29 Thanksgiving Entree Recipes for Holiday Entertaining
This list of Thanksgiving entree recipes includes the traditional options, but it also has some interesting alternatives for different diets.
Thanksgiving is a time for gathering with loved ones, expressing gratitude, and… indulging in a dinner so massive you can barely move after you’ve eaten. Just being honest here.
You don’t have to default to roast turkey as your main entree. Not everyone loves it or eats meat. Or for smaller households, it’s just too much.
This is a list of other potentially Thanksgiving entree recipes for the rest of us. Whether you’re hosting a large family gathering or an intimate Friendsgiving, the right main dish can make for an unforgettable holiday meal.
There are also some unique turkey recipes on this list, including lots of tips on different methods for cooking turkeys. We also have a big list of Thanksgiving side dishes and another list of Thanksgiving desserts to get you through the whole meal.
Thanksgiving Entree Recipes
Imagine making your whole Thanksgiving dinner for four on just a sheet pan. You can do it! Except for the gravy. This mail includes roast, turkey, homemade cranberry sauce, homemade stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, candied sweet potatoes, and even pan gravy!
This slow cooker turkey tenderloin recipe, featuring a simple marinade, offers a convenient method for preparing moist and tender turkey for Thanksgiving or a weekday dinner. Utilizing a crockpot frees up oven space and lets you attend to other tasks while the turkey cooks. Pair this main dish with your favorite sides, such as keto cranberry sauce and cauliflower mac and cheese, for a delightful meal!
This flavorful and succulent vegan roast beef is sure to delight even those who typically enjoy meat! It is loaded with taste and has a wonderfully meaty texture with a satisfying chew. Rich in protein, satisfying, and robust, this seitan roast beef serves as an ideal meat-free centerpiece for special occasions.
Go for something completely different this year! Pineapple glazed ham is extremely tasty and cooks in an Instant Pot while you save the oven space for other dishes.
Savor a unique vegetarian Thanksgiving with this impressive main course – Veggie Wellington! Say goodbye to holidays focused solely on sides; this vegetarian centerpiece can easily be made vegan and is packed with vegetables, protein, and all the festive flavors you love.
Take a whole chicken, rub butter under the skin, stuff it with bread cubes, celery and seasonings, and sprinkle it with thyme. You get a smaller bird that tastes a lot like the traditional Thanksgiving turkey and is easier to cook. Includes a gravy recipe.
Are you searching for a tasty roast turkey recipe? If so, you'll adore this spatchcock turkey with herb butter! It features crispy skin, succulent and flavorful meat, and it cooks in just 90 minutes! Discover how simple it is to spatchcock and dry brine your turkey for Thanksgiving or any holiday celebration.
Healthy chicken fritters (fried or baked) / Chicken Patties / Pancakes
For a really different alternative to roast turkey, make these tender chicken fritters with freshly minced chicken breast meat. Frying them gives them a golden crust, but you can also bake them.
This Traeger Spatchcock Smoked Turkey without brine will give you a holiday turkey that is tender, juicy, and full of unbelievable smoky flavor. Read below to find all the instructions you need to spatchcock a turkey and how to smoke it to perfection in a delicious dry rub!
If you're thinking a bit smaller this year, you can roast a turkey breast in an hour to an hour and a half. This easy roasted turkey breast recipe shows you how.
Tempeh is a soy-based meat substitute. In this recipe, it's wrapped in butternut squash so it has that fall/Thanksgiving flavor you're after.
Stuffed Cornish Hen (Thanksgiving For Two) - Homemade In The Kitchen
Cornish hen is another great alternative to roasting a whole turkey for Thanksgiving. Opt for a smaller dinner by preparing this Stuffed Cornish Hen recipe with homemade stuffing, along with additional recipes for celebrating Thanksgiving for two.
Slow roasted with sage and rosemary, this turkey roulade is another flavorful alternative to serving a whole turkey. Wrapping the turkey breast in its skin and roasting it slowly guarantees it comes out perfectly cooked and moist.
The secret to this one is a delicate herb butter. Slow-roasted turkey is incredibly tender, featuring meat that effortlessly falls off the bone and beautifully golden-brown skin. This method is simple and requires minimal effort, producing consistently outstanding results.
Yes, you can wrap a turkey in bacon - with a lattice design, no less! It comes out of the oven juicy and full flavor.
If you have ever thought turkey isn't the most flavorful meat, try this. A turkey breast is slathered with a blend of herb and garlic compound butter, then smoked slowly to achieve a beautifully seasoned crust and a tender, juicy center.
This recipe for turkey breast uses a crockpot. It's very easy to do and you end up with a great amount of meat for a smaller gathering.
In this recipe, you cook a bone in turkey breast in a slow cooker. You get a juicy tender turkey that's perfect for a small gathering.
Air frying is an easy and delicious way to cook turkey. It comes out moist, tender and juicy with a crispy golden skin.
With only three ingredients, this juicy turkey breast recipe takes 7 hours in the crockpot. This simple 3-ingredient juicy turkey breast recipe is ideal for Thanksgiving or any dinner occasion!
You can use this dry brine on any type or size bird. It will keep the meet tender and juicy. If you're aiming for a wonderfully moist turkey, employing a dry brine for smoking is the most effective method. It's simple to do and truly enhances your turkey's juiciness like no other technique. For the ideal holiday turkey, a dry brine is a vital flavor enhancer.
This recipe coats a turkey breast in garlic, herbs, and butter. It comes out with a crispy skin and so much flavor. This succulent and tender Roast Turkey Breast features a crispy skin that is slathered in garlic, herbs, and butter. This turkey dish is ideal for Thanksgiving or any time you're craving a mouthwatering turkey meal.
This is an easy step-by-step tutorial that shows you how to make a deep fried turkey. It will be delicious and juicy. And it lets you use your oven for other dishes.
This traditional Southern Cornbread Chicken and Dressing is a holiday staple in the South. Top it with a bit of brown gravy and enjoy it for Sunday dinner, Thanksgiving, or any special event.
This sauce will improve any entrée you're making for Thanksgiving. It's a German Jager sauce that's great with turkey beef chicken – any meat, and even most meat-substitute entrees. Whether it's schnitzel, chicken, or meatballs, your preferred cut of meat will taste even better! This charming sauce is both spicy and smooth: a homemade hunter sauce that is simple to make and absolutely delicious. With this easy recipe that feels indulgent, featuring bacon, red wine, and mushrooms, you'll find yourself making it time and again.
Herb Butter Roasted Turkey is juicy, delicious, and an ideal dish to present to your guests during the holidays. This turkey simplifies Thanksgiving and is consistently a hit at the dinner table! The leftovers are fantastic as well, perfect for sandwiches, casseroles, and pasta dishes. This will surely become your favorite turkey recipe!
Who knew? Baking turkey in a cheesecloth with an herb butter rub gives you a super juicy, tasty turkey.
This easy recipe makes a delicious turkey marinade. With citrus juice, soy sauce and savory herbs and spices.
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