75+ Alternative Thanksgiving Meals

Tired of the same old Thanksgiving classics? This list of Alternative Thanksgiving Meals is sure to give your Thanksgiving dinner a welcome update!

Maybe you still want that traditional Thanksgiving meal, but aren’t feeding enough people to justify making a whole turkey? These turkey breast recipes are the answer!

Still full of all of that delicious Thanksgiving turkey flavor, making a turkey breast is a great solution to hosting a smaller crowd.

turkey breast covered in orange sherry sauce

Orange Sage Turkey Breast with Creamy Sherry Sauce

Orange Sage Turkey Breast with Creamy Sherry Sauce is a flavorful and easy meal made with sherry cooking wine, fresh oranges and a sweet cream sauce.
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turkey breast sliced on a cutting board

Turkey Breast with Stuffing

Oven roasted turkey breast doesn't get any better than this Stuffed Turkey Breast! Perfect for any weeknight, not just Thanksgiving!Oven roasted turkey breast doesn't get any better than this Stuffed Turkey Breast! Perfect for any weeknight, not just Thanksgiving!
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angled shot of platter of roast turkey breast with oranges and cranberries

Herb Mayonnaise Roast Turkey Breast Recipe

Herb Mayonnaise Turkey Breast is a delicious roast turkey breast perfect for Thanksgiving dinner. Easy to make in a fraction of the time of a whole turkey.
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Spicy Honey Grilled Turkey is perfect for throwing on the grill for a quick and easy meal time solution!

Spicy Honey Grilled Turkey

Spicy Honey Grilled Turkey is perfect for throwing on the grill for a quick and easy meal time solution!
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Chicken Dinners

From cornish game hens to stuffed chicken breasts, these chicken dinners will be a welcome addition to your spread on Thanksgiving day.

overhead of a roasted cornish hen

Garlic Herb Cornish Hens Recipe

Roasted Cornish Hens are basted with a fresh herbs olive oil, roasted for browned crispy skin and finished with a zesty butter garlic sauce.
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plate of crispy baked chicken thighs

Baked Chicken Thighs in Oven

Flavorful and crispy baked chicken thighs basted with a garlic lemon butter sauce. An easy chicken dinner in the oven.
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spinach stuffed chicken with apple gravy on a white plate

Stuffed Chicken with Apple Gravy

Award winning Stuffed Chicken with Apple Gravy uses pine nuts, spinach, currants and garlic to flavor the chicken. A savory apple gravy finishes off this easy dinner recipe!
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plate of crock pot balsamic chicken

Crock Pot Apple Balsamic Chicken recipe

Fork tender chicken breasts in a rich sweet sauce with less than 10 minutes of prep! Serve over noodles, rice or mashed potatoes.
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braised chicken thighs in a cast iron skillet

Braised Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs braised in a white wine Dijon sauce and caramelized shallots, crispy bacon and tomatoes.
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angle view of chicken cutlet with sauce

Chicken Cutlets with Roast Tomato & Garlic

Breaded chicken cutlets with a roast tomato and garlic topping and balsamic sauce served over arugula.
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caprese chicken recipe

Chicken Caprese Recipe

This Caprese Chicken is sure to be one of your favorite grilled or baked chicken recipes. Juicy & delicious, it comes together with only 6 ingredients!
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overhead shot of instant pot whole chicken on cutting board

Instant Pot Whole Chicken

Instant Pot Whole Chicken is so EASY! With a simple cooked chicken, you can make yourself a main dish or cooked chicken for multiple other recipes!
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garlic parmesan chicken on a white plate with asparagus

Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken

Garlic Parmesan Chicken is an easy weeknight meal option that kids love! Just 6 ingredients and dinner is made!
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chicken marsala with mushrooms in a skillet

Chicken Marsala Recipe

This Chicken Marsala recipe is made in 1 pan in less than 30 minutes! Whip up this EASY dish with a rich creamy mushroom sauce on top of juicy chicken.
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rimmed baking sheet with roast chicken and vegetables

Spatchcock Chicken Recipe

Spatchcocking a chicken is an easy and ingenious way to break down a bird that guarantees gorgeous results every time.
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plate of chicken cacciatore and pasta

Chicken Cacciatore

Easy Chicken Cacciatore uses tender chicken in a tomato sauce with mushrooms, bell peppers, olives and herbs. Only takes 30 minutes from stove to plate!
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close up of chicken kiev cut in half

Easy Chicken Kiev

Thin chicken breasts stuffed with compound butter and covered in a light Panko breading, this Chicken Kiev is an easy dinner the whole family will enjoy!
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Close up of creamy asiago chicken

Creamy Asiago Chicken

Creamy Asiago Chicken is a tasty and easy chicken recipe that is perfect for a weeknight meal. Mushrooms, shallots and thyme flavor this delicious dish. 
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close up of roast chicken with thyme

How to Roast Chicken

Easy steps on how to roast chicken plus the mostly frequently asked questions about baking a whole chicken answered! Moist and flavorful chicken and vegetables in under 2 hours. 
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chicken thigh on plate with fork and veggies

Fireman Chicken

Fireman Chicken, also known as Cornell Chicken BBQ, is a classic BBQ chicken marinade that originated in upstate New York, but is making its way through the states!
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Crispy Duck A L’Orange Recipe- You won’t believe how easy this dish really is! Classic crispy duck a l'orange makes for a perfect holiday or special event dinner. Super juicy and flavorful meat with a crispy, seasoned skin.

Crispy Duck a l’Orange Recipe

Classic crispy duck a l’orange makes for a perfect holiday or special event dinner. Super juicy and flavorful meat with a crispy, seasoned skin.
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Orange Marmalade chicken with orange, tarragon and olives

French Baked Chicken

Orange Marmalade with orange, tarragon and olives make this delicious, sticky crust for French Baked Chicken. Use on chicken halves or chicken breasts for a delicious French dinner recipe. 
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Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe- the best lemon chicken recipe out there. Garlic and honey make this sauce bright and tasty! Serve lemon chicken over pasta, rice or toasted couscous. www.savoryexperiments.com

Honey Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe

Honey Lemon Garlic Chicken is an easy dinner recipe made with garlic and honey to make this sauce bright and tasty! Serve lemon chicken over pasta, rice or toasted couscous. 
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Walnut Crusted Chicken is a deliciously healthy, crunchy chicken with a cool dipping sauce! Made with chopped walnuts, panko bread crumbs, and fresh rosemary! #walnutcrustedchicken #rosemarychicken www.savoryexperiments.com

Walnut Crusted Chicken Recipe

Walnut Crusted Chicken is a crunchy, oven-baked chicken with a zesty yogurt dipping sauce. Perfect for those craving crispy chicken cutlets, but without the fat.
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angle view of chicken in piccata sauce

Chicken Piccata Recipe

Classic Chicken Piccata is an easy Italian recipe that comes together in less than 30 minutes and explodes with flavors of lemon, caper and shallot.
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Lemon Chicken with Zucchini is a meal with classic, all-American flavors. Cast iron recipes are great since everything gets cooked in the same pan! #lemonchickenrecipe #castironrecipes www.savoryexperiments.com

Lemon Chicken Recipe

 Lemon Chicken with Zucchini is a meal with classic, all-American flavors perfect for even the pickiest of eaters. Serve with long grain wild rice for a full meal.
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overhead close up of a beer can chicken

Beer Can Chicken Recipe

This Beer Can Chicken Recipe is made with a special blend of spices and a touch of sugar to make a zesty bark. Serve with Cola BBQ Sauce.
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close up of stuffed chicken breast

Pesto Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast Recipe

Pesto Spinach Stuffed Chicken are chicken breasts stuffed with gooey mozzarella cheese, sun dried tomatoes and spinach. Marinated in a yogurt and basil pesto sauce, they are moist and flavorful. 
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Pork Dinners

With recipes like a crown roast of pork on your dinner table, I promise no one will even be missing the turkey! Alternative Thanksgiving meals don’t get much better than this!

pork loin in a crockpot

Hawaiian Slow Cook Pork Loin

Bring the island flavors to the table with this simple, slow cooker Hawaiian Pork loin made with pantry staples and finished with an easy to make sauce.
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sliced pork tenderloin with roasted veggies

Herb Garlic Pork Tenderloin

One Pan Garlic Herb Pork is an easy weeknight meal that roasts juicy pork with vegetables all on one pan and in just 30 minutes!
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straight on shot of slice of french onion pork loin

French Onion Pork Loin

This French Onion Pork Loin with potatoes, carrots, parsnip and onion is the perfect one-dish weeknight meal!
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overhead pork loin plated on a serving platter

Crock Pot Pork Loin Roast

Use your slow cooker to make a tender pork loin roast. Serve with onion gravy and mashed potatoes for a hearty comfort meal.
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Pineapple Balsamic Pork Chops are a quick and easy meal that combine sweet balsamic vinegar and pineapple with garlic and onions for a well-balanced and easy meal! #porkchoprecipes #balsamicporkchops www.savoryexperiments.com

Pineapple Balsamic Pork Chop Recipe

Pineapple Balsamic Pork Chops are a quick and easy meal that combine sweet balsamic vinegar and pineapple with garlic and onions for a well-balanced and easy meal!
See The Recipe!
overhead shot of sliced pork tenderloin in dish of stuffing

Pork Tenderloin with Apple Stuffing

Apple Spiced Pork Tenderloin is a pork tenderloin recipe  that will blow you away with aromatic spices and an apple jelly glaze, surrounding with fresh apple and ham stuffing, all cooked on the same baking sheet.
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overhead of pork chops in a butter sage sauce

Butter Sage Cast Iron Pork Chop Recipe

Butter Sage Pork Chops are pan seared pork chops in a simple butter, garlic and sage sauce. Sear in cast iron and then finish in the oven for the best pork chop recipe ever! 
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overhead shot of honey ginger short ribs in dutch oven

Honey Ginger Short Rib Recipe

Honey Ginger Short Ribs are a zesty and sweet, fall off the bone short rib recipe, braised to perfection and served with the best fried rice ever!
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bbq pork chop

Pork Chops in the Crock Pot

These Crock Pot Pork Chops are the perfect family dinner. Super tender, cooked in BBQ sauce and a special spice rub, then smothered with bacon and cheese!
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angled shot of four crispy pork chops on a platter

Shake and Bake Pork Chops

If you've never made pork chops in the oven, this shake and bake Crispy Baked Pork Chop recipe is the best! It's even better than shake and bake!
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Spiced Pork Tenderloin is tender pork rubbed with spices and roasted to perfection. The amazing aroma coming from the oven is just a holiday bonus! #porktenderloin #holidayentree www.savoryexperiments.com

Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry Sauce

Spiced Pork Tenderloin is tender pork rubbed with spices and roasted to perfection. The amazing aroma coming from the oven is just a holiday bonus!
See The Recipe!
two halves of a grilled stuffed pork chop on a plate with green beans

Grilled Stuffed Pork Chops

Grilled Stuffed Pork Chops are an easy grilled pork recipe. Herb marinated pork is stuffed with bread crumbs, herbs and Parmesan cheese and grilled to flavorful perfection in just 15 minutes!
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Crown Pork Roast is the perfect special occasion or holiday meal to serve for a crowd. Tasty and impressive presentation make this a winning pork recipe!

Crown Pork Roast

Crown Pork Roast is the perfect special occasion or holiday meal to serve for a crowd. Tasty and impressive presentation make this a winning pork recipe!
See The Recipe!
Creamy Apple Pork Chops are a wholesome meal your whole family will enjoy. Mushrooms, apples, juicy pork chops in a savory cream sauce.

Creamy Apple Pork Chops

Creamy Apple Pork Chops are a wholesome meal your whole family will enjoy. Mushrooms, apples, juicy pork chops in a savory cream sauce.
See The Recipe!

Beef Dinners

As a turkey alternative, these beef recipes will take center stage. Perfect for special occasion of any kind, they’re a delicious alternative to making a whole bird.

overhead of rare rib roast on a cutting board with fresh herbs and garlic cloves

Best Prime Rib Roast Recipe

The best prime rib recipes using a flavorful herb crust, Dijon mustard and zesty creamy horseradish sauce. Easy instructions and images!
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two steaks in a skillet topped with butter

Garlic Butter Sirloin Steaks

This Garlic Butter Sirloin Steak recipe is melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Juicy sirloin with homemade garlic herb butter for ultimate flavor!
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cross section of rare beef wellingotn

Easy Beef Wellington

Beef Wellington a classic dish for a special occasion. Tender beef tenderloin is smothered in Dijon mustard, mushroom, shallot and proscuitto before being baked in a delicate puff pastry.
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served beef tenderloin roast with oranges

Cranberry Glazed Beef Tenderloin

This easy cranberry-glazed beef tenderloin is the perfect celebratory meal, coming together in a snap with fall spices and cranberry glaze.
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how to serve beef wellington appetizers

Mini Beef Wellington

Mini Beef Wellington is one of the best party appetizers out there! Mini pieces of beef tenderloin seasoned with mushrooms, thyme, Dijon and bacon, all tucked into puff pastry and topped with a creamy mustard sauce.
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close up of melting butter on a steak

Steak Frites

A juicy seasoned steak over crispy French fried potatoes, topped with tangy maitre d’hotel butter and served with sauteed garlic mushrooms and onions.
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overhead eye of round roast

Baked Eye of Round Roast

This Baked Eye of Round Roast is the easiest way to make delicious roast beef in your oven! Slice your roast beef and serve with a flavorful gravy made from the drippings.
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sliced braised brisket with gravy

Braised Brisket

A slow, red-wine Braised Brisket is the perfect EASY dinner with minimal effort. A prime cut of beef, slowly roasted and fall apart tender!
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overhead of two steaks in a pan

Pan Fried Steak

How to make a Pan Fried Steak at home is easier than you think with my step-by-step instructions and easy steak seasoning!
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serving platter of beef tenderloin with blueberry sauce

Reverse Sear Beef Tenderloin with Blueberry Sauce

Stunning Reverse Sear Beef Tenderloin recipe with a savory Blueberry Sauce and toasted Hazelnuts is the perfect celebratory roast for your holiday table!
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oscar style steak with lemon and side salad

Oscar Style Steak (Crab oscar)

Fork tender beef tenderloin filets topped with crab oscar and buttery sauce! Ready in under 30 minutes and the perfect romantic dinner idea.
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plate of seared beef tenderloin with tomatoes and scallions

Coffee Crusted Beef Tenderloin Recipe

Coffee Crusted Beef Tenderloin will add a whole new flavor dimension to your roast! Serve with delicious whipped horseradish sauce.
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Crab Stuffed Beef Tenderloin takes a tenderloin and fills the center with buttered crab and caramelized onions, then baked to perfection with a black pepper bark. #beeftenderloinrecipe www.savoryexperiments.com

Crab Stuffed Beef Tenderloin

Crab Stuffed Beef Tenderloin takes a tenderloin and fills the center with buttered crab and caramelized onions, then baked to perfection with a black pepper bark. 
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Cranberry Glazed Tri-tip Roast- a Cranberry and orange glaze that also tastes amazing on vanilla ice cream and waffles!

Cranberry Glazed Tri-Tip Roast Recipe

Cranberry Glazed Tri-Tip is a tender piece of beef that pairs perfectly with a sweet cranberry-orange glaze for a perfect roast on the grill, smoker or even in the oven. 
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In just under 30 minutes, this tender and juicy Balsamic Whiskey Sirloin is grilled and ready to eat. What could be better? 

Balsamic Whiskey Sirloin Steak Marinade

5 minutes and 5 ingredients for flavorful and tender sirloin steaks. Make them on the grill or in the oven.
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Mushroom Cheese Stuffed Flank Steak is a delicious and succulent main dish with cheese, mushrooms and garlic. The best flank steak pinwheel recipe! #stuffedflanksteak #flanksteakrecipe www.savoryexperiments.com

Mushrooms and Cheese Stuffed Flank Steak

Mushroom Cheese Stuffed Flank Steak is a delicious and succulent main dish with cheese, mushrooms and garlic.
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Grilled Filet Mignon

Garlic Butter Steak- Grilled Filet Mignon with Brandy Garlic Butter

Garlic Butter Steak is perfect for any occasion! Grilled filet mignon is perfect for a special date night or just for a typical weeknight meal! 
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porcini rubbed steak with grilled onions

Capital Grille Porcini Rubbed Steak

Copycat Capital Grille Porcini Rubbed Delmonico is the perfect home date night dinner. An easy recipe filled with robust steak flavors and sweet balsamic reduction sauce.
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Seafood Dinners

Lobster and crab are sure to get your family in the holiday spirit! It’s the perfect way to add a festive touch to your big day. They take the cake when talking about alternative Thanksgiving meals.

overhead of seafood paella recipe in a cast iron skillet

Classic Seafood Paella

If you’re a seafood lover, you’ll adore this paella. My Classic Seafood Paella recipe gives you an easy, step-by-step paella for the paella novice.
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overhead of seafood mac and cheese in a casserole dish

Seafood Mac and Cheese

This Seafood Mac and Cheese is super creamy with two types of cheese, seasonings, your favorite seafood and crunchy topping.
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whole baked stuffed lobster with butter

Whole Stuffed Lobster

If you're looking for an elegant yet easy dinner, this Whole Stuffed Lobster recipe is for you! Made with simple pantry ingredients, it's sure to impress!
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20 Minute Italian Seafood Stew Recipe- this seafood pasta is a classic Italian recipe made by fisherman’s wives using a variety of seafood making a small amount go a long way. Similar to cioppino, this recipe uses couscous for a satisfying and easy meal. www.savoryexperiments.com

Italian Seafood Stew Recipe

Italian Seafood Stew is a quick seafood recipe using couscous, tomatoes, currants and capers. This Italian stew comes together in just 20 minutes from start to finish! 
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side angle of baked cod topped with lump lobster meat

Baked Cod with Lobster Topping

Tender Bake Cod topped with buttery lobster chunks in a creamy topping and finished with velvety beurre blanc sauce.
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angle view of seafood fra diavolo recipe on a black serving plate

Seafood Fra Diavolo Recipe

Sweet and spicy tomato-based sauce simmered with tender seafood like shrimp, scallops, calamari and more.
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Crab Stuffed Lobster Tails is the ideal dinner for a special occasion. You won't believe how easy they are to make and how good they are! #lobsterrecipes #stuffedlobstertails www.savoryexperiments.com

Stuffed Lobster Tail

Crab Stuffed Lobster Tails is the ideal dinner for a special occasion. You won’t beleive how easy they are to make!
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overhead of lobster mac and cheese with large piece of lobster meat on top

Lobster Mac and Cheese

Sweet lobster, creamy cheese & a crunchy panko topping come together to make the BEST Lobster Mac and Cheese recipe! Perfect for any elegant or casual meal!
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close up of cooked lobster tail

Best Broiled Lobster Tail Recipe

Broiled Lobster Tails are seasoned and basted with lemon butter (and a secret ingredient!) Ready in just 10 minutes!
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close up bread crumb topping and crab pieces on crab imperial

Crab Imperial

Baked Crab Imperial is a creamy and buttery masterpiece made with lump crab meat, fresh lemon and topped with bread crumbs.
 
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Vegetarian Dinners

Have a vegetarian in your life or not big on juicy meat yourself? These vegetarian dinners are perfect for non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner ideas.

overhead stuffed shells in a casserole dish

Stuffed Shells with Ricotta

If you're craving hearty Italian food but also a quick and easy recipe, these classic stuffed shells are what you're looking for.
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overhead of pesto tortellini in a cooking vessel

Pesto Tortellini

With only 5 ingredients, Pesto Tortellini with Asiago is perfect for busy nights. Ready in only 15 minutes, it still packs huge flavor!
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overhead of zucchini lasagna

Vegetarian Zucchini Lasagna

Satisfy your craving for Italian with this amazing low-carb EASY Vegetarian Zucchini Lasagna. It's comfort food minus the carbs!
See The Recipe!

Thanksgiving Side Dishes

collage of alternative Thanksgiving meals


 
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

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