Thanksgiving dinner does not have to depend on one whole turkey to make the table feel complete. These 23 dishes cover smoked and roasted centerpiece meats, smaller turkey options, vegetable sides, casseroles, soups, and a few less traditional mains. Several also free up oven space by using a smoker, air fryer, slow cooker, or Dutch oven. Choose a centerpiece that suits the crowd, then fill in the table with sides and starters that can hold their own beside it.
Traeger Smoked Leg of Lamb
Fresh rosemary, thyme, and garlic coat Traeger Smoked Leg of Lamb before the meat goes onto the smoker with olive oil, salt, and pepper. The recipe starts by tempering the lamb, then scores the fat cap so the seasoning can reach more of the surface. Slice it for a Thanksgiving centerpiece when turkey is not the only main you want on the table. Roasted potatoes or green vegetables make easy partners for the herb-seasoned meat.
Get the Recipe: Traeger Smoked Leg of Lamb
Southern Ground Beef & Baked Bean Casserole
Ground beef and baked beans make Southern Ground Beef & Baked Bean Casserole a substantial addition to a holiday spread, with tomatoes, brown sugar, Dijon, and bacon building the flavor. The casserole bakes until the beans absorb the sauce, then the bacon gets a broiler finish. It is less traditional than turkey and stuffing, but it works well for a family table that welcomes hearty alternatives. Serve smaller portions beside roasted vegetables or cornbread.
Get the Recipe: Southern Ground Beef & Baked Bean Casserole
Roast Pork with Apples
With apples, potatoes, carrots, and shallots roasting beside the meat, Roast Pork with Apples brings its own sides into the same pan. The bone-in pork roast also uses garlic, thyme, chicken broth, apple juice, and cider vinegar, giving the meal a distinctly autumn profile. This is a strong Thanksgiving alternative when the family would rather carve pork than poultry. Bring the roast to the table with its vegetables and use the pan juices for gravy.
Get the Recipe: Roast Pork with Apples
3-Ingredient Broccoli Cheese Casserole
Three ingredients keep 3-Ingredient Broccoli Cheese Casserole especially manageable for a crowded Thanksgiving cooking schedule. Broccoli, cheddar, and cream of mushroom soup go into an 8-inch baking dish after the broccoli is briefly steamed. The recipe serves six and takes about 35 minutes total, including 20 to 25 minutes in the oven. Set it beside roast meat and potatoes when the table needs a green vegetable without another long ingredient list.
Get the Recipe: 3-Ingredient Broccoli Cheese Casserole
Traeger Smoked Turkey
Smoked paprika and brown sugar season Traeger Smoked Turkey along with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. The recipe uses a young turkey and skips an extra brining step, relying instead on the dry rub and the smoker. That makes it the most traditional Thanksgiving centerpiece in this lineup while still keeping the oven free for casseroles and sides. Carve it at the table with gravy, potatoes, and whichever vegetable dishes are already waiting.
Get the Recipe: Traeger Smoked Turkey
Butternut Squash Mash with Parmesan
Roasted butternut squash becomes Butternut Squash Mash with Parmesan after Parmesan, Greek yogurt, and garlic powder are mixed into the soft flesh. Toasted nuts and scallions finish the top, and the mash can be served back in the squash shells for the holiday table. The salty cheese balances the squash’s natural sweetness without covering it up. Use this as a vegetable side beside smoked beef, lamb, pork, or turkey when mashed potatoes are not the only option you want.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Mash with Parmesan
Smoked Beef Tenderloin
For a beef centerpiece with a holiday look, Smoked Beef Tenderloin uses brown sugar, Dijon, Worcestershire sauce, fresh garlic, and brandy, whisky, or cognac around the roast. The smoker handles the cooking while the coating builds flavor on the exterior. Slice the tenderloin thinly so guests can still make room for casseroles and vegetables. It is a strong Thanksgiving choice for a smaller crowd that wants beef instead of a whole bird.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Beef Tenderloin
Broccoli Rice Casserole with Fresh Broccoli
Fresh broccoli and cooked white rice anchor Broccoli Rice Casserole with Fresh Broccoli, with cheddar, cream cheese, milk, Dijon, and seasonings forming the cheese sauce. The recipe serves eight and takes about 55 minutes total. Its combination of vegetable, rice, and cheese makes it substantial enough to hold a clear place among Thanksgiving sides. Bake it while the main roast rests, or prepare other dishes around its oven time so the holiday schedule stays manageable.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Rice Casserole with Fresh Broccoli
Air Fryer Turkey Breast
A smaller Thanksgiving crowd can use Air Fryer Turkey Breast instead of committing to a full bird. The bone-in, skin-on breast is brushed with softened butter mixed with thyme, marjoram, parsley, oregano, and tarragon, then air fried until it reaches 165°F. The recipe serves four and lists 55 minutes total. Slice it after a short rest and serve with the same potatoes, vegetables, and gravy you would put beside a larger turkey.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Cream of Onion Soup
Several kinds of onion build the base of Cream of Onion Soup, including Spanish onions, yellow onions, and shallots with garlic and fresh thyme. The onions are roasted before chicken broth, butter, and cream bring the soup together. Serve smaller bowls as a Thanksgiving starter so the soup adds warmth without taking over the meal. Its smooth texture also gives the table a different first course before heavier roasts, casseroles, and potato dishes arrive.
Get the Recipe: Cream of Onion Soup
Turkey Pot Pies with Puff Pastry
Flaky puff pastry tops Turkey Pot Pies with Puff Pastry, covering a creamy filling of turkey, carrots, onion, celery, peas, milk, and optional gravy. The pastry bakes at 375°F for about 20 to 25 minutes until golden and the filling is hot. Individual dishes make this especially easy to portion. It is a more casual Thanksgiving option than a carved roast, but it works well for a small holiday dinner or a Thanksgiving-weekend meal built around turkey.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Pot Pies with Puff Pastry
Traeger Smoked Chicken Spatchcock
Spatchcocking helps Traeger Smoked Chicken Spatchcock cook evenly on the pellet smoker, with Montreal chicken seasoning doing most of the seasoning work. The recipe serves six and lists about 2 hours 10 minutes total, beginning at a lower smoking temperature before the heat increases. This is an easy non-turkey centerpiece for a smaller Thanksgiving dinner. Put it beside sweet potatoes, broccoli casserole, or green beans and let the smoker keep the oven available.
Get the Recipe: Traeger Smoked Chicken Spatchcock
Cream of Butternut Squash & Sweet Potato Soup
Butternut squash and sweet potato give Cream of Butternut Squash & Sweet Potato Soup its thick base, while Granny Smith apple, maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg add seasonal flavor. The vegetables are roasted before blending, and that step can be done a day ahead. Serve the soup in small bowls as a Thanksgiving starter rather than a full meal. It brings squash and sweet potato to the table in a form that is separate from the usual casseroles.
Get the Recipe: Cream of Butternut Squash & Sweet Potato Soup
Turkey Roll Roast
A boneless turkey centerpiece makes Turkey Roll Roast a practical choice for Thanksgiving without roasting a whole bird. Softened butter, dried sage, thyme, garlic powder, and onion powder create an herb coating before the meat roasts at 325°F. The recipe serves eight, with about 10 minutes of preparation and 90 minutes of cooking. Let the roast rest before slicing to keep the juices inside, then serve with mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, and gravy made from the pan drippings.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Roll Roast
Creamy Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
Wild rice brings a firmer texture to Creamy Chicken & Wild Rice Soup, which also uses cooked chicken, celery, carrots, onion, garlic, broth, thyme, and whole milk. The combination makes a substantial soup, but smaller portions can work as a first course before a Thanksgiving roast. It is also useful for a relaxed holiday dinner where soup is allowed to share the table with bread and vegetable sides. Keep the serving bowls modest if several heavier dishes follow.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
Smoked Ribeye Roast
Montreal steak seasoning keeps Smoked Ribeye Roast focused on beef, with olive oil helping the seasoning adhere to the four-pound roast. The recipe uses a pellet smoker and a thermometer rather than an oven, which leaves valuable Thanksgiving oven space open. Slice the roast across the grain and serve it as the main centerpiece for guests who would choose beef over turkey. Rich potato sides and green vegetables give the platter enough contrast without adding another meat.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Ribeye Roast
Turkey Pot Pie Soup
Leftover turkey, potatoes, peas, and corn fill Turkey Pot Pie Soup, with carrots, celery, milk, broth, and cream forming the rest of the bowl. The recipe serves eight and takes about 50 minutes total. This leans more toward a Thanksgiving-weekend meal than the formal holiday table, but it still fits the broader dinner theme. Offer bread or optional pie-crust pieces alongside it when the family wants familiar turkey flavors without another carved plate.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Pot Pie Soup
Smoked New York Strip Roast
For a Thanksgiving main beyond traditional poultry, Smoked New York Strip Roast brings tender beef and smoky flavor to the holiday table. A coffee-based rub made with brown sugar, black pepper, ancho chili powder, garlic, and onion powder coats the roast before smoking. The recipe serves six, with the beef cooked at low temperatures until it reaches the desired internal temperature. Rest it for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing, then serve with garlic mashed potatoes or roasted asparagus.
Get the Recipe: Smoked New York Strip Roast
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
Cumin and smoked paprika give Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes a warmly seasoned profile, with garlic powder and onion powder flavoring the one to two pounds of sweet potatoes. The air fryer keeps this side out of the oven, which matters when Thanksgiving casseroles and roasts are competing for rack space. Serve the browned cubes beside turkey, pork, lamb, or beef. They also offer a less sugary sweet potato option for guests who skip marshmallow-topped casseroles.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
Dutch Oven Carnitas
Pork shoulder slowly braises in Dutch Oven Carnitas with onion, garlic, cumin, chipotle powder, chili powder, and Mexican oregano. The meat cooks until it can be pulled apart, creating a flexible main that can go into tortillas or onto plates with rice and vegetables. This is one of the least traditional Thanksgiving picks in the lineup, but it works for a family that prefers a casual spread. Put toppings nearby and let everyone build their own plate.
Get the Recipe: Dutch Oven Carnitas
Slow Cooker Southern Green Beans
Smoky, meaty flavors make Slow Cooker Southern Green Beans a substantial Thanksgiving side dish that goes beyond plain steamed vegetables. Fresh green beans cook with sausage, bacon, smoked pork hock, onions, tomatoes, garlic, and chicken broth until tender. The recipe makes eight servings and takes about four hours, with only five minutes of preparation. Shredding the pork hock meat back into the beans adds extra richness. Serve them alongside turkey, beef roast, or other holiday mains with a spoonful of the cooking broth.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Southern Green Beans
4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken
Four main ingredients make 4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken one of the simplest alternative mains in the collection. Boneless chicken breasts cook with cream of chicken soup, stuffing mix, and water or chicken broth, creating a dish with familiar holiday flavors built in. The slow cooker also keeps the oven clear for sides. It is less formal than a carved roast, but it can work for a casual Thanksgiving meal where ease matters more than a traditional centerpiece.
Get the Recipe: 4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken
Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Streusel Topping
Brown sugar and butter run through Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Streusel Topping, with milk, vanilla, salt, and eggs added to the sweet potato filling. The streusel uses flour, more brown sugar, butter, and pecans for a crisp top. This is one of the most traditional Thanksgiving sides in the collection and pairs easily with turkey or another roast. Toast the pecans first if you want more crunch against the soft sweet potato layer.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Streusel Topping