18 Easy & Effortless Whole Turkey Alternatives for Thanksgiving

When a whole turkey is too much, here are 18 turkey alternatives for Thanksgiving.

When a whole turkey is too much to deal with, or you simply don't want the stress of managing all those leftovers, here are 18 turkey alternatives for Thanksgiving.

Turkey and chicken breasts are one easy solution, while Cornish game hens are similar to a whole turkey in presentation, but much more manageable size wise. And for our red meat fans, here's a Cast Iron Steak Recipe with Garlic Herb Butter that still feels festive, but isn't poultry.

Related: 17 Best Duck Recipes

18 Whole Turkey Alternatives for Thanksgiving

Get the holidays wrapped up easily with Bacon-Wrapped Turkey Breast with Chorizo, Cranberries and Little Potatoes, or roll out show-stopping Spinach and Ricotta-Stuffed Turkey Breast with Garlic-Herb Sauce.

Cornish game hens make a delightful "mini" version of the whole bird with Cranberry-Apple Stuffed Cornish Hens or serve elegant Slow-Cooker Cornish Hens with Grand Marnier Sauce.

And, if you really want to make the holiday simple, whip up some Lemon Thyme Pan-Seared Turkey Cutlets or Turkey Scallopine in Sherry Cream Sauce with Wild Mushrooms and Artichoke Hearts on the stovetop.

Related: 70 Classic Thanksgiving Dinner Dishes

Whichever dish you choose to serve from this list, you can guarantee it will be just as impressive to look at as it is to dig into.