Thanksgiving Food Alternatives

Turkey. Stuffing. Green beans. Deviled eggs. Pumpkin pie. BORRRING! Are you tired of eating the same exact things every single year on Thanksgiving Day? Why not mix it up and try out some new recipes this year! Check out these ideas:

Appetizers

Time to tempt the taste buds. Just make sure your guests don’t fill up on these scrumptious morsels!

Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp
No shame in incorporating seafood into your Thanksgiving spread! Fresh, juicy shrimp cozied up inside a savory piece of bacon makes an excellent starter.

Dates Stuffed with Pine Nuts
Sweet, chewy dates are enhanced with a mixture of pine nuts, cheese, and honey. Everyone will gobble up these bite-sized treats!

Baked Brie with Hazelnuts and Thyme
Creamy, warm brie is seasoned with smoky thyme and sprinkled with crunchy hazelnuts. Enough said!

Main Course

The star of the show…the main course must be a crowd-pleaser. But, forget about the wishbone, with these dishes, you don’t need luck!

Lobster Pot Pies
Think about it. One of the most indulgent things you can eat on one of the biggest holidays of the year. It just makes sense. Make these individual pot pies for each of your guests!

Filet Mignon with Mushrooms and Madeira
Once again. Decadent. But, it’s a special day, so it’s the perfect choice! Succulent steak drenched in an earthy, flavorful mushroom sauce. Mouth-watering!

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Maple Cinnamon Sage Brown Butter
If you’re a vegetarian, try this dish as your entrée. Or, it can act as a side dish for the meat eaters. Butter makes everything better and in this recipe, it’s seasoned with the quintessential autumnal spices.

Side Dishes

Serving to compliment the main course, these offerings are worth a try instead of the same ol’, same ol’.

Spice-Roasted Cauliflower and Jerusalem Artichokes
Fragrant and savory, this dish will tempt your guests with its tantalizing perfume. Just don’t tell them how healthy it is. Nutritious and delicious!

Cheesy Barley Gratin
Three cheeses go into making this delicious dish. Your friends and family will think they’re getting mac and cheese, but will be pleasantly surprised by this incredible alternative.

Steamed Carrots with Lemon-Dill Vinaigrette
Fresh and healthy and lighter than the aforementioned dishes, these delectable carrots will serve to cleanse the palettes of the partakers of your feast.

Desserts

Ditch the lame pumpkin pie and opt for some of these tasty alternatives instead!

Chocolate Mousse Pie with Phyllo Crust
Chocolate. Mousse. Pie. There’s never a reason NOT to have chocolate, and what better time than the biggest feasting day of the year!

Salted Caramel Pecan Cheesecake
The two best things about this recipe (besides the obvious) is that it’s no-bake and you get to serve it in cute little mason jars. Win, win!

Peanut Butter Cookies with Berry Sorbet
These gluten-free cookies are made with only three ingredients and will take up a mere twenty minutes of your life to make from start to finish. Pair with the finest berry-flavored sorbet you can find.

Beverages

Water with a twist of lemon is best to drink when washing down a meal of this magnitude, but here are several other options available to quench your thirst.

Hot Cranberry-Pineapple Punch
If it won’t feel like Thanksgiving without the cranberries, then at least have them in liquid form. This warming punch will fill the house with a festive aroma and make you feel cozy and refreshed when consumed.

Sparkling Apple Tea
You can never go wrong with tea. Adding apple and cinnamon makes this drink the perfect accompaniment to all the delicious eats!

Peppermint Mocha Latte
After all the debauchery, top the holiday off with this creamy, invigorating treat. The mint will help to settle an overfull tummy and serve to get you in the Christmas spirit!

I know they call it “turkey day” for a reason, but go rogue and do your own thing on Thanksgiving. Your guests will be pleasantly surprised and you may discover some new favorite recipes. Surely something to be thankful for!