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Best Turkey Alternatives to Serve for Thanksgiving – CNET [CNET]
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David Watsky Senior Editor / Home and Kitchen
David lives in Brooklyn where he’s logged more than a decade writing about all things edible, including meal kits and meal delivery subscriptions, cooking, kitchen gear and commerce. Since earning a BA in English from Northeastern in Boston, he’s toiled in nearly every aspect of the eats business from slicing and dicing as a sous-chef in Rhode Island to leading complex marketing campaigns for major food brands in Manhattan. These days, he’s likely somewhere trying the latest this or tasting the latest that – and reporting back, of course. Anything with sesame is his all-time favorite food this week.
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There are strong takes on roasted turkey that surface this time of year. It’s true that turkey can be dry, low on taste and hard to cook, and the case for these big birds not being worth the trouble is considerable. But nowhere is it written that turkey must grace your Thanksgiving table, which is why we’ve curated a list of the best turkey alternatives to serve for Thanksgiving this year, and where to order them online.
If you’ve decided to forgo the turkey you have plenty of options. Other poultry candidates include rich and fatty duck or roasted chicken, both of which will stand in seamlessly and pair perfectly with classic Thanksgiving sides. There are also cuts of beef to consider such as prime rib, beef tenderloin, brisket or pot roast. If beef isn’t for you, a leg of lamb will serve as a flavorful stand-in for your November feast.
If it is a turkey you’re after, the sooner you order it the better. We’ve rounded up the best places to buy turkey online ahead of Thanksgiving 2023. Otherwise, these are the best meats to serve for Thanksgiving that aren’t turkey.
The best turkey alternatives to serve for Thanksgiving
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Brisket takes a little longer to cook but the juice is definitely worth the squeeze. Find a good recipe and execute it well and you’ll be pulling the meat apart with a fork. We love Porter Road’s cuts and the online butcher has a 5- to 6-pound brisket flat with great marbling for $63 or nab the whole 9-pound brisket for $115.
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Goldbelly has a range of preassembled turducken options available, and you can schedule the delivery for the week of Thanksgiving.
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OK, admittedly this turkey substitute still has turkey, but it’s also stuffed with a duck and a chicken. I tried one last year and I’m finding it hard to serve anything else this year. The duck keeps the turkey incredibly moist as it cooks and the Cajun stuffing has just enough kick. See how my turducken experience went in this full write-up.
Goldbelly has a range of preassembled turducken options available, and you can schedule the delivery for the week of Thanksgiving.
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