ComScore

70 Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas (Because Not Everyone Loves Turkey)

Take your holiday menu from predictable to unforgettable

non traditional thanksgiving dinner ideas balsamic cranberry chicken
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

If you’re a diehard turkey/stuffing/sweet potato casserole kind of person, we salute you. But if you’re not? Hey, that’s cool too. Nothing against the classic Turkey Day menu, but there are so many other vegetables (like pommes Anna), side dishes (such as Brussels sprout latkes) and desserts (our fave being crème caramel) that deserve a little holiday love. Might we suggest that you ditch the status quo in favor of alternative Thanksgiving dinner recipes? From bacon-wrapped Brussels sprouts to butternut squash upside-down cake, here are 70 non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner ideas to spice up your spread.

35 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes Even First-Time Hosts Can Handle


Appetizers

1. Crispy Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, gluten free
  • Serves: 8

They’re glazed with honey and topped with chives. You might want to make a double batch.

2. Pimento Cheese Stuffed Shishito Peppers

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 6 to 8

Just think of these cheesy bites as a classed-up, less-spicy version of jalapeño poppers.

3. Crispy Halloumi ‘Fries’ with Roasted Tomato Dip

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why We Love It: low sugar, vegetarian, kid-friendly
  • Serves: 4

Hello, adult mozzarella sticks. Pair them with a medium acidity white wine, like a Chenin Blanc, to get really fancy.

4. Baked Brie with Cranberries and Pomegranate

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, <500 calories
  • Serves: 6 to 8

Face it: No one's turning down a plate of melted cheese.

5. Carrot Pigs in a Blanket

  • Time Commitment: 50 minutes
  • Why We Love It: vegetarian, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 40 pieces

Super-traditional relatives might not approve of cocktail wieners wrapped in crescent dough at Thanksgiving…but these are made with carrots, so they’re kinda fancy. Watch how many get devoured.

6. Roasted Winter Vegetable Platter with Miso Aioli and Romesco Sauce

  • Time Commitment: 50 minutes
  • Why We Love It: gluten free, dairy free, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4

The roasted veg are pretty standard; the dipping sauces are anything but. Both the traditional Spanish romesco and savory miso aioli come together quickly in a blender.

7. Cranberry, Brussels Sprouts and Brie Skillet Nachos

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 6

Make a second batch on Black Friday topped with shredded leftover turkey.

8. Goat Cheese, Apple and Honey Tarts

  • Time Commitment: 55 minutes
  • Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 10

Tangy goat cheese is just the thing to pair with tart, crisp, sweet apples. The crusts are made with store-bought puff pastry, so you don’t have to stress.

9. Spicy Pineapple Prosciutto Tarts

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 8

What does pineapple have to do with Thanksgiving? We’re not sure. All we know is these tartlets are delicious and they make an excellent addition to your non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner menu.

10. Cranberry-Brie Pie Crust Bites

  • Time Commitment: 15 minutes
  • Why We Love It: ready in <15 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
  • Serves: 14

Nothing against regular cheese and crackers, but we’re upping the ante this year. (Once again, store-bought pie crust saves the day.)

11. Pull-Apart Bread with Caramelized Onions and Goat Cheese

  • Time Commitment: 3 hours, 10 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, low sugar
  • Serves: one 12-inch loaf

Betcha can’t eat just one piece. Serve it warm straight from the oven, and everyone will feel the same.

non-traditional thanksgiving dishes: Baked Jalapeño Poppers
Cookie + Kate

12. Baked Jalapeño Poppers

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, keto-friendly, gluten free
  • Serves: 12

Bringing ~spice~ to the family gathering in more ways than one.

Main Courses

13. Skillet Roast Chicken with Shmaltzy Potatoes

  • Time Commitment: 5 hours, 45 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pan, special occasion–worthy, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 4 to 6

The trick to a gorgeously golden brown chicken is part buttermilk marinade and part knowing your oven’s hot spots. The potatoes are optional, but they’re an easy way to knock out an extra side dish.

14. Antoni Porowski’s Strip Steak with Harissa Butter and Parsley Salad

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, gluten free
  • Serves: 4

If you knew how easy it is to cook steak at home, you’d never make turkey for Thanksgiving again.

15. Hearty Stuffed Butternut Squash

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 25 minutes
  • Why We Love It: vegetarian, gluten free
  • Serves: 4

You don’t have to be vegetarian to appreciate the beauty of these gourds. To make them vegan, just skip the Gruyère cheese.

16. Spicy Orange-Honey Glazed Ham

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, dairy free, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
  • Serves: 20 to 25

It’s just as good for leftovers on sandwiches, plus it’s easier to make and ready in less time than a turkey.

17. Balsamic Cranberry Roast Chicken

  • Time Commitment: 2 hours
  • Why We Love It: one pan, dairy free, special occasion–worthy
  • Serves: 4

It’s almost entirely hands-off, thanks to that trusty cast iron skillet. Use frozen or fresh cranberries, just don’t skimp on the herbs.

18. Turkey Roulade with Cherry and Sausage Stuffing

  • Time Commitment: 11 hours, 15 minutes
  • Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 12

Yep, it’s turkey. It’s just presented in a non-traditional format. The inside is stuffed with, well, stuffing, and the outside is slathered in a mix of harissa and Dijon mustard—yum.

19. Pistachio-Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Apple and Escarole Salad

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, sheet pan recipe
  • Serves: 4

The pretty pistachio crust is both festive and tasty, and best of all, the dish cooks from start to finish on a single baking sheet.

20. Pomegranate-Maple Glazed Lamb Chops

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, high protein, gluten free
  • Serves: 4 to 6

We promise, lamb chops are as simple to cook as chicken (and way simpler than turkey). Pomegranate molasses is a Middle Eastern ingredient that adds sweetness and tang.

21. Pomegranate-Sumac Chicken with Roasted Carrots

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes (plus marinating)
  • Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 8

The chicken is brined in buttermilk for extra tenderness and a golden-brown crust. Sheet pan dinner for Thanksgiving? You bet.

22. Spicy Whole Roasted Cauliflower

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, gluten free, vegetarian
  • Serves: 6

It’s dramatic, delicious and surprisingly effortless to make.

23. Butternut Squash Carbonara

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion–worthy
  • Serves: 4

We have a good feeling that no one will complain about pasta instead of turkey.

24. Greek Chicken and Rice Skillet

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why We Love It: one pan, special occasion–worthy, gluten free
  • Serves: 4 to 6

Winner, winner, non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Proof that a one-skillet dinner can be as gorgeous and holiday-ready as it is easy to make.

25. Ina Garten’s Tuscan Turkey Roulade

  • Time Commitment: 2 hours, 20 minutes
  • Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
  • Serves: 10

According to the contessa herself, this main is actually better if you assemble it in advance, because the filling flavors—prosciutto, fennel seeds, garlic, fresh sage and rosemary—all permeate the meat. Genius, if you ask us.

26. Buttermilk-Battered Pan-Fried Fish Fillets

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
  • Why We Love It: high protein, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4

Frying fish at home is daunting, right? Don't worry. It’s actually really simple to pan-fry fish to crisp, flaky deliciousness.

27. Bacon-Wrapped Black Cod with Spinach and Capers

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 4

Wrap a piece of fish in bacon and suddenly it’s holiday-ready. (It’s also done in 40 minutes, no big deal.)

Side Dishes and Vegetables

28. Pommes Anna

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, ready in <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 6 to 8

This classic Française recipe requires little more than butter, salt and spuds once you grasp the technique, but is sure to garner all the compliments from your dinner guests.

29. Balsamic-Brown Sugar Carrots

  • Time Commitment: 15 minutes
  • Why We Love It: ready in <15 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4 to 6

Instead of the usual sweet, sticky mush, these carrots are steamed until *just* tender and coated in a balsamic vinegar reduction for tangy flavor.

30. Green Bean Casserole Galette

  • Time Commitment: 2 hours, 30 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, vegetarian
  • Serves: 10

All the nostalgic flavors, none of the canned cream of mushroom soup.

31. Cacio e Pepe Cauliflower

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, ready in <30 minutes
  • Serves: 6 to 8

It’s like mac and cheese in vegetable form. We’ll take seconds, please and thank you.

32. Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Sriracha and Lime

  • Time Commitment: 55 minutes
  • Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, vegetarian, gluten free, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 6

In our humble opinion, the Turkey Day feast could benefit from something zingy and spicy. Enter these taters.

33. Delicata Squash Rings with Garlic-Lemon Sauce

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, vegetarian
  • Serves: 8

Onion who? Swap in this stripy gourd for a seasonal twist on a classic.

34. Cauliflower Stuffing with Pomegranate Seeds and Almonds

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why We Love It: gluten free, ready in <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 6

It tastes a lot like traditional stuffing, but without the bread. Try it, you’ll like it.

35. Brussels Sprouts Latkes

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why We Love It: vegetarian, <500 calories, kid-friendly
  • Serves: 4

We know someone will ask where the Brussels sprouts are. Surprise them with these crispy-crunchy latkes.

36. Charred Sweet Potatoes with Pistachio-Chili Pesto

  • Time Commitment: 55 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, gluten free, vegetarian
  • Serves: 8

The typical marshmallow-studded casserole has nothing on these gorgeously complex charred sweet potatoes.

37. Radicchio, Lentil and Apple Salad with Vegan Cashew Dressing

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes (plus soaking time)
  • Why We Love It: vegan, dairy free, gluten free
  • Serves: 6

Wait, this creamy dressing is dairy free? You had us fooled—cashews will do that. The bitter greens will be a welcome addition to your mega-rich menu.

38. Pumpkin Soup in Mini Pumpkin Bowls

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
  • Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, gluten free, vegetarian
  • Serves: 4

Don't toss the pumpkin seeds: If you bake them for a few minutes in the oven, they'll turn into a great crunchy topping.

39. Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Horseradish and Sea Salt

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <500 calories, ready in <30 minutes, gluten free
  • Serves: 4

Mashed potato lovers, consider this your invitation to join team crispy. The horseradish cream is spicy and pungent, so serve it on the side if you’re joining picky eaters.

40. Roasted Cabbage Steaks

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, sheet pan recipe, gluten free, vegetarian
  • Serves: 6

Cabbage isn’t just for coleslaw—it happens to make an excellent side dish of its own. Bonus, this recipe requires just five ingredients.

41. Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini Ranch

  • Time Commitment: 50 minutes
  • Why We Love It: gluten free, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
  • Serves: 8

Want to know a little secret? We’ll take any excuse to serve ranch at a fancy holiday dinner. This version is made with tahini for a twist on the bottled stuff.

42. Portobello Mushrooms Stuffed with Barley Risotto

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
  • Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, vegetarian, gluten free
  • Serves: 4

Looking for a show-stopping alternative Thanksgiving meal? These beauties look like a dish you’d spend all day working on, but they’re actually ready in a little over an hour.

43. Sweet and Spicy Cornbread

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
  • Why We Love It: one pan, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 9

No feast is complete without some kind of bread on the table. This one has a little heat from Fresno chiles. (If you can’t find Fresnos, feel free to swap with another hot pepper, like jalapeños.)

44. Baked Feta with Dill, Caper Berries and Citrus

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 4

Get ready for the oohs and ahhs when you set a tray of baked cheese on the table. Serve it with toasted pita or any crispy cracker of choice.

45. Butternut Squash Risotto with Crispy Leeks

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 35 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, gluten free, special occasion–worthy
  • Serves: 6

It’s dreamy and creamy like macaroni and cheese, only without the cheese. You could even make it dairy free by skipping the butter and Parmesan.

46. Kale Salad with Crispy Chickpeas

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why We Love It: vegetarian, gluten free, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 6

Perfect for when you’re in need for a simple, quick side that adds a punch of greens. Scatter it with sliced apple, pomegranate seeds or fresh figs to give it a sweet-tart edge.

47. Ina Garten’s Roasted Broccolini & Cheddar

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, <10 ingredients, ready in <30 minutes, gluten free
  • Serves: 4

Best of all, it takes less than 20 minutes to make and calls for just five ingredients. This is—dare we say?—genius.

non-traditional thanksgiving dishes: Chrissy Teigen’s Garlicky Cauliflower ‘Rice’
Aubrey Pick/Cravings/Hungry For More

48. Chrissy Teigen’s Garlicky Cauliflower ‘Rice’

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why We Love It: vegetarian, ready in <30 minutes, gluten free
  • Serves: 6

Short, savory, and filling up everyone's plates.

non-traditional thanksgiving recipes: Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Liz Andrew/Erin McDowell

49. Baked Sweet Potato Fries

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 6

Seriously, who wouldn't want fries? Regardless if it's a traditional or non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner, they'll be a hit.

50. Creamed Brussels Sprouts with Caramelized Onions

  • Time Commitment: 50 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd pleaser, vegetarian
  • Serves: 6 to 8

Creamy, crunchy, and secretly kind of healthy.

Desserts

51. Three-Ingredient Chocolate Truffles

  • Time Commitment: 4 hours, 25 minutes
  • Why We Love It: make ahead, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 30

Whether you forgot to make dessert or save room for dessert, these impossibly simple, just-rich-enough truffles have your back.

52. Crème Caramel

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour (plus chilling time)
  • Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients, gluten free
  • Serves: 6 to 8

The ingredient list is short, but the outcome is a silky custard that decorates itself with caramel as it makes its way to the table.

53. Cardamom Crème Brûlée

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
  • Serves: 6 to 8

Steeping cardamom in the cream before you begin the process adds a warm, seasonal flavor to the custard.

54. Sweet Potato Sugar Cookies with Marshmallow Topping

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, ready in <30 minutes
  • Serves: 15

These are so good, no one will wonder where that aforementioned casserole went. (It’s more of a dessert anyway.)

55. Texas Sheet Cake

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, sheet pan recipe, kid-friendly
  • Serves: 12+

There’s no rule that says you have to love pumpkin or pecans (or apples, for that matter). This chocolate cake, however, is impossible not to love.

56. Pumpkin Angel Food Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 5 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, kid-friendly
  • Serves: 10

If you do crave a pumpkin dessert, why not make it in the form of this fluffy, cream-cheese glazed masterpiece?

57. Caramelized Butternut Squash Upside-Down Cake

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
  • Serves: 12

Yep, those are vegetables on top of this cake. Yep, you’re going to make this one a new Thanksgiving tradition.

58. Sticky Toffee Honeycomb Cake

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
  • Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: one 9-inch cake

The more napkins required, the more satisfying the dessert…right? Serve it slightly warm for maximum effect.

59. Miniature Banoffee Cobblers

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 45 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
  • Serves: 6

They’re ridiculously simple (just 20 minutes of prep!) and taste like a toffee-banana dream.

60. Chocolate Semifreddo Seduction

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, special occasion–worthy
  • Serves: 2

It’s rich and silky like chocolate pudding, but as refreshing as a scoop of ice cream. Are you convinced yet?

61. Cinnamon Sheet Cake with Cider Frosting

  • Time Commitment: 55 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
  • Serves: one 9 by 13-inch cake

A sheet-pan cake that’s ready in less than an hour will always beat out a complicated pie recipe. Plus, who can deny that apple cider frosting?

62. Sweet Potato Pots de Crème with Toasted Marshmallow

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 50 minutes
  • Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients, gluten free
  • Serves: 6

It looks and tastes like a fancy restaurant dessert (not to mention the inside of a pumpkin pie) but is secretly foolproof.

63. Caramel-Chocolate Macadamia Tart

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 50 minutes
  • Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 12

This tart tastes like a candy bar and features a simple press-in crust. Pecan pie, who?

64. Fig Tarte Tatin

  • Time Commitment: 55 minutes
  • Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy, one pan
  • Serves: 8

This one-skillet situation looks impressive, but is surprisingly easy to make (store-bought puff pastry does it again).

65. Broiler S’mores

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 4 to 6

The ’mallows will be toasty and the chocolate melted just enough—without the need for an entire campfire. (The kids will go wild.)

66. Apple Tart with Soft-Pretzel Crust

  • Time Commitment: 2 hours, 15 minutes
  • Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: one 12-inch tart

This new take on the classic apple tart is bound to be a crowd-pleaser. It’s definitely a project, but the results are delish.

67. Giant Cinnamon Roll

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why We Love It: one pan, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
  • Serves: one 9-inch cinnamon roll

The only thing better than a freshly baked cinnamon roll at your non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner? A giant freshly baked cinnamon roll at your non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Go ahead, dig in.

non-traditional thanksgiving recipes: Pumpkin Cheesecake with Marshmallow Meringue
Whats Gaby Cooking

68. Pumpkin Cheesecake with Marshmallow Meringue

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 35 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 10

Pumpkin? Good. Cheesecake? Good. Meringue? Good. This triple threat is guaranteed to win over a crowd.

non-traditional thanksgiving dishes: Pumpkin Spice Toffee
Sally's Baking Addiction

69. Pumpkin Spice Toffee

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
  • Why We Love It: no bake, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: one pound

These seasonal sweets feature pumpkin spice and everything nice (think: not having to turn on your oven).

non-traditional thanksgiving dishes: pumpkin roll
Gimme Some Oven

70. Pumpkin Roll

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 8 to 10

Ready thy Instagram because this delicious dessert is practically guaranteed to be the most gorgeous offering at your Thanksgiving feast.

60 Thanksgiving Vegetables That Will Totally Steal the Show


Katherine Gillen is PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City restaurants. She used to sling sugary desserts in a pastry kitchen, but now she’s an avid home cook and fanatic baker.


headshot

Senior Food Editor

Katherine Gillen is PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City...

purewow author

Freelance PureWow Editor