24 Turkey Alternatives for Thanksgiving Main Courses Cornish hen, goose, duck, ham, beef, salmon, and mushroom recipes make worthy centerpieces for holiday meals. By Kim Wehby Kim Wehby Kim Wehby is a copy editor with over a decade of experience in the food and beverage space, including a senior editorial role at People Inc. Food Studios. She's edited and developed content for Food & Wine, Southern Living, and Eating Well. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines and Jodie Kautzmann Jodie Kautzmann Jodie Kautzmann is an editor, baker, and confectioner with more than 15 years of experience in content creation, recipe development, and pastry production. She's obsessed with the fine details and ingredients that take dishes from tasty to outright otherworldly. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 13, 2025 Add Us On SAVE ALL RECIPES NEW! Save as a collection on MyRecipes Close Credit: Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley Turkey is a classic main course for Thanksgiving dinner, but that certainly doesn't mean you have to serve it every year. We've collected plenty of alternative Thanksgiving mains that can take center stage at your table, including wholesome salmon recipes, succulent pork preparations, showstopping beef entrées, and an array of vegetarian dishes for your holiday spread. Here are those recipes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen, plus more turkey alternatives for Thanksgiving. Keep all of your recipes at your fingertips. With the MyRecipes app you can easily save and organize your favorites from anywhere, including Instagram and TikTok, in one convenient place. Get the free app. 01 of 24 Petite Beef Wellington Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen For individual Beef Wellington servings, try chef Sean Brock's ingenious holiday recipe. Diners will appreciate the chance to dig into their own personal crisp, pastry-wrapped roast beef entrée. Get the Recipe Save 02 of 24 Carla Hall’s Spiced Cider–Glazed Ham Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Priscilla Montiel Buy a bone-in spiral-cut ham for this stunning centerpiece from chef Carla Hall: The bone deepens the flavor, locks in moisture, and keeps the meat tender. The spiral-cut ensures there are plenty of nooks and crevices into which the sticky bourbon–and–brown sugar glaze can seep. Get the Recipe Save 03 of 24 Greens-and-Cheese-Stuffed Cinderella Pumpkin Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley Inspired by chef Cassie Piuma’s squash spanakopita, this striking Cinderella pumpkin holds a rich vegetarian filling of cheeses, fennel, and kale beneath a beautifully flaky phyllo crown. Get the Recipe Save 04 of 24 Roasted Pork Loin with Apple-Cranberry Mustard Greg Dupree / FOOD STYLING by CHELSEA ZIMMER / PROP STYLING by CHRISTINA DALEY Juicy pork loin is nestled in a bed of roasted apples, red onions, and cranberries for this festive, centerpiece-worthy main that requires just 25 minutes of active cooking time. Get the Recipe Save 05 of 24 Cornish Hens with Challah Stuffing Food & Wine / Photo by Brie Goldman / Food Styling by Shannon Goforth / Prop Styling by Breanna Ghazali Instead of one big bird, delight your guests with their own individual roasted Cornish hens, complete with savory challah stuffing. Get the Recipe Save 06 of 24 Mushroom, Lentil, and Chestnut Mince Pie Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Christine Keely This spectacular vegetarian mince pie can hold its own — in presentation and in flavor — among any meat entrées on your Thanksgiving table. A hefty filling of mushrooms, black lentils, and chestnuts makes for a substantial main that can satisfy even the hungriest of omnivores. Get the Recipe Save 07 of 24 Pomegranate-Glazed Salmon with Oranges, Olives, and Herbs Antonis Achilleos "Tart and just barely sweet, the pomegranate molasses cuts through the richness of the fish while creating a gorgeous, shimmering glaze; the olives balance the bright flavors of the salad with their soft salinity and luxe butteriness," says award-winning cookbook author and food stylist Andrea Slonecker. Get the Recipe Save 08 of 24 Thor’s Hammer Food & Wine / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Craig Ruff / Prop Styling by Abby Armstrong This bone-in braised beef shank makes a showstopping centerpiece. Red wine, beef stock, tomato paste, and aromatics all add up to mouthwatering flavor. Get the Recipe Save 09 of 24 Roast Goose with Crispy Skin Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle Jacques Pépin's 18-hour roast goose is well worth the time. Pépin's cooking method was adapted from a Chinese technique to yield tender, juicy meat with unbeatably crispy skin. Get the Recipe Save 10 of 24 Spice-Crusted Rack of Lamb Eva Kolenko Coarsely crushed spices, including cinnamon and black pepper, give these Frenched lamb chops a crunchy and flavorful crust, making them holiday centerpiece–worthy. Get the Recipe Save 11 of 24 Butternut Squash, Mushroom, and Spinach Lasagna Food & Wine / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Rishon Hanners / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hauser "Thanksgiving lasagna is a time-honored tradition in many Italian-American homes (just ask Stanley Tucci)," writes F&W's Kat Kinsman. "And if you decide to skip the turkey (or just go for a much-easier turkey breast instead of the full bird), lasagna has the stature and swagger to own the center of the Thanksgiving table." Get the Recipe Save 12 of 24 Spiced Madeira and Honey Glazed Ham Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Christine Keely Sweet, rich flavors abound in this celebratory holiday ham. A homemade honey- and Madeira-laced glaze is basted over the ham, while collard greens tossed with tangerines and bay leaves cook underneath, soaking up all those delicious pan juices. Get the Recipe Save 13 of 24 Picanha with Pink Peppercorn Brown Butter Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Christine Keely You'll encounter plenty of complex flavor in this roast beef recipe from James Beard Award-winning writer and chef Amy Thielen. A warming pink peppercorn-infused brown butter sauce brings sweetness and a hint of tartness, all with a soft caramelized backbone. Get the Recipe Save 14 of 24 Mushroom and Cabbage Wellington Food & Wine / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling In this vegetarian version of traditional English beef Wellington, fresh mushrooms and cabbage are enrobed in buttery puff pastry. Korean black bean paste and oyster sauce (or soy sauce to keep it fully veg-friendly) add umami depth of flavor to each bite. Get the Recipe Save 15 of 24 Thyme-and-Dijon-Seared Pork Tenderloin with Cider Pan Sauce Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Thom Driver Glazed with Dijon and fresh thyme then finished with a silky cider-based pan sauce, this pork tenderloin is undeniably elegant. The dish's traditional fall flavors make it easy to pair with conventional Thanksgiving sides. Get the Recipe Save 16 of 24 Herb-Roasted King Salmon with Pinot Noir Sauce Justin Walker This nod to David Pisegna's salmon served at Seattle's Hotel Sorrento doesn't skimp on the original's wine-blushed beurre blanc, but offers some home kitchen–friendly simplifications. Get the Recipe Save 17 of 24 Classic Duck Confit Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless If you plan ahead — reserving ample time for the duck to refrigerate and cook — you'll be delighted to discover how accessible this classic duck confit can be. Get the Recipe Save 18 of 24 Kombu Roast Chicken with Kabocha Squash and Daikon Victor Protasio Salty kombu butter adds complex flavor in this dish from recipe developer Liz Mervosh, who was inspired by the seaweed butter that 2019 F&W Best New Chef Matthew Kammerer served at Harbor House Inn in Elk, California. Rub it under the skin of a whole chicken before roasting with kabocha squash and daikon for a delicious and simple holiday dinner. Get the Recipe Save 19 of 24 Roasted Lamb Chops with Brown Sugar-Rum Glaze Kelly Marshall Woodsy rosemary and sage complement the inherent gamey flavors of lamb in this entrée from chef Alexander Smalls. These roasted chops are elegant enough for fancy holiday celebrations yet approachable enough for a casual holiday at home. Get the Recipe Save 20 of 24 Salmon Wellington Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling Barrett Washburne Top Chef winner Buddha Lo’s reimagined Wellington features salmon loin wrapped with cabbage leaves, shrimp, nori, and puff pastry, then baked to golden perfection. The pastry slices cleanly, revealing elegant layers — a true centerpiece-worthy entrée. Get the Recipe Save 21 of 24 Crackling Coppa Roast with Fennel and Onions Erin Kunkel The fat cap serves a crucial role in this roasted pork shoulder: As the fat renders, it begins to crisp up while the juices baste the meat with succulent flavor. A jammy fennel-onion mixture cuts through the richness of the meat while complementing the pork flavors with a slight sweetness. Get the Recipe Save 22 of 24 Garlic-Butter Rib Roast Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell A compound butter studded with garlic, anchovies, herbs, and shallot serves two purposes in this rib roast: Half is slathered all over the meat before cooking, and the rest is served atop individual servings of the decadent meat. Get the Recipe Save 23 of 24 Braised Duck Legs with Spaetzle and Mushroom Ragout David Malosh This German-inspired recipe from Maria Sinskey showcases roasted duck leg quarters with a reduced pan sauce. It's served over crisped, golden-brown spaetzle and a saucy mushroom ragout. Get the Recipe Save 24 of 24 Leg of Lamb with Fingerling Potatoes and Leeks Greg DuPree / Prop Styling by Missie Crawford / Food Styling by Ali Ramee Robby Melvin's eight-hour dry brine coats bone-in leg of lamb with an herby, pleasantly salty crust. It makes for a juicy, tender, and deliciously garlicky lamb roast that's equally simple and beautiful. Get the Recipe Save Explore more: Food Holidays & Occasions Thanksgiving Recipes and Ideas Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit