Whether you’ve got a table full of turkey eaters, seafood fanatics, veggie lovers, or both, our main dishes bring the wow factor without maxing out your budget. Opt for chickens, salmon for a low-effort main, or a tart for a smaller crowd—or go all out on a full turkey.
Thanksgiving Chicken Main Dishes
Winner winner, chicken dinner! If you don’t want to go through the trouble of roasting an entire turkey but still want that drool-worthy poultry taste, why not try chickens this year? With a few variations on dry rubs and sauces, you can serve multiple tasty main dishes in less than an hour.
Get the recipes for Sherry Orange-Glazed Chickens, Curried Chicken Thighs with Beets, One-Pan Chicken Thighs and Roasted Winter Squash, and Gochujang Chicken with Crunchy Radish Salad.
Thanksgiving Seafood Main Dishes
If seafood is more your jam, both of our salmon dinners are roasted slow so it feels like more of a set-it-and-forget-it dinner—and much less stressful than turkey, which needs constant attention. Plus, both options offer a welcome spicy kick among savory Thanksgiving side dishes.
Get the recipes for Slow-Roasted Salmon with Dijon, Honey, and Ancho Chile Glaze and Slow Roasted Citrus and Hot Honey Salmon.
Vegetarian-Friendly Thanksgiving Main Dishes
Whether you call them tarts, crostatas, or galettes, these open-faced main dishes start with a flaky, savory crust and are topped with our favorite root vegetables and squashes, plus a hefty amount of cheese.
Get the recipes for Savory Squash Tart, Bobby’s Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Crostata, Leek and Potato Galette, and Twice Baked Acorn Squash.
And if you must have turkey…
…we’ve got you covered with some easy-to-make dry rubs for our smaller turkeys. They’re faster cooking than the big guys and you can still get a taste of poultry without going through the trouble of roasting for 5+ hours. Learn how to prep and cook small turkeys.
Find more Thanksgiving recipes.