20 Genius Alternatives To Serve Instead Of A Thanksgiving Turkey

Pssst. Can we be brutally honest for a second? Turkey on Thanksgiving can be… pretty boring. From thawing a frozen turkey to dealing with all that (often dry) leftover turkey, sometimes going non-traditional on Thanksgiving can be the most delicious route to take this holiday season. So go ahead and shake things up this Thanksgiving with one of these flavorful alternatives to cooking up a whole bird this year, like grilled lobster tail, vegan mushroom pot pie, or a juicy prime rib.

Don’t get us wrong, a traditional Thanksgiving spread has a warm and fuzzy place in our hearts, but there are so many other delicious alternatives to roasting turkey that are both easier and just as impressive. Short ribs are one of our all-time favorite alternatives for any special occasion, and our recipes for Korean short ribs (kalbi) and braised short ribs with 40 cloves of garlic are both dishes we’re SO glad to have leftovers of.

We’re not sure how it happened, but Team Delish is all about a Thanksgiving lasagna. And we’re not mad about it. We’ve got plenty of spins on the Italian classic, but we’re especially fond of our tricolore skillet lasagna for feeding your crowd. It adds a nice bit of festivity to the table with a lot less time in the kitchen.

Now all you need to do is round out your jazzed up holiday table with all the best Thanksgiving sides. For even more ideas, check out our full collection of Thanksgiving recipes, including our best Friendsgiving recipes, non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner ideas, as well as vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes. Whatever you decide to cook on the big day, keep your crowd happy with Thanksgiving punches and Thanksgiving desserts!