Turkey may be popular, but it's not the only main dish worthy of a spot on your Thanksgiving table. You could be hosting Friendsgiving or a smaller gathering that requires you to stick to a budget. Perhaps you follow a meatless diet and are planning to cook up a vegetarian or vegan feast. Or maybe you’re just plain bored of turkey. Whatever your reason, you’ll find that there are plenty of Turkey Day alternatives that are every bit as special as the classic.

We love all the recipes in this roundup for different reasons but this pork roast is one of our favorites. Pork and apple are always a winning combination and this take (seasoned with fragrant spices like sage and thyme) evokes all the nostalgia of a more-traditional Thanksgiving meal — without the fuss of stuffing, roasting and carving a bird.

If you're hosting a smaller group on Thanksgiving and can't commit to a turkey, or just want to create a holiday vibe on short notice, this one-pan roasted chicken is just the thing. Homemade poultry seasoning, filled with classic flavors like sage, rosemary and thyme, makes your whole kitchen smell just like the holidays.

A duo of sliced apples and apple cider give this dish undeniable fall flavor. Either Honeycrisp or Pink Lady apples work well in this recipe—they hold their shape nicely while cooking and are the perfect mix of sweet and tart.

This roasted cauliflower is filled with classic stuffing and makes for a holiday-worthy, meatless main.

A precooked ham makes a great choice for Thanksgiving dinner because all you need to do is reheat it. If you really want to make it special, add some extra flavor like Molly does here with her sweet-and-tangy marmalade glaze. It’s as easy as combining a few ingredients and brushing the mix over the ham while it finishes roasting.

We took inspiration from an important part of traditional beef Wellington, the duxelles (a paste of finely chopped mushrooms, shallots and herbs cooked in butter), and made a hearty filling for a satisfying, low-fat vegetarian version. Serve this impressive main course with the bright carrot sauce, which gets its creaminess from just a touch of cream cheese. (Don't be afraid to use full-fat cheeses — a little can go a long way!)

These apple-, herb- and cornbread-stuffed pork chops have us wondering why we've been fussing with turkey and dressing all these years! This recipe proves it's possible to get all the iconic fall flavors into a dish that's ready in a fraction of the time — without sacrificing any of the wow-factor that Thanksgiving dinner is known for.

A garlicky butter sauce adds an extra-special touch to Ree’s beef tenderloin. It’s simple enough for cooks of all skill levels to make — but elevated enough to stand in for turkey on Thanksgiving Day.

If you're having a smaller celebration, chicken is a great alternative to turkey— and this recipe for Chicken Chasseur is a hearty dish that’s perfect for cooler weather. Ready in just under an hour, it’s the epitome of a warmth and comfort. Cognac is the key to deep flavor, and herbs like chervil and tarragon add extra freshness.

A robust rub adds major flavor to lean, quick-cooking pork tenderloin. The finely ground coffee lends a pleasant bitter note that is tempered by brown sugar and dried spices. This simple dish is on the table in no time — perfect when you don't want to spend all Thanksgiving Day in the kitchen.

This recipe is a nod to the Persian dish mahi shekam por (“stuffed fish”), which has many variations. Here we marinate branzino (a mild, almost sweet fish with a tender flesh that takes well to roasting whole) with turmeric and lemon juice. It is then roasted unfilled. After it is cooked, we stuff the interior with a tasty walnut and pomegranate filling. Stuffing the fish after roasting keeps the filling fresh and bright!

We've taken the classic lasagna flavors and wrapped them up in a showstopping, perfect-for-Thanksgiving main. The lasagna noodles create a crisp shell for the traditional fillings within: meat sauce, cheese and sausage.

Fresh apples and a bit of apple cider give this braised chicken dish a decidedly fall flavor, which is why we love serving it for Thanksgiving. Plus, there's no carving required — and this main is just as pretty to present at the table once it's arranged on a serving platter.

One of the hallmarks of an impressive Thanksgiving meal is serving up a juicy turkey with a crispy, golden skin — which is why we love Sunny's sweet-and-savory pork chops as an alternative. Since they're fried, they've got a delicate crunch on the outside — and a homemade pear chutney ensures that every bite is moist and flavorful.

This recipe offers an entire vegetarian Thanksgiving meal in one dish: creamy butternut squash, crisp green beans, cornbread with savory herbs, cranberries and pecans, plus buttered carrots. It makes a beautiful centerpiece of the feast.

A quicker way to get a stunning holiday main on the table? Cornish hens. Their smaller size means they cook up quicker. Plus, they pair perfectly with all your favorite fall flavors, in this case orange and cranberry.

Nothing says 'fall' (or better complements a good, salty ham) than rich, sweet maple syrup and bourbon. Add warming spices like cinnamon and cloves and a bit of orange marmalade for balance and you've an impressive and flavorful main that's a breeze to bring together.

Herb-butter roasted cauliflower gets a golden puff pastry blanket — the perfect main dish for vegetarians (or anyone who loves cauliflower).

The flavors here, smoke, pork, and tart-sweet cherries, echo those of the fruity merlot grape. This dish is surprisingly simple to make, yet elevated enough to serve at your holiday dinner — with a glass of wine, of course!

If you're hosting a smaller Thanksgiving celebration, a roasted chicken makes a good stand-in for turkey. You can have it on the table in just an hour too, if you spatchcock it and cook it flat in a cast-iron skillet.

Michael’s perfect-for-fall roast cooks up in barely more than an hour (alongside a flavorful medley of root veggies) making it a great choice for a no-fuss Thanksgiving main.

Tired of turkey? Roast a rich, succulent duck instead. The cooking process is similar although Alex adds a special step; she dunks the duck into a honey-and-soy-sauce brine before roasting for extra flavor.

If you're intimidated by baking a ham — don't be. This recipe from Trisha Yearwood couldn't be any easier, and with just a couple ingredients and some time, you'll have something that you'll truly be proud of.