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Tender, juicy roast turkey - the main attraction - with old-fashioned gravy, cranberry sauce, smashed potatoes, baked green beans, sweet and sour cod, steamed rice, achara (pickled green papaya relish), leche flan, pigs

Thanksgiving dinner

A holiday meal centered on roast turkey with a variety of side dishes and desserts

Photo: Ms Jones, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Thanksgiving dinner is a large holiday meal, especially in the United States and Canada, with roast turkey as its centerpiece. The meal features side dishes and desserts made from ingredients native to the Americas, such as mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. It is eaten during Thanksgiving, a major annual celebration focused on gratitude and gathering.

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  • Roast turkey is the traditional centerpiece of the meal
  • Pumpkin pie is a classic Thanksgiving dessert
  • Many dishes use ingredients native to the Americas
  • Thanksgiving dinner is the largest eating event in the US
  • Frozen TV dinners began with leftover Thanksgiving turkey

What is Thanksgiving dinner?

Thanksgiving dinner is a festive meal built around a large roasted turkey, often accompanied by a range of side dishes and desserts. The sides commonly include mashed potatoes, stuffing (a savory bread mixture), cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, corn, squash, and green beans. Pumpkin pie is a typical dessert. Many of these foods are native to the Americas. The meal is usually served family-style, with the turkey carved at the table. The spread is colorful and abundant, and the flavors are savory, sweet, and earthy.

Where does Thanksgiving dinner come from?

The tradition of Thanksgiving dinner developed in North America, with roots in harvest celebrations and days of giving thanks. While stories often link it to a 1621 feast shared by Plymouth settlers and the Wampanoag people, the modern meal—with turkey at the center—became popular in the 19th century. Writers and editors, such as Sarah Josepha Hale, promoted the idea of a national holiday with a shared meal. Over time, the menu became standardized, reflecting both historical influences and the availability of native American foods.

How is Thanksgiving dinner made?

The turkey is usually roasted whole, sometimes stuffed with a bread-based mixture flavored with sage, onion, and celery. Side dishes are prepared separately and may include mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, corn, and squash. Cranberry sauce is often served as a tangy accompaniment. Pumpkin pie, made with spiced pumpkin filling in a pastry crust, is a classic dessert. Some families include regional or cultural specialties alongside the standard fare.

Photo showing some of the aspects of a traditional American Thanksgiving day dinner.
Photo showing some of the aspects of a traditional American Thanksgiving day dinner.. Photo: Ben Franske, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Thanksgiving cheer distributed for men in service. New York City turned host to the boys in service today and cared for every man in uniform. Ca. 1918. Underwood & Underwood. (War Dept. ) Exact Date Shot Unknown .
Thanksgiving cheer distributed for men in service. New York City turned host to the boys in service today and cared for . Photo: Underwood & Underwood. (War Dept.), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Thanksgiving Turkey
Thanksgiving Turkey. Photo: Freshman404, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Thanksgiving Dinner, Falmouth, Maine, USA 2008
Thanksgiving Dinner, Falmouth, Maine, USA 2008. Photo: Alcinoe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

How and when is Thanksgiving dinner eaten?

Thanksgiving dinner is eaten in the evening, typically as a family or community gathering. The meal is often preceded by a prayer or expression of gratitude. Dishes are passed around the table, and the turkey is carved in front of the group. The meal is the main event of the Thanksgiving holiday, and leftovers are commonly enjoyed in the following days. The setting is usually festive, with a focus on togetherness and sharing.

Kinds of Thanksgiving dinner

While roast turkey is the standard main dish, some households serve ham, roast beef, or vegetarian alternatives. Side dishes can reflect local or family traditions, with recipes varying by region and cultural background. In Canada, the meal is similar but may include different desserts or vegetables. The United Kingdom has adopted some American Thanksgiving foods, though the holiday is not as widely observed. Frozen Thanksgiving dinners became popular in the United States after the 1950s.

What Thanksgiving dinner means

Thanksgiving dinner is a symbol of American and Canadian cultural identity, representing gratitude, family, and abundance. It is the largest eating event of the year in the United States. The meal has been shaped by both tradition and popular culture, with its image reinforced in literature, media, and school events. The association of turkey with Thanksgiving is so strong that the holiday is sometimes called 'Turkey Day.'

When Thanksgiving dinner is on the table

Thanksgiving (United States)

Questions people ask about Thanksgiving dinner

What is Thanksgiving dinner made of?

Thanksgiving dinner is centered on roast turkey and includes side dishes like mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, corn, squash, green beans, and pumpkin pie for dessert.

Where does Thanksgiving dinner come from?

Thanksgiving dinner developed in North America, especially the United States and Canada, with roots in harvest celebrations and days of giving thanks. The modern meal became popular in the 19th century.

When is Thanksgiving dinner eaten?

Thanksgiving dinner is eaten on Thanksgiving Day, which is a major annual holiday in the United States and Canada, usually in the evening as a festive family meal.

Is turkey always served at Thanksgiving dinner?

Roast turkey is the most common main dish and is strongly associated with Thanksgiving, but some families serve other meats or vegetarian alternatives.

Are there regional variations in Thanksgiving dinner?

Yes, side dishes and desserts can vary by region and family tradition, and some countries like Canada and the United Kingdom have their own versions of the meal.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Thanksgiving dinner", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.

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