I’m kicking off our week by causing all sorts of trouble over here again with another edition of TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE but this time…it’s all about THANKSGIVING FOODS!
Eeeeeeeeeks!
If you missed my last post, I shared my Top Five, Bottom Five MOVIES with you ladies and it was…um…controversial and highly opinionated to say the least 😉 . If you missed that post and want to see which movies I think are underrated and which ones are overrated…make sure you read it HERE.
Today, it’s all about the biggest meal of the year. You guys, Andrew and I were DYING at our answers! I wrote this blog post, and then called him at work and asked him to name his. He rattled his off quickly, and we could not stop laughing…then we started arguing…and then laughing some more.
Needless to say, we were both pretty passionate about our answers.
I have listed Andrew’s Top Five, Bottom Five at the bottom of this post for you to see as well. Who is right? Who is wrong? What do you think?
Now…just to repeat what I said in the original post, we are talking about my TOP FIVE Thanksgiving foods that are perhaps a bit under appreciated but super fantastic and then my BOTTOM FIVE Thanksgiving foods that so many people love that I think are overrated and not that great. I make all of these recipes and certainly eat them all on the big day because, well, no one has tacos out, so what else could I eat?! Buuuuut that doesn’t mean I don’t think some are highly overrated. Really? You’re getting excited about _____?
Yeah.
It’s about to get real feisty.
Here we go, in reverse order here are my TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE THANKSGIVING FOODS…
5: HAM
Why is ham not the star of the show? Ham is always tender. Ham is always the same color (no white or dark meat here). Ham is delicious smoked, honey-baked, hot or cold. Ham is amazing. You’re not up at 4:00 AM basting ham. Ham is easy. Ham wants to come to the party. Ham is happy to be there and never lets you down. Ham should take no backseat to that dry bird where all 45 people at the party fight over what…like two drumsticks. I love ham.
4: SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
Top it with marshmallows, pecans, streusel…whatever…it’s good. It’s slightly sweet, it’s a little spicy, it’s perfect served with savory fare and sweet too. It’s like a bonus side that you typically don’t get on a normal weeknight but extra fabulous on Thanksgiving. I love it.
3: PUMPKIN PIE
I feel like this pie always gets shortchanged. It is my FAVORITE pie so why is it only served at Thanksgiving? It’s creamy. It’s light. It’s not too sweet. It makes a great breakfast with a cup of coffee too. Pumpkin pie is amazing hot, cold, with whipped topping, ice cream or by itself. I vote we start enjoying it year around. Nothing says July 4th like pumpkin pie, right?! I know you guys feel me on this. Pumpkin pie is absluletly delicious.
2: CORN CASSEROLE
Yes, yes, YES for corn casserole! I know A LOT of casseroles will be plopped down on that Thanksgiving table, but to me, the corn casserole is the best. Cheesy, buttery, maybe a little spicy too? I could skip all of the other food and just eat a bowl of this. I don’t care who makes it or what version they bring, I want this on my plate. Extra points if there is some sort of buttery cracker crumb topping baked on.
And my #1 TOP THANKSGIVING FOOD…
1: PECAN PIE
Yesssssssss! Why are people so weird about pecan pie? Like legit, some people get HORRIFIED expressions when I offer them a slice. “I don’t eat nuts”. Yeah, it’s a “nut” if you call crunchy goodness baked in pie shell with loads of sugar and Karo syrup just a nut. UM, IT’S DELICIOUS. People who “aren’t nut people” (which I really don’t understand these people?!) get all sorts of freaked out when offered a piece. Pecan pie is FREAKING AMAZING. The consistency is like candy but better. It’s crunchy. It’s sweet. It has that delicious top that goes perfectly with the buttery crust. Um, it’s the best! I could eat the corn and have a slice of pie and call it a holiday.
Buuuuuuut there are a few dishes on Thanksgiving I don’t really understand.
These would be my…
5: GREENBEAN CASSEROLE
I’m not saying I hate it. I will absolutely put some on my plate, but isn’t it a bit…odd. We wait all year long to eat canned green beans with cream of mushroom soup and fake onions baked together until they’re mushy? Why? Do we love it or are we checking some sort of “vegetable” box, so we feel better about all the casseroles and pies we’re eating that day? Spoiler alert: I don’t think this really counts as a veggie.
4: CRANBERRY SAUCE
Again, I don’t hate it…but I don’t really understand its universal appeal. Trust me, I’ll add it to my turkey as an attempt to make it less dry and unappealing, but really, why the can? I have certain family members that only want it if it’s shaped like it slid right out of the can. What’s happening, people? This is our biggest food holiday of the year, and we’re required to put one of the lesser consumed fruits on our table in gelatin form shaped like a can?
3: MASHED POTATOES
I cannot get behind this trend. This is where my attitude shifts from “I like it but don’t understand it to, what the actual heck is happening”. Mashed potatoes are amazing. They’re fabulous. When did they get put on the Thanksgiving table? I feel like we have rolls, sweet potato casserole, dressing and such, so why are we bringing our normal Monday night side to the table too? I just think it’s too “normal” to be considered Thanksgiving-y. This is normal food. If we’re now putting “normal food” on the Thanksgiving table, can someone please put tacos out?
2: TURKEY
Nope, nope, nope. It’s dry. It’s too high-maintenance. Everyone fights over the white meat or the drumstick…it’s literally a 20 pound bird and my entire family fights over 8 ounces. I do not understand turkey’s appeal. It’s also like a health food of sorts. It reminds me of kale. Or salmon. You know, when people are trying to make things “healthy” they sub ground beef for ground turkey. “Yeah, I made burgers but they were TURKEY burgers, so they weren’t that bad for us”. Turkey burgers aren’t nearly as good as beef burgers and turkey isn’t as good as ham. Or tacos. I pass on this every single year. While you guys are up in the middle of the night basting, I’m going to sleep in, watch the parade and enjoy my ham and corn at lunch.
And in my opinion, the most OVERRATED THANKSGIVING FOOD is…
1: DRESSING/STUFFING
And you know I’m right.
Listen, I love to make “dressings” that are basically meaty, cheesy, flavorful casseroles, but I’m talking about basic stuffing. Basic, everyone makes it, always served stuffing. It’s soggy bread baked in the oven. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. My husband lives for stuffing. What am I missing? No matter who makes it (and again, not ‘fancy’ stuffing, normal stuff), it’s just okay. Let’s be real here, if stuffing was as good as say A TACO, we would eat it year around. The fact that we only eat “this amazing Thanksgiving side” one day a year should really speak volumes. This is another big pass for me.
So, when I called Andrew at work and asked him what his TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE THANKSGIVING FOODS were, he immediately said these…
TOP 5
#5: PUMPKIN PIE
#4: FIVE BEAN CASSEROLE
#3: MASHED POTATOES
#2: TURKEY
#1: DRESSING
BOTTOM 5
#5: CHEESECAKE
#4: MACARONI AND CHEESE
#3: ANY SORT OF GREEN OR FRUIT SALAD
#2: CRANBERRY SAUCE
#1: HAM
You guys, I was laughing so hard! I mean…we agree on a few things, but basically, we are complete opposites. Just look at his top three and his bottom one. Bahahahaha!
Now, the Five Bean Casserole is one of my faves too. His parents make it every year, and I love it, but I don’t think it’s a common side, so I didn’t add it to my list.
Andrew was VERY passionate about his answers as was I, and now, we want to hear what YOU think!
Spill it…what’s your TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE. I want to know!!! xx
AngieN says
Top 5: deviled eggs, fruit salad (my MIL makes the best!), sweet potato pie, turkey (smoked, NOT roasted until all the liquid is gone), and cornbread dressing.
Bottom 5: green bean casserole, ham, pumpkin pie, mac ‘n cheese, sweet potato casserole
Britt Wilkerson says
Top 5:
Greenbean/Corn casserole
Mashed potatoes
Macaroni & Cheese
Ham
Dressing
Bottom 5:
Pecan pie
Pumpkin pie
Green beans
Deviled eggs
Turkey
Missy says
Top 5
Dressing (Cornbread, not Bread)
Broccoli/Rice Cheese Casserole
Green Bean Casserole
Turkey
Double-Layer Pumpkin Pie
Bottom 5
Ham
Cranberry Sauce
Corn Casserole
Sweet Potato Casserole
Fruit Salad
Candace Young says
I love your blog! I read it everyday! Thanks for sharing your Christian faith! My husband and I are at total opposites on the food as well! Top five for me were ;
Deviled eggs
Ham
Green bean casserole (bacon, brown sugar,butter)
Pineapple salad with cheddar cheese
Homemade rolls
Bottom five:
Turkey/gravy
Dressing🤪
Sweet potato casserole
Pumpkin pie
Cranberry sauce
My husbands no 1! Dressing, ham, pecan pie, rolls, gbcasserole
His bottom ones : any fruit salad
Deviled eggs, turkey, pumpkin pie, any any fruit salad!! He hates them!😂
Kiki says
Can you link to your recent braid tutorial? I searched and can’t find it!
Mix and Match Mama says
Kensington is doing them! I need her to make one!
lori says
oh, you crack me up. i could not stop laughing at the way you describe everything. you are so right about it all too!
Helen Lai says
Top 5:
-sweet potato casserole
-pumpkin pie
-ham
-mashed potatoes
-Mac and cheese
Bottom5:
-stuffing/dressing or whatever the heck it’s called. All disgusting to me and I just don’t get the hype!
-Turkey
-green bean casserole
-pecan pie
-cranberry sauce
Elizabeth C says
Top 5:
1. Turkey
2. Ham
3. Cornbread dressing
4. Some sort of potato casserole (au gratin potatoes or hash brown casserole)
5. Cranberry sauce (not from a can)
Bottom 5:
1. Mashed potatoes – same reason you said. But I think it is because some people only have fake mashed potatoes regularly?
2. Rolls – don’t we have enough carbs already?
3. Green bean casserole – Cream of anything is just wrong. Canned beans are just wrong.
4. Sweet potato casserole – it’s sweet enough. Just top it with some butter and cinnamon and it’s delightful any time. But why do we need to put marshmallows on a “vegetable”?
5. Gravy
Valerie says
Top 5: Mac n Cheese, Hawaiian Rolls (lol), Mashed potatoes, stuffing & Gravy (on everything) give me all the carbs!
Bottom 5: Sweet Potato Pie, Turkey, Green bean Casserole, fruit salad, cranberry sauce
Nicole says
TOP 5
#5: Salad/veggie
#4: Corn casserole
#3: Pie
#2: Turkey
#1: Stuffing
BOTTOM 5
#5: Cranberry sauce
#4: Green bean casserole
#3: Mashed potatoes
#2: Ham
#1: Gravy
Erika Slaughter says
I don’t even understand you right now!! Just to name a few…1. Yes, we’re honestly getting excited about the green beans with cream of mushroom topped with fried onions. That is definitely not a dish happening on your average Monday night. 2. I too prefer the cranberry sauce that includes the can ridges but it tastes best alongside- 3. DRESSING!!! Call me later. I’m not finished. 🙂
Amy says
😂😂😂
Miranda says
This might lead to an 842 text day for you two. LOL
Kara says
Agree with you on the turkey but I love some can-shaped cranberry! 😂🫣🤣 fun post!!
Julie says
I’m with Andrew on this one, BIG TIME!!! Turkey is my favorite food ever!!! I could probably eat a turkey sandwich every day. Maybe you need to get a roaster. You don’t have to do anything, and it cooks a turkey perfect every time. I also love my mom’s dressing. Sweet potato casserole and pumpkin pie are also in my top five.
Sheaffer says
One… I’m OFFENDED.
Two… I kinda want to fight.
Three… You can take your ham, your sweet potato casserole, and your pecan pie and you can stick them all where the sun don’t shine.
Hahahaha! People are going to get FEISTY! I can hardly wait to come back and read the comments later!
And listen, your ham loving self needs to ALWAYS make the pineapple casserole!
Elspeth says
Your explanations had me dying!!! I do enjoy Turkey but can go without the green bean casserole! Plus the meme about taking the picture of the play of food is so accurate!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Kim Harrigan says
top 5
ham
cheesy potatoes
cranberry relish sweet and tart
pineapple mandarin orange salad
pecan pie
bottom
turkey
mashed potatoes
canned cranberry with the ridges
I can take or leave green bean casserole
Dana says
I’m sorry… but Andrew is 100% right. Stuffing is the best item on the table. It is quintessential thanksgiving!!
I also do make this year around!
Have an awesome day 😃
Natasha says
The reason we don’t eat delicious stuffing every day is because you have to make the stupid turkey to have excellent stuffing. The whole point of turkey is to be a vessel for the stuffing! I will say though that I have never cooked a turkey, and never will, but my mom makes an excellent homemade cranberry sauce and delicious stuffing.
Our Thanksgiving meal has turned into grilled shrimp. roasted fall root veggies, Hasselback potatoes, and sometimes a Caesar salad. It takes an hour and a bit to make from start to finish and we have the rest of the day to do fun things.
Ani says
My #1, 2, 3… Chestnut stuffing – I basically wait all year to enjoy this.
😂
Taylor says
Pumpkin pie is for sure in my top five. I agree..why don’t we start having it year round?
I also agree with you about stuffing. It’s always been a big deal at my house and I’m the only one that doesn’t eat it. It’s the soggy part that gets me.
Jeanie says
Top Five
1. Turkey
2. Stuffing
3. Corn Casserole
4. Cranberry Sauce
5. Ham
Bottom Five
1. Pecan Pie
2. Green Bean Casserole
3. Noodles (something hub’s family makes)
4. Sweet potatoes
5. Deviled Eggs
polly pover says
That was hysterical! The last thing I want to do after smelling a turkey cooking for hours is eat it!! So much so, that I bought a roaster so I could plug it in and cook it outside on the deck and not have to smell it. It didn’t look pretty and tasted not good, but what the hey, it never tastes good! The turkey lovers claimed it was “moist” and so good. I never understood the green bean casserole, but you are much kinder than I, I think its gross. I will never understand why even people who never eat processed food love the mushy canned beans, highly processed salty, gooey mushroom soup, and fake onions in combination!
Johanna says
I just love feisty Shay. I was full out laughing at my desk in my office – you made my day with this post. And I am neither American nor have I ever participated in Thanksgiving or eaten Thanksgiving food. By the way, sounds like I would definitely be more team Shay than team Andrew. Give me all the ham and pies. No one needs any sort of bean casserole. And that stuffing thingy sounds awful
Margo says
Ha! This is hilarious. I love your blog but we would never eat a Thanksgiving meal together. Your top five would never see a spot on my table. Not a single person in my family would eat any of those things. Now…if you only have dry turkey….it’s time to put someone else in charge. My husband handles ours. He’s brined it, smoked it, deep fried it. Whatever suits him. No oven- roasted turkey for us. I do totally hear you on canned cranberry sauce- my dad would only eat it if it was from the can. But for your family- you HAVE to try this recipe. It’s fun, funky, and delicious!
https://www.npr.org/2006/11/23/4176014/mama-stambergs-cranberry-relish-recipe
Kathy GARRARD says
Love This! Reminds me of the year I Was in charge of making Thanksgiving dinner. I made giblet gravy because we had always had it, even though I don’t remember anyone eating it, and my mom commented on why I made that. She hated it! So much for trying to fix dishes I thought she liked.
Pamela says
I love the Top 5 Bottom 5 posts…and I love you included Andrew too. My family gave up turkey and replaced it with ham years ago and we are never going back but we still “must” have dressing 🤣
Andrea at Opulent Cottage says
I loathe all of it hahaha! Bringing a couple of grilled ribeyes to my family’s table this year 🙂 We do make the dressing a little more palatable by adding in chopped tamales (as close to a taco as we can get lol!) and making a fresh cranberry salsa! Love this cute post 🙂
Kristen says
Top- Pumpkin Pie, Corn Casserole, Mashed Potatoes, Pecan Pie & Rolls!
Botton- TURKEY!
Kristin says
Ok, I’ll be honest…the best things about the turkey are the smell while it’s roasting, the gravy the juices and fat let me make to put on my delicious mashed potatoes and stuffing, and all of the amazing stock I make with the carcass and put in my freezer. BUT I love mashed potatoes on Tgiving because of the best gravy ever. And I ADORE my grandma’s very plain stuffing recipe. And I only make it once a year because it’s so flipping unhealthy. My grandma’s roll recipe is also in my top 5, and and I think my son’s record is 11 in one meal (I don’t make them huge). Love pumpkin and pecan pie, but I really want an apple pie this year too, so I think the pecans are going to show up in pecan pie bar form. Our kids are 26 and 28, our son lives 9 hours away by car, and we have yet to spend a Thanksgiving apart. We need to be together on Thanksgiving much more than on Christmas! We have added Kraft Mac & Cheese to the table for our son’s fiancee, and I will put some version of green beans on the table, but NOT the stereotypical casserole.
Carrie says
We have never had a dry turkey…. I use a brine and it is usually very juicy, use in left overs and it still doesn’t dry out. I can’t say we have an issue in which some family members want one part or another. I wouldn’t equate a whole turkey with ground turkey, it’s just really different. Our family doesn’t eat beef as it’s pricy and we like the taste of turkey better. Stuffing is likely my favorite, if your stuffing is soggy then something went wrong… The top should be crispy and the inside most but absolutely not soggy. This year we are likely also having chicken noodle soup along with everything else. It’s my daughter’s birthday and that is her absolute favorite food.
Lois Hilty says
Will you kindly share your exact recipe & detailed procedure for stuffing that is crispy on top, moist on the inside but not soggy? Thank you very much! You may email to lhilty1@comcast.net.
Carrie says
I have used these two recipes,
https://www.cookinglight.com/recipes/sausage-apple-and-herb-stuffing
and
https://www.cookinglight.com/recipes/classic-herb-stuffing
And I sort of combine the two during some Thanksgivings as we don’t usually use the sausage. What I have found is that you really need your bread to be on the chunkier side and really dried out. I do a combo of sourdough, French, and then sometimes another bread. I cut it in to thick cubes and let it dry out for 2 days. I then find it’s rather forgiveable for most recipes! I have popped it into the group pop ( it still cooks quickly) and then at the last minute put it in the oven to give it that crisp topping. I make French toast bake for Sunday dinner 2x a month as part of our menu and honestly I follow the same process! I also tend to err more on the side of less liquid and monitoring it then soaking it. I can’t find the original cooking light recipe that this started from! I started making Thanksgiving stuffing in 2007 when I first hosted after my oldest was born. It’s become a little bit from memory with variations.
Carrie says
crockpot not group pop!!
Lois says
Thank you very much, Carrie.
Carrie says
Mashed potatoes and stuffing are everything!!! #teamandrew
Josie says
I hate turkey too. Again, if it was so good, why is it only eaten one day a year? have you ever known anyone to ever eat turkey any other day of the year? (I’m talking whole turkeys, not deli meat, ground turkey, etc)
Caitlin says
Your description and comparison of ham and turkey could not be more accurate. If I feel you articulated all of my feelings of why ham is far superior to turkey. Honestly, I was laughing so hard at the comparisons and it has given me life today.
Brooke says
This is great! I’m with you. Turkey needs to go-Ham is 100x better. However: my “cranberry” is actually jello mixed with pecans, mandarins, and food processed cranberries and it’s my fave! Kinda crunchy, kinda tart, kinda like dessert.
Ranisa Brletich says
Someone gets Shay a taco! Someone? Anyone? Who is close? Where is Erica? Erica-Shay needs a taco she sounds hangery. J/K but no really Erica, Shay could use a taco.
Ranisa Brletich says
I am embarrassed, I spelled Erika wrong. My apologies.
Jenny Hutcheson says
This is so funny! So does that mean you’ll make a turkey or no…lol. People are so passionate about their thanksgiving food!!!
Top 5:
5. Sweet potato casserole 4. Corn casserole 3. Pecan pie 2. Ham 1. Stuffing/dressing
Bottom 5:
5. mashed potatoes 4. Cranberries 3. Turkey 2. Coleslaw 1. Green bean casserole
Shannon says
Pecan Pie #1 for sure!
My theory on mashed potatoes (which I love) is something else for gravy to go on. Turkey needs gravy for moisture. What else can we put it on? Enter the potato.
Do you have a corn casserole recipe you love? I make Paula Deen’s recipe, which is good, but not blow your hair back good.
Traci says
Check Southern Living magazine’s website for Corn Pudding recipes. They have some good ones.
SS says
Shay,
We have learned over the years to just get that turkey breasts for our family. We put a few in the crockpot and done. Lol. We make my Gmas recipe for cranberry sauce with cranberries, apples and grapes. We make like a corn casserole…ours is a bit different than yours. We love GRAVY. I use stock that I have made and we doctor it up a bit. It is so good. I do not like pumpkin or pecan pie… Apple for me please. One year hubby smoked a pecan pie!!!
Karen says
The best thing we ever did is make the Turkey the day before. Clean the whole bird and put the meat in a cake or toaster pan. Drizzle with broth the next day and warm it up. Very tasty and not dry, better than right off the bird after it bakes. It makes food prep the next day so much easier and no last minute scurrying. Google how to bake Turkey a day ahead. It’s a popular thing. You can leave the legs whole if you want to, but we just remove all the meat from the bones. We also separate dark and white meat on opposite ends of the pan.
Kathy says
There are fabulous recipes for green bean casserole using fresh green beans and homemade sauce and fresh cranberry sauce, and stuffings made without using the prepackaged bags that are way better than what you are used to. And although turkey is not my favorite, I do like it once a year on Thanksgiving. Ham can shine on other holidays.
Laura Holmes says
Is it terrible that I have no idea what a corn casserole is?? I’d love to see a recipe! I feel like I’m missing something. 🙂
Laura says
Stuffing is only good if it’s actually stuffed inside the bird to bake. I don’t understand why people call it “stuffing” and then bake it in a separate dish on the side. Turkey and stuffing have a symbiotic relationship. Turkey gives stuffing more flavor as it absorbs all that turkey-flavor goodness as it cooks, and stuffing keeps the turkey more moist and delicious. Stuffing should be stuffed! 😅
Claire says
Shay, your top 5/bottom 5 is SPOT ON. Close the comments section, it has been decided—WE ARE HERE FOR THE HAM!
Claire says
Also, turkey is the meat equivalent of pencil shavings. I said what I said!
Mix and Match Mama says
MIC DROP.
Dana P says
🤭🤭🤭 This is a fun one! A few things to add: you can, in fact, ruin a ham. I bought one *raw* in France one year and it was a total disaster. I followed the butcher’s instructions exactly, but it was a high maintenance mess! We did thanksgiving outreaches every year there and they were so much fun. The French are generally really good cooks and would tweak our recipes and make them even better. Turns out that baguettes and wine actually make amazing stuffing!
3 things they brought that didn’t work out: 1. Waldorf salad that was PURÉED.
2. Cranberry salad that was supposed to use fresh cranberries but they did dried and sweetened ones. It was painfully sweet! They thought that’s just how we eat. The French think we Americans tend to eat like children, everything way too sweet or salty and fatty. When someone does food representing America, they do things like a donut hamburger!
3. a pumpkin pie with whole cloves in it. The person who made it sat and watched me eat it and I thought I was going to die biting into those chunks of spicy clove like they were delicious. 😆 He was so proud and I didn’t have the heart to tell him!
And now I can’t wait for some thanksgiving dinner-I love all of it!
Melissa says
I love this! Personally, I’m not a huge fan of Thanksgiving food dishes in general. I like “lighter” foods, so I’m the person who would like to bring roasted veggies or a good fall salad to Thanksgiving and everyone would skip over it. Ha!
Suzanne says
I am 💯 Team Shay on your top five/bottom five. Those are all of my favs and least favs. My favorite was-“the ham wants to come to the party” 🤣
Kay says
Shay I’m with you on ALMOST ALL. I just don’t love turkey. Don’t love cranberry sauce. I’m basically about stuffing and pie. I grew up with the typical bread stuffing you described, but last year I hosted for the first time in my NEW kitchen (yay yay!) and I made cornbread dressing. It was REALLY good. It’s basically cornbread and butter (lol) but maybe you’d look forward to that a little more?
Okay, biggest controversy over Thanx at my household. I arew up with Thanksgiving DINNER. So, we ate around 4 ish maybe? But my mother in law always did a lunch, so she served around 2pm. My husband cannot move past this afternoon thing. It’s the “right” way he says! I mean, it’s not called THANKSGIVING LUNCH, am I right? So I’m curious what time you think is the right time.
Also, PIE. It’s the best. And my husband wants chocolate chip cookies for dessert this year? WHAAAAAT? Weigh in. Please.
Mix and Match Mama says
YES!!!!! We should have addressed this too! My family eats at 1:00. That is a terrible time in my opinion. Give me noon, give me 6:00 PM…1:00 is just in the way.
Lynn says
Some people call the mid-day meal “dinner” and the evening meal “supper.” I grew up with lunch being called “dinner,” but now as an adult refer to supper as “dinner” and it still causes confusion with my parents! From what I’ve read, “dinner” is usually just the biggest meal of the day, which for some people is lunch.
Brooke says
Oh the time is a good one! I don’t like 2 or 4. I don’t know which meals those times are supposed to be and it would mess up my entire day. I am with Shay, noon or 6 are preferred.
Stacy says
Okay…I can make you a Turkey lover…you’ve got to try it Deep Fried injected with Jalapeno Butter. I never liked turkey until we started this tradition…so flavorful and not dry!
Joanne says
First off… I don’t even think we have 10 Thanksgiving foods for me to list top 5 and bottom 5! LOL. Of your top 5 only one of those is even on our table (pecan pie– but I like mine with chocolate chips added in!). Secondly I think it’s hilarious that you have total opposite lists!
Amy says
This is the BEST post ever!! I am dying over here. I have realized my family’s Thanksgiving meal is very basic; turkey, dressing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, rolls, and yes cranberry sauce out of a can.
When I read Andrews I just about had a coffee bath! I understand how an argument would ensue 😂. However I am with Andrew on the top and bottom five.
I love all the responses especially from your friends! Would love to hear your kids thoughts on this matter.
Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!!
Debbie K. says
Out of all holiday foods, Thanksgiving is my least favorite.
Top 5: Pumpkin pie with real whipped cream, mashed potatoes, polish noodles, sweet potato anything, my mom’s cookies,
Bottom 5: Turkey, dressing/stuffing, cranberry relish (canned or homemade,) polish sausage, (And, I’m truly sorry Shay)… but pecan pie
Leslie S says
Team all-the-sides-and-desserts over here. Turkey is gross lol. We make my grandmas “snappy green beans”, can’t go wrong with bacon. They’re fresh and delish! I love apple pie more than pumpkin, but honestly we love desserts. Pumpkin heath bars were awesome last year. .
Mary says
This was too funny! I agree on the ham! When I found out in my adult years that some folks have ham on their thanksgiving tables alongside turkey, I felt deprived!! I actually love green bean casserole, but the fancy versions made from fresh green beans and homemade cream of mushroom. I also love mashed potatoes. They weren’t a regular thing for me growing up and usually just for special meals. I’m Asian so rice was a regular carb for us instead. Agree on the stuffing too.
Stacie says
HAHAHAHA! We are the exact opposite! My top 5 are your bottom 5 and my bottom 5 are your top 5. However, if Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie were served, it would also make my top list.
Jennifer says
Surprisingly I agree with Andrew on everything! Nothing better than my sage sausage stuffing 😋
Monica says
Ah, my favorite food holiday. My #1 fav food of all time is bourbon pecan pie! I had to make it for our exchange student in the middle of summer bc it is an essential American food! Also never liked cranberry sauce til I tried this one. Give it a shot: 3 cups cranberries, 1 orange sectioned, 1 apple cut in chunks, 1 cup drained pineapple, Chop in food processor. Put chopped ingredients in a bowl and add 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 3/4 tsp ginger. Marinate overnight, enjoy!
Kayla Bruce says
100% on the pecan pie. LOVE! But also a big turkey and stuffing fan!
Connie says
Pumpkin pie is my favorite pie!! Yum!
Kristin Lyngaas says
Sorry Shay but your husband’s top 5 rule at my house too! 🧡 I have a nephew that will NOT miss my annual Thanksgiving dinner no matter what because of my crockpot stuffing. My husband is a master turkey roaster after having the job for 25 years. Yep! That’s how long I’ve been hosting. Come on over to Phoenix 😊
Laura says
So, Thanksgiving food is a whole regional cultural vibe. Each family serves their own things I had never heard of anyone serving macaroni & cheese or mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving until I got married and moved to NC. Here’s my top 5:
Favorite Five:
1. cornbread dressing with gravy – my Mama makes it the very best.
2. cranberry sauce! I eat it all of Fall & winter
3. pumpkin pie !!!!!
4. my Mama’s yeast rolls!!!!!
5. sweet potato souffle with streusel topping
Bottom Five:
1. Ham – never saw ham at Thanksgiving as a child. My MIL gets ham thick sliced at the deli and zero people eat it.
2. mashed potatoes – why? they’re nothing special
3. macaroni & cheese – again why? I make it weekly
4. green bean casserole – eeewwww….
5. any cake – My in-laws make a boxed cake with canned frosting — WHY!?!?!?
I’m spending Thanksgiving with my family this year for the first time in FIFTEEN YEARS. I’m so excited!
Traci says
When I first was dating my now husband and we spent Thanksgiving with his South Carolina born and bred family, they served RICE for Thanksgiving and no mashed potatoes. I just about cried and I’m not lying. My Virginia native heart just withered that day. Twenty five years later, I make sure there are mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving.
Toni :0) says
I’ll be honest, I cooked one turkey in my life with my mom’s help and I swore I’d never do it again. Beyond stressful and all that stupid carving…nope nope nope. I always enjoyed going to a siblings house and just having to bring a dish to pass but C%#id ruined that so I don’t know, I’d rather just eat out or have carry out at this stage of my life. I like ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole and pumpkin pie, but the rest could take a hike. I don’t get how all those variety of foods came to be high on the list for Thanksgiving. Give me snacks and appetizers with pumpkin pie and I’d be a happy girl.
Shara says
You might like turkey more if you fry it, I used to tolerate turkey from the oven and would cover it in gravy to eat it but my husband’s fried turkey is in my top 5.
#5 corn casserole
#4 mashed potatoes
#3 fried turkey
#2 sweet potato casserole
#1 pecan pie
I don’t know that I have a bottom 5 but pumpkin pie is my least favorite Thanksgiving food, I can’t stand it.
Cris says
This year, my family has decided to do a Tex-Mex theme for Thanksgiving, based on my Dad’s special quesadillas! My kids are very excited…they hate the traditional choices. We all bring stuff, so any great recipes that fit the theme would be appreciated!
Mix and Match Mama says
What time should I be there? I’ll bring the guac.
Laura says
What a fun post! Now I’m ready for some Thanksgiving food! But as to what Thanksgiving food, probably just any food that I don’t have to make!! Ha! But, I’m the one who makes the pumpkin pie every year, because well, it’s absolutely delicious! Especially right out of the oven!
Meredith says
HAM!!! The best Thanksgiving meat EVER!!! I agree about many, but mashed potatoes and dressing (my moms and not anyone else) is amazing!
Kathy says
We rub olive oil, rosemary, thyme and a little, fresh garlic under the skin of our turkey, and it not only makes our whole house smell amazing, but it tastes so tender and absolutely delicious!!
Top 5:
Turkey
Cranberry/orange sauce
Sweet potato casserole
Garlic grits casserole (family recipe)
Pecan Pie
Bottom 5:
Pumpkin Pie
Stuffing
Green bean casserole
mashed potatoes
jello salad
Robin says
I LOVE HAM, also but my family gets absolutely hysterical if I even mention doing ham vs a turkey…..including the kid who is a VEGETARIAN!! 🤔😆
And you are hilarious! Laughed out loud. Also, laughed out loud at Schaeffer’s reply!
Leslie H says
Top 5:
Ham
Turkey (we cook both)
Mashed potatoes!
My Mom’s famous pink salad (it’s really a dessert and can be eaten at any time of day)
Apple Pie
Bottom 5
Sweet Potato anything
Stuffing it’s a meh, from me
Green bean casserole
Lettuce salad (not on Thanksgiving)
Pumpkin pie
Sheila Haines says
Sorry Shay, I’m team Andrew on this one – turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing — yummmm!!
Ashley says
Ok do me a favor….make a green bean casserole with fresh green beans, grated onions and cheese, it will change your mind. AND buy the cranberry Orange sauce from TJs….it will also change your mind. 🤣
Jennifer says
I can pass on everything except dressing. I’m a firm believer it all depends on your recipe. My mom always makes in with chopped mushrooms, celery, and onion. The little bit of crunch in it is everything. The bread is not what I would consider soggy on day 1. But definitely when reheating leftovers. I love it! I’ll make everything else as long as my mom makes this for me 😍
Mandie says
If you don’t like turkey because it is dry, then I recommend having it at someone else’s house who knows how to not overcook turkey!! Turkey is delicious and moist when cooked right. And also I want the turkey next to the mashed potatoes and the stuffing and I want to COVER them all in gravy and eat them together! Amazing! I agree don’t invite me to your house and then serve me dry turkey with no gravy…that is my actual Thanksgiving nightmare!
Beth Valenta says
I love these posts! Top 5: whipped mashed potatoes, broccoli casserole with ritz topping, oyster stuffing, sausage balls with bloody mary watching the parade and my number 1 is GRAVY. Gravy is great on everything. Bottom 5: HAM is the worst, sweet potato anything, pecan pie (too sweet), turkey (although I have never made one due to my mom’s hubby smokes it every year. and I don’t get mac and cheese on there?
I guess I am more team Andrew. I would much rather have shrimp and a harvest salad.
Amy Heinl says
I was laughing so hard. I am not a turkey fan and ham is ok( which is why we now go out for Thanksgiving and besides turkey and ham they serve Prime Rib which makes me one happy girl…I will take beef anyday)anyway. That being said my top 5 woukd be:
Stuffing
Mashed potatoes and Gravy
Green bean casserole
Rolls and Butter
Sweet Potatoe Casserole
Bottom 5
Mac and cheese
Cranberry sauce
Pumpkin pie
Turkey
Ham
Now I am not a big pie fan unless it’s key lime pie so I make a chocolate truffle dessert….you can have your pumpkin or pecan any day…I will be living my best life drawing in some chocolate…lol
Dana J says
Top 5
1. Dressing with Gravy
2. Sweet Potato Casserole
3. Green Bean Bundles (no green bean casserole here 🤮)
4. Turkey- mainly for sandwiches later
5. Pumpkin Pie
Bottom 5
1. Green Bean Casserole
2. Pecan Pie
3. Cranberry Sauce
4. Ham
5. Green Bean Casserole…yes I said it again!! Gross!
Love reading the comments and the passion behind the answers!! 😂
Julie Harris says
I have so many thoughts…where to begin? #1 Ham IS delicious, but it gets it’s own holiday…Easter. It has no place at the Thanksgiving table. Same thing with Prime Rib. This isn’t a Brazilizan Steakhouse…give turkey its day in the sun. #2 I’ll skip the pies all day long for another serving of dressing. Cornbread with pepper jack cheese, bacon and jalapenos? Yes please. That in addition to the traditional dressing and I’ll skip the rolls too. #3 Without mashed potatoes, where do you put the gravy? #4 Agree about the mushy green bean casserole, but an ELEVATED version with actual green beans makes me feel a little better about the carb overload. It gets a 1/16 spot on my plate, just to represent the vegetables. #5 Let’s not forget the wine. The pilgrims and Indians would want it that way. Happy Thanksgiving Shull Family!!
Courtney Mac says
Yeah, I think that Andrew’s list is more of a winner but I do concede that it is weird that as much as we love dressing, we do only eat it twice a year.
Jen C says
I love all Thanksgiving food! My mom’s side of the family always had dressing that was not soggy and it was delicious! Basically it’s just frying stale bread pieces in lots of butter and adding poultry seasoning. It’s soooooo good!! I haven’t heard of anyone else making dressing/stuffing like this.
Sally Lockwood says
Off the wall question from today::
Where do you get all of your studs??
Mix and Match Mama says
Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RZHQF58/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Paige M Wright says
All I can say is “have you tried a fried turkey?” Never dry and oh so delicious. My husband fries ours every year 🙂
I am a mix of both of you. My bottom #1 is a tie between stuffing and ham haha!
Gillin Foreman says
We make Hamburg stuffing, it’s so much better then traditional bread stuffing. I’ve also make a sweet noddle kugel every thanksgiving it’s become a tradition
MelanieL says
Wow, I hope your paragraph about Ham gets picked up by pork.org…I am seriously laughing out loud AND I agree!! Maybe they will sponsor you! I love pumpkin pie but I can’t do Pecan Pie it is too sweet. I gag on GB casserole but my husband and sister love it so much our mom tells her to bring it because she won’t make it, LOL! Cranberry and stuffing are a YES for me. I love this post! Bring on Thanksgiving by the Christmas tree! 🙂
Dawn says
Pecan Pie is Satan’s work.
Mix and Match Mama says
I literally just laughed out loud.
Cheryl says
Could not agree more 🤢
Lizzie says
Love this post! I grew up with my family cooking ham for Thanksgiving. And, sometimes added a small turkey breast. We always had cornbread dressing with shredded chicken in it, and heavy on the sage, please. When I got married, my husband’s family always cooked a huge turkey (large family) with turkey gravy, yummy! His mom also made a dirty rice dressing, again yummy! She also makes a sticky white rice–so good with the turkey gravy! I love both traditions.
TOP 5:
1. turkey/ham
2. rice dressing/cornbread dressing/white rice & turkey gravy
3. turkey gravy
4. sweet potato casserole
5. pumpkin pie
6. broccoli rice casserole – had to add a 6th
BOTTOM 5:
1. cranberries
2. pecan pie
3. corn casserole
4. mac n cheese – love it but not for Thanksgiving
5. anything else not in my top 5
Laci Murray says
Ham
Sweet Potato Casserole
Deviled Eggs
Broccoli Casserole
Dressing
in no particular order…but these are the things I look most forward to!
Heather Green says
Don’t mind me….just on my way to Costco for a pumpkin pie! I loved the lists and agree with yours! Wanna share your favorite corn casserole?
Tin-Tin says
HA HA! That’s so funny! I thought all Americans loved turkey and saw it as a must… I’m Swedish, so I’ve never been served a whole turkey, but I’ve seen those funny movies with the turkeys exploding, imploding, and whatever… We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving over here (duh), but for Christmas we eat… (drum roll…) – HAM! It’s the best! And the leftovers can be used for almost anything!
Ashley P says
I was about to get very feisty- ham?! No. I hate ham. But I agree on so much more! Corn casserole? Absolutely! Green bean casserole? Absolutely not. No mashed potatoes though? Can’t get behind that.
Jen says
I’m with you, Shay. Until I discovered Once Upon a Chef’s turkey recipe, I always hated turkey. While the recipe is a game changer, it doesn’t put turkey in my top five. It just bumped it off my bottom list. 😉
Top 5: mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, apple pie, skillet green beans (melskitchencafe.com)
Bottom 5: cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, my grandma’s Jello “salad”
Diane says
We are so lucky that our son and family host Thanksgiving but……. Our DIL’s mom does the cooking, she is not a good cook and does not let anyone bring sides! The stuffing has water seeping out, the gravy is like water, she makes a dry turkey roll…….honestly it is my least favorite meal of the year! I just count my blessings and move the food around on my plate 🤮.
Jenny says
Hysterical post. Turkey is too gamey to me unless it’s fried then it is tolerable. I vote yes for ham every time. I love cornbread dressing and not stuffing. Never green bean casserole 🤢. People stick to die hard traditions instead of having tacos, steaks etc. I think your post is a PSA to quit the turkey. Also it doesn’t help when the grocery stores give you a free turkey.
Best foods are definitely pumpkin pie, corn casserole, ham, sweet potato casserole and more pumpkin pie.
jennibell says
The end of this post made me LOL!!! Hahahaha!!! So funny 🙂
Top Five (reverse order): Brussel sprouts, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn casserole, turkey
Bottom Five (no order): pumpkin pie, pecan pie, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, gravy
Deborah says
Love seeing the differing opinions! Mine are:
Top 5
#5 – Turkey (mainly for day-after sandwiches)
#4 – Roasted Brussels Sprouts W/bacon
#3 – Sweet Potato anything
#2 – Pumpkin Pie
#1 – Chesnut & Sausage Dressing/Stuffing
Bottom 5
#5 – Mashed Potatoes
#4 – Gravy
#3 – Ham
#2 – Biscuits (I love dinner rolls though)
#1 – Green Bean Casserole
Amie says
Love this post!! While our families do all of these ‘normal’ foods for Thanksgiving, by Christmas we are over it!! For Christmas my parents do fried shrimp and lasagna and my husband’s family does mexican food!! haha Maybe you should also do a top/bottom 5 for Christmas!
JenS says
I’ve never heard of ham for Thanksgiving before. Even my southern family doesn’t do serve ham. I’m so confused. But, I’m not a ham fan. I’d take turkey any day over ham.
Lydia says
What if you use frozen green beans and make French fried onions from scratch?
And fresh home made cranberry sauce?
The only things I eat at thanksgiving are-
Turkey
Cranberry sauce
Mashed potatoes and gravy (from scratch)
Ambrosia salad
Green bean casserole
Pumpkin pie
All is from scratch. Mashed potatoes are not an every day side if you don’t use the processed version. Way too much work.
Also, have you ever brined the turkey? It’s better that way. I still prefer a whole roasted chicken though.
Diana says
I swear, so many of these things are how you cook it. Let’s just say one family member’s sweet potato casserole is Top 5 for me (loaded with a crumbly pecan brown sugar topping!! Yummmmm) and another’s is Bottom 5 (marshmallows, cubes of watery potatoes, bleh). 🤣
TOP 5 – mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, pecan sweet potato casserole, pecan pie, pulled pork (tradition for my bfs family alongside turkey)
BOTTOM 5- turkey, ham, stuffing, marshmallow sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce.
bette yuzon says
i agree with you on 90% of your list. i only have a top 3 – bottom 3 list.
top 3: cornish hens, pot roast, pecan pie
bottom 3: turkey, ham 🤢, apple pie
Mandy says
First time coming to your blog and oh my goodness! This is hilarious and so great! So much to read, but so lovely written!
Mix and Match Mama says
Welcome!! I hope you come back 🙂 !
Sharon K says
What is this corn casserole you’re talking about? I’ve never heard of this & I’m from TX!
My husband doesn’t eat ham any month of the year, so it’s turkey. Unless my middle son is home, I only cook a turkey breast & sometimes we smoke it. I started making Bobby Flay’s wild rice dressing years ago and I’m never going back. Don’t worry, it’s not healthy! And yes, pumpkin pie & pecan pie … always! Sometimes it’s a chocolate pecan pie and that’s tasty too. I have to have a salad of some kind. It’s usually Caesar but last year, I served a wedge salad before the rest of the meal. I also serve a vegetable, but no casseroles of any kind. I think I served roasted brussels sprouts last year. MMM!. And no sweet potatoes, but my husband always had mashed potatoes growing up, so sometimes I’ll indulge that. There have been years that we made something completely non-Thanksgiving, but I always feel like I missed something when we do. I don’t even like turkey, but it seems I need it at Thanksgiving.
Mix and Match Mama says
Here is a version I make. We ALWAYS have a corn casserole at our house! https://mixandmatchmama.com/2016/12/crunchy-bacon-cheese-corn-casserole/
AliJ. says
So my husband and I always host Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner for my family. I love having everyone over and a house full of people I love. Thanksgiving food though, I’d rather order a pizza! I don’t like ham, turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, gravy, pecan or pumpkin pie. I do make the ham and turkey and everyone brings sides. I always have my Mom make corn casserole (she lives with us) and I do make mashed potatoes and have mixed veggies. I take the smallest piece of turkey I can find, plain mashed potatoes beecause I hate gravy, veggies, roll and corn casserole. I make a pecan pie because that is what my husband likes but for me and everyone else, I make a chocolate French Silk pie.
At Christmas, I change it up every year because I’m eating food I don’t like a few weeks later. Last year we did brunch but I did have ham, mashed potatoes, gravy and rolls. Previous years I’ve done a German Christmas dinner (my parents lived in Germany when my Dad was in the US Army); I’ve also done an Italian Christmas themed dinner. This year, I’m thinking of doing a variety or a BBQ spread.
Julianne says
I’m really curious about this cheesecake thing. I have never heard cheesecake classified as a thanksgiving food!
One of my favorite things that we started doing when we got married was ditching the turkey if we were hosting – we’ve done chicken, prime rib, short rib – I just don’t understand why people get so excited about a bird that takes forever to cook and tastes awful!
Mix and Match Mama says
I asked Andrew the same question but his parents serve it every year. He googled it and it was one of the most popular Thanksgiving foods. Is it a Midwest thing? I don’t know?
Brooke says
Listen.. if you we are going to throw out the mashed potatoes because they are not Thanksgiving enough, the mac and cheese has to go too. I LOVE them both but I can see sticking with Thanksgiving sides. There is already plenty of food!
Brandye says
Dressing has been a part of Thanksgiving my entire life. I didn’t love it as a kid, but I do now. My Mimi made it with sausage. My MIL made it with oysters. Both are game. changers.
Top 5
Turkey (with homemade cranberry sauce)
Ham
Sweet potato casserole
Pink salad, on the same wavelength as Watergate Salad, etc
Dressing
Bottom 5
Mac & cheese (not a holiday side!}
Mashed potatoes (same)
Spinach salad (same)
Pecan pie (yes, I’m a 5th generation Texan! My dad says real Texans eat pecan pie)
Stuffing b/c cooking that inside the Turkey can cause food poisening!
Brandye says
Ugh. Also green bean casserole 🤢
sandi says
Top Six 🙂
1. Turkey
2. Ham
3. Mashed Potatoes
4. Brussel Sprouts w/ craisins and bacon
5. Pecan Pie
6. Deviled Eggs
Bottom Three
1. Sweet Potato Pie (sweet potatoes yes but not in a pie)
2. Any type of Jell-O salad
3. Green Bean Casserole
Lisa N says
Love this! I hope you turn it into a podcast discussion😂
Top 5:
Turkey AND Ham (mainly for the leftover sandwiches)
Cornbread Dressing
English Peas
Broccoli/Rice/Cheese Casserole
Rolls (as my husband calls them “pushers”)
Bottom 5:
Mac and Cheese NEVER
Green Bean Casserole
Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes (love them, would have been number 6 top)
Dessert (I’d take more of Top 5 instead)
Marika Spediacci says
Would it change your mind if it is fresh homemade cranberry sauce? My family always boils the cranberries and we make a homemade sauce with a little sugar. We make homemade mashed potatoes too. So good! Also for the green beans we satay them with sliced mushrooms instead of a casserole. I agree that the stuff out of boxes and cans is not good! I would say my top 5 are: Pumpkin pie, Sweet Potatoes, Mashed potatoes, Turkey, cranberries. Have to agree with Andrew about the ham but agree with you on the stuffing!
Cristin says
Let’s just clear one thing up, shall we?
There is CANberry sauce and there is Cranberry Sauce.
CANberry sauce is that funky gelatin from a can flavored like cranberry juice.
Cranberry sauce is served warm, made with fresh cranberries boiled in sugar and spices and finished with toasted pecans.
Kristi OBrien says
Top 5: (ummmm….7) I LOVE THANKSGIVING!!!
Ham
Cranberry Crunch
Shrimp and crabmeat mirliton casserole
mac and cheese
green bean artichoke casserole (not that nasty stuff made with the cream of mushroom soup)
pecan tassies
shrimp and eggplant dressing
Bottom 5:
Sweet potato casserole
pumpkin pie
mashed potatoes
Turkey….it’s ehhh (Take or leave)
Salad
Sarah says
Ha! This had me laughing. Several years ago I toiled in the kitchen, yet again, to make all the quintessential Thanksgiving dishes…turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, etc…only to have my family turn their noses up at the entire thing. That was it, I realized my family doesn’t actually like normal T’gving foods. I’ve skipped the turkey and ordered a Honeybaked Ham every year since and it’s both magical and freeing!
Katie Stewart says
Top 5
#5: Pumpkin pie
#4: Hashbrown casserole
#3: Broccoli & Cauliflower Salad
#2: Turkey
#1: Dressing (no stove top stuff…. The REAL DEAL.)
Bottom 5
#5: Cranberry Sauce- the texture is repulsive
#4: Greenbean casserole
#3: bread of any kind- it’s bread
#2: Pecan Pie
#1: Macaroni and Cheese (why make something that’s served year round and in many houses, on a daily basis?)
Melinda Bridge says
Top 5:
Ham or prime rib
Broccoli/rice casserole
Deviled Eggs
Pecan pie My mother once made one for my niece without pecans.. she doesn’t like them😊
Mashed potatoes
Mimosas🥂🥂
Bottom 5:
Turkey
Dressing or stuffing… 2 different things, but I don’t like either one
Green bean casserole… yuck
Pumpkin pie…too many other options
Kara M says
I agree with the Turkey! Once I’ve gotten fresh with it and my hands all up in it…there is zero chance I am eating it! Gross.
Alicia says
I’d be team Tacos (or personally give me a good Lasagna in my case) for Thanksgiving and totally support Ham over Turkey. 100% yes.
Mix and Match Mama says
I would love a good lasagna for Thanksgiving 😉 !
Andrea says
Top five
Sweet potatoe casserole
Pumpkin pie
Turkey
Mac and cheese
Green bean casserole
Bottom five
Dressing
Cranberry sauce
Collards
Rice
Black eyed peas
Lori says
Top 5: Stuffing: Homemade & Plain, Scalloped Oysters, sweet potatoes, Cherry or Pecan Pie, Turkey(I use the Reynolds Roasting Bags – no basting and comes out moist every time)
Bottom 5: Jello salads, jellied cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, rolls, pumpkin pie
Susan McKain says
Hi Shay! Fun posts. Totally agree on Argo (soooo good) and the W. of Oz (terrifying for small children). As for the food:
Top – Turkey, in white wine and rosemary
My mom’s pumpkin pies
My mom’s pecan pies
Cranberry (can and/or homemade)
My crispy stuffing – I bake the heck
out of it until it’s crisp and delish.
Bottom – Rolls, bc too many other items
Cooked Carrots, meh
Fruit salad
Green salad
Jello salad
Happy November!
Amy says
I completely agree with you on the pies but if the turkey is dry and the green bean casserole is soggy, someone else should be cooking 🙂
Tamara R says
This comment section in INSANE. Who knew you were so controversial? Pecan pie – YES PLEASE. I feel so seen.
Kacy M says
Top 5: dressing/stuffing, mac and cheese, turkey, green bean casserole, sweet potato
Bottom 5: pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, ham, bread roll, mashed potatoes
Overall I agree with your husband!
Jessica says
We didn’t grow up with “typical” thanksgiving dinner! My immigrant parents always did hot pot and sashimi! So my top 5 would be thin sliced lamb, fish balls, napa cabbage, enoki mushrooms, and sashimi slices!
Deena says
This is too funny. The only one of your top 5 that I agree with is pumpkin pic. Ham, really?
I love turkey the most and have it again at Christmas (rest of the family has ribs). Our meal must have turkey, stuffing, cranberry, my mother-in-law’s coleslaw (celery seeds make it special), mashed potatoes & gravy. Pumpkin pie for my husband and I and apple or blueberry pie for the others. We skip the rolls since we have stuffing and potatoes.
Least favorite are the casserole’s (especially sweet potato). I like ham but not for Thanksgiving. Pecan pie is just too rich and sweet for me.
Rebecca W. says
I’m team, Andrew!
Brittany Kirkland says
Now this is a topic I love to talk about!
Can’t pick 5 so going to have to pick my perfect thanksgiving meal!
Ham, dressing (the good fancy kind) with cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole (brown sugar topping NO marshmallows), loaded mashed potatoes (cream cheese bacon bits and shredded cheese), corn casserole, broccoli salad, creamed corn, chicken casserole, fordhook lima beans, Hawaiian roll, Sweet Tea and Pecan Pie Bars! (We do potlucks at our house!)
Bottom 5: green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, Turkey, plain Jane mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese!
Kristina says
You have to try this green bean casserole: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/best-ever-green-bean-casserole-recipe-1950575
The fresh green beans and mushrooms are a life changer. I can no longer eat the mushy canned green bean casserole that could pass as baby food.
Jillian says
Eeeeeeeeeekkkkks!
Can you do a top five and bottom five for Christmas foods?!??
Eunice says
So I know I’m a few days behind but wondering if you’ve ever had a deep-fried turkey? Not dry at all! Also, turkey must be paired with British gravy, NOT American gravy! 🙂
Pamela says
I found green bean casserole to be a blah mushy mess the first time I ate it so I tweaked the recipe – upped the creamy flavor by using Cream of Chicken with Roasted Garlic soup, and left out the onions. I bake the casserole and five minutes before it’s done, I sprinkle the onions on top. You end up with creamy goodness underneath, and crunchy onions on top, no mush!
Heidi says
My family has been “over” traditional Thanksgiving food for a while, so we have grilled steaks with baked potatoes, salad, and grilled veggies the past few years. Throw a pumpkin pie in for dessert, and we are some stuffed thankful turkeys. 🙂