Thanksgiving Meal Alternatives

[laurensmomma]

I will be hosting Thanksgiving this year for a small group. Anywhere from 5 to 9 people. I have a turkey breast that I will make in the crockpot, but I'm looking for alternatives for another meat choice. I really don't want to make a whole turkey.

What have you done in the past that was a hit?

[dixeedeluxe]

Do you just not want to make one? Or do you not want to HAVE one? Because you can buy them cooked.

[dixeedeluxe]

some people have ham.

[laurensmomma]

Oct 21, 2014 11:46:05 GMT -5 dixeedeluxe said:

Do you just not want to make one? Or do you not want to HAVE one? Because you can buy them cooked.

I would say both. I don't want to make a whole one if I'm only going to have a few people, because I don't want a month's worth of leftovers, but I also don't have an interest in cooking one either. :0) A cooked one is a good idea if it comes to that, though.

[melis74]

Growing up we always had a pork roast along with turkey. H has made prime rib, rack of lamb or ham w/turkey since we've been together.

[rjamz]

Since it's just me and H and Jamie, we're having a duck instead of a turkey

[TrudyCampbell]

Oct 21, 2014 11:50:00 GMT -5 rjamz said:

Since it's just me and H and Jamie, we're having a duck instead of a turkey

Nooooo have a tofurkey and make all the sides with dairy!!

I love duck though.

[formerlyllizzyb]

We've had ham before.

[katfco]

My stepdad hates turkey, so they always have roast beef.

[mabillon]

DH's family always does a turkey and ham. I grew up with turkey-only so thought it was weird but it's definitely a thing!

[thedahliharpa]

Prime rib

[careyalis]

We always have ham and fried turkey at Thanksgiving

[thedahliharpa]

laurensmomma, I might ask the guests if they are opposed to no turkey. Some people are really pro turkey. TJs sells small stuffed cranberry turkey breast things that are awesome and no work closer to the holidays.

Also, I just received the Thanksgiving issue of TV Food Network and it has some awesome recipes. It's worth picking up if you are looking for new sides. It's total food porn for me.

An aside... I'm so glad this year is our turn at my mom's. She makes the entire meal soy & dairy free and you would never know. She does make one real pumpkin pie for DH. The years we are w/ his family suck.

[thedahliharpa]

Pot pies

[greenkitty98]

I would probably do ham.


We order a turkey from a place close to us and have them cut it into 8 pieces. Then we braise the meat and it turns out really good without the hassle of a turkey in one piece. Leftover turkey makes great turkey salad for sandwiches the next week (or we freeze some for quick meals in December).

[The Foozzler]

Since we don't do ham, we do steaks. Last year H grilled a big filet. It was a bigger hit than the turkey.

We also follow my great grandmother's Italian roots and do lasagna as an appetizer.

[lauranicole91]

We also do turkey and ham. Yum.

[mmmomof2]

We always have around 8 people and have a whole turkey. We send a little leftovers home with everyone, and then we don't have too much. I live for the leftovers, plus we make stock with the bones.

[teamhayes]

5-9 is a lot of people

We usually have that amount and get a large bird and rarely have hat many turkey leftovers

[TrudyCampbell]

We never have more than 9 people and we always get a large turkey.