Looking for meal ideas that aren’t chicken dinners? You’re in the right spot. We’re all about switching things up and giving you options that are just as great, if not better, than your go-to chicken recipes. These 23 recipes are perfect for anyone wanting to mix up their meal routine or for those times when you’re simply out of chicken and need some inspiration.
Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup
Ready in just an hour, this soup combines the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes with the subtle kick of red peppers. It’s an effortless and delicious way to introduce variety into your dinner plans, perfect for those evenings when you’re craving some comfort food.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup
Twice Baked Potato Casserole
Here’s a dish that will become your new favorite comfort food. Loaded with potatoes, crispy bacon, sour cream, and cheese, it’s a hearty and filling dish that doesn’t require too much effort to pull off. Make it the day of or in advance, and reheat it when you’re ready to serve. It’s an excellent choice for dinner, especially if you’re looking for something other than chicken.
Get the Recipe: Twice Baked Potato Casserole
Wild Rice Mushroom Soup
Here’s another alternative to your usual chicken dinner. This dish combines wholesome ingredients like wild rice and mushrooms, making it a great option for an easy but hearty dinner. Plus, the rice cooks with the other ingredients simultaneously, so you can prep and serve it as quickly as possible.
Get the Recipe: Wild Rice Mushroom Soup
Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole
This Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole is a delicious one-pot dinner that is made without any chicken. It’s a good choice for busy weeknights and easy enough for beginner cooks. It comes together in just 45 minutes and yields a filling, flavorful family meal.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole
Sausage Curry
This dish is made with sausages, carrots, sweet potato, and other wholesome ingredients simmered in a rich and creamy curry sauce. It’s surprisingly easy to make and an excellent way to introduce new tastes into your meals. Ready in just 30 minutes, make this on those busy evenings when you crave something different than your usual chicken dishes.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Curry
Hungarian Mushroom Soup
In this dish, mushrooms and aromatic spices come together in a creamy broth, making it a great option for dinner. Ready in less than an hour, this dish is comforting, hearty, and, best of all, lets you fully enjoy a meal without relying on chicken.
Get the Recipe: Hungarian Mushroom Soup
Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
Take a break from chicken and make this loaded veggie casserole instead. Ready in 30 minutes, this dish combines broccoli, cauliflower, a rich cheese sauce, and crispy bacon, all baked until golden. It’s a great way to enjoy a hearty and flavorful dinner without skimping on flavor and spending hours in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice
In just 30 minutes, you’ll have a flavorful and filling dish that combines seasoned beef, cauliflower rice, and mushrooms in a creamy and cheesy sauce. It’s all cooked in one skillet for ease and convenience, making it a superb choice for those busy evenings when you want a hearty dinner that doesn’t involve chicken.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice
Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner
Switch up your dinner game with this easy sheet pan dinner. Sausages and a variety of vegetables are roasted until caramelized and fork-tender on a single sheet pan for an easy but hearty dinner. This sheet pan dinner is also very versatile. You can customize it by adding or replacing the veggies with whatever you have on hand. It’s the perfect dinner solution for those nights when you want something hearty but different from the usual chicken dishes.
Get the Recipe: Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner
Asparagus Noodles with Alfredo Sauce and Bacon
Ready in just 30 minutes, this dish features asparagus peeled into noodle-like strands and then topped with a homemade Alfredo sauce and crispy bacon. It’s an innovative dish where you get to enjoy asparagus in a whole new way, perfect for those busy weeknights when you need a hearty, non-chicken meal.
Get the Recipe: Asparagus Noodles with Alfredo Sauce and Bacon
Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach
Step away from the usual chicken dishes and try this hearty beef casserole instead. It’s a well-rounded meal, combining ground beef, cauliflower rice, spinach, and melted cheddar cheese. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a quick and filling dinner you can easily pull off any day of the week.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach
Creamy Italian Sausage Soup
Here’s another alternative to your usual chicken-based soups. This soup features Italian sausage, cream cheese, canned tomatoes, and heavy whipping cream for a warming and hearty meal. It’s an easy and filling soup that comes together in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Italian Sausage Soup
Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach
Ready in just 30 minutes, this dish combines shrimp, grape tomatoes, and spinach cooked in a rich garlic sauce. It’s a protein-rich alternative to chicken, perfect for those evenings when you’re craving something different yet still want to keep things simple and filling.
Get the Recipe: Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach
Roasted Cubed Butternut Squash with Cauliflower and Bacon
Skip the chicken tonight and make this instead. This dish takes less than an hour to make and cooks butternut squash, cauliflower, and bacon in a single sheet pan. It’s an effortless way to bring a veggie-packed, flavorful meal to your table, perfect for those days when you’re looking for something hearty yet different.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Cubed Butternut Squash with Cauliflower and Bacon
Bacon Cheeseburger Salad
This salad is a lighter take on the classic bacon and cheeseburger sandwich. You’ll get to enjoy the same great flavors with the same ingredients, like bacon, ground beef, pickles, and salad greens. Since this is a salad, everything is tossed in a creamy homemade Big Mac sauce and topped with shredded cheddar cheese. It’s a protein-packed meal you can make in just 45 minutes and a great alternative to chicken.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Cheeseburger Salad
Crock Pot Taco Soup
Skip your usual chicken soups and enjoy this comforting taco soup. Prep time is just 20 minutes, and once you have tossed everything in the Crock Pot, the slow cooker does the rest. Ready to serve after a busy day, this soup is brimming with seasoned beef and veggies and is a fantastic non-chicken dinner choice for any day.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Taco Soup
Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs
This dish brings the exquisite flavors of Thai cuisine to your dinner table. Ground turkey meatballs are simmered in a rich coconut curry sauce, making it a great alternative to the usual chicken dinner. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a great way to enjoy a simple yet delicious dinner on busy weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs
Mini Spicy Canned Salmon Patties
Ready in 30 minutes, these mini patties are a fantastic non-chicken option for a light yet flavor-packed meal. They’re made with canned salmon and a hint of spice from jalapeño and cayenne and then topped with a lemon dill aioli for an extra zing. These patties are a great way to switch up your protein choices while keeping dinner interesting and flavorful.
Get the Recipe: Mini Spicy Canned Salmon Patties
Lemon Garlic Scallops
Pairing the mild taste of scallops with lemon and garlic, this seafood dish is a perfect alternative for those wanting to change their dinner options. It’s surprisingly easy to prepare and can be ready in just 30 minutes. It’s a great alternative to chicken, perfect for a light and protein-rich meal that’s both refreshing and full of flavor.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Garlic Scallops
Fried Cabbage with Bacon
In just 25 minutes, this easy-to-make dish brings a fresh perspective to your dinner table. Combining the humble cabbage with savory bacon, it’s a simple yet delicious alternative to chicken. This meal is perfect for those busy evenings when you want something quick, easy, and full of flavor.
Get the Recipe: Fried Cabbage with Bacon
Keto Zuppa Toscana
Ready in about an hour, it features radishes instead of potatoes, along with ingredients like Italian sausage, Parmesan, and kale, creating a hearty and warming soup that is perfect for those looking for a filling meal without chicken.
Get the Recipe: Keto Zuppa Toscana
Philly Cheese Steak Casserole
This recipe is a new take on the classic Philly Cheese Steak. Thinly sliced steak, sautéed peppers, onions, mushrooms, and a generous amount of provolone cheese are baked together until golden for a hearty and filling dish. Ready in 30 minutes, it’s a perfect dinner option for those looking for variety in their protein choices.
Get the Recipe: Philly Cheese Steak Casserole
Sweet and Spicy Bacon and Turkey Chili
Break the chicken routine with a pot of warm bacon and turkey chili. This recipe combines the hearty flavors of ground turkey and bacon with a perfect balance of sweet and spicy. It’s a one-pot recipe that’s great for busy weeknights when you need a warm and hearty meal that everyone will enjoy.
Get the Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Bacon and Turkey Chili