Non-Turkey Thanksgiving Mains You Have To Try
Here are some Non-Turkey Thanksgiving Mains to try this holiday season! It’s almost Thanksgiving, and the most important thing is keeping holiday hosting from getting too chaotic. While a traditional roast turkey is always iconic, it can be tough to pull off. So, I want to share some of my hosting main dish favorites, from Prime Rib to Whole Steamed Fish, that have gotten tons of compliments. If you don’t want to defrost a whole frozen turkey, don’t have an oven, or just have a small guest list, you’ll have to try some of the delicious mains that I love making while hosting family and friends!
Herb Crusted Prime Rib
If you want a true holiday showstopper without dealing with dry turkey breast, my Herb-Crusted Prime Rib is hands-down the way to go! It looks just as fancy and impressive on the table, and is so juicy and delicious. It comes with vegetables baked underneath, and the juices are used for a delicious Red Wine Au Jus. So, it’s alike a main, side, and sauce in ONE recipe. Plus, the classic Creamy Horseradish Sauce also gives your guests a different flavor option.
- Time-Saving Hosting Tip: Season it the night before, then just cover with herb butter and let the oven do all the work on Thanksgiving Day while you prepare all the other dishes.
- Pairs Well With: Easy Parmesan Chive Mashed Potatoes and Honey Soy Glazed Carrots
Rosemary Garlic Lamb Chops
These Rosemary Garlic Lamb Chops give you a fancy, restaurant-worthy centerpiece in just 15 minutes! There’s something about lamb chops that make them perfect for any holiday meal. They feel special enough for a holiday feast, without locking you in the kitchen all day! If you don’t have an oven, this is the best recipe for a special holiday feast!
- Time-Saving Hosting Tip: Because these cook completely on the stovetop, save time by using your oven for side dishes. You can whisk together the creamy dill yogurt sauce the night before so dinner comes together right before guests sit down.
- Pairs Well With: Crispy Potatoes with Miso Butter and Pomegranate Apple Waldorf Salad
Steamed Whole Fish
Growing up in Taiwan, no celebratory family feast was complete without a whole steamed fish on the table. It makes such an incredible centerpiece for Thanksgiving! Steamed until flaky and melt-in-your-mouth tender, then topped with fresh ginger, green onions, sizzling hot oil, and a savory-sweet soy sauce, it’s bright, aromatic, and cooks in a fraction of the time.
- Hosting Tip: Hosting Tip: Because a whole fish goes from raw to table-ready in 20 minutes, and doesn’t hold well if it sits around getting cold. Save this as the very last thing you cook before it’s time to eat!
- Pairs Well With: Egg Fried Rice and Spicy Garlic Bok Choy
Easy Roast Chicken
If you still want that classic golden-brown roasted bird on Thanksgiving without spending four hours babysitting a giant turkey, this Easy Roast Whole Chicken is the ultimate swap! Because it’s spatchcocked, it cooks evenly in under an hour and stays way juicier than turkey. And, the roasted veggies baked underneath makes for a delicious side dish without extra work!
- Time-Saving Hosting Tip: Dry-brine it uncovered in the fridge the night before for ultra-crispy skin. Also, this is a great recipe to save time by baking a side dish in the oven at the same time on a different oven rack.
- Pairs Well With: Extra Fluffy Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread and Lemon Parmesan Broccolini
Soy Glazed Pork Belly
I make this Soy Glazed Pork Belly Wrap all the time for larger family gatherings. It’s rich and comforting, but also a TON of fun to eat. Prepare a few different toppings, like pickled radish or homemade kimchi, to make your meal feel super festive, interactive, and super, super customizable.
- Time-Saving Hosting Tip: It’s completely hands-off while braising on the stove, so frees up your oven for other side dishes. It tastes just as amazing served warm or at room temperature, so you aren’t scrambling to time everything to the exact minute.
- Pairs Well With: Honey Garlic Potatoes and Spicy Gochujang Garlic Bread
PIneapple Ginger BBQ Ribs
Fall-off-the-bone tender, sticky, and packed with sweet-and-savory flavor, these Ginger Pineapple BBQ Ribs are the ultimate low-stress Thanksgiving main! Unlike turkey, which can dry out the second you overcook it, slow-baked ribs only get more tender the longer they cook.
- Time-Saving Hosting Tip: Coat the ribs in the mustard binder and five-spice dry rub and wrap them tightly in the fridge the night before for extra flavorful ribs you just slide in the oven on Thanksgiving day! While they finish baking, simmer the pineapple-ginger glaze on the stove so it’s ready to brush on and caramelize in the oven for the last 10 minutes right before eating.
- Pairs Well With: Creamy Cheesy Cauliflower Bake and Roasted Chicken Corn Pasta Salad
Aburi Lemon Mayo Salmon
Want something that feels super elevated and impressive, but takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish? My Aburi Lemon Mayo Salmon is a total crowd-pleaser! Make this recipe in the air fryer or oven, and you’ll have deliciously creamy salmon ready in 15 minutes. It’s restaurant-level flavor with minimal effort! This is perfect especially for a small group of people, or for seafood lovers.
- Hosting Tip: Mix the lemon mayo topping up to a day in advance and keep it chilled in the fridge. When it’s time to eat, sear the salmon, spoon on the sauce, and hit it with a kitchen torch (or 1–2 minutes under the broiler) for an instant, showstopping tableside finish!
- Pairs Well With: Stir Fried Garlic Green Beans and Peach Burrata Salad
Orange Glazed POrk Belly
My Orange Glazed Pork Belly is guaranteed to steal the show! Inspired by traditional Taiwanese red braised pork belly with a bright, citrusy sweet-and-sour twist, it’s super tender, savory, and balanced out by fresh orange juice so it never feels overly heavy. Plus, the entire dish comes together in just 40 minutes.
- Time-Saving Hosting Tip: You can easily make this the day before! Keep the braised pork belly right in the orange soy braising liquid in the fridge overnight so the flavors soak in even deeper, then simply reheat it gently in the liquid on the stove right before you’re ready to eat
- Pairs Well With: Creamy Baked Napa Cabbage and Pan Fried Zucchini
