Hosting an untraditional Thanksgiving dinner? Perfect. Not everyone wants to babysit a giant turkey all day, and honestly, no one’s grading you on tradition.
These Thanksgiving main dishes not turkey are still festive, filling, and way less stressful.
Think turkey roulade that actually fits in your oven, cider-braised pork that basically cooks itself, seafood pot pie that feels fancy without the fuss, and even a roasted veggie lasagna hearty enough to steal the spotlight.
Your guests will feel impressed, and you’ll feel like a hosting genius who didn’t break a sweat.
Table of Contents
Turkey Roulade with Cranberry-Sage Stuffing
All the flavor of Thanksgiving turkey without wrangling the whole bird. This roulade is beautiful, sliceable, and loaded with cranberry-sage stuffing.
Why You’ll Love It
- Classic Thanksgiving flavors in an easy-to-slice main.
- Feels fancy but is weeknight-doable.
- Great for smaller gatherings.
Equipment You’ll Need
- Meat mallet
- Kitchen twine
- Baking dish
Serving Suggestions
Serve with mashed potatoes, gravy, and roasted green beans.
Make-Ahead & Storage Tips
Assemble the roulade a day ahead and refrigerate. Bake before serving.
Ingredients
- 1 boneless turkey breast (2–3 lbs)
- 3 cups prepared stuffing
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 1 tsp dried sage
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Butterfly and flatten turkey breast.
- Spread stuffing evenly, sprinkle cranberries and sage.
- Roll tightly, secure with kitchen twine.
- Rub with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Roast 60–75 min, until internal temp is 165°F.
- Rest 10 min, slice into rounds.
Yield: 6 servings