Swap Your Holiday Turkey With These Delicious Alternatives

It is believed that turkey could have been one of the dishes served on the initial Thanksgiving feast, and turkey eventually became a major part of fall and winter holiday festivities. The big bird is always the most expected part of the meal, and regardless of the surplus of other dishes, it always takes the central stage.

Because of its iconic status, this idea may sound blasphemous, but we wanted to propose a different holiday meal, one not ruled by the massive bird. Honestly, turkey is often overly dry, and it isn't easy to pull out a successful version in home kitchens. And though no one can argue about its strong symbolism and the fact that it agrees well with other dishes, perhaps you'd like to ditch the traditionalists' idea and swap holiday turkey with less-expected and more adventurous options. We are not talking about burgers and fries, but decadent and nutritious dishes worthy of this grand celebration.

This list collects dishes from various authors to create a beautiful kaleidoscope of recipes that will fit into the festive atmosphere. Many feature meat as the core ingredient, but you will also find an excellent selection of vegetarian and vegan-friendly dishes that can be a great alternative to the turkey or play a supporting role for your guests with various dietary restrictions and preferences.

This wonderful combination of perfectly roasted chicken and baked peaches is a creative option for those who want to step away from tradition. Spatchcock chicken is first flavored with a buttery marinade and then baked with balsamic-flavored peaches.

The result is a fabulous combination of flavors and a stunning dish worthy of any festive table. You can always go with mashed or roasted potatoes as a side dish, but roasted or steamed veggies would also complement it nicely.

Recipe: Roasted Spatchcock Chicken And Balsamic Peaches

This recipe uses a tri-tip roast as the star of the dish. This marbled cut is suitable for various techniques but really shines when roasted or grilled. In this version, it is garnished with a garlic and pepper marinade for an extra zing. You'll need to give the meat a couple of hours to soak up the juices before it goes in the oven.

Let the steak rest after roasting, and serve it with classic side dishes. Like any good roast, it would pair well with mashed potatoes.

Recipe: Garlic And Black Pepper Tri Tip Roast

This pork recipe derives inspiration from Cuban mojo and gets elevated by a hearty spice blend, citrus juices, garlic, and olive oil. Bone-in pork shoulder is the most suitable choice for this recipe, resulting in a juicy, tender roast. You can cut the meat into larger chunks or turn it into shredded pork.

This recipe calls for low and slow cooking, so think of it as an ideal option to prep ahead and leave in the oven while you assemble other holiday treats.

Recipe: Low And Slow Pork Butt Roast

Rainbow trout gets a perfect buttery makeover in this recipe. The fish needs to be gutted and thoroughly cleaned as it will be stuffed with garlic, parsley, and lemon slices — a technique that will allow the aroma to get evenly distributed. All that is left is to drizzle the fish with olive oil and season it with salt and pepper before putting it in the oven. Once the fish is roasted, it is served doused in buttery pecan sauce.

To keep the dish light, pair the trout with salads or simple roasted veggies.

Recipe: Whole-Roasted Rainbow Trout

Roast beef is always a good idea to serve as the main course for any festivity. In this recipe, the rump roast goes classic with salt, pepper, beef broth, butter, onion, and rosemary. Naturally, it requires a splash of dry red wine. The meat is seared and then roasted with rosemary and onions. As the meat requires some time to rest, you'll get enough time to use the pan juices to make the accompanying sauce.

This is a dish that pairs well with any side dish of choice.

Recipe: Tender Rump Roast

Pork and apples are a match made in heaven. In this recipe, pork shoulder gets uplifted with the juicy tartness of the apples, and the whole dish is rounded with an aromatic blend of carrots, shallots, garlic, Dijon mustard, and sage. Beef broth gives the dish complexity and helps to create a warm, comforting base for pork and apples.

Ideally, you would spoon this hearty casserole over mashed potatoes, but anything creamy and light — think of pasta and polenta — would go well. For more balance, you can go with roasted veggies.

Recipe: Braised Pork And Apple Casserole

If you are looking for a decadent and luxurious dish to serve as the main course, this take on classic Salisbury steak should do the trick. You'll first have to sear beef patties and then assemble the rich, buttery sauce where shallots, mushrooms, red wine, and truffle oil create a wonderfully aromatic blend. Beef patties are then simmered to cook through and soak up some of those aromas.

This potent dish requires a lighter side, so think of steamed green veggies or go classic with creamy mashed potatoes.

Recipe: Red Wine And Truffle Chopped Steak

For vegan-friendly alternatives, tofu is always a great idea. This simple ingredient is easily tweaked to transform into a great main course that will look good on every occasion. In this recipe, the author couples firm tofu with BBQ sauce to create a dish that will earn praise even with meat-obsessed guests. The sauce gets an extra kick from harissa — a spicy chili mix — and cumin, while the barbecue imparts it with wonderful smoky notes.

To get the best intensity, brush the sauce before and after grilling. Serve the tofu with rice or grilled veggies.

Recipe: Jazzed-Up Grilled BBQ Tofu

This is the perfect recipe for a Thanksgiving celebration, as the ingredients create a medley of hearty flavors ideal for the fall season. This quiche follows the traditional method and starts with a flaky pastry shell stacked with buttery roasted squash, chunks of pungent goat cheese, and creamy egg mix. The pie bakes into a delicious dish with a crispy crust and tender filling brimming with flavor.

Though this quiche can work on its own, it would pair wonderfully with a zesty salad.

Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash And Goat Cheese Quiche

This dish tackles classic beef stroganoff to create a vegan-friendly version that mimics similar flavors and textures. The dish gains most of its character from a mix of mushrooms that will deliver complexity and a distinctive umami kick, but sautéed onions, paprika, thyme, and Worcestershire sauce will also act as nice building blocks. Though the recipe relies on button, cremini, shiitake, and chanterelle mushrooms, you can always adapt it to taste and availability.

Like the classic stroganoff, this creamy sauce works best with pasta.

Recipe: Vegetarian Mushroom Stroganoff

Ratatouille is one of the French classics popularized by an eponymous Disney cartoon. An array of colorful vegetables are the headliners in this dish, and you will have to slice them up thinly so they can be arranged into a multicolored swirl. This recipe relies on eggplant, potatoes, peppers, and zucchini, but you can easily adapt it to your taste. Assemble the veggies on top of tomato sauce flavored with garlic, thyme, and rosemary, and drizzle with aromatic olive oil.

Bake until the veggies cook through, and serve the dish as a vegetarian main course.

Recipe: Easy Ratatouille