21 Roast Alternatives to Turkey for Thanksgiving Dinner
Thanksgiving doesn’t have to mean turkey! Whether you’re hosting a small gathering, dealing with dietary preferences, or simply want to shake up tradition, there are countless delicious roast options that will make your holiday feast memorable.
From elegant beef tenderloin to festive glazed ham, these alternatives offer everything from quick weeknight-friendly options to show-stopping centerpieces. Each brings its own unique flavors and cooking advantages, ensuring your Thanksgiving table will be anything but ordinary.
1. Roast Beef Tenderloin
This is the ultimate elegant alternative that practically cooks itself. Beef tenderloin delivers restaurant-quality results with minimal effort – just season, sear, and roast. The meat is incredibly tender and has a rich, buttery flavor that pairs beautifully with traditional sides like mashed potatoes and green beans.
It’s also much quicker than turkey, typically taking just 45 minutes to an hour. Perfect for smaller gatherings or when you want to impress without the stress.
Get the recipe here.
2. Honey Glazed Ham
A crowd-pleasing classic that brings sweet, savory comfort to your table. Ham is incredibly convenient since it usually comes pre-cooked, so you’re really just warming it through and adding that gorgeous caramelized glaze.
The honey creates a beautiful golden crust while keeping the meat juicy inside. It’s also fantastic for leftovers – think sandwiches, breakfast hash, and soup. Plus, it feeds a crowd without much hands-on time, letting you focus on other dishes.
Get the recipe here.
3. Roast Duck
Rich, flavorful, and absolutely luxurious, duck brings a gourmet restaurant feel to your holiday table. The meat has a deeper, more complex flavor than turkey, with crispy skin that’s absolutely irresistible.
While it requires a bit more attention to render the fat properly, the process isn’t complicated – just score the skin and roast at a moderate temperature. The rendered duck fat is a bonus, perfect for roasting the most incredible potatoes you’ve ever tasted.
Get the recipe here.
4. Prime Rib Roast
This is pure indulgence on a plate – tender, juicy, and incredibly flavorful. Prime rib has that perfect balance of marbled fat that keeps it moist while delivering rich, beefy taste in every bite. It’s surprisingly straightforward to cook using the reverse-sear method, and it looks absolutely spectacular as a centerpiece.
The best part is you can easily control doneness from rare to well-done across the roast, keeping everyone happy at your table.
Get the recipe here.
5. Roast Chicken
Don’t underestimate the humble roast chicken for your holiday feast. When done right, it’s incredibly juicy with crispy, golden skin that rivals any fancy alternative. It’s budget-friendly, cooks quickly, and you can easily make multiple birds for larger groups.
Season it with herbs, lemon, and garlic for a bright, homey flavor that feels both comforting and celebratory. Plus, it’s nearly impossible to mess up, making it perfect for stress-free hosting.
Get the recipe here.
6. Roast Goose
Traditional in many European countries, goose brings old-world elegance to your Thanksgiving table. The meat is rich and flavorful, similar to duck but with more substance. Like duck, it renders beautiful fat for roasting vegetables, and the skin becomes wonderfully crispy.
Goose does require some planning since it’s not as widely available, but the payoff is a truly memorable meal. The flavor is distinctive enough to make your dinner feel special and different.
Get the recipe here.
7. Leg of Lamb
Mediterranean flavors meet holiday tradition with this aromatic and tender option. Lamb has a distinctive, slightly gamey flavor that’s enhanced beautifully with herbs like rosemary, thyme, and garlic.
It’s surprisingly easy to prepare – just season generously and roast until perfectly pink inside. The cooking time is reasonable, and it presents beautifully on the table. It’s also an excellent choice for those who want something different but not too adventurous.
Get the recipe here.
8. Pork Crown Roast
This stunning presentation piece looks like it belongs in a medieval feast. The crown shape is created by tying two pork racks together, creating a natural bowl that can be filled with stuffing or roasted vegetables.
The meat is tender and mild, making it appealing to picky eaters. While it looks complicated, it’s actually quite simple to prepare. Ask your butcher to form the crown for you, and you’ll have a show-stopping centerpiece that photographs beautifully.
Get the recipe here.
9. Beef Brisket
Low and slow cooking transforms this tough cut into fork-tender perfection. Brisket has incredible depth of flavor, especially when seasoned with a good rub and cooked until it practically falls apart.
The best part is that it actually improves if made a day ahead, making your holiday prep much easier. It’s also very forgiving – hard to overcook once you get the hang of it. The rich, smoky flavor feels festive and satisfying.
Get the recipe here.
10. Roast Pork Loin
Lean, mild, and incredibly versatile, pork loin is like a blank canvas for whatever flavors you love. It cooks relatively quickly and evenly, making it great for weeknight dinners or stress-free entertaining.
You can stuff it with herbs and breadcrumbs, wrap it in bacon, or simply season with salt, pepper, and garlic. The meat stays moist when cooked properly, and it slices beautifully for presentation. It’s also budget-friendly compared to many other roast options.
Get the recipe here.
11. Cornish Game Hens
Individual birds for each guest create an elegant, restaurant-style presentation that feels truly special. These small chickens have tender, juicy meat and cook much faster than a whole turkey or large roast.
Each person gets their own perfectly portioned bird, eliminating any carving drama. They’re also great for experimenting with different flavors – you could do herb butter under the skin, citrus stuffing, or even bacon wrapping for extra richness.
Get the recipe here.
12. Salmon Wellington
This elegant dish wraps flaky salmon in buttery puff pastry with a savory filling of herbs and sometimes mushrooms. It’s impressive to look at but surprisingly manageable to make, especially if you use store-bought puff pastry.
The salmon stays incredibly moist inside its pastry shell, and the combination of textures is delightful. It’s also a great option for pescatarians or anyone wanting something lighter than traditional meat roasts while still feeling festive and special.
Get the recipe here.
13. Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
Butterflying and stuffing pork tenderloin creates beautiful pinwheel slices that look professionally prepared. The mild pork flavor works with countless stuffing combinations – from apple and sage to spinach and feta.
It cooks quickly due to the flattened shape, making it perfect for busy schedules. The presentation is elegant enough for company, but the technique is simple enough for everyday cooking. Each slice reveals the colorful stuffing spiral, making serving feel special.
Get the recipe here.
14. Roast Venison
For the adventurous palate, venison brings wild, earthy flavors to your holiday table. The meat is lean and has a distinctive taste that’s richer than beef but not overwhelming. It pairs wonderfully with fall flavors like cranberries, juniper, and root vegetables.
While it requires careful attention not to overcook (venison can become tough), the results are spectacular when done right. It’s definitely a conversation starter and perfect for outdoor enthusiasts or those wanting something truly different.
Get the recipe here.
15. Standing Rib Roast
This is essentially prime rib with the bones frenched for an even more dramatic presentation. The bones act as a natural roasting rack, helping the meat cook evenly while creating an impressive visual impact.
The flavor is rich and beefy, with the bone adding extra depth. It’s surprisingly simple to prepare despite looking incredibly sophisticated. The bones also make carving easier and more precise, giving you perfect slices every time. It’s definitely a special occasion choice.
Get the recipe here.
16. Glazed Spiral Ham
Pre-sliced convenience meets holiday elegance in this foolproof option. The spiral cutting means no carving skills required – just slice along the existing cuts and serve. The glaze caramelizes beautifully, creating a sweet-savory balance that appeals to all ages.
It’s nearly impossible to overcook since it’s already fully prepared, just needing reheating and glazing. The leftovers are incredible too, perfect for sandwiches, breakfast hash, or adding to soups and casseroles throughout the week.
Get the recipe here.
17. Roast Pheasant
This game bird offers delicate, slightly sweet meat that’s more approachable than other wild game options. Pheasant has a texture similar to chicken but with more complex, nuanced flavors. It’s lean, so it benefits from careful attention or wrapping in bacon to prevent drying out.
The presentation is quite elegant, especially if you can source birds with their beautiful plumage intact. It’s perfect for smaller, intimate gatherings where you want something special and memorable.
Get the recipe here.
18. Beef Short Ribs
These become fall-off-the-bone tender with slow roasting, developing incredibly rich, deep flavors. The marbling keeps them moist and succulent, while the bones add extra flavor during cooking. They’re very forgiving – almost impossible to overcook once you master the low-and-slow technique.
The presentation is rustic yet elegant, and they pair beautifully with red wine and hearty vegetables. They’re also great for make-ahead cooking since they reheat beautifully and actually taste better the next day.
Get the recipe here.
19. Roast Capon
A capon is essentially a large, tender rooster that delivers incredibly flavorful and juicy meat. The birds are bigger than regular chickens but smaller than turkeys, making them perfect for medium-sized gatherings. The meat has more flavor than standard chicken while remaining familiar and approachable.
They roast evenly and consistently, with beautiful crispy skin. The size makes them much easier to handle than a large turkey, while still providing that traditional poultry experience for your holiday meal.
Get the recipe here.
20. Stuffed Beef Roast
Rolling and stuffing a beef roast creates beautiful presentation slices while adding incredible flavor throughout the meat. Popular combinations include spinach and cheese, mushroom and herb, or even fruit-based stuffings.
The technique looks complicated but is actually quite straightforward – just butterfly, stuff, and tie. The stuffing keeps the meat moist while infusing it with complementary flavors. Each slice reveals the colorful filling, making serving feel special and restaurant-quality without requiring professional skills.
Get the recipe here.
21. Roast Guinea Fowl
This French farmhouse favorite offers gamey flavor that’s less intense than duck but more interesting than chicken. Guinea fowl has lean, flavorful meat with a slightly nutty taste that pairs beautifully with herbs and wine.
The birds are smaller, so you might need two for larger groups, but they cook quickly and evenly. They’re not as widely available as other options, but specialty butchers or farmers’ markets often carry them. The flavor is distinctive enough to make your meal feel gourmet and special.
Get the recipe here.
