Hey Thanksgiving chefs, let's think beyond the turkey! We've gathered 17 extraordinary main dish recipes that'll shake up your holiday table. From inventive roasts to flavorful alternatives, these non-traditional dishes skip the whole turkey but bring a burst of excitement to your feast.
Duck Breasts with Orange Sauce

Learn how to make Duck Breasts with Orange Sauce - probably the best duck recipe you will find! With the most delicious tart & sweet orange sauce, this is a dish you'll be making over and over again.
Afraid to cook duck? Don't be! This Duck with Orange Sauce is one of the easiest "fancy" dishes you can make - and perfect to prep ahead. Get the recipe.
Stuffed Acorn Squash With Mushrooms And Chickpeas
Ultimate Stuffed Acorn Squash With Mushrooms And Chickpeas is perfect for the holidays. With mushrooms, rice, chickpeas and cranberries, this healthy autumn-inspired dish is packed with protein and fiber. This veggie stuffed squash is sure to please meat eaters, too. Get the recipe.
French Mustard Chicken
Prepare to fall madly in love with this Creamy, dreamy Mustard Chicken Recipe. Classic French dish that tastes outstanding.
Friends, this is going to be a long post, but I get lots of questions so I try to add plenty of information to help you make the best creamy Mustard Chicken ever! Get the recipe.
Pork Tenderloin With Peaches
A new dinner recipe your family will love! This Pork Tenderloin With Peaches is juicy, tender, and so delicious! Garlic and cilantro marinade infuses the meat with flavor, and a slightly sweet and tangy peach sauce adds a warm and comforting aroma to the dish. Get the recipe.
Kale & Butternut Squash Stuffed Turkey Breast
You don’t always have to make a whole turkey. Sometimes you want the whole bird on the table – but sometimes you want something a little more refined. This Kale & Butternut Squash Stuffed Turkey Breast just might be the perfect holiday main dish. Get the recipe.
Easy Hungarian Chicken Paprikash
This Chicken Paprikash recipe is a delicious one-pan weeknight dinner meal that features perfectly browned chicken that's braised in a creamy, sour cream based paprika sauce. What's best is that you only need some pantry staples to make this at home and it's a total crowd-pleaser! This is one of our favorite dinner meals that's kids and husband approved! Get the recipe.
Mushroom Stroganoff
No more bland mushroom pasta! This incredibly delicious Mushroom Stroganoff recipe packs a serious flavorful punch. It's so creamy and satisfying, perfect comfort food for long winter days. Get the recipe.
Spanish Style Stuffed Pork Chops
These comfort food at its best Spanish Style Pork Chops are crispy on the outside and stuffed with delicious combo of ham, roasted peppers and cheese. This recipe is a perfect way to turn regular pork chops into a scrumptious and satisfying dinner. Get the recipe.
Easy Mushroom Wellington
This delicious mushroom Wellington is a tasty plant-based twist on a classic dish with the perfect blend of savory mushrooms and aromatic herbs encased in flaky pastry! Get the recipe.
Vegan Turkey Roast
A hearty, healthy, and delicious seitan-based, vegan Thanksgiving turkey roast! Perfect for the holidays or anytime you want a delicious homemade family meal! Get the recipe.
Chicken Tikka Biryani
Chicken tikka biryani is a combination of aromatic basmati rice with succulent pieces of marinated chicken. It’s hearty and delicious. Get the recipe.
4-Ingredient Herb-Roasted Pork Tenderloin
There's so much flavor in this JUICY and flavorful Buzhenina (Herb Roasted Pork Tenderloin). It hardly takes any effort to make and perfect for dinner or holidays. Classic Ukrainian recipe that uses 4 ingredients and never disappoints. Get the recipe.
Juicy Lentil Loaf
The best lentil loaf should be rich, moist, juicy, and easy to make. The good news is that you don’t need to look any further. Jump to the recipe and check out how our secret ingredient makes this Lentil Loaf the best. We are so proud of this recipe we have perfected through several tests. We hope you’ll fall in love with it too. Get the recipe.
Perfect Cauliflower Steak in 20 Minutes!
Let’s make delicious vegan cauliflower steaks that are tender inside and crispy outside. Slice a whole head into thick pieces, pre-cook them for 5 minutes, add ample seasoning, then pan-fry them for 10 minutes! You will love them. And no need to turn on your oven! Get the recipe.
Ikea-Style Meatballs And Gravy
It's Meatballs And Gravy Recipe - Ikea-inspired meatballs made with ground beef and turkey that are seared till brown and crispy and then simmered in the best ever homemade gravy. This hearty and satisfying dish is sure to become new family's favorite. Get the recipe.
Spanish Chicken And Rice
Bursting with flavor, juicy, hearty, and comforting, this Spanish Chicken And Rice makes a delicious one-pot recipe for the whole family. Perfect for a weeknight or Sunday dinner.
Instant Pot Duck
A delicious, tempting, and yet super easy Instant Pot duck recipe you can make in only 50 minutes. Get the recipe.
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