Thanksgiving is a beloved American holiday centered around food, family, and gratitude. The traditional Thanksgiving meal consists of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. But with America being a melting pot of cultures, many families put their own spin on the classic Thanksgiving spread. One food that sometimes makes an appearance on the Thanksgiving table is noodles.
Are noodles a common Thanksgiving food?
Noodles are not as universally associated with Thanksgiving as turkey or pumpkin pie. However, noodles can be found at some Thanksgiving meals, especially in households with cultural roots in parts of Europe and Asia where noodles are a dietary staple.
According to a survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of the National Turkey Federation, the most popular Thanksgiving side dishes in American households are:
| Side Dish | Percentage of Households Serving |
|---|---|
| Mashed potatoes | 87% |
| Stuffing/Dressing | 79% |
| Sweet potatoes/Yams | 64% |
| Green beans | 60% |
| Corn | 59% |
| Cranberry sauce | 58% |
| Rolls/biscuits | 51% |
| Vegetable salad | 43% |
| Mashed turnips | 23% |
| Noodles | 7% |
As you can see, noodles come in last place with only 7% of respondents reporting serving them for Thanksgiving. So while not exactly commonplace, there are still some families keeping the noodle tradition alive for Turkey Day.
Why do some people eat noodles for Thanksgiving?
There are a few key reasons why noodles may make it onto some Thanksgiving tables:
Family heritage
For many Americans, Thanksgiving traditions are heavily influenced by their cultural background and ethnicity. For families with roots in Asian cultures, Italy, Germany, Eastern Europe, or other places where noodles are eaten regularly, serving noodles for Thanksgiving may seem perfectly natural.
Regional cuisine
Some regional American cuisines include noodles as part of the Thanksgiving menu. In Hawaii, for example, saimin noodles often feature at the holiday feast. Saimin is a noodle soup that reflects Hawaii’s blending of Asian and American cultures. Other states like North Dakota and Minnesota have strong Scandinavian heritage, so noodles may appear in Thanksgiving dishes like lefse and mashed rutabaga.
Breaking from tradition
For some non-traditional households, serving noodles for Thanksgiving can be a way to mix things up and try something new and different. Adding noodles provides a break from the typical starchy sides like mashed potatoes and bread stuffing.
Satisfying diverse appetites
With many households having picky eaters across multiple generations, making noodles is an easy way to ensure there is something to satisfy everyone’s tastes at the Thanksgiving table. Plain noodles with butter or sauce can appeal even to many vegetable or carb-loving children.
Ease of preparation
Compared to time-consuming dishes like roast turkey, homemade pie, and core sides like stuffing and potatoes, noodles are simple and fast to cook. Busy hosts may choose to incorporate noodles into their menu to give themselves a bit of a break in the kitchen.
What types of noodles are served for Thanksgiving?
When noodles do make it onto the Thanksgiving table, there are many varieties that could be served, including:
Egg noodles
Egg noodles are a popular choice for Thanksgiving. They have a rich flavor from eggs and pair well with cream or butter-based sauces.
Lasagna noodles
Lasagna served in single portions can substitute for a starch like mashed potatoes. The layered lasagna noodles, cheese, tomato sauce, and meat mimic the savory satisfaction of more traditional Thanksgiving fare.
Lo mein or chow mein noodles
These classic Chinese noodle dishes often make an appearance at Thanksgiving celebrations in households with Chinese heritage. Their mild flavor complements the other dishes.
Udon noodles
Thick, chewy udon noodles used in Japanese cooking lend themselves well to being served with a broth or sauce on Thanksgiving.
Soba noodles
In Japanese households, soba noodles may be served in soups or stir-fries as part of Thanksgiving dinner.
Spaghetti
For those of Italian heritage, spaghetti is a natural addition to major holiday meals like Thanksgiving. It can be served simply with sauce or baked into a casserole.
Beef stroganoff
This dish of sauteed beef served over egg noodles in a cream sauce is sometimes served in lieu of turkey for Thanksgiving dinner in families of Eastern European descent.
Macaroni and cheese
A baked macaroni and cheese casserole provides comfort and familiarity for kids and picky adult eaters at Thanksgiving. The creamy cheese sauce over elbow macaroni makes for a filling side dish.
Potato dumplings or gnocchi
In German, Polish, or Italian households, potato-based dumplings or gnocchi are the noodle equivalent of mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving.
How are noodles incorporated into the meal?
Though noodles are not as ubiquitous as staples like turkey and cranberries, they can be flexibly incorporated into the Thanksgiving feast in various ways, such as:
As a main course substitute
For vegetarians or those who don’t enjoy turkey, noodle-based dishes like vegetable lasagna or mushroom stroganoff over noodles offer hearty main course options.
As a side dish
Noodles can be served just like everyday starches like mashed potatoes, rice, or stuffing. Simple buttered egg noodles, spaghetti with sauce or mac and cheese often accompany the turkey and other sides.
In soups
Chicken noodle soup and other broth-based noodle soups can be warming starters to the big meal or lighter sides to balance out richer dishes.
In salads
Pasta salads tossed with vinaigrette and vegetables offer a flavorful, portable option for Thanksgiving gatherings away from home.
In casseroles
From lasagna to baked ziti to tuna noodle casserole, mixing noodles with cheese, meat, veggies and sauce provides an easy do-ahead casserole.
As dessert
Sweet noodle kugels flavored with fruits, coconut or chocolate provide a different twist on dessert after pumpkin and apple pie.
Should you serve noodles for Thanksgiving?
When planning your Thanksgiving menu, there are a few factors to consider if you want to incorporate noodles:
Consider your guests
If your family is very traditional or picky, noodles may seem too unfamiliar for a holiday meal. But for more open or diverse families, they could be perfect for relatives accustomed to noodles.
Complement other dishes
Choose noodle types and seasonings that won’t clash with more typical dishes like turkey and cranberry sauce. Mild egg noodles or herb gnocchi tend to pair well.
Mind the carbs
Since noodles offer yet more starch and carbs atop staples like potatoes, dressing and rolls, be mindful of proportions to prevent carb overload.
Prep ahead
Opt for noodle dishes that can be made 1-2 days before and easily reheated, like lasagna, casseroles and soups.
Offer choices
If you want to please traditional and adventurous eaters, include classic sides along with 1-2 noodle dishes for variety.
Popular noodle recipes for Thanksgiving
If you do want to give noodles a try this Thanksgiving, here are some top-rated noodle recipes to consider:
Butternut squash lasagna
This vegetarian lasagna substitutes roasted butternut squash for meat sauce between the noodles and cheese layers. The sweet squash complements the saltiness of the cheese.
Baked ziti with sausage
Italians sausage and tomato sauce lend rich flavor to this crowd-pleasing baked ziti recipe finished with mozzarella cheese.
Chicken and gnocchi soup
Tender chicken and pillow-soft potato gnocchi swim in a savory broth with carrots and spinach for a comforting soup.
Macaroni and cheese casserole
An indulgent mix of cheddar, gruyere and Parmesan cheeses makes this creamy bake over elbow macaroni a true comfort food.
Soba noodle salad
Chilled buckwheat soba noodles tossed with crunchy vegetables like carrots and cucumbers in a tangy ginger dressing.
Kugel
This sweet baked noodle pudding made with egg noodles, cottage cheese, dried fruit and spices makes a divine dessert.
Conclusion
Noodles may not enjoy turkey-level fame at Thanksgiving, but they do have a place at some holiday tables. Whether you’re looking to introduce more family heritage into your Thanksgiving meals or just want to shake up your side dish routine, incorporating noodles can be a tasty twist. With versatile noodle types and easy recipes from around the world to choose from, noodles can be successfully incorporated into the Thanksgiving feast for many households.