipe for Bobby Flay Lobster mac and cheese here.
16. Bobby Flay Standing Rib Roast Recipe
Roast beef is a classic brunch or lunch dish that tastes incredible. It is a succulent and delicious beef cut that is flavored with garlic cloves and dried herbs and baked in an oven.
This dish only takes 15 minutes to prepare and is left to bake for 2 hours. The end result is a crispy and tender rib roast. Try out Bobby Flay’s standing rib roast recipe here for the tastiest rib experience.
17. Bobby Flay Salisbury Steak Recipe
Does your mouth water when I say a steak drowned in mushroom gravy? Then you gotta try out Bobby Flay’s Salisbury steak recipe. Salisbury steak is prepared by making steak patties and rich mushroom gravy. The steak is prepared using a blend of sauces, herbs, and seasonings mixed with ground beef that makes them taste delicious.
Then we move on to prepare a perfectly thickened mushroom gravy. Needless to say, the ingredients bring together an umami flavor to awaken your taste buds. This dish is a wonderful alternative to turkey for Thanksgiving. Check out Bobby Flay Salisbury’s steak recipe.
18. Bobby Flay Meatballs Recipe
Meatballs are by far the easiest and most delectable mix of ingredients that turn out to be a great dish. They can be served as a main course with noodles or rice.
Coming to Bobby Flay’s meatballs recipe combines pork, beef, ground veal, eggs, chopped garlic cloves, parmesan cheese, oil, and breadcrumbs. The meatballs are then dropped in a rich tomato sauce. The result? A spongy and flavorful meatball dish that is sure to bring a smile to every guest’s face. Want the full recipe? Click here.
19. Bobby Flay Grilled Steak Recipe
Is grilled steak your heart’s calling? Then try out Bobby Flay’s grilled steak recipe that takes only 30 minutes to make!
This recipe uses boneless steak grilled on charcoal. It is charred on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. This steak can be served with your choice of sides, like mashed potatoes, sauteed vegetables, or casseroles. Check out the recipe for Bobby Flay Grilled Steak here.
20. Bobby Flay Meatloaf Recipe
Meatloaf is a perfect dish to add to your Thanksgiving feast. This iconic dish is prepared with ground beef meat, bread crumbs, eggs, vegetables, red pepper flakes, ketchup, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.
By following the step-by-step instructions of this recipe, you can make a juicy and delicious meatloaf. It has a perfect mix of sweet and tangy flavors. Excited to make this dish? Check out the full recipe of Bobby Flay meatloaf recipe here.
21. Bobby Flay Beef Chili Recipe
One recipe with unique ingredients always turns out to be the star of the show. So, to make things interesting on your Thanksgiving table, try out the Bobby Flay beef chili recipe.
Are you wondering what’s so unique about this recipe? Here it is. The beef chili recipe is a combination of ground beef, beer, and spices that makes this dish spicy. But to balance out the flavors, the ingredients also include chocolate and maple syrup.
Beef chili is a semi-liquid dish with Mexican flavors. It can be served with rice or noodles. Find out more about this unique recipe here.
22. Grilled Bobby Flay Hanger Steaks
If you search for steak recipes, you will find many with different cuts of meat. A hanger steak, in particular, is the lower belly portion of beef that is full of flavor and has a coarse texture.
Therefore, for a delicious steak recipe, you can try the hanger steak, which is marinated with Dijon mustard, garlic, lemon zest, rosemary, and salt. This steak has a decent amount of fat and turns out to be juicy and tender. Make the most delicious hanger steak using this recipe.
23. Bobby Flay Sausage Gravy
Love sausages? Then switch your Thanksgiving game by serving creamy sausage gravy. Sausage gravy is a thick, creamy, and spicy gravy made of milk and sausage. This recipe is super easy to make and comes together in 25 minutes.
Try out Bobby Flay’s sausage gravy with biscuits and bread. You can also use it to drizzle it over other dishes. Make a flavorful sausage gravy using this recipe.
24. Thomas Keller Short Ribs Recipe
If you want to try a slightly different way to cook ribs for a meal, you can go for Thomas Keller’s short rib recipe. Firstly, let me tell you that eating this dish is easy. That’s because the ribs are cut with bone which makes it easy to handle. Then comes its flavors and method of cooking.
This dish is prepared by cooking ribs slowly in a braising liquid. This liquid is flavored with aromatic vegetables, herbs, beef broth, and dry red wine. You can serve short ribs with noodles, polenta, or mashed potatoes. It’s a spectacular dish that will surely earn you lots of compliments. Check out the recipe for Thomas Keller’s short ribs here.
25. Thomas Keller Butter Poached Lobster Recipe
I have one more lobster recipe waiting for you! Thomas Keller’s butter-poached lobster is a succulent dish that is prepared in melted butter, white wine, and seasoning.
The beauty of this recipe is that it brings out all the fresh flavors of lobster. Moreover, the butter sauce has a custard-like texture that elevates the taste and feel of the dish. Not to forget the addition of white wine that adds a tangy taste to compliment the flavors. Are you intrigued by this short description of the recipe? Check out how to make butter-poached lobster here.
26. Thomas Keller Ratatouille Recipe
Ratatouille needs no introduction. This dish is already made quite famous by the entertaining namesake movie. So, you already know what goes inside it.
But for those who haven’t tried making it yet, you can try out this Thomas Keller ratatouille recipe. This dish features colorful layers of fresh vegetables with garlic-infused tomato sauce. This dish delivers sumptuous flavors derived from dried herbs.
This vegetarian dish can be served as a main course this Thanksgiving with rice, bread, or quinoa. To make it, follow the detailed recipe here for a delicious meal.
27. Thomas Keller Roast Chicken Recipe
A full roast chicken is the next best thing to turkey. So, to make the tastiest use of whole chicken, you should try Thomas Keller’s roast chicken recipe.
Just like turkey, roast chicken is brined in the recipe to bring out the best flavors. It is then roasted with a flavorful mix of vegetables and butter. The end result is a fragrant and mouth-watering roast chicken waiting to be devoured. Excited to know more about this recipe? Click here.
28. Thanksgiving Turkey Burger Recipe
Now, this may sound unconventional, but a burger does make everyone happy. So, to make this dish for a Thanksgiving meal, you will need some interesting ingredients, including ground turkey.
This burger features a burger patty made of sweet potatoes and ground turkey. The buns are layered with sweet and tangy cranberry mayo and fresh spinach leaves.
Believe me, after having this burger, and you may not look at a turkey the same way. You can pair turkey burgers with a lot of side dishes. To know more about how to make this unique burger and how to serve it, click here.
Conclusion
So, these were some of the turkey alternatives that you can try this Thanksgiving Day. Whichever recipe you plan to make, don’t forget to drop a comment below telling us how it turned out to be for you. Have a great Thanksgiving Day guys!
