Thanksgiving Made Easy: 22 Traditional and Unique Main Dishes to Try
Thanksgiving is a time for gathering with loved ones and sharing a memorable meal, and the main course is often the highlight of the feast. This collection features both traditional and innovative Thanksgiving mains that cater to every palate. Whether you prefer the classic roasted turkey or want to explore new flavors with alternative proteins, these recipes will help you create a festive centerpiece for your holiday table. Impress your guests with a delicious spread that honors tradition while embracing creativity!
Smoked Rack Of Lamb
Impress your guests with this flavorful smoked rack of lamb or lamb chops recipe that combines the rich taste of lamb with wine, fresh herbs, and shallot, along with the magic of smoke. Pair it with some delicious side dishes to make it the perfect meal for any occasion!
Recipe here: Smoked Rack Of Lamb
Smoked Sweet Onion Honey Glazed Ham
Smoked sweet onion honey glazed ham on a pellet grill makes such a delicious meal for a special occasion. Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter would be the perfect time for smoking a ham on a pellet smoker or Traeger grill. This honey ham recipe is juicy, boasting all kinds of rich, wonderful flavours. The glaze ensures it won’t dry out and the flavour is just phenomenal.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Sweet Onion Honey Glazed Ham
Pot Roast With Red Wine
This slow cooker pot roast with red wine is a simple and delicious meal that is perfect for preparing in the morning and letting cook all day. The mouth-watering aroma that fills your home when you return is just a bonus! This is one of those slow cooker recipes that will become a family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Pot Roast With Red Wine
Cranberry Cream Cheese Stuffed Flank Steak
How does cranberry cream cheese stuffed flank steak sound as a Christmas dinner dish? Doesn’t the sound of this recipe make your mouth begin to water? It’s such a great recipe for stuffed flank steak and works well as a New Year, Thanksgiving or Christmas steak recipe when you want something both fancy and tasty.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Cream Cheese Stuffed Flank Steak
Cranberry Holiday Beef Brisket
This cranberry holiday beef brisket is seriously amazing. It’s a lovely dish for the holiday season, Jewish holidays or any time of year you’re feeling festive. A large brisket with fresh cranberries or cranberry jelly is a great recipe for any holiday, special occasion or simply because it’s delicious enough to have any day!
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Holiday Beef Brisket
Slow Cooker Apple Cider Brined Turkey Breast
Slow cooker apple cider brined turkey breast is a perfect autumn recipe. You’ve never had such moist turkey! It’s juicy and delicious and bursting with fall flavors. Cooking boneless turkey breast in a slow cooker is an easy no fuss dinner. This is the best brined turkey breast and perfect for all the holidays ahead. Read on for how to make an easy brine for turkey breast.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Apple Cider Brined Turkey Breast
Holiday Beef Wellington
What about making holiday beef wellington for Christmas dinner this year? It’s made with beef tenderloin, the most tender cut of beef, along with flavourful ingredients such as prosciutto parma ham, rosemary, thyme, mushrooms, shallot, and more. This Thanksgiving or Christmas beef wellington recipe is straightforward to make and it’s a wonderfully decadent meal for the holidays.
Get the Recipe: Holiday Beef Wellington
Smoked Turkey Breast
Knowing how to smoke turkey breast over wood chips or wood pellets like a pro means you can make this wonderful smoked turkey breast recipe for the family. A tasty holiday turkey option, smoking adds a whole other layer of flavour to this juicy turkey breast. So fire up the Traeger grill or pellet smoker like you mean business for a tasty Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner!
Get the Recipe: Smoked Turkey Breast
Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
How does turkey shepherd’s pie sound if you want some cozy comfort food this Thanksgiving? You can use leftover mashed potatoes in it as well. This tasty meal also includes onion, herbs, vegetables and Guinness for richness.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
Sheet Pan Turkey Breast Dinner
If you only like dark meat, you might want to make a more traditional Thanksgiving dinner, but if you’re looking for all the flavor of this dish but something simpler to make, this sheet pan Thanksgiving dinner with turkey breast is perfect!
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Turkey Breast Dinner
Sheet Pan Ham Dinner
Looking for a sheet pan dinner recipe? Not only would this recipe be perfect for either one, but it’s also simple enough to serve up as a regular busy weeknight staple whenever you like.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Ham Dinner
Maple Bacon Turkey Sliders
With bacon, maple syrup and cheese, these turkey sliders on Hawaiian rolls are ready in 30 minutes and are a perfect party food!
Get the Recipe: Maple Bacon Turkey Sliders
Stand Rib Prime Rib Roast
Prime rib makes for the best main course on Thanksgiving. This recipe uses a reverse sear method for a decadent and delicious flavor that everyone will love.
Get the Recipe: Stand Rib Prime Rib Roast
Spatchcock Grilled Turkey
Get Thanksgiving dinner on the table in no time by using the spatchcock method. Pop this juicy bird on the grill for a flavorful feast with the crispiest skin!
Get the Recipe: Spatchcock Grilled Turkey
Pineapple Honey Glazed Ham With Cherries
This honey and pineapple glazed ham is sliced to perfection and studded with juicy cherries for a festive and tasty option for Thanksgiving.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Honey Glazed Ham With Cherries
Boneless Herb Turkey Roast
Garlic and herb roasted turkey breast without the bones makes for a fuss free main course. You can skip the carving and hassel with the bones while still getting the flavor you crave with this easy recipe.
Get the Recipe: Boneless Herb Turkey Roast
Fuss Free Stuffed And Roasted Turkey
Stuff this gorgeously roasted turkey with onions, carrots and lemons to make an aromatic main course. This method is so easy, yet so tasty for Thanksgiving!
Get the Recipe: Fuss Free Stuffed And Roasted Turkey
Butterball Turkey
Grab a butterball turkey! This post will give you all the info you need to perfectly cook it, for the ultimate Thanksgiving feast!
Get the Recipe: Butterball Turkey
Pineapple Glazed Ham
If you are making a ham for Thanksgiving dinner, then this is the recipe to try. It adds a delectable pineapple glaze to tender ham for the ultimate Thanksgiving main course.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Glazed Ham
New York Strip Steak Roast
A New York strip roast makes a great Thanksgiving dinner option if you want to serve something other than turkey or ham. This dish is so tender and delicious for your family feast.
Get the Recipe: New York Strip Steak Roast
Pecan Praline Glazed Ham
This is the most divine way to serve ham for the holidays! Add sweet pecan praline glaze to a smoky and salty spiral ham for a main course to be thankful for!
Get the Recipe: Pecan Praline Glazed Ham
Holiday Roasted Chicken
It’s easy to make a great Thanksgiving or Christmas roast chicken recipe. Chicken’s such a versatile protein and can be jazzed up for a special occasion or used in so many other ways. Here the chicken is roasted whole with delicate, aromatic flavours.
Get the Recipe: The BEST Holiday Roasted Chicken
