Is there a typical Thanksgiving Day menu?

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dragon-queen@reddit

This is a very nice sentiment, and others have given you the traditional dishes, but I will say that making all those dishes would be a lot of work. And it may be difficult to source some ingredients in Italy. Even making one or two traditional dishes would probably be plenty for your friend - I’m sure she would love it.

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Die_Katzenfrau@reddit (OP)

Thank you so much 💛

I live in Bologna (which, for Italian standards, is quite big 😛), so I hope I'll manage to find all the ingredients -- but, if I can't find some of them, I'll try to get creative and invent an Italian version of some of these dishes :)

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Many Americans can't cook a Turkey.

1 word: Spatchcock

Cut out the backbone, make it flat.

The dark meat is exposed and cooks faster.

The light meat is in the middle and cooks slower.

So you actually get fully cooked dark meat without turning the white meat into sawdust.

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KevrobLurker@reddit

Brine that bird after doing surgery on it. Dry brine with coarse salt is all that's required. Don't bother if the turkey is pre-treated, such as a Butterball ®. I usually have the supermarket store brand. OP may be buying from a butcher. If so, maybe she can just get parts: A breast & some drumsticks, frex.

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kmosiman@reddit

Yeah, a little seasoning on the top surfaces is good, but most supermarket turkey is already brined.

Makes the cooking easier
Allows the meat packer to count more weight on the tag.

The best part of spatchcocking is that it's so much flatter.

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KathyA11@reddit

I wish I had, too. I'd love to have them again, but I don't know if I can even find turnips here in north-central FL. They have frozen turnips back home in NJ - maybe I can find those and experiment (and drive my husband nuts, because he hates the smell).

They don't have bags of soup greens in the stores - if I want to make my beef soup, I have to buy the veggies individually, and I can't always find things like white turnips and parsnips.

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rkb70@reddit

Really? I'm in Texas and our stores usually have both turnips and rutabagas (I think what you probably mean by "yellow turnips"), and commonly parsnips. I would think those would be available, at least at the right time of year.

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KathyA11@reddit

Yeah, yellow turnips are rutabagas (they're called swedes in some areas), but in Jersey, they're just yellow turnips. A lot of things aren't available here. Back home, they're available year-round. Publix hasn't had heads of red or green leaf lettuce in months. They haven't had Boston lettuce, either (and Walmart has never sold them). If I want those, I have to buy the bagged mixes, and those small pieces aren't ideal for a sandwich.

If you want it to be a surprise, maybe ask her parents or friends if that's an option.

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lamettler@reddit

Definitely talk to your friend! I would be devastated (for you) if you surprised me with stuffing, sweet potato casserole and pumpkin pie… as I hate all those and would be sad that you worked so hard and all I can stomach is a single bite of each to be polite!

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KaetzenOrkester@reddit

Yes, this is an excellent suggestions. While my father loves the traditional meal of turkey, stuffing, etc and my mom makes it for him, I can't stand turkey, Mom hates white turkey meat, and my children would rather have ham. My husband's vegan but loves Mom's dressing (and pretends there's not a stick and a half of butter in it), but makes the cranberry sauce for Dad because he's such dear...

Welcome to complicate American families at the holidays LOL

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Greenbean6167@reddit

I’m just grateful that you used the correct term of “dressing”; if it’s not shoved up the bird’s butt, it’s not stuffing.

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KaetzenOrkester@reddit

LOL thanks for the visual.

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Bundt-lover@reddit

Maybe we should be sending recipes?

Big-Profit-1612@reddit

I'm a second generation Chinese American. I've noticed immigrant communities in America put different spins on Thanksgiving lunches. So even through turkey is staple, don't feel bad putting an Italian spin on these dishes.

For example, turkey isn't eaten much in Chinese culture. We think it's dry, lol. As such, we've been just making prime rib and my parents love it. It's not uncommon at all to serve prime rib for thanksgiving. Like supermarkets make an effort to sell prime rib during thanksgiving.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/asian-fusion-thanksgiving-culture-rcna126064

https://www.lacaaea.com/our-blog/turkey-with-a-side-of-fried-rice-how-asians-celebrate-thanksgiving

https://www.paesana.com/blog/an-italian-american-thanksgiving

https://www.varsitytech.com/my-thanksgiving-merging-of-italian-cuisine-and-american-tradition/

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riotousgrowlz@reddit

When I lived in France and had limited oven space for thanksgiving we substituted roast turkey with rotisserie chicken or game hen and it was much tastier!

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BeboppingAlong@reddit

I did the same when I was in college and stayed in the dorms for the holiday. Three friends and I roasted four game hens. Not only did they fit the small oven, but they tasted better than turkey, tbh.

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someofyourbeeswaxx@reddit

I made thanksgiving dinner in Bologna twenty five years ago and the only thing I couldn’t find then were cranberries

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PAXICHEN@reddit

My family is Italian American and we always had a pasta course.

If you can’t source pumpkin filling for a pumpkin pie, make an apple pie. You have everything you need for that in Italy. 😀

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kmosiman@reddit

Filling? Just use real pumpkin.

My grandmother's recipe is the best (my grandmother's recipe is 99% the same as the one on the can).

That's so sweet!

Some traditional foods are roast turkey of course, stuffing (everyone's favorite), sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, pecan pie, and it goes on from there.

I don't know if you can get all that in Italy, but honestly, if you could do at least a roast chicken and stuffing, that would be enough to make the day special.

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Die_Katzenfrau@reddit (OP)

Thank you so much 💛

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ALoafOfBread@reddit

You could also substitute a chicken for the turkey. Turkey is more traditional, but plenty of people here don't like turkey or don't want to take the time to cook it. (Turkeys weigh like 9kg and can take ~2hrs to cook)

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debbells@reddit

You need to try spatchcocking your turkey- I did it last year- cooked a 12 lber in a little over an hour!! And it took up WAY less room!!

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KevrobLurker@reddit

I recommend a poultry rack if you spatchcock/butterfly. That leaves space under the bird to roast vegetables. Works with chickens, too.

beenoc@reddit

I mean, if there's ever a meal to be overkill with, it's Thanksgiving. If you don't put down at least 2000 calories on a single plate, are you really thankful?

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Hollocene13@reddit

Yes! I agree! My dad is from Pennsyltucky though, and it’s where the northernmost battle of the civil was took place for a reason.

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Several_Celebration@reddit

Sweet potatos with marshmallows on top is pretty common up north at least here in Chicago from the handful of different family thanksgivings I’ve been to.

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LSATMaven@reddit

Yeah, just wanted to chime in with another "that's so sweet!" You're a good friend. :)

My sister served a triple mash one year to reduce the number of dishes she was serving: 1/3 Yukon Gold spuds; 1/3 sweet potato and 1/3 turnip. It was excellent.

If I didn't want to do a whole Turkey I might buy a small turkey breast & at least 2 drumsticks. Then we could have white & dark meat.

1 can condensed cream of potato soup

1 can condensed cream of chicken soup (or mushroom, but imo chicken tastes better)

shredded cheese

1 stick butter, melted.

Mix the hash browns, sour cream, soups, and about half the shredded cheese. I usually thaw the hash browns some, because I've yet to find a mixing implement to stand up to that mix. You want it the consistency of thick, wet concrete. Cram all of that into a 9x13 casserole dish. You may have to go larger. Take the rest of the shredded cheese and sprinkle on top, then cover with the melted butter. Cram that into a 350F oven for about 30-40 minutes--until bubbly and golden brown.

My family calls it heart attack on a plate for a reason. It's not healthy--don't try to make it healthy. I had a great-aunt who used low and no fat options. It's sad and full of woe. That version up there? That's comfort and a cheesy potato hug. I know some versions use diced onion, cubed hash browns, and crackers for the topping, too.

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KevrobLurker@reddit

Put onions in it and it will be your funeral. 😉

Frakkin' onions in everything......

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ProfessorrFate@reddit

Mashed potatoes are unquestionably a widely-eaten staple of the T’giving feast, but I would argue that stuffing is the signature, de rigueur side to accompany roasted turkey. Also this: mashed potatoes are commonly enjoyed at other, regular American meals; stuffing not so much — that’s a Thanksgiving thing.

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Dull-Geologist-8204@reddit

I hate stuffing. My favorite Thabksgiving was one I didn't go home for and m boss and I did Thankgiving together at work. He couldn't get home either. We both hate stuffing so he stuffed it worh lemon and herbs instead and it was the best Turkey I have ever had.

I too would have a void in my heart over missing mashed potatoes.

More importantly there would be a void on my plate because I have the layout down to a science and one missing component throws off the balance of the entire plate.

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Everything needs to be covered in gravy.

Except the pies. Apple, pumpkin, and pecan are all standard on our Thanksgiving table.

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AuggieNorth@reddit

My mom was old school the way she could take the drippings from the turkey and whip up amazing gravy by hand with no measuring anything, which really put all the daughters in law on the spot when it was their turns to host Thanksgiving. None of them could even come close to hers, which was kind of embarrassing.

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cptjeff@reddit

My mother has been handing off responsibility in recent years to the rest of us to make different parts of the meal, and gravy has been one of my assignments.

It's really not hard. Pour drippings from roasting pan into saucepan, make a roux, add it to the drippings, and cook stovetop with the smaller bits still in there. Ya know, until it's ready. It's ready when it's thinner than you think, it will thicken as it cools. Sieve at the end. My mother always used to separate the fat between roasting pan and saucepan before incorporating the roux, but I usually 'forget' to do that. (If you must, let it sit or refrigerate in an intermediate bowl, the fat will settle to the top and you can spoon it off).

If you need to add water to thin/stretch

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WhisperCampaigns@reddit

You’re correct.

fritterkitter@reddit

lol I think it has to do with a strong history of German heritage in the area

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Carinyosa99@reddit

My grandfather was Pennsylvania Dutch, so I get it. My other grandfather was Irish. My disdain for cooked or fermented cabbage disappointed both of them.

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Then again, it may be different the closer you are to the Chesapeake Bay.

Nope, never seen crabcakes at Thanksgiving in 30 years living in Annapolis. Wouldn't complain if I did, though.

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Makeup_life72@reddit

I love Annapolis, I drive up to go shopping at least once a month and I drove up today!!! My husband and I have a dinner reservation at Chart House!

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KathyA11@reddit

We have crabcakes and grilled shrimp for dinner on New Year's Eve.

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ImColdandImTired@reddit

Yep. In the South, we usually make the stuffing, but put it in a casserole dish instead of inside the bird, and call it “dressing”.

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LSATMaven@reddit

Yeah, we have a small family, so we don't make a whole turkey, just a turkey breast.

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TheRealTaraLou@reddit

But how do you make turkey soup after?

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chairmanghost@reddit

We have done this too, no messing around with a giant carcass, faster cooking, easy to carve.

seguefarer@reddit

Honestly, though, feel free to substitute chicken unless you're feeding a lot of people.

Minimum Thanksgiving meal to me would be turkey/chicken, some type of potato- white or sweet, any green vegetable, stuffing or dressing, and gravy. The gravy is very important.

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Rasmom68@reddit

There always seems to be a pumpkin pie available but most of us go with the apple pie

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SkyPork@reddit

Came here to add items to the top list if it was lacking something, but you nailed it! Turkey gravy usually goes with the mashed potatoes, but I almost feel like that goes without saying.

Bread dressing/stuffing (ours has sausage included)

Some traditional is green bean casserole (I'm not a fan)

Some traditional would be sweet potatoes (I'm not a fan)

Bread rolls or cornbread depending on where she is from

Cranberry sauce, either jellied or whole cranberries depending on where she is from

I’ve been making thanksgiving dinners for over 40 years and I’ve screwed up at least one dish (burnt, undercooked, never made it to the table, dropped on the floor, tasted gross, forgot to turn the oven on, etc) every. Single. Year. Whatever you do, keep it simple. If you provide anything remotely “pumpkin” your friend will love you as much as some of the readers of your post must.

The day really is about stuffing our faces and hanging out with each other. Football, puzzles, a walk before or after the meal, movies, games, catching up…

Not to complicate things but, where in the States is your friend from? The menu really varies, depending where we’re from.

Our family was poor and my mom’s classic contribution was “Annie’s Barf Jello”, which consisted of one or more flavors of jello, combined with whatever she could find in the kitchen (fresh and/or canned fruit, cream cheese, cottage cheese, coconut, raisins…you name it). Believe it or not, she always left with an empty bowl.

Good luck nice friend!

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AnybodySeeMyKeys@reddit

CORNBREAD DRESSING!

Here you go:

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InevitableRhubarb232@reddit

Don’t forgrt some form of jello salad if she is from anywhere in the Midwest!

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brinerbear@reddit

My family made 'Italian" meals for thanksgiving but I couldn't find them as any traditional thanksgiving or Italian meals anywhere. I assume they were passed down from other relatives but they had their own nicknames and I am not sure of the actual origin. Some are:

Bruce - A cottage cheese garlic sauce Cusatingping - Zucchini casserole dish Benyaught - A parsley and olive oil topping Tamings - Breakfast cheese Antipasto - similar to traditional antipastos but has carrots, tuna, mushrooms, celery, artichoke in it

We also had sweet potatoes, turkey, salami, and rolls

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largos7289@reddit

Well i mean a turkey sandwich smothered in turkey gravy with mashed taters and stuffing is perfect.

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Whatsittoya1289@reddit

I like how people fuse cultures. I had a Chinese American co worker whose parents did the turkey like Peking duck.

There are actually a lot of different thanksgiving menus. There are so many cultures in the US that brought their dishes with them. So lots of places developed their own “traditional” menu.

Honestly, there are some things that people eat, because it’s tradition, and not really because they love it.

I’d say there are some things that seem pretty standard and recognized as pretty traditional. Turkey is one. Oven roasted is traditional, but I smoke mine. Cranberry sauce is another. I make it from scratch, but I quite, because everyone went for the crap out of a can, like “grandma used to make”.

Pumpkin pie is traditional and easy to make. I actually prefer sweet potato pie.

Dressing should be easy to source there. It’s like a baked, moist bread. Like a savory bread pudding. Often served with a chicken gravy.

Green beans are also pretty standard.

There are a lot of other things you could add, but if I had to boil it down to core dishes, I think those would be it.

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katsyillustrations@reddit

You’ve gotten lots of answers, so here’s my great grandmother’s recipe for pecan pie, which has always been requested by people for thanksgiving and birthdays :)

(makes 1 pie)

2 Tbsp softened butter, unsalted

2 Tbsp white all-purpose flour

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 C white sugar

1/2 C light corn syrup

1/2 C dark corn syrup

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/16 tsp salt

1 C very finely chopped pecans (I mean very finely chopped, some of them will be dust by the time the rest are small enough, no pieces larger than a lentil)

1 unbaked pie crust (homemade or premade)

Okuri-Inu@reddit

You’re most welcome! Good luck my friend!😁

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Mindfullysolo@reddit

Part of Thanksgiving for my family is also preparing the food together. It might help to ask what she’ll miss most about Thanksgiving and ask what her family makes. I agree that even making a few sides or dessert could be enough. Example to me, I love stuffing and pie and those two things made together while talking about family traditions, FaceTiming my family, would be the perfect thanksgiving for me.

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BotherBoring@reddit

This is the way.

It's also important to note that while a lot of recipes are said to be regional, according to this thread my family is in the deep south and in reality we live in Oregon (no, it's not on fire, for the record) so I'm gonna say that these traditions are actually quite family-specific.

not everyone observes Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving has become in modernity a day of gratitude and family, but it was pushed into modern tradition by an exaggerated narrative that rebranded historical and cultural interactions between early European colonizers and indigenous tribes.

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im-not-a-panda@reddit

That’s so kind of you!!

kmoonster@reddit

For non-vegetarians there are a very few "universal" Thanksgiving items.

A roasted/baked turkey, which is harder to do well than it sounds like. For small gatherings a chicken or duck is sometimes substituted. Bread stuffing is usually involved, most people stuff after the bird is broiled. Dietary limitations may dictate ingredients, if applicable.

Mashed Potatoes with a gray gravy (not the water-looking broth type gravy).

Other potatoe preparations such as scalloped (common but not strictly traditional)

Sweet potatoes or Yams, often prepared multiple ways though a single-preparation is ok, especially for smaller gatherings

Green Bean casserole, there are many varieties but you only need to settle on one

Cranberry Sauce or Jelly, but "style" can be quite controversial, there are various textures, sweetening levels, and amount of "chunk"; most people have very strong opinions

Dessert type pies, especially pumpkin and apple; this excludes meat pies and shephard pies

Nearly every other dish or side-dish is either regional or a family or community tradition. If she is from a faith-oriented community that may impact side-dishes and/or dietary considerations as well. There are dozens if not hundreds of dishes that would fall into this "it's tradition to someone" category.

For vegetarians and vegans the Turkey centerpiece varies quite a bit in what is substituted, most other dishes have meat substitutes (eg. bacon pieces can be swapped for fake bacon, grease for the gravy can be swapped for oil, etc).

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MegaTreeSeed@reddit

Thanksgiving at my house, the menu is provided piecemeal by everyone in attendance. I.e, everyone brings something. Usually we coordinate to make sure everyone brings unique items.

For a southern Thanksgiving, it usually looks a little something like this, in no particular order:

1: sacrificial fried turkey (fried first, to distract all the passing dad's (myself included) from the main, dinner bird. Everyone can snack on the turkey and it's skin as they pass, and the cooks font have the guard the main bird.

2: fried turkey.

3: southern style green beans

3: southern style collard greens

4: mashed potatoes

5: corn bread (possibly corn bread casserole)

6: dinner rolls (usually kings Hawaiian unless someone volunteers to bake)

7: sweet potato souffle

8: pumpkin pie

9: sweet potato or pecan pie

10: banana pudding

11: somebody usually makes one of the salads that is not a salad (potato salad, egg salad, ambrosia salad)

12: deviled eggs (if not provided half the family will become violent. If provided, the same half will fart violently. There is no victory here)

13: glazed ham of some kind

14: several types of cake, usually red velvet cake and pound cake

15: possibly cookies.

16: fire. My aunt usually sets at least one food item on fire every Thanksgiving without fail. Its an important part of the tradition at this point, even if it's never intentional.

Keep in mind, Thanksgiving at my family growing up involved on average 20 people across 5 households or more, counting children. It's not a small affair. Family Thanksgiving done in a single house would have significantly less food prepared.

What's important for a Thanksgiving is this:

Turkey, two green sides(vegetables of some kind, in any form), something potato(mashed or roasted, usually mashed), a bread item(usually rolls, so everyone can easily take and go), and a desert (again, something meant to be shared or sliced).

If you've got all that, and you add people you care about (and maybe a few you dont) you've got Thanksgiving.

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Lingonberry jam would be a great choice! Very common in my state (with Swedish meatballs) and also makes an excellent condiment for poultry.

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Worldly-Kitchen-9749@reddit

OP, realize that traditional Thanksgiving dinner is typically prepared for a big group. Like 6 to 20 folks. Good luck.

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emmers28@reddit

It’s more about being together and being grateful.

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Trick-Celebration983@reddit

I found pumpkin and cranberry sauce were basically nonexistent in Italy (and I was in a relatively big city) so maybe encourage her to bring some under the guise that you want to try some? If this this meant to be a surprise

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Die_Katzenfrau@reddit (OP)

Then I'll try to make them out of scratch :)

Stuff a chicken with some sage and bread and serve with mashed potatoes and gravy. You’re good!

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Danimal-8008@reddit

Do you have a KFC near you? It won’t be turkey but you’ll get all the sides. Would recommend if just the two of you.

If you want to invite a bunch of people over, go ahead and make the big spread. You cook turkey and have everyone bring a side

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paddington-1@reddit

We’re French, so we do a capon, meat stuffing, various vegetables, cranberry sauce, riced potatoes, squash, apple, mincemeat pies for dessert.

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SenseNo635@reddit

It’s worth mentioning that on Thanksgiving Day a lot of us start preparing for Black Friday, which is every bit American as Thanksgiving.

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Icy_Profession7396@reddit

Roast turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, candied yams, cranberry jelly, pumpkin pie. Some families also cook a ham, and have other pies: apple pie and pecan pie.

Anyone who says Mac & Cheese is southern, black, or has picky children who only eat Mac & cheese.

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aldmonisen_osrs@reddit

Roasted Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, either sweet potatoes or candied yams, stuffing (highly recommend bread based stuffing, not corn based), cranberry sauce, rolls with butter, green bean casserole, and baked macaroni and cheese.

For dessert: Apple pie, pumpkin pie, and pecan pie. Sweet potato pie or rhubarb pie as well depending on location.

Area distinction: collard greens cooked in bacon fat, corn based stuffing, banana pudding, and black eyed peas if they’re from the American South East.

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Reduak@reddit

Roast Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes and green beans casserole with those French fried onions mixed in and on top with cheese. Lots and lots of gravy.

Pumpkin and pecan pies for desert

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Carylynn0609@reddit

We always had a ham as well, have many family members who don't like turkey. One year when it was just two of us I baked chicken halves on top of a pan of stuffing to make it easier. Pretty good.

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Algae_Mission@reddit

It varies, but usually Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, macaroni and cheese, and some pie(sweet potato, Pumpkin, pecan, etc.) are par for the course.

WritPositWrit@reddit

Yes, TURKEY!! If you can’t find turkey, then roast duck. If you can’t find turkey or duck, then roast chicken.

Stuff the turkey with bread stuffing.

Along with the stuffing, sides of gravy, mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and a few other vegetables. If it’s just the two of you, perhaps choose stuffing & mashed potatoes with gravy and a green salad.

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boilerbitch@reddit

We also make our stuffing separate and call it “dressing.” Actually stuffing the bird isn’t super food safe and makes cooking take way longer.

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Asleep-Banana-4950@reddit

A "typical American Thanksgiving Day meal" is a huge amount of work. It always includes turkey (if you have no experience with roasting *and stuffing* a turkey, that will be an adventure in itself), several vegetables including sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, bread and at least two kinds of pie for dessert.

I would look for a restaurant that serves a nice dinner and take her out, and tell her that that's the "Thanksgiving Tradition" in Italy.

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boilerbitch@reddit

I don’t know many people who actually stuff the turkey these days. It’s not food safe.

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us287@reddit

More of a dinner thing, but turkey and pumpkin pie

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RupeThereItIs@reddit

That, again, is regional.

We do a late lunch, like 3 pm. Everyone is snacking as we prep so we don't really have a proper lunch.

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Die_Katzenfrau@reddit (OP)

Unfortunately she will be working that evening :(

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Mental_Freedom_1648@reddit

It's fine. Lots of people have Thanksgiving "dinner" in the afternoon. Usually it's because you have the day off and you can eat a big meal then relax the rest of the day, but it'll still be okay to serve the food early.

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VegetableSquirrel@reddit

It's typically a dinner thing, but a lot of people have it early afternoon to accommodate people who have double -booked themselves on Thanksgiving.

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soulmatesmate@reddit

If your friend enjoys cooking, ask to bring a dish. It is a very common custom for all those coming to bring something. You can still keep it a secret. Ask this friend, "Hey, I was hearing about this American dish . Do you know how to fix it? Could you bring it over to my house so we could try it?

Otherwise, ask the friend to bring soda / sweat tea, "a dessert" or whipped cream.

Do not ask the friend to bring the turkey, stuffing, or cranberry sauce if you want it to be a surprise.

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devilbunny@reddit

You probably can’t get the ingredients for my favorite holiday dish -spinach Madeleine, needs Velveeta to work - but this is a lovely effort..

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Rojodi@reddit

My wife and daughter make "Drunken turkey", slow cooker turkey breast while they drink white wines lol

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Droid202020202020@reddit

It's a dinner, not lunch.

Our family usually does the turkey (even though none of us likes turkey... but that's what the guests expect), sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, homemade cranberry sauce, corn bread.

Roast turkey is traditional, but is a pain to cook right, a pain to get the meat off the bones, and after dinner you're left with a massive carcas for leftovers. And frankly roast turkey just isn't that great or we would eat it all the time, not just once a year. In my family we've switched to buying a prepared barbeque brisket and put our creative energies into the sides and desserts.

If you're determined to stick with the traditional turkey, you must have cranberry sauce to give the otherwise bland turkey some punch. At least that's my opinion, some people don't like cranberry sauce because it's somewhat tart.

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baker8590@reddit

Lots of good replies but i would say that green bean casserole is one I'm seeing mentioned a lot but that one is a love it or hate it dish and is kinda dependent on the Campbell's soup and crispy onions used in it and those might be difficult to source. That's one i would ask your friend if they like it and if you can't find the soup i would do a different vegetable. We do buttered green beans instead of the casserole.

Pie is the staple dessert but especially when it's a large gathering we'll have several kinds (pecan, pumpkin, sweet potato, apple, cranberry walnut). Most people have a favorite. Ask your friend what pie they would prefer so you're making sure you're not missing the thing that they're craving.

A lot of the stuff can be prepped before hand and make sure to give your turkey/ poultry plenty of time! We brine ours and cook all day in a counter top roaster so the oven is open.

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NotAFanOfLeonMusk@reddit

What is odd is that my Irish-Italian family ALWAYS for Thanksgiving has both a traditional spread (turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potato’s with marshmallows, green bean casserole, stuffing and rolls) but ALSO had lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, sauce and garlic bread out too. We would eat leftovers of it all for the next week too.

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FUCancer_2008@reddit

Candied yams are gross, do baked sweet potatoes. Candied yams is baked sweet potatoes with marshmellow on top, it's way way too sweet. For my family the staples are Roasted turkey Gravy Stuffing Roasted sweet potatoes Green beans Mashed potatoes Rolls We usually include a salad but I think that's🤩 My family specific.

It’s a staple!

I had never even heard of Mac and cheese on thanksgiving until middle school or high school, which goes to show how regional it can be haha

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Razz_Matazz913@reddit

Oooh a few times I’ve made a homemade creamed corn casserole with bacon and Parmesan- SO good. 😊

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Gnumino-4949@reddit

One more, really important. Apple pie for dessert!

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Gnumino-4949@reddit

Anything homemade counts frankly. Do you bake chicken/duck/turkey?

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ZombieLizLemon@reddit

I see you've received a lot of good advice already, so I'll just chime in to say that this is a really kind and lovely thing that you're planning to do. Your friend is lucky to have you.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and I would be much more homesick on that day than on Christmas or any other holiday. Your friend will really appreciate this.

(P.S. If you decide to make a pumpkin pie, this is the best recipe I've tried so far. Apologies for the US measurements: https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/pumpkin-pie-recipe).

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thunder-bug-@reddit

So the traditional meat is a roast turkey, but that’s a huge amount of food for just two people and I’ve heard turkeys are hard to find in Europe. I would just roast a chicken.

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Adorable_Dust3799@reddit

We never did candied yams but we had either yams or squash. Strange then topped with butter and cinnamon. Mom wasn't big on sugar.

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RobotShlomo@reddit

Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, corn, some kind of vegetables or mushrooms, pumpkin pie.

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Prestigious-Fan3122@reddit

It depends on which part of the US she's from. I'm from the northeast, and we had turkey and "stuffing", as well as mashed potatoes and gravy, and cranberry sauce, some sort of green vegetable (not the ubiquitous green bean casserole!) And pumpkin pie. Stuffing is made from Cubes of dried white bread, sometimes sausage and other ingredients.

My husband is from the deep south. They have "dressing" instead of stuffing. The base for dressing is cornbread, and depending on your family's recipe, onions, celery, sage, chicken broth, thyme and poultry seasoning with a little bit of white bread mixed in. It is baked in a pan, not stuffed into the turkey and baked.

My very southern husband had never eaten or even seen pumpkin pie until he met me. Pecan pie was his family traditional Thanksgiving pie.

The first few years we were married I made traditional stuffing as well as "dressing". Over the years, I gave up, and just made cornbread dressing every year. I make a pumpkin pie into pecan pie, or multiples if we are having guests. If we're having guests, I warn them ahead of time, before they accept our invitation, that my husband insists on a traditional, southern cornbread dressing instead of stuffing.

Also: many families do a sweet potato casserole with melted marshmallows on top. My late MIL did a sweet potato casserole that has a ton of sugar in it, and it topped with a mixture of chopped pecans, brown sugar, butter. I find it nauseatingly sweet, and one year I just put my foot down and said we were weren't having it. My husband and children almost excommunicated me from our own family.

Here, you can buy whole berry cranberry sauce in a can, as well as jelly cranberry sauce. I prefer to make my own cranberry sauce.

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Kman17@reddit

Thanksgiving essentials

Turkey w/ gravy
Stuffing
Cranberry sauce
Mashed potatoes
Bread rolls
1 green veggie (green beans, brussel sprouts, whatever)
Pie for desert

That is the de-facto, nearly universal menu found at every thanksgiving table in America.

Everything else is optional. Mac & cheese or some other America side is common.

However, I’m going to give you one other piece of uniquely American advice:

If we ever completely fuck up a thanksgiving dinner, or work/time constraints prevent it, or we’re in transit - Chinese take out is the fall back.

It is a universal American experience for a turkey to get totally fucked up / burned / you name it, panic, and order Chinese.

So if you can’t pull it off or it all falls apart, do that :)

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Gullible-Apricot3379@reddit

I've cooked the dinner for my family since I was 16. Some years I've cooked for a crowd of 30 (not by myself) and some years for just 2. It's really important to think in the context of how many people you're cooking for. For many Americans, this is one of, if not the biggest meal of the year in terms of how many guests there are. A menu for 2 is different from a menu for 30.

The things that make Thanksgiving meal 'Thanksgiving'

* Turkey and dressing/stuffing (major regional difference - if she's from the south, cornbread dressing. Otherwise, not.) with gravy (giblet gravy is traditional, but it doesn't have to be). When I cooked just for my mom and myself, I oven-braised a turkey breast, made dressing using one recipe of cornbread, and made the gravy without giblets. This still creates a LOT of leftovers for two people.

* Pie - pumpkin or pecan. Very regional. If she's from the north, pumpkin. If she's from the south, pumpkin vs pecan are a dead heat and she might have a preference. Tell her you want to bake a pie and let her choose the pie.

* Cranberry Sauce - honorable mention. some people love it, some people skip it, I rarely hear anyone complain if it's missing. But it kind of belongs on the table. For a small group, it's a common one to cut because there's a good chance no one actually wants it.

Traditional crowd-pleaser items-- mostly sides that are strongly associated with Thanksgiving meals, but sometimes because they're just the sort of thing you serve to a large group. They scale well, so it's easy to make them :

* Mashed Potatoes - this is a universal 'large meal' dish, not specifically Thanksgiving. It's easy, cheap, and beloved by almost everyone. If you have a large and diverse group, it's indispensable because it's filling and almost everyone will eat it (including kids and Uncle Joe). It's also a core comfort food. It's also the side that a small group tends to quickly agree to skip (not always... some people legit just love mashed potatoes).

* Macaroni and Cheese - same as Mashed Potatoes.

* Candied Yams or Sweet Potato Casserole- this is very traditional, but not universally loved.

* Green Bean Casserole - very traditional. Most people follow the recipe on Campbell's. I'm never sure to what extent people actually like this vs loving grandma if that makes sense? It has an almost cult following, but if you don't make it for your friend, I don't know that it would be an omission.

* Salad - usually a tossed salad. This kind of makes people feel less bad about how dense the meal is and they truly eat it. This is a very carb-heavy meal and a salad is usually welcome.

'Fancy' sides based on: Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Roasted root vegetables of various sorts (sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, parsnips, etc.), Sauteed mushrooms, Squash (butternut or acorn, roasted or in a casserole or soup), Potato dishes (au gratin, scalloped, roasted... anything really)

If I'm not cooking for a large crowd, I lean more into these types of sides. I look for veggies that are in season and incorporate autumn flavors. As I've gotten older, a lot of Thanksgiving meals are for 3-6 adults, and these sides feel special.

Key autumn flavors to incorporate where you can: Apple, Pumpkin, Nuts (especially pecans and walnuts), Maple, Savory herbs (rosemary, sage, thyme), Caramel/toffee, Cranberry (orange goes well with cranberry)

The last Thanksgiving meal I made for my mom and me before she died (we're from Texas):

Turkey breast, Cornbread dressing, Gravy, Butternut squash casserole, salad, pecan pie

Other years cooking for both my parents and myself -- similar to above except:

* Roasted sweet potatoes instead of butternut squash casserole (my dad didn't like the squash casserole)

* Traditional tossed salad instead of the slaw above.

* Add deviled eggs (my dad and I both liked these. my mom did not.)

* Add a pumpkin pie for my dad

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Major_Barnacle_2212@reddit

I’m sure you’ve learned enough, but just to chime in - If you can’t find a turkey to roast (and it’s just the two of you) I’ve found a roast chicken very satisfying for a tiny thanksgiving. You may not want a ton of leftover turkey! But a larger group can certainly enjoy one.

I’m from California, and in my circle:

• Mashed potatoes are pretty critical - with gravy.

• My husband loves corn off the cob with the meal, but many people enjoy a corn casserole or “pudding” with the meal.

• I like to add a green vegetable such as a roast asparagus, glazed Brussel sprouts with a bit of bacon, or fresh green beans. Many people prefer Green bean “casserole” depending on the region they’re from, but with so many rich dishes to enjoy, we like a few ‘fresh’ and easy options also.

• “Stuffing” is common phrase/dish and absolutely a key Thanksgiving flavor. Named because it used to be made inside the turkey, but I prefer just to make it and cook it separately.

• Rolls are a favorite for many families. Not mine because we don’t want to waste stomach room when there’s so much to enjoy!! But the rolls are excellent for leftovers - make a turkey, cranberry, provolone sandwich. Yum.

• Cranberry sauce made from fresh (just boil with sugar until it thickens, then chill) is my favorite, but canned cranberry sauce is easy and tasty if you can find it in Italy. Serve chilled!

• Depending on group size, I also like to make a sweet potato (yam) dish. Mine is made with apples, brown sugar, and spices. Many people add marshmallows to the top and let melt/brown. We like it without the marshmallows because the apples are so sweet already and we love to taste all of the fresh fall flavors. It’s almost like a pumpkin pie and apple pie in one, minus the sugar.

• Pumpkin, apple, or pecan pie for dessert are pretty critical. And fresh whipped cream!

There are probably preferences and variations depending on the state she’s from! Our variations probably lean a little ‘healthier’ than people prefer, but may also be easier to make. I’m SURE plenty of us would love to share recipes and advice to support your sweet gesture! It’s lovely that you want to do this for her, and I hope you enjoy it as well.

Have fun!!

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DharmaCub@reddit

You will never be able to make an entire Thanksgiving dinner without help. It takes my family about 7 hours with 4-5 people cooking to prepare.

You're better off doing something that is reminiscent of Thanksgiving rather than a true one. Turkey sandwiches with mashed potatoes, some cranberry sauce and a side of green beans with pumpkin pie for dessert. You won't be able to cook an entire turkey easily by yourself.

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dell828@reddit

It depends on where you are in the country what your traditional Thanksgiving meal is.

If she’s from the south, you might include cornbread, mac & cheese, and pecan pie.

If she’s from the north east, the standard is turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce. Vegetables can range from sweet potatoes, to green beans, brussels sprouts.

To make her feel like it’s Home, you might wanna find out where she’s from, and then go from there.

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somebodys_mom@reddit

It may be difficult for you to find a small turkey to roast, but a goose, duck, chicken, or even a Cornish hen will work. It’s the presentation that will remind her of home. Look at pictures of a thanksgiving turkey for an idea. Then you need mashed potatoes and brown gravy. After that, you can add any colorful vegetable dishes to make it feel like a special meal.

People keep mentioning pumpkin pie. It is probably weird to you, but Americans have a sweet dessert pie made with pumpkin, sugar, cinnamon, and cloves. We like it, but Europeans think that sounds awful :) An apple strudel would be a decent substitute for an apple pie for dessert.

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Die_Katzenfrau@reddit (OP)

I normally use pumpkin in salty dishes (especially soups, pasta sauces and sides) -- but my friend has just told me that she likes pumpkin, so I'm looking forward to try pumpkin pie too! 😊

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somebodys_mom@reddit

Bouche_Audi_Shyla@reddit

OP, this is an extremely kind gesture. I applaud you! 👏

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Die_Katzenfrau@reddit (OP)

Thank you so much! 💛

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mama_works_hard@reddit

Where is she from in the US? As others have mentioned there can be some regional differences in the "typical" menu.

My personal favorites of the menu are mashed potatoes and gravy and apple pie. Yum!

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yumyum_cat@reddit

When I was 21 I spent my fall semester in Italy. I remember that the rosticceria down the street (we lived in a converted nunnery in trastevere) made turkey for all of us Americans. They were a week early unfortunately but we went in and ate it anyway because it was so kind.

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Karrotsawa@reddit

Well I'm Canadian, and our Thanksgiving is this weekend in fact, but there are certain similarities.

I'd suggest that the menu is important but equally important is the gathering. When I was away for university a classmate hosted a "Friendsgiving" dinner that got maybe a little larger than intended but it was fun.

So on that note, along with the menu, if there is anyone else in town that your friend enjoys spending time with, or any other expat Americans or even Canadians* floating around there that you know, consider inviting them and making it a gathering. Assign each of them a side dish to bring from the other menu items suggested here. Have a feast.

(*If you do find any Canadians for this, make sure to acknowledge that their Thanksgiving is in October, because if you don't they'll tell you!)

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PinxJinx@reddit

Going to depend on the region, my New England style Thanksgiving is different than the classic southern Thanksgiving for example

So in New England it may look more like -turkey -stufffing/dressing -cranberry sauce -mashed potatoes (white or sweet) -dinner rolls -a veggie (I’ve had green bean casserole, roasted asparagus, roasted Brussel sprouts, salad,it varies)

So in my experience I’ve never had Mac and cheese, collard greens, or candied yams in my region (which many consider essential) and a lot of people haven’t had cranberry sauce with their celebrations (which I consider essential). I think it would be a good idea to ask what traditions she follows to get a good base on her traditional thanksgiving dinner :)

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Jaymac720@reddit

Typical menu for my family is:

Turkey, stuffing, bread rolls, canned cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, baked mac and cheese, and pies. Some families do more, some do less

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yumyum_cat@reddit

Pumpkin pie is traditional as is sweet potato pie (it’s literally exactly like pumpkin pie, but the texture is different), but I make a cherry cranberry pie that is the bomb

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Duque_de_Osuna@reddit

Turkey (full bird, not just parts), cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, stuffing, my family likes some sot of rolls, some like some sort of casserole.

You are a good friend. Sei un’amica molto simpatica. Buona fortuna.

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Die_Katzenfrau@reddit (OP)

Everyone has given great advice. Just remember, turkey is the essential ingredient - even if it’s not home-roasted. We even call it Turkey Day!

Sage rubbed on the turkey and used in the dressing (stuffing) is pretty traditional

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After-Willingness271@reddit

Jello is required in some regions and acceptable in all

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ltsmash1200@reddit

The most basic would be turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, and stuffing. Cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, sweet potato or yam casserole (gross), some sort of bread (dinner rolls, Parker house rolls, corn bread, biscuits, etc.), macaroni and cheese, Brussels sprouts, and sauerkraut are some of the other sides you’ll see varying by family tradition and region.

Me personally, I do turkey, mash and gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole, macaroni and cheese, cranberry sauce (canned only) and biscuits.

My wife doesn’t really like green bean casserole as much so sometimes I’ll just make regular green beans. Last year I found a recipe for a creamed Brussels sprouts and leaks side that I did instead of green beans and it was amazing

Cranberry sauce is a bit of a controversial topic. Some people, like myself, swear by and will only eat the jellied kind that plops out of a can and retains the shape of the can. Others think that’s gross and will only eat freshly made cranberry sauce. Some people don’t like it at all.

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OceanPoet87@reddit

A full turkey, mashed potatoes (or some have yams), maybe a cultural dish from their own background, pie is usually pumpkin.

Some families do mac and cheese homemade but not mine. Some families in New England use squash while those in the south might use collards or okra. Its not unheard of for Californians to have seafood but I've never had it for Thanksgiving so idk.

The turkey is the one staple that everyone has. But mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie are high on the list.

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Kineth@reddit

The general musts are roast turkey, mashed potatoes, candied yams, pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce. After that, it clearly depends on the families and households.

Macaroni and cheese is a good option, so is pecan pie, sweet potato pie and apple pie. Brown gravy is typically served with the turkey and mashed potatoes, though you can make white gravy as well for the potatoes. Maybe some salad too. Also, you should consider also adding in some local dishes to add an Italian spin on it. Maybe prepare another type of meat/entree as well.

Ultimately keep in mind that it'll be sort of like a banquet so you will have a LOT of food.

And as long as you make her feel at home, I'm sure you'll do a great job.

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This is a good thing to keep in mind. The “traditional” thanksgiving menu is intended to feed a large group (10-20 people) so you might have to scale things down. Though eating leftovers for days after is also very traditional 🙂

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No-Pomegranate3070@reddit

Where is she from? Most places have local specialties (in addition to all the ones other commenters have posted). For example I grew up near New Orleans and oysters bienville is a traditional side. And we make gumbo with turkey leftovers.

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Suomi964@reddit

This is super nice. I'm an American living in Europe also and Thankgiving is always the worsttt. Christmas, Easter etc are of course a thing here but then Thanksgiving comes for friends and family and it's just Thursday for me :(

But I did a pared down thanksgiving dinner during covid. You would make a nice meal (with a few leftovers…essential!) if you did a roast turkey breast, gravy, a small quantity of mashed potatoes (remember the butter), dressing (boxed will do, some people prefer it), green beans, cran or lingonberries, rolls with butter and either pumpkin or pecan pie…the first with whipped cream, the later with vanilla ice cream.

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Next_Nature3380@reddit

What makes holiday meals special are the traditions each family has. Does your friend have any family that you could contact to see what was traditional for them at Thanksgiving?

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Die_Katzenfrau@reddit (OP)

Unfortunately I've never met her family -- and, since I don't want to spoil this surprise, I can't ask her too much information 🥹

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There are variations to the traditional Thanksgiving menu within regions and families. It would be worth having a conversation as to what your friend's traditional meal includes. Generally, roast turkey will be the main protein along with possibly another meat depending on the number of people attending the feast. Side dishes include a dressing or stuffing for the turkey, a green bean casserole, yams or sweet potatoes and other vegetables as desired. Dessert options often include pumpkin pie.

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CutiePopIceberg@reddit

Roast turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, vegetable (often green beans, corn, or squash), pie (usually apple or pumpkin.

This is the most basic, easy to accomplish version of the feast

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Mammoth_Ad_4806@reddit

Also, consider the region if the US she is from, as that will influence the stuffing/dressing. For example, while the classic bread stuffing is most common, I grew up with wild rice stuffing; my husband’s family stuffed the turkey with straight-up ground beef (that was a first for me); my sister-in-law grew up with cornbread stuffing with Tex-Mex flavors.

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Due_Piano_3121@reddit

Now I do want to inform you, it is typically a lot of work. I personally enjoy it but I do as much prep as I can the day before like chopping veggies/ingredients, shredding the cheese, etc. it makes a world of difference. But we normally have:

Roast Turkey or ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, baked macaroni and cheese, stuffing, corn, collard greens or green beans, with dinner rolls.

For dessert, the traditional option is pumpkin/sweet potatoes pie with whipped cream or apple pie.

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Adagio_4_Strings@reddit

I love your thoughtfulness.

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MissDisplaced@reddit

Some families add their own cultural flair (especially with side dishes) but THE most traditional Thanksgiving meal is:

Whole roast turkey (with lots of gravy)

Stuffing (bread filling)

Mashed potatoes

Cranberry sauce

Pumpkin pie for dessert

Sides vary, but seasonal vegetables like squash, or things like yams or green beans, are common.

If you can’t manage a whole roast turkey, roasting a smaller turkey breast also works.

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lisasimpsonfan@reddit

I typically make:

Roast Turkey and Gravy

Mashed Potatoes

Cheesy Garlic Corn

Roasted Carrots

Stuffing/Dressing with sausage

Rolls either homemade or Hawaiian King

Cranberry Relish

Dessert either pumpkin pie or cheesecake.

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malibuklw@reddit

I’m from New York and we always had Turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, squash, turnip, green bean casserole, rolls.

My in-laws in Florida don’t do the veggies we do, and usually have macaroni and cheese and a lot of mayonnaise based salads like potato salad, pea salad, whatever else one could (not not should) mix with mayonnaise

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Lauren_sue@reddit

At every Thanksgiving since as far back I can remember includes string bean casserole and sweet potato casserole.

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Obtuse-Angel@reddit

Roast chicken can be a fine substitute for a turkey. Then a bread stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, and cranberry sauce. Sage and Thyme are the primary herb flavors.

Pumpkin pie is most common but many people don’t care for it much. Pecan and apple pies are common alternatives.

This is a very sweet thing you’re considering.

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Turkey, brown gravy, stuffing (there are a ton of different kinds so this part is definitely tricky), cranberry sauce, garlic green beans with almonds, sweet potato’s with marshmallows (or mashed potatoes but I always liked the sweet potatoes better). Pecan Pie, Apple Pie or Pumpkin Pie for dessert.

You said you’re in Italy so you might have a hard time getting cranberries. If you can’t find fresh or canned you might be able to find some dried berries to put in the stuffing that might have a similar flavor effect.

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Big-Tailor@reddit

Every family has it’s own traditions, but the typical menu in order of declining importance is roast turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes, a vegetable like green beans or carrots, and fresh bread or rolls. Dessert is traditionally pumpkin pie or apple pie.

To give you an idea of the importance of the meal, many families have a special fancy set of dishes and silverware that are only used twice a year, on Thanksgiving and Christmas. This isn’t universal and an informal Thanksgiving dinner is arguably more traditional, but it gives you an idea of the importance of the meal.

Family traditions are a big part of Thanksgiving. I make the turkey every year with my youngest son (and my wife has forbidden any changes to the recipe which involves making a cinnamon/allspice/nutmeg tea, cooling it, and soaking the turkey in the spice tea overnight). My wife makes mashed potatoes with turkey stock instead of cream and helps our oldest son make her grandfather’s sausage stuffing. My brother-in-law makes fresh rolls. My aunt brings glazed carrots. I make a pumpkin chiffon pie and an apple torte. My wife makes pecan pie and a cranberry-pear tarte. These roles have not changed in many years.

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FoggyGoodwin@reddit

I was invited to a family Thanksgiving dinner at a German-American grandma's house. I was somewhat disappointed that her traditional Thanksgiving dinner was sauerbraten and sauerkraut. I have warmed up to the flavors since, but I was really expecting the US traditional turkey.

For a very large family: turkey w gravy, ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, mashed turnip, French green beans w almonds, green salad, relish trays (carrot sticks, celery sticks, etc.), spiced pickled watermelon rind, pumpkin pie, mincemeat pie, Watergate salad (pistachio pudding, fruit cup, whipped cream, cottage cheese, marshmallows, DK if that's all - I don't make it, just enjoy eating it).

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RodeoBoss66@reddit

Roast Turkey, stuffing (aka dressing; and quite a lot of it), mashed potatoes and gravy (usually a turkey or chicken gravy; some prefer a beef gravy), green bean casserole, corn on the cob, cranberry sauce (some people, like me, prefer it natural, others swear by the canned jellied version from Ocean Spray), dinner rolls or cornbread, assorted vegetables (often squashes), candied yams, and various types of pies, including either pumpkin or sweet potato pie, apple or cherry pie, peach pie or cobbler, and blackberry pie or cobbler, with ice cream if desired.

The idea is basically a feast that feeds multiple people over the 4-day weekend. If you have plenty of leftovers, that’s great!

Every household is slightly different, so the individual items served (particularly the side dishes) will often vary from family to family.

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Why_Teach@reddit

Turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, green vegetable (often green beans), corn in some form and pumpkin pie for dessert.

Not everyone has exactly these things. There are a lot of variations. For example, in my house we have sweet potato instead of mashed potatoes. My aunt’s family has black beans and rice, and a friend from an Italian-American family has a baked pasta dish.

Most people have turkey, but others (especially in the South) traditionally have ham. I know a family that traditionally has roast beef.

Pumpkin pie is “traditional” but some people don’t like it as much. Apple pie is very popular. At my in-laws, the tradition was key lime pie.

You could ask your friend what she likes best or will miss most about Thanksgiving.

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Mrs_Gracie2001@reddit

It varies by region, but very common are: Turkey and gravy, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, various fall veggies, pies of various kinds

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jackfaire@reddit

Turkey is the one pretty much universal thing. From there it's levels of variation.

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Express-Stop7830@reddit