Prepping and cooking the Thanksgiving turkey and all the fixin’s gives many of us serious anxiety. Did we buy a turkey that’s big enough to feed everyone? Does it really need to cook that long? How do we make sure it’s cooked all the way through without getting too dry?
If you’re like our family, sometimes you might just want an easy Charlie Brown Thanksgiving—a meal of popcorn, buttered toast, pretzels, jellybeans, and pumpkin pie sounds kind of nice, doesn’t it?
Well, we don’t have to go that far to have a delightfully simple and tasty turkey dinner to share with friends and family. Let’s be thankful for Thanksgiving turkey recipes that don’t include all the stress and prep time of roasting a whole bird! Take a look at some of these ideas and consider starting a new turkey tradition.
Turkey & Stuffing Casserole
Our favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner is the leftovers—especially the leftover turkey! So, why not start with the leftovers? This recipe calls for leftover turkey, but you can sub in pre-seasoned and pre-cooked turkey breast from the deli or refrigerated section of your grocery store! Win-win! Take a look at this 4-ingredient dish from Hostess at Heart.
Turkey Meatloaf
When it comes to meatloaf recipes, this one feels fancy. But when it comes to turkey recipes, this one is so easy! The additions of rosemary and thyme elevate the ground turkey base to legit holiday dinner status. Add some mashed potatoes, gravy, and a side of cranberry sauce and you’ll forget that roasting a whole bird was ever a thing. Visit Delish for the Best-Ever Turkey Meatloaf recipe.
Fried Turkey
We don’t mean a whole, deep friend turkey. We mean fry up some turkey drumsticks just like you would fry chicken! The kids will absolutely love these and they certainly won’t be too dry. Get all the ingredients and step-by-step directions from Ayesha Curry and the Food Network here: Fried Turkey Legs.
Hawaiian Turkey Kabobs
These kabobs call for a grill, so if you live in a cooler climate, be prepared to bundle up for some outdoor cooking. The results will be worth it, though. Not only are these ingredients easy to assemble, the inclusion of pineapple, ginger, honey, and peppers give this turkey recipe a sunny, tropical vibe that will brighten even the cloudiest Thanksgiving Day meal. Get the full recipe at Love and Zest.
If you try one of these dishes, be sure to let us know how it went in the comments below. You might just inspire Snoopy and Charlie Brown to do a little more dinner prep for next year!
