29 Mains To Serve Instead Of A Whole Thanksgiving Turkey (2024)

You might be thinking: pumpkin + lasagna? Hear us out. Pumpkin adds the ideal sweet touch to this cheesy, comfort food dream. We amp up our creamy pumpkin mixture with maple syrup and fresh nutmeg, resulting in the perfect sweet-savory dinner, wonderful to star in your non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

Get the Pumpkin Lasagna recipe.

A whole roasted cauliflower makes for a fantastic vegetarian main dish. This one is roasted around extra veggies and has a slightly sweet balsamic glaze over it. It's easy to throw together and will leave you feeling full, not heavy. Win!

Get the Balsamic Glazed Roasted Cauliflower recipe.

Sometimes, roasting a whole turkey is just too much of an undertaking. A roulade, though? It's surprisingly easy (we swear!), super-flavorful, and much easier to carve. Perfect served with a side of mashed potatoes and some tart cranberry sauce.

Get the Turkey Roulade recipe.

When it's cold out, a steaming hot pot pie filled with creamy, flavorful gravy, sweet and tender veggies, and topped with a shatteringly flaky crust is EVERYTHING. Here, mushrooms replace chicken or beef and are every bit as satisfying as their meaty counterparts.

Get the Vegan Mushroom Pot Pie recipe.

Slow-cooked turkey legs are this year’s ultimate Thanksgiving hack. No basting, no inevitable dry meat—no fuss at all. All you have to do is make an easy festive herb butter, wrap everything in foil, and let them roast unsupervised.

Get the Roasted Turkey Leg recipe.

Don't let turkey have all the fun! Chicken thighs are super flavorful, easy to cook, and SO delicious with sweet potatoes and apples. Try it for your chill Thanksgiving, you won't regret it.

Get the Cider Glazed Chicken Thighs recipe.

This gorgeous, whole-roasted stunner is the perfect holiday substitute for vegans. It's savory, sweet, and salty on the outside and super-tender on the inside. Topped with lots of silky mushroom gravy, we doubt anyone at your table will be missing meat.

Get the Whole Roasted Cabbage recipe.

Prime rib, also referred to as standing rib roast, is a beautiful piece of meat. Whenever we need a truly showstopping holiday roast, we turn to it. A well-cooked prime rib is juicy, full of flavor, and not at all difficult to make.

Get the Perfect Prime Rib recipe.

Nothing is more comforting than chicken pot pie topped with a buttery crust. Swap out the crust for garlic bread, though, and now we are really talking. This is a killer unexpected addition to any Thanksgiving meal (and is especially great for potlucks!).

Get the Garlic Bread-Topped Chicken Pot Pie recipe.

If you love roasted cauliflower, then you have to try our whole roasted brown sugar BBQ version, which is perfect for when you're craving summer BBQ flavors without the meat.

Get the Brown Sugar BBQ Whole Roasted Cauliflower recipe.

We adore fast-cooking pork tenderloin, but that doesn’t mean we let it become so routine that it doesn't dazzle come holiday time. Instead, we mix it up with a variety of different flavors and preparations, like this ultra-stuffed mushroom, spinach, and Gruyère version.

Get the .

A savory mushroom and bacon filling keeps this roasted turkey breast juicy while making it fancy and hearty enough to take the place of a whole bird on the holiday table. If you end up with leftover filling, you can even use it as a pre-dinner snack!

Get the Stuffed Turkey Breast recipe.

When you think of decadent dinners, there are few that can outshine the rich, creamy, seafood-stuffed glory that is lobster risotto. A simple combination of fresh aromatics, white wine, and seafood stock transforms humble Italian rice grains into the dreamy, cheesy, luscious rice porridge that we’ve all come to love.

Get the Lobster Risotto recipe.

!Spoiler alert! If you load a fork with garlic-herb butter chicken, crispy roasted potatoes, tender sweet carrots, and a smear of balsamic reduction, you will experience perfection.

Get the Perfect Bite Roast Chicken Dinner recipe.

Apple cider adds a subtle sweetness to a classic brisket, and after letting it braise low and slow, it will be SO tender. Letting the potatoes and carrots cook with the brisket flavors them from the inside out, and the whole dish will be deeply savory.

Get the Apple Cider Braised Brisket recipe.

Most piccata sauces use only lemon juice; we opt for whole pieces of the fruit to make use of every last bit of bright citrus flavor. This piccata is great spooned over pasta or vegan mashed potatoes, or accompanied by plenty of crusty bread.

Get the Extra Lemony Seitan Piccata recipe.

This sweet and spicy firecracker sauce combines three fiery elements—sriracha, red pepper flakes, and fresh ginger—for a layered approach to heat. Served here with salmon, the firecracker sauce would also be delicious on grilled shrimp, baked tofu, or baked chicken breasts.

Get the Firecracker Salmon recipe.

Pork chops often have a bad rap for being dry and boring, but not these! Instead, these easy pork chops get lightly simmered in apple cider with apples and onions that provide tons of flavor. They’re subtly sweetened and completely tender.

Get the Pork Chops With Apples recipe.

This hearty "meat" loaf is made mostly out of chickpeas and baby bella mushrooms. We're in love! Serve it with a side of vegan mashed potatoes and green beans for the most comforting Thanksgiving meal.

Get the Vegan Meatloaf recipe.

Short ribs are pretty easy to make at home, and are the ideal dish to make for company when the weather's cold and you want to stay inside. We like it alongside creamy dishes like polenta or mashed potatoes, but you do you!

Get the Braised Short Ribs with 40 Cloves of Garlic recipe.