With Thanksgiving just around the corner, families are already planning what they will be making for their feasts. Every family has their own version of the ultimate Thanksgiving. At my house, we have an all-out breakfast, a light lunch, and a big traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Every person who celebrates Thanksgiving also has foods they love and foods they hate. I will be ranking 10 of my Thanksgiving dinner foods from least favorite to favorite. This ranking is all opinion based, and I’d also like to state that my mom is an amazing cook.
- Gravy
Whether it’s Thanksgiving or not, I am not a gravy girl. The reason for this is my dad. When I was little, he told me that the gravy is made with turkey giblets. I didn’t know what this was, and I assumed they were another body part of the turkey. I have since tried gravy, but I still think it’s too salty.
- Stuffing
I am not a fan of stuffing. This has surprised many of my friends and family. Many people love stuffing and consider it their favorite Thanksgiving dish. But every Thanksgiving I retry it and I still don’t like it. To me, stuffing is chewed up stale bread and celery spit back out and baked. I just don’t like the texture or the taste.
- Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin pie is a Thanksgiving staple. However, out of all the pies, I find it to be the least appealing. For me, I think it is a texture thing. The pumpkin filling gets slimy really fast, which then makes the crust slimy. Then, in an attempt to get over the sliminess, you have to completely cover your slice with cool whip. It’s just not my favorite.
- Vegetables
My Thanksgiving dinner usually has green beans and corn. My mom usually buys the frozen bags of these two vegetables. I like both of these vegetables, but there’s nothing really special about them. It’s another dish that you could have at any time. However, they don’t seem as out of place compared to how a salad would be.
- Mashed Potatoes
The idea of mashed potatoes is amazing. However, the reality of mashed potatoes is hit or miss, and it’s not the chef’s fault. First off, mashed potatoes go cold as soon as you set them down on the table. Second, if you like a very specific version of mashed potatoes, you will be sad if it’s not that exact texture. So, when I dream of the smoothest mashed potatoes, even the slightest bit of grittiness puts me off.
- Rolls
Rolls are an absolute must-have for my Thanksgiving feast. My siblings are very picky eaters, so we make a lot of rolls. You really can’t go wrong with them. Another thing that’s great about them is they don’t feel out of place. Although they aren’t showstoppers, it would feel wrong for them not to be on the table.
- Cranberry Sauce
Unpopular opinion, but I love cranberry sauce. One of the foods I’ve always loved at Thanksgiving is the canned cranberry sauce. I think it is the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving. It’s not too sweet, but it’s not too savory. It blends everything together.
- Turkey
When I think of Thanksgiving, I think of turkey. Turkey is a better version of chicken, and I love chicken. We only get turkey breasts, so the light meat of the turkey is my favorite. My favorite part of the turkey is the seasoned skin on top. Without turkey, Thanksgiving would feel incomplete.
- Apple Pie
I love all apple desserts, but apple pie is by far my favorite. For Thanksgiving, my mom makes a bunch of mini pies, and I’ll admit I eat most of the apple ones. I love the cinnamon coated apples and the flaky pie crust. I also love how I can eat it at any temperature. Honestly, I would eat apple pie any time of the day. It is just the perfect dessert for the holiday season.
- Sweet Potato Casserole
My mom’s sweet potato casserole is by far my favorite Thanksgiving dish. It is mashed sweet potatoes topped with a brown sugar topping and marshmallows. It’s a side dish for the dinner, but it could be considered a dessert because of how sweet it is. I love this dish so much that I ask my mom to make it for other special occasions.
