15+ Non Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas

If you love a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimming, we get it and totally understand. If that's not your thing, we get that too and totally stand by you. This doesn't mean that we're throwing a beautifully golden brown and delicious Garlic Butter Herb Roasted Turkey Recipe by the waist-side because we're not. Why not get creative and this year opt for some Non Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas that will impress your guests.

Appetizers

Oven Roasted Stuffed Mini Peppers

Oven roasted sweet mini peppers stuffed with taco meat, beans and melted cheese for a quick and easy appetizer.

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Sweet Grilled Peppers

This Grilled Peppers are the perfect side dish for your next outdoor BBQ.  Arrange your platter with these vibrant grilled sweet mini peppers, zucchini and baby bok choy for a creative way to add vegetables to your dinner menu.

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Oven Roasted Shrimp

Oven Roasted Shrimp such a delicate and savory dish that's perfect as an appetizer. It's simple versatile and a 100% crowd-pleaser.

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Crispy Spring Rolls Recipe

These Crispy Spring Rolls stuffed with fresh red and green cabbage, carrots, cilantro and chopped chicken are pan fried to create the perfectly crisp outer coating.

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Main Course

Browse this collection of Non Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas to see which recipes resonate with you the most. These recipes are simple and doesn't require a ton of ingredients.

Roasted Cornish Hen Recipe in White Wine Sauce

This Roasted Cornish Hen Recipe is cooked to perfection and drizzled in a delicious rich and velvety gravy.  It's simple and uses only a few ingredients.

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Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken Breast

Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken Breast is a healthy one pan dish that's simple and quick to make for any weeknight dinner. It's stuffed with mozzarella cheese and mushrooms and drizzled with a mix of its pan juices and white wine.

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Cajun Spatchcock Chicken Recipe

This Cajun Spatchcock Chicken Recipe is perfectly seasoned with a generous amount of kosher salt and a flavorful Cajun spice blend. It's easy, delcious and makes the perfect weeknight dinner.

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Easy Braised Brisket

Beef Braised Brisket marinated in a flavorful Cajun spice blend and cooked low and slow until fork tender then basted with the delicious pan juices.

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Braised Turkey Neck Recipe

Delicious tasting turkey necks braised in chicken broth until fall off the bone fork tender and laid on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes.

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Rosemary Marinated Lamb Loin Chops

Lamb Loin Chops marinated in a delicate rosemary garlic vinaigrette then pan seared and finished in the oven for the most tender and mouth-watery dinner.

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Lemon Garlic Broiled Salmon

Broiled salmon in a lemony garlic sauce that's ready in under 20 minutes.  This no-fuss salmon is key to having dinner on the table quick, fast, and in a hurry.

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How to Make Lobster

Learn to make lobster tails using these simple step by step instructions.  You'll learn the process of cleaning to how to butterfly lobster for the most beautiful presentation.

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Cajun Seafood Boil

Cajun Seafood Boil loaded with tender crab, shrimp, red creamer potatoes, fresh corn on the cob, and andouille sausage all coated in a Cajun garlic butter sauce.

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Seafood Gumbo Recipe

This Seafood Gumbo Recipe made with the delicious flavors of chicken, smoked sausage, shrimp, crab and aromatic vegetables enveloped in a luscious and savory rich roux.

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Side Dishes

Looking for some great side dishes to pair with your main course. We bet you are!

Stir Fry Cabbage

Tender Stir Fry Cabbage seasoned with a Cajun spice blend and tossed with seared chicken andouille sausage for a quick and easy side dish.

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Crispy Oven Roasted Baby Potatoes

Oven Roasted Baby Potatoes coated in extra virgin olive and herbes de provence are perfectly golden and crisp on the outside yet buttery and tender on the inside.

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Oven Roasted Broccolini

Oven roasted broccolini roasted until slightly charred with a squeeze of lemon and sprinkles of red pepper flakes is the perfect side dish for your next weeknight dinner.  This simple recipe comes together in about 15 minutes and pairs nicely with almost any main dish.

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Roasted Beets in Foil

An easy and foolproof way of roasting beets in foil.  Only 3 ingredients used to enhance the delicate sweet flavor of this beautiful root vegetable.

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Simple Arugula Salad With Nectarines

Crisp nectarines and toasted walnuts over a bed of peppery arugula and vibrant micro-greens dressed in a simple vinaigrette.

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Vegan Roasted Beet Salad with Grilled Peaches

Vegan Roasted Beet Salad with Grilled Peaches, a delicious fresh salad made with beautiful golden beets that are oven roasted until tender and crisp grilled peaches. Serve it cold or warm.  Either way you will not be disappointed.

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Dessert

These desserts may not be filled with pumpkin or apples, but they are definitely worthy of a place at your dessert table.

Brownie Trifle Dessert

This Chocolate Brownie Trifle is a chocolate lover's dream. It's a healthier version made with applesauce instead of oil or butter. I can't even begin to tell you how luscious and decadent this dessert is.

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Brownie Mix Cookie Bars

Brownie Mix Cookies, a mash-up between chocolate chip cookie dough and brownies, for the ultimate chocolatey dessert that's soft, frudge-y, gooey and delicious.

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Vanilla Pudding Recipe

This simple 7-ingredient homemade Vanilla Pudding Recipe will soon become your family's favorite go-to dessert.  It's velvety texture is light, creamy and oh so delicious.  Serve this pudding alone or layer with vanilla wafers- the possibilities are limitless

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Brazilian Pineapple Dessert

This delightful Brazilian Pineapple Dessert is warm yet refreshing and has the perfect hint of cinnamon that adds the perfect twist to this inviting dessert.

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Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls that are soft, fluffy, & cinnamon-y. Breakfast can't get any better than delicious warm cinnamon rolls made from scratch.

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Strawberry Shortcake Parfait

Indulge yourself with these delightful Strawberry Shortcake Parfaits. They are light, delicious and are easy to make.

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Lastly, holidays are about sharing delicious food and enjoying great conversation with family and friends and that tradition will live on forever. With that said, it's perfectly fine to think outside-the-box and share other fun and creative dinner ideas.

Did you make any of these recipes?

If so, let me know how it went. Leave a 'Star Rating' within the recipe card and/or TAG @cookingwithbliss on Instagram. I can't wait to see how it turned out.