Roasting A Turkey Feeling Like Too Much This Year? Make One Of These Turkey Alternatives Instead

Skip the turkey—this Thanksgiving cauliflower is the vegetarian Thanksgiving centerpiece your holiday needs. A whole-roasted cauliflower is a favorite holiday centerpiece of ours when we're serving a vegetarian crowd, but this recipe is filled with warming herbs that bring to mind the fall holiday. Complete with a homemade vegetarian gravy, this roasted cauliflower is satisfying enough to be your main dish.

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Slow-cooked turkey legs are this year’s ultimate Thanksgiving hack. No basting, no inevitable dry meat—no fuss at all. All you have to do is make an easy festive herb butter, wrap everything in foil, and let them roast unsupervised.

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Bone-in chicken thighs, sweet potatoes, and shallots get smothered with miso-chili sauce and baked until the sweet potatoes are tender and caramelized and the chicken is juicy and golden brown. The whole thing is topped with a sprinkle of chopped cilantro, then served with a little extra chili crisp to make sure this really packs a punch.

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Sometimes, roasting a whole turkey is just too much of an undertaking. A roulade, though? It's surprisingly easy (we swear!), super-flavorful, and much easier to carve. Perfect served with a side of mashed potatoes and some tart cranberry sauce.

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The perfect centerpiece to any holiday dinner, the steps to make this chicken are simple: You season the bird (just salt & pepper!), then roast it at high heat until the skin is bronzed and crisp and the flesh juicy.

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Here paprika-dusted chicken is roasted on a bed of herby, sliced red onions and whole garlic cloves until the onions are jammy and sweet with a little char and the chicken is cooked through and juicy. The real magic is in the savory-sweet, umami-rich, spoonable sauce made by blending the chicken fat-roasted, charred onions with butter, sweet white vinegar, and crushed red pepper.

Get the Sheet-Pan Roasted Red Onion Chicken recipe.

We adore fast-cooking pork tenderloin, but that doesn’t mean we let it become so routine that it doesn't dazzle come holiday time. Instead, we mix it up with a variety of different flavors and preparations, like this ultra-stuffed mushroom, spinach, and Gruyère version.

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This gorgeous, whole-roasted stunner is the perfect holiday substitute for vegans. It's savory, sweet, and salty on the outside and super-tender on the inside. Topped with lots of silky mushroom gravy, we doubt anyone at your table will be missing meat.

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If you're hosting a small gathering or simply craving the comforting flavors of Thanksgiving any time of year, then this sheet-pan dinner is a solid choice. It’s a feast that’s as cozy as it is convenient, bringing together the classics with a few flavorful twists. The beauty of this meal lies in its simplicity—everything roasts together on one pan, making cleanup a breeze.

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Prime rib, also referred to as standing rib roast, is a beautiful piece of meat. Whenever we need a truly showstopping holiday roast, we turn to it. A well-cooked prime rib is juicy, full of flavor, and not at all difficult to make.

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Don't let turkey have all the fun! Chicken thighs are super flavorful, easy to cook, and SO delicious with sweet potatoes and apples. Try it for your chill Thanksgiving, you won't regret it.

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If you’re looking for a vegetarian dinner centerpiece, then you can’t beat a whole roasted cauliflower. Gorgeously browned outside and meltingly tender in the middle, its stunningly simple goodness can’t be topped at any vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner.

Get the Whole Roasted Cauliflower recipe.

Try a bird of a different feather this year, and serve this festive and impressive fruit and cheese display as the centerpiece of your holiday table. We’ve packed this cheese board with fall fruits like apples, pears, and grapes, and cheeses appropriate for an autumnal charcuterie that everyone will want to gobble up!

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A savory mushroom and bacon filling keeps this roasted turkey breast juicy while making it fancy and hearty enough to take the place of a whole bird on the holiday table. If you end up with leftover filling, you can even use it as a pre-dinner snack!

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When it's cold out, a steaming hot pot pie filled with creamy, flavorful gravy, sweet and tender veggies, and topped with a shatteringly flaky crust is EVERYTHING. Here, mushrooms replace chicken or beef and are every bit as satisfying as their meaty counterparts.

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Thanksgiving is a time for family, gratitude, and of course, turkey. But this year, why settle for the usual when you could elevate your holiday game with a turkey sculpture made entirely out of Rice Krispies treats? A Rice Krispies turkey sculpture is a crowd-pleaser for all ages. Kids? Check. Adults? Double check. Grandma? She’ll love it.

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This hearty "meat" loaf is made mostly out of chickpeas and baby bella mushrooms. We're in love! Serve it with a side of vegan mashed potatoes and green beans for the most comforting Thanksgiving meal.

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Nothing is more comforting than chicken pot pie topped with a buttery crust. Swap out the crust for garlic bread, though, and now we are really talking. This is a killer unexpected addition to any Thanksgiving meal (and is especially great for potlucks!).

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Apple cider adds a subtle sweetness to a classic brisket, and after letting it braise low and slow, it will be SO tender. Letting the potatoes and carrots cook with the brisket flavors them from the inside out, and the whole dish will be deeply savory.

Get the Apple Cider Braised Brisket recipe.

Most piccata sauces use only lemon juice; we opt for whole pieces of the fruit to make use of every last bit of bright citrus flavor. This piccata is great spooned over pasta or vegan mashed potatoes, or accompanied by plenty of crusty bread.

Get the Extra Lemony Seitan Piccata recipe.