Thanksgiving is a beloved American holiday centered around food, family, and gratitude. The traditional Thanksgiving dinner is a feast enjoyed on the fourth Thursday of November, though many families celebrate Thanksgiving on the weekend to accommodate travel and scheduling. This dinner brings together family and friends to give thanks and enjoy each other’s company before the hectic holiday season begins. Here is an overview of what makes up a classic Thanksgiving meal and how American families celebrate this beloved tradition.
When did Thanksgiving start?
The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe in Plymouth, Massachusetts after the first successful harvest in the New World. The three-day feast included games, singing, and dancing alongside local foods like lobster, swan, venison, and turkey. However, modern Thanksgiving traditions didn’t take shape until the 1860s when Abraham Lincoln established Thanksgiving as a national holiday. By the 1900s, Thanksgiving traditions solidified across the country with parades, football games, and turkey dinners becoming staples of the celebration.
Why do we eat turkey on Thanksgiving?
Turkey has become the centerpiece of the traditional Thanksgiving meal, though no one knows exactly how it became the main dish. Turkeys were abundant in the wild at the time of the first Thanksgiving, so they were a natural choice for that inaugural feast. As the tradition of Thanksgiving spread, roasted turkey became strongly associated with the hearty harvest meal. Today, around 46 million turkeys are consumed on Thanksgiving in American homes and restaurants.
How much turkey is eaten on Thanksgiving?
According to the National Turkey Federation, Americans eat an average of 15 pounds of turkey per person each year. But most of this turkey is consumed during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. It’s estimated that around 200 million turkeys are sold in the U.S. each Thanksgiving season and 46 million turkeys are eaten on Thanksgiving day alone.
Common ways to prepare turkey
There are many ways Americans prepare turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. Here are some of the most popular cooking methods:
- Roasted: Cooking a whole turkey in the oven is the classic preparation. The turkey is seasoned, stuffed, and roasted for several hours.
- Deep fried: Deep frying the turkey makes it crispy and moist on the outside. Oil is heated in a large pot and the seasoned turkey is lowered into the hot oil with tongs.
- Smoked: Smoking the turkey gives it a delicious, savory flavor. The turkey is seasoned and cooked slowly over a fire or hot coals.
- Grilled: Grilling makes a juicy turkey with a nice char. The turkey pieces are seasoned and cooked on a hot grill.
Classic Thanksgiving side dishes
In addition to turkey, there are many traditional vegetable and starch dishes that make up a complete Thanksgiving meal.
Stuffing or dressing
Also called filling, stuffing can be prepared inside the turkey cavity or baked separately in a casserole dish. Most stuffing contains bread cubes, broth or butter, onions, celery, spices, and herbs. Some popular additions are apples, raisins, sausage, or oysters.
Mashed potatoes
Mashed potatoes are a Thanksgiving staple. Potatoes are boiled, drained, and mashed with butter, milk, and seasonings. For a richer dish, ingredients like cheese, garlic, or sour cream can be added.
Gravy
At Thanksgiving dinner, gravy is often served with the turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. The savory sauce is made from the juices of the roasted turkey pan along with aromatics like onions, herbs, and wine or broth.
Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a fall favorite, often roasted or mashed for Thanksgiving. Toppings like brown sugar, pecans, marshmallows, or bourbon add even more flavor.
Green bean casserole
This classic casserole contains green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and crispy fried onions. It emerged in the 1950s and soon became a Thanksgiving staple.
Cranberry sauce
Tart, bright cranberry sauce balances the other flavors on the Thanksgiving table. The sauce can be homemade with fresh cranberries or opened from a can for an easy shortcut.
Roasted vegetables
Roasted veggies like Brussels sprouts, carrots, parsnips, or squash add color and flavor to the meal. Tossing them with olive oil, salt, pepper, and herbs gives delicious caramelized results.
Rolls or biscuits
Fluffy dinner rolls or buttery biscuits round out the Thanksgiving spread. They’re perfect for sopping up gravy and cranberry sauce.
Corn
Buttery corn on the cob or a corn soufflé, corn pudding, or creamed corn provide traditional corn flavor to the feast.
Classic Thanksgiving desserts
Thanksgiving dinner is never complete without dessert! Here are some of the sweet treats traditionally served.
Pumpkin pie
This is the quintessential Thanksgiving dessert. Pumpkin pie features a spiced pumpkin custard in a flaky pie crust, often topped with whipped cream.
Pecan pie
With its sweet filling of pecans, corn syrup, butter, and eggs in pie crust, pecan pie is a southern favorite for Thanksgiving.
Apple pie
Warm apple pie with streusel or lattice topping is a nostalgic American dessert. Pair it with ice cream for an extra-special treat.
Sweet potato pie
In the South, creamy sweet potato custard pie is a popular alternative to pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving.
Cheesecake
Pumpkin, pecan, or traditional New York-style cheesecake are delicious options for the Thanksgiving table.
Thanksgiving dinner menu template
Here is one example of a complete traditional Thanksgiving dinner menu from appetizers through dessert:
| Course | Dishes |
|---|---|
| Appetizers | Deviled eggs, grilled chicken skewers, bacon-wrapped dates, cheese ball, fresh fruit and vegetables |
| Main Course | Roasted turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, roasted vegetables, rolls |
| Dessert | Pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple pie, cheesecake |
| Beverages | Coffee, tea, wine, sparkling cider |
Thanksgiving dinner timeline
Cooking the big Thanksgiving meal takes careful preparation and timing. Here is a sample timeline to help your dinner go smoothly:
| Time | Task |
|---|---|
| 1 week before | Make grocery list, order turkey |
| 3 days before | Thaw turkey in fridge, make pies, casseroles |
| 1 day before | Prep veggies, make stuffing and desserts, set table |
| Thanksgiving morning | Put turkey in oven, prepare side dishes |
| Early afternoon | Cook side dishes while turkey roasts |
| Late afternoon | Carve turkey, final prep, appetizers first |
| Early evening | Serve dinner, enjoy family! |
How to host Thanksgiving dinner
If you’re hosting Thanksgiving for the first time, follow this advice for a successful dinner:
- Make a guest list and send invitations 4-6 weeks in advance.
- Plan your menu around your guests’ tastes and allergies.
- Make as much food ahead of time as possible – pies, potatoes, casseroles.
- Set the table with your best dishes, linens, decorations.
- During dinner, encourage guests to go through the buffet line once at a time.
- Keep the mood upbeat by playing music and leading post-dinner activities.
- Send thank-you notes to guests who brought food or hosted out-of-town relatives.
Thanksgiving dinner alternatives
Not everyone enjoys the traditional turkey Thanksgiving feast. Here are some alternative ways to celebrate:
- Host a potluck and encourage guests to bring family favorite dishes.
- Have an Italian feast with lasagna, chicken parmesan, garlic bread.
- Make fondue or raclette with melted cheese, charcuterie, and pickles.
- Order in Chinese or Indian food and watch movies.
- Host brunch with quiche, baked French toast, mimosas.
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen or prepare meal bags for the needy.
- Take a hike or run a 5k race in the morning, then relax with appetizers for dinner.
Thanksgiving dinner during COVID
The COVID-19 pandemic forced many families to adjust their traditional Thanksgiving dinners over the past couple years. If you’re concerned about risks this year, consider these safer options:
- Limit dinner to immediate household members rather than extended family and friends.
- Host an outdoor Thanksgiving meal with space heaters and warm blankets.
- Have a virtual dinner over Zoom or FaceTime with remote family members.
- Order prepared Thanksgiving meals from your local grocery store or restaurant.
- Travel with prepared food and limit potluck-style gatherings.
- Wear masks when not eating and maintain social distance.
Thanksgiving dinner for singles
If you live alone, don’t deprive yourself of Thanksgiving dinner! Here are some ways to celebrate:
- Host a “Friendsgiving” and invite other singles over for a potluck.
- Volunteer to serve Thanksgiving meals at a homeless shelter or community center.
- Spend Thanksgiving morning exercising, then treat yourself to a restaurant meal.
- Order a prepared Thanksgiving feast from your grocery store to heat at home.
- Join a community Thanksgiving meal at a local church, school, or senior center.
- Travel to visit friends or family if you can do so safely.
While Thanksgiving might look different if you’re single, embrace this time to practice gratitude, self-care, and community service.
Kid-friendly Thanksgiving activities
Keep kids engaged and happy at Thanksgiving with these family-friendly ideas:
- Have kids help with preparing parts of the meal like decorating cookies.
- Set up a kids’ table with paper tablecloths, finger foods, and activities.
- Watch the Thanksgiving Day parade and play parade trivia.
- Take family photos before dinner for holiday cards.
- Decorate empty gourds or pinecones as table decorations.
- Go around the table and say what everyone is thankful for.
- Provide craft activities like coloring pages or DIY placemats.
- Organize an after-dinner flag football game or relay races.
Thanksgiving dinner conversation starters
Keep Thanksgiving dinner engaging for everyone with these family-friendly discussion prompts:
- What are your favorite Thanksgiving memories from childhood?
- If you could choose any famous person to join our dinner, who would it be and why?
- What family traditions are most meaningful to you?
- What meal courses does our family handle best – appetizers, sides, desserts?
- What goals or hopes do you have for the upcoming year?
- What local or family history do you find most fascinating?
- Does anyone have an ancestor who arrived in America as an immigrant?
- What are you looking forward to most this holiday season?
Remember to keep politics respectful, encourage quieter folks to share, and steer clear of touchy subjects!
Conclusion
Thanksgiving is more than just a big meal – it’s quality time spent with loved ones, expressing gratitude, and carrying on meaningful traditions. Each family celebrates a little differently, but turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, and family gatherings are at the heart of this beloved American holiday. With some planning, flexibility, and warmth, cherished Thanksgiving memories can be enjoyed for years to come.