What do most people have on the table at Thanksgiving? If you’re curious about the most common foods for Thanksgiving dinner, you’ll find some very popular options below. Many of these foods go hand in hand with the holiday season.
Turkey
Turkey is a Thanksgiving staple. In fact, because turkey is so commonly served at Thanksgiving meals, it’s not unusual for grocery stores to sell out of frozen turkeys in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.
Preparing a Thanksgiving turkey can be a long process. The turkey will need plenty of time to thaw, and it’s likely that you’ll also want to use some sort of stuffing when preparing the dish.
When selecting a turkey, you should make sure you choose the right size turkey for the meal. The more guests you’re serving, the larger the turkey needs to be. You’ll also want to take the turkey’s temperature and confirm that it’s safe to eat.
Mashed Potatoes
This starchy vegetable is another Thanksgiving staple. Typically, it’s served with some sort of gravy. Chicken and beef gravy are both popular options, but there are also Vegetarian-friendly options, like mushroom or red pepper gravy that you can serve.
At Thanksgiving, mashed potatoes are usually made from Yukon Gold potatoes. There are all kinds of recipes out there. Martha Stewart uses cream cheese in her potato recipe, while others use sour cream for a tangy flavor. You may want to mash your potatoes by hand so that you get a better consistency.
Green Bean Casserole
Green beans aren’t always a treat, but they’re certainly something that people look forward to eating at a Thanksgiving meal. This side dish is especially popular in the Midwest. The casserole is often made using a can of condensed soup, and it’s common to top the dish with French Onions.
Stuffing
When you think about side dishes to serve with turkey, you probably think about stuffing. While it’s possible to make stuffing from scratch, box stuffing is a popular option at Thanksgiving meals. Since there are so many dishes that need to be prepared, using a box can save valuable time.
Dinner Rolls
A buttery roll can be a near-perfect complement to a perfectly prepared meal, especially if the rolls are served while they are hot. It’s common for people to warm up pre-packaged rolls or to use refrigerated dough when making rolls at Thanksgiving.
Macaroni and Cheese
This isn’t a dish that you’ll find on every table at Thanksgiving, but it is a popular choice. Mac & cheese can be served as an entrée, but it can also be an appealing side dish. Usually, this is a meal that’s made from scratch for Thanksgiving dinners. It’s often baked and topped with bread crumbs.
There’s nothing wrong with thinking outside the box and serving more unusual dishes at Thanksgiving. With that said, these are some of the most common foods for Thanksgiving dinner. If you’re planning a Thanksgiving meal, and you’re trying to decide what to serve, these options are all worth considering.