16 Best Seafood Thanksgiving Ideas for the Ultimate Pescatarian Menu

It’s that time of year again when oven space is taken up with a roast turkey and everyone brings a dish like a pumpkin pie to contribute to the Thanksgiving feast. But why not jazz things up at your Thanksgiving table by serving some seafood dishes this year? Luckily, I’ve gathered these seafood Thanksgiving ideas for you.

Whether you’re tired of eating the same bird meat or can’t eat meat, this collection of pescatarian Thanksgiving recipes won’t disappoint!

From whole fish to lobster tails and from stuffing to chowder, there are lots of great seafood recipes that would make a perfect addition to your Thanksgiving menu and will sure to impress your family, friends, and guests.

Enjoy!

16 Incredible Seafood Thanksgiving Ideas

1. Spicy Shrimp and Grits Casserole with Gouda Cheese

Who says you can’t add a coastal dish to your Thanksgiving table? A wonderfully fresh shrimp is surrounded by grits and diced tomato mixture and then baked with gouda cheese until bubbling. Your whole family will love this! (Via From A Chef’s Kitchen)

2. Holiday Seafood Salad

Instead of having Brussels sprouts, green beans, or sweet potatoes as the side dishes, why not make something different like this salad?

This flavorful seafood salad is loaded with calamari, shrimp, and scallops but pairs beautifully with octopus and mussels. A must-try for Thanksgiving! (Via Italian Food Forever)

3. Crab Stuffed and Baked Lobster Tails

Step up your dinner game by creating a main dish that’s totally easy to make yet tastes amazing.

Lobster tails, lump crab meat, lemon butter, spices, and olive oil are the ingredients you will need to make this fancy dish. Leave people wondering if you have a hidden chef in your kitchen. (Via Heinen’s)

4. Savannah Seafood Stuffing

If your favorite part of Thanksgiving is the stuffing, you will love this seafood dressing.

This moist, savory casserole pairs fresh shrimp with a cornbread stuffing mix, stuffing mix, condensed cream of mushroom soup, crab meat, red bell pepper, and plenty of seasonings. This will be your new dish at Thanksgiving. (Via Spicy Southern Kitchen)

5. Pan-Seared Salmon with Apple Cranberry Sauce

Are you looking for a simple recipe for your Thanksgiving menu? Look no further. This pan-seared salmon recipe is simple enough for a family meal but fancy enough to impress your guests! And it’s super easy and doesn’t require a ton of ingredients.

The best part is not only you’ve got yourself a flavorful dish but also a healthy one as salmon is packed with omega-3 fatty acids. (Via Killing Thyme)

6. Whole Baked Fish – Snapper with Garlic & Dill Butter Sauce

Let this year become your first time serving a whole fish to your dinner table!

Garlic, fresh dill, and unsalted butter – all combined together and spread over the tender baked fish. Makes for weeknight meals but is easy enough for an impressive dinner that will please any fish lover. (Via Recipetin Eats)

7. Shrimp Stuffed Squid

Your tastebuds just crossed into new territory with this dangerously delicious squid.

This savory squid is filled with purée shrimp, fried until perfectly brown, and then slathered with tomato sauce and garnished with fried tentacles.

Enjoy as a decadent side dish, or serve as a main course and pair with cooked rice or salad. (Via Monahan’s)

8. New England Clam Chowder

Impress your guests with this elegant clam chowder in a bread bowl!

Simmered with potatoes in a savory broth, this creamy and hearty New England style clam chowder is soon to be your family’s new favorite soup recipe! A classic appetizer or main course option that’s hearty enough to satisfy the largest appetites! (Via Montana Happy)

9. Oyster Stuffing

Upgrade your Thanksgiving stuffing to the next level by making this delicious oyster.

This Oyster stuffing calls for minimal ingredients, effectively spotlighting the fresh, briny flavor of the oysters, which are complemented simply with bread. You definitely will be making this again and again. (Via Taste of Home)

10. Sous Vide Octopus

This may not look like a dish you want to serve at your holiday season dinner, but it does look spectacular if you want to have an epic pescatarian Thanksgiving dinner.

The best part is it so easy to make, you only need octopus, olive oil, and salt. You can also finish it off on a skillet or hot grill to get the most perfect char on the outside. With only minimal effort, you’ve got an impressive main course that’s wonderfully fresh and delicious. (Via Platings and Pairings)

11. Stuffed Baked Jumbo Shrimp

These stuffed shrimp are a healthy, easy, and festive appetizer, perfect for your holiday gatherings! The combination of baked shrimp with a stuffing mix and mayonnaise mixture makes for a perfect match. Friendly note: better make a double batch because this sure will be gone in a second. (Via Alyonas Cooking)

12. Braised Abalone with Mushrooms

Forget about traditional Thanksgiving dinner dishes and start exploring a new recipe that you’ve never tried before — Abalone.

Braised with mushrooms and slow-cooked in a rich oyster sauce until beautifully bronzed, this abalone is restaurant-level incredible! A meal with a gourmet feels perfect for any special occasion. (Via Wok & Kin)

13. Seafood Stuffed Peppers with King Oscar Sardines in Tomato Sauce

Large bell peppers stuffed with fragrant basmati rice, shrimp, red onions, sautéed veggies, and King Oscar’s sardines in tomato sauce will be one of the best seafood dishes you’ve ever made! This easy recipe is perfect for sophisticated holidays and casual everyday dining! (Via Killing Thyme)

14. Crab Cakes

With crabmeat, crackers, mayonnaise, egg, and seasonings, this tasty and crispy crab cake is comfort food at its finest! Add tartar sauce to the side and your dish will be dressed to impress!

These crab cakes will be your new go-to recipe when you’re looking for something easy that will impress your family and friends. (Via The Cookie Rookie)

15. Brown Butter Scallops

Got a special occasion coming up? I have the recipe for you. These seared scallops are the perfect fancy dinner to make at home when you just don’t have enough time to make a restaurant-quality dish but still want to surprise your loved ones. A savory dish that’s perfect for an appetizer or main course option. (Via Life Love and Good Food)

16. Seafood Platter

If you’re a seafood lover, then you have to add this to your list of seafood Thanksgiving Ideas!

This beautiful platter contains barbecued prawns, salmon, oysters, bread, and sauces are a great way to bring coastal flavors to the holiday table, or just a great dish to celebrate any occasion with your family! (Via Taste.com.au)