13 Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas To Celebrate A Bit Differently

Tired of turkey? Sick of stuffing? Sounds like you need some non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner ideas to inspire a whole new way of celebrating this year.

As the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, we at Peerspace know all about throwing a good party. We’re happy to inspire you with these non-traditional Thanksgiving ideas as well as connect you to non-traditional (yet completely awesome) Thanksgiving dinner venues.

We’ve gathered the best of the best recipes and tips along with some Peerspace listings that will provide a new and inspired setting for your Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving. Feast on these non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner ideas to celebrate a bit differently this year!

1. Ditch the turkey for a different kind of bird

Turkey every year can get a little boring. Prepared wrong, it tastes just plain dry. And sometimes you don’t want to fall asleep on the couch before 4 in the afternoon!

Switch out the turkey for a chicken or duck. We recommend the honey roast duck recipe from House of Nash Eats and the roasted lemon garlic butter spatchcock chicken recipe from Eatwell 101.

Start your non-traditional Thanksgiving meal in style using these festive Thanksgiving charcuterie board ideas a whirl.

2. Pair your meal with apple cider to celebrate fall

Thanksgiving tends to fall just on the cusp of autumn and winter – which means there’s still time to enjoy apple cider! Pair your Thanksgiving dinner with some from a local orchard, or use Peerspace to rent your own cidery like this one in Austin, TX. They allow outside food, so you can bring your dinner with you and enjoy it with some of their offerings. Peerspace can quickly turn a meal into an entire experience, so be sure to see what’s available near you!

3. Get creative and use pumpkin beyond the pie

Pumpkin can be used to pull off several really cool non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner ideas. All Recipes has a roasted pumpkin and goat cheese crostini recipe that will start your meal off right. It’s similar to bruschetta, so serve it on the crowd-pleasing baguette. They also have a roasted pumpkin soup that would pair perfectly with just about any Thanksgiving dinner. If you exit your cooking comfort zone, you can find amazing uses for pumpkins that move way beyond the pumpkin pie.

4. When in doubt, wrap it in bacon

There’s one simple thing you can do to improve upon just about any dish, and that’s to wrap it in bacon! It’s a surefire way to have a delicious spin on your average Thanksgiving turkey. This recipe from Iowa Girl Eats for bacon-wrapped turkey breast with wild rice stuffing and cranberry-apple chutney is a winning combination for any Thanksgiving table.

Gathering with friends for the big meal? Then you need to see our Friendsgiving ideas, too!

5. Skip the cooking and treat yourself to a meal by a private chef

Sometimes, nobody wants to do any cooking. After all, making a Thanksgiving dinner is a tremendous amount of work. This year, give yourself a break and have everyone chip in for a private chef!

While you’re at it, host your dinner at a gorgeous location like this vineyard home, estate, and olive tree grove in Healdsburg, CA. It boasts a massive kitchen that’s fully equipped for a private chef, so you can relax and take in the stunning views. Think big with your non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner ideas and take your meal to an entirely new destination. With Peerspace, you can rent locations by the hour, so you can still get home in time for football.

6. Ditch the bird and enjoy a vegan or vegetarian Thanksgiving

If you’ve got dietary restrictions for your friends or families, you may need to provide some options that don’t have any meat. Take it as a challenge and do the entire meal without any meat!

Instead of a turkey, you can make a Thanksgiving cauliflower – take a look at this recipe from Delish to see how. Or, you can give a meat substitute like tempeh or tofu a try.

7. Say buongiorno to an Italian Thanksgiving

Who doesn’t love Italian food? If you want to please the entire dinner table this year, turn your entire Thanksgiving into an Italian food celebration. This spaghetti and meatballs recipe from Domesticate Me is a perfect substitute for your main course.

You can even have your meal at a rustic Italian restaurant via Peerspace, like this gorgeous modern Italian restaurant in the Flatiron district of NYC. There’s no better way to make a meal feel authentic than to have it in the right setting — leave it to Peerspace to have the right spot for any occasion.

8. Make it a red meat Thanksgiving

Instead of turkey or chicken, how about some red meat for your Thanksgiving this year? Food and Wine has a killer beef chuck eye roast with paprika-herb rub recipe that’ll make your guests’ mouths water. Or for a pork option whip up their crackling coppa roast with fennel and onions.

9. Find new uses for cranberry sauce

Love it or hate it, cranberry sauce is a big part of many Thanksgiving dinners. If you’re looking to put it to use for some non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner ideas, then you’re in luck. There are some delicious recipes out there like this crustless cheesecake with cranberry sauce from Better Homes and Garden that will put it in a whole new light. Or, try this cranberry mallow dessert recipe from Taste of Home – it’s quick to make and provides a new spin on the classic sauce.

10. Get everybody involved in the cooking and host a potluck

Another way to take the burden of cooking off of one person or family is by having a potluck. Have everybody coordinate on what they’re going to bring so you don’t end up with five turkeys. By having each person bring a dish, it feels like you’re celebrating the true meaning of the holiday – coming together and sharing a delicious meal.

Check out our festive Christmas dinner party ideas since it’s just around the corner now!

11. Pull your Thanksgiving dinner from the sea

If you have a home full of pescatarians (or just love seafood), having an entire Thanksgiving dinner full of seafood can be a tasty treat. Give this shrimp macaroni and cheese from Jennie Shea Rawn a try, or put together a cranberry “sea”-cuterie board. There are tons of different ways to go, crabmeat and lobster tails can be used to substitute main courses.

12. Lift your spirits with fall-inspired drinks

An easy way to get the adults at your non-traditional Thanksgiving excited is by providing some fun fall-inspired alcoholic drinks! Take for example this apple pie shot from Seduction in the Kitchen. It combines apple cider and Fireball whiskey for a shot of delicious fall flavors. Or if you want to avoid hard liquor, warm up with some mulled wine from Bon Appetit!

13. End the meal on a sweet note with a non-traditional Thanksgiving dessert

Don’t forget to end your meal with a non-traditional, yet still seasonal and decadent, dessert! If you’re handling dessert duties yourself, delight your guests by dishing out scrummy sweet treats like salted caramel maple pecan pie bars. For a fruity, tangy option, check out this cranberry blueberry crisp. Non-traditional? Yes. Unsuitable for a festive holiday meal? No way!

Non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner ideas: conclusion

We hope these non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner ideas have you excited about putting a new spin on a classic holiday. Start by booking a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner venue near you that has the style and amenities you want.

The important thing is to enjoy the day your way, surrounded by your favorite people and remembering all the things that make you feel grateful.

Find unique Thanksgiving dinner venues on Peerspace