Turkey might be the usual star of the Thanksgiving dinner table—but there are plenty of other dishes that can give the classic turkey a run for its money.
If you’re more of an innovator than a “stick to the classics” type of chef, read on to discover the top alternatives to turkey for Thanksgiving!
Vegan Stuffed Acorn Squash
It’s not just your vegan guests who will absolutely love this dish! This Vegan Stuffed Acorn Squash packs the best of healthy and tasty goodness that will amaze everyone. Not only is it delicious, but it’s also an aesthetic sight to behold.
The taste of acorn squash is amplified with quinoa, mushrooms, celery, sage, and thyme.
Porchetta on the Rotisserie
Porchetta on the Rotisserie might just be your newest alternative to Thanksgiving turkey. It’s a true feast of rustic herbs, pork belly, and pork tenderloin that is so succulent and so crispy that guests will want this for every holiday meal.
Venison Tenderloin Stuffed with Comté, Apple and Walnuts
Next on our list of alternatives to turkey for Thanksgiving, we have Venison Tenderloin Stuffed with Comté, Apple and Walnuts. You’re only going to need 15 minutes to prep this recipe, after which a quick 30 minutes of grilling will keep it succulent and cooked to perfection. When your kitchen starts to be filled with the unique aromas of this dish, you’ll surely be so thankful you gave this recipe a try.
Filled with the strong and buttery flavors of Comté cheese that subside into a sweet and nutty finish, it is complemented by tart apple and mild walnut filling. Are you ready to slice into perfection this Thanksgiving?
Apple Cider Beer Can Chicken
This Apple Cider Beer Can Chicken is one of the alternative recipes for Thanksgiving that will set the bar high for poultry dishes. Rather than containing actual beer, it brings the succulent flavours to life with apple cider. Perfect for smaller gatherings or couples, your intimate Thanksgiving feast wouldn’t be complete without this beer can chicken.
We’ll even let you in on the secret recipe of our homemade gravy with sour cream in it!
Grilled Duck
Another standout on our list of alternatives to turkey for Thanksgiving is this Grilled Duck recipe.
With its ginger garlic stir fry sauce and basting mixture of orange juice and Grand Marnier, you can already imagine that no other grilled duck recipe comes close to this one! You’ll need to set aside 20 minutes of prep time and three hours of cook time.
Grilled Whole Lobster
If you’re looking for other tasty meat alternatives for Thanksgiving, then this Grilled Whole Lobster recipe will not disappoint!
This heavenly dish only needs 20 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes of cook time—the star of your Thanksgiving dinner will be ready in no time! Who knew cooking lobsters over the grill would be this easy?
Holiday Marrow Bone Beef Roast
Make your Thanksgiving preparations more adventurous with this Holiday Marrow Bone Beef Roast.
This lightly smoked and seared prime rib roast surrounded by beef marrow bones will have elevated flavors when you choose to grill them with oak, maple, hickory, or apple wood chips!
Start Grilling These Alternatives to Turkey for Thanksgiving
Which of these turkey meat alternatives for Thanksgiving will be the star of your dinner table festivities this year? If you’re looking for more inspiration, try some of these other awesome holiday recipes.
When creating these dishes, don’t underestimate the power of having a premier grill that can bring these masterpieces to life. Napoleon’s Prestige Series grills offer superior form, function, and luxury. You’ll have a versatile grilling partner to count on for every delicious occasion. Find a Napoleon dealer near you today!
FAQs
Cornish game hen, goose, duck, ham, beef, salmon, and mushroom recipes make worthy centerpieces for holiday meals. This is collaborative content from Food & Wine's team of experts, including staff, recipe developers, chefs, and contributors.
What is healthier than turkey for Thanksgiving? ›
Tofu: Interested in going meatless as a possible new year's resolution? Try it out on Thanksgiving by substituting tofu for your turkey. Tofu can be cooked in a variety of flavorful ways and comes with a ton of nutritional benefits including a lot of calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin B, and protein.
What is an alternative bird to turkey for Thanksgiving? ›
As for cooking methods, duck, pheasant and goose can roast in the oven just like you would a turkey. The fattier duck and geese should be slow-roasted so the fat renders and you get a crispy skin. A quick reminder: Just like all poultry, make sure your bird reaches an internal temperature of at least 165°F.
What was most likely eaten instead of turkey during the first Thanksgiving? ›
There are only two surviving documents that reference the original Thanksgiving harvest meal. They describe a feast of freshly killed deer, assorted wildfowl, a bounty of cod and bass, and flint, a native variety of corn harvested by the Native Americans, which was eaten as corn bread and porridge.
What did the Pilgrims eat instead of turkey? ›
So, to the question “What did the Pilgrims eat for Thanksgiving,” the answer is both surprising and expected. Turkey (probably), venison, seafood, and all of the vegetables that they had planted and harvested that year—onions, carrots, beans, spinach, lettuce, and other greens.
What is the unhealthiest Thanksgiving food? ›
Unhealthy: Stuffing
“Bacon, sausage, mince meat, giblets, and a variety of similar ingredients find their way into many a stuffing, which takes an already unhealthy dish — often topping 500 calories per serving, depending on the recipe — to an entirely new level of unhealthy,” she said.
What is a healthier alternative to turkey? ›
While people may joke about Tofurky, many vegans and vegetarians vouch for it. “Tofurky is a soy-based turkey substitute that can be a healthy alternative on your holiday table,” says Palumbo. Some say it has a mouthfeel similar to meat, and the tofu it is made of packs a protein punch almost as big as turkey's.
What's better than turkey? ›
Other poultry candidates include rich and fatty duck or roasted chicken, both of which will stand in seamlessly and pair perfectly with classic Thanksgiving sides. There are also cuts of beef to consider such as prime rib, beef tenderloin, brisket or pot roast.
What is Giant free turkey substitute? ›
Customers can also choose to substitute their free turkey certificate towards a free family size lasagna or tofurkey or for $1 off per pound of the turkey brand of their choice. The more engaged customers are with GIANT'S digital platforms, the greater the rewards they have an opportunity to earn.
What poultry is an alternative to turkey? ›
Guinea fowl, pheasant, duck and quail – even a good old roast chicken will do the job. Here we're sharing general guidance on cooking game birds and chicken, plus a selection of recipes to try.
Although turkeys were indigenous, there's no record of a big, roasted bird at the feast. The Wampanoag brought deer and there would have been lots of local seafood (mussels, lobster, bass) plus the fruits of the first pilgrim harvest, including pumpkin. No mashed potatoes, though.
What is more popular on Thanksgiving turkey or ham? ›
Americans eat about 46 million turkeys for Thanksgiving compared to 24.75 million pounds of ham. The average turkey purchased is 15lbs so that is 690 pounds of turkey! Soooo……in terms of sheer volume consumed, turkey is the clear winner.
Is turkey a must for Thanksgiving? ›
The answer is more complicated than you might think. Most Americans who celebrate Thanksgiving—about 9 in 10, according to a 2021 poll—eat turkey with their holiday meal, perhaps alongside other favorite dishes such as mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie.
