15 Thanksgiving Foods Everyone Hates and You Should Definitely Skip This Year
Thanksgiving: that magical time of year when we gather around the table, catch up with family and do our best to avoid the political discussions that inevitably creep in. But let’s be real: half the foods people insist on making every year aren’t actually enjoyed. So here’s a little guide to those Thanksgiving foods we all secretly hate—and that you should probably just skip this year if you want anyone to come back for leftovers.
That Congealed Cranberry “Sauce” Log
It slides out of the can in one solid, wobbly log, complete with indentations from the can, and then just sits there…judging us. Nothing says “I love you” like a jiggly, semi-transparent cylinder of cranberry jelly.
Overcooked Turkey
Dry. Flavorless. Always needs drowning in gravy. And yet, it’s the main event we pretend to get excited about every year. If you don’t have a foolproof way to make it juicy, just go for a ham or rotisserie chicken.
Green Bean Casserole
Mushy green beans drowned in canned cream of mushroom soup, topped with fried onions that have all the crispness of a damp cracker. A casserole created by someone who wanted to make veggies unbearable.
Stuffing That Could Double as Insulation
If the stuffing could pass as building material, maybe rethink your recipe. Some go too dry, some too soggy; rarely is it “just right.” And, let’s be honest, that “stuffed inside the turkey” flavor is a little disturbing.
Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
Why? Sweet potatoes are delicious on their own. Covering them with a layer of marshmallows doesn’t make them more “Thanksgiving-y,” it just makes them dessert. Or something that’s not quite dessert and just confuses everyone.
Corn Pudding
It’s a pudding. But it’s made from corn. And somehow, it’s neither savory nor sweet but just… there. Corn deserves better.
Jell-O Salad with Suspicious Fruit Bits
Grandma’s famous Jell-O salad is more like a cold, wobbly science experiment than an actual side dish. And those random fruit chunks? They somehow manage to both ruin the Jell-O and any respect we had for fresh fruit.
Boiled-to-Death Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts done right are amazing, but when boiled to mush, they become bitter balls of regret. If you must serve them, roast them up with some seasoning or just save everyone the agony.
Ambrosia Salad
Whipped cream, marshmallows, canned fruit, coconut—it’s unclear if this was ever meant to be food or just a last-minute accident that never stopped making appearances.
Anything with Raisins
Raisins seem to find their way into random Thanksgiving foods, from stuffing to salads. They add nothing but unwelcome chewiness, especially in savory dishes. Just say no.
Canned Yams
They’re mushy. They’re overly sweet. And they taste about as fresh as they look. Real, roasted sweet potatoes are easy to make and far superior. You won’t regret skipping this can of mediocrity.
Gloppy Gravy from a Packet
Nothing completes a dry turkey disaster like gravy from a powder. It’s watery, vaguely salty, and can’t mask the sadness it’s supposed to rescue. Real gravy may take more effort, but if you’re skipping it, so should everyone else.
Underwhelming Bread Rolls
Bread rolls are supposed to be the reliable friends of the Thanksgiving table, but those ones that taste like cardboard and require a small tub of butter to be edible? Hard pass. Either get some fresh, fluffy rolls or just move on.
Limp, Overly Dressed Salad
There’s always one person trying to make Thanksgiving “healthier” with a giant, sad salad that everyone ignores. It’s Thanksgiving. Just bring the carbs, not a soggy mess.
Fruitcake
A Thanksgiving impostor that creeps in around the holidays. Its overly dense texture and unidentifiable fruit chunks make it a dessert most people just nibble out of politeness. Save it for someone you really don’t like.
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