20 meats to serve instead of turkey this holiday season

Ham is the classic holiday meat alternative to turkey, but it’s so good that it’s always worth mentioning. A decidedly Christmas choice, ham is the perfect option for December holidays after you’ve eaten what feels like more turkey than anyone ever has. 

Brisket is a tremendous meat option to have over the holidays. If you’re staying home, you can spend your holiday slowly cooking the meat on a smoker. You can serve it as is or use it to make sandwiches. It makes for great leftovers, too. 

Pork chops are an easy meat to make seasonal. You can make a cranberry glaze to go atop, or you can simply serve it as is because it tastes great with just about every holiday side dish you can think of. It’s also easy to cook, making it an attainable holiday entree. 

If you’re not a fan of pork chops, you can opt for pork loin. Like brisket, this can be served as is or in sandwiches. Pork also tends to be cheaper than many meat options, so this is a great option if you’re on a budget. 

If you’re not on a budget and are only serving a few people, make Cornish game hens. They take on flavor so splendidly, and they don’t take that long to cook. They’re typically more expensive than a regular chicken, so be aware of that before planning your meal. 

If you have access to it, venison is a great alternative for holiday meat. It’s lean like turkey, but it can be cooked like beef. A loin of venison makes for a delicious meal, and it’s perfect if you like just a little gaminess to your meat. 

Ribs are a great crowd-pleaser and an unexpected choice for a holiday meal. They go great with sides of the classic Southern variety, and they can easily be made in the slow cooker if you’re busy cooking up other dishes. 

If you don’t want to serve meat at all, you can serve tofu as a protein. Tofu is versatile and can take on any flavor, so it’s an excellent option if you plan to stay away from the typical holiday fare. 

You can never go wrong with prime rib. Serving this delicious meat makes for one decadent holiday meal. It’s not the most cost-effective option, so you may want to choose something else if you’re cooking for a lot of people. 

Another exceptional option for holiday meat is beef tenderloin. It’s full of flavor and can be cooked in many ways. You can serve it alongside your classic holiday dishes or with an entirely different set of sides. 

If you’ve got lots of time on the holiday, try your hand at Beef Wellington. If you want some tips, watch Gordon Ramsay cook this dish beforehand or watch him watch others cook it and hear what he advises not to do. 

Roast beef is a wonderful choice for meat when you want to mix holiday and comfort food. It melts in your mouth and is a perfect vessel for side dishes if you’re a fork stacker. There are few meats as delectable yet accessible as roast beef. 

If you want to impress a small crowd of people, roast duck is a fabulous option for holiday meat. With a little guidance, it’s simple to cook, and it is unbelievably delicious. You’ll feel like a king at Christmas. 

Roast chicken is a great inexpensive option for a small crowd. It goes well with all holiday sides, and it takes far less time to cook. If you’re a last-minute holiday shopper, it might be all you can buy, so you might as well just plan to cook it. 

Lamb is typically reserved for spring holidays, but there’s no reason you can’t serve it for Christmas. It’s flavorful and tender and a real treat for anyone who loves meat. 

Filet mignon is another treat for anyone who loves meat. Make your holiday extra special this year by serving this delicious steak type. Fair warning, though: Serving this meat well may set up an expectation that you’re going to be serving it again next year. 

There’s no rule that says your holiday meat has to be red or come from a bird. You can also serve fish, which, to some, is a more traditional choice anyway. Salmon is hard to screw up and adds some lightness to your meal. 

Goose used to be the holiday meat of choice for many families. Just ask Charles Dickens. Though not as popular as it once was, goose is still just as tasty. There are plenty of ways to prepare it, too, so choose a recipe and get to cooking. 

Give your holiday celebration a coastal feel by serving lobster. Like some other meats, lobster isn’t the most wallet-friendly, but if cost isn’t a worry to you, consider it for your festive meal. 

If you just can’t decide between turkey, duck, and chicken, go for all three. A turducken is kind of crazy, but when you think about it, there’s no entree more festive. It may be a hassle to make, but it’ll leave you with happy guests. At the very least, it’ll be a good memory.