Thanksgiving is a time to gather with friends and family, reflect on what we’re grateful for, watch some football, and of course, eat. While many Thanksgiving dinners include tried-and-true staples like roast turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, there are always new trends putting a fresh spin on this festive meal.
What are the most popular Thanksgiving dishes today? In this article, we’ll explore the top foods gracing Thanksgiving tables in 2023, from comforting classics to exciting innovations. Keep reading for mouthwatering recipes and ideas to upgrade your own holiday feast!
Timeless Turkey Reigns Supreme
For the majority of households, a juicy, golden roast turkey remains the glorious Thanksgiving centerpiece. Despite new food fads, turkey has never gone out of style and probably never will. In 2022, an estimated 46 million turkeys were eaten on Thanksgiving in the United States alone!
Beyond tradition, cooks continue choosing turkey for practical reasons. It feeds a crowd, works for various diets, and makes fantastic leftovers. Today’s ovens even have specialized “roast turkey” settings to guarantee moist, flavorful meat.
With better breeding, free-range options, and creative recipes like deep fried or grilled turkey, this iconic protein stays at the top of Thanksgiving trends. Don’t forget to carve white and dark meat for guests’ preferences!
Comforting Casseroles Attract All Generations
From green bean to sweet potato and beyond, casseroles earn their place on Thanksgiving tables by being hearty, holdable, and downright addicting comfort food. These savory baked dishes also appear trendy for blending simplicity older relatives appreciate with inventive flavors drawing younger foodies in.
Fun add-ins like crumbled bacon, fried onions, or water chestnuts refresh casseroles without complicating recipes. Meanwhile, mixing cheese, creamy sauces, crisp toppings, and tender vegetables ensures each bite tastes irresistibly rich and satisfying.
Preparing casseroles ahead leaves ample oven room for everything else too. Once assembled, most keep perfectly in the refrigerator or freezer. Quick reheating and easy serving in festive dishes complete why casseroles stay trending for Thanksgiving and beyond.
Stuffing and Dressing Diversify
Fluffy bread cubes soaked in seasoned broth and baked to perfection – what’s not to love about Thanksgiving stuffing? Or is it called dressing? This soul-warming side has everyone asking for seconds despite dividing opinions on what to name it.
Stuffing and dressing may differ slightly based on ingredients and cooking method, but both make the trends list. Searched more than any other Thanksgiving side dish, dressings and stuffings now blend regional flavors by using cornbread, rice, vegetables, fruits, nuts and more.
Get creative with your carb loading! Add Brussels sprouts, chorizo and peppers for a vibrant stuffed pepper vibe. Wild rice and cranberry dressing tastes elegant. Baked mac and cheese style mixes cheese lovers’ favorites. Sky’s the limit for customizing Thanksgiving’s beloved bread bowl.
Creative Twists on Sweets Sweeten the Season
Almost as iconic as turkey itself, pumpkin pie traditionally caps Thanksgiving feasts with cinnamon spice and creamy comfort. Still part of most dessert spreads today, pumpkin pie shares space with exciting newcomers like boozy puddings, French silk varieties, towering trifles and pastry swaps like pumpkin cheesecake or pumpkin crème brûlée.
Hybrid pies mashup classic fillings too, like pecan pumpkin pie spiked with bourbon, chocolate pecan pie, or apple cranberry pie enclosed in a waffle cone crust. With increasingly elaborate recipe ideas, Thanksgiving dessert trends makeevery last bite more decadent.
For lighter options, beautifully layered parfaits offer looks as luscious as their taste by showcasing fresh fruits, yogurt, granola, sweet syrups and whipped cream. Or embrace fruit and cheese boards displaying baked brie, cheddar, grapes, figs, dates, olives, nuts and crackers for nibbling all evening.
Elevate Your Table This Year
Want to harness these hot trends for your own sensational Thanksgiving feast? We hope reviewing today’s most popular Thanksgiving offerings inspires your menu planning.
From flawless turkey, craveable casseroles and customizable stuffings to reinvented desserts, opportunities abound to balance tradition with innovation. Don’t forget wine pairings, fresh cranberry sauce and seasonal touches like maple roasted squash or poached pears too!
Review additional recipes online, prepare visitor favorites and test new dishes ahead to astound family and friends with an unforgettable Thanksgiving dinner this year. Debating dishes is all part of this delicious holiday’s joy. Happy feasting!