15 Alternatives to Cooking a Turkey for Thanksgiving

Our easy chili marmalade chicken is a zesty chicken recipe that does most of its cooking in the oven making it super simple to make. It's great served with rice or quinoa, but can easily be paired with mashed potatoes or roasted sweet potatoes instead. Chicken thighs roasted in a sauce of soy sauce, chili garlic paste, orange juice and ginger paste are about to become your new favorite.

This take on the famed Barefoot Contessa meatloaf recipe is a crowd favorite, especially in the colder months. Juicy and flavorful, this is not your grandmother's dried out meatloaf while still delivering all the flavor and nostalgia you remember from your favorite childhood comfort food. Tuck the meatloaf into the oven to bake while you prepare your favorite mashed potatoes recipe and you've got a truly delicious dinner ready to serve!

Another vegetarian alternative to turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, our spinach artichoke quinoa casserole is a winner! Tangy artichokes, combined with Parmesan cheese and tender spinach make for a savory, creamy casserole that is packed with veggies and protein. This one is truly a complete meal in and of itself, but should you choose to add a bunch of veggies and pie on the side no one will complain. (p.s. The answer is always yes to pie!)

Call me crazy, but I can't think of a single reason this traditional shepherd's pie recipe shouldn't take center stage on your Thanksgiving table this year if you're looking for alternatives to cooking a turkey. It makes an amazing comfort meal you can make ahead and then pop in the oven when you're ready to eat! Our recipe uses the traditional ground lamb (or you can use ground beef) along with vegetables all under a thick blanket of whipped potatoes.

If you're on the hunt for dinner options other than cooking a turkey this year for your Thanksgiving dinner, might I suggest this chicken marsala with mushrooms recipe? Tender chicken breasts are simmered in marsala wine in a cast iron skillet with the addition of mushrooms and butter, creating a savory dish you'll find yourself making time and again long after Thanksgiving has come and gone.