How the Thanksgiving Food Favorites Won Their Place at the Table

Thanksgiving, celebrated annually in the United States, is a time-honored tradition marked by a feast that brings together family and friends. It is in essence a harvest festival, to give thanks for the successful harvest, and similar traditions occur around the world at various times of the year. Now it is a time of general gratefulness for blessings received throughout the year.

The dishes that grace the Thanksgiving table have evolved over centuries, each with its own unique history. Perhaps you will be digging into some of these iconic Thanksgiving dishes. So here’s how they became the holiday staples.

The Essential Roast Turkey

While it’s commonly believed that turkey was the centerpiece of the first Thanksgiving in 1621, historical records suggest otherwise. The Pilgrims and the Wampanoag likely consumed venison, fowl, and seafood during their three-day feast, explains Sarah Karnasiewicz on Real Simple.

The prominence of turkey in Thanksgiving celebrations grew in the 19th century, partly due to its availability and size, which made it suitable for feeding large gatherings. Sarah Josepha Hale, a writer and editor, played a significant role in popularizing turkey as the main dish for Thanksgiving through her advocacy and publications. She famously campaigned for Thanksgiving to be a public holiday, and eventually won her case with Abraham Lincoln establishing the holiday at the national level in 1863.

Roast turkey with stuffing, ready for thanksgiving dinner. (uckyo/Adobe Stock)

Stuffing (or Dressing)

The practice of stuffing animals with a mixture of ingredients dates back to ancient Rome. In the context of Thanksgiving, early settlers likely used herbs, chestnuts, and onions to stuff their birds. By the 1800s, bread-based stuffing recipes became common, with variations including cornbread dressing in the South and additions like sausage or dried fruits in other regions.

The Unmissable Cranberry Sauce

Cranberries are native to North America and were utilized by Native Americans for food, medicine, and dye. The Pilgrims were introduced to cranberries by the Indigenous peoples, but the sweetened cranberry sauce we know today didn’t appear until later, records show.

The recipe for cranberry sauce appears in the 1796 edition of  American Cookery by Amelia Simmons, the first known cookbook authored by an American.

The first canned cranberry sauce was produced in 1912 by Marcus Urann, who eventually founded the cranberry growers’ cooperative known as Ocean Spray.

Simple Mashed Potatoes Went the Long Way Around

Potatoes originated in South America and were introduced to Europe in the late 16th century. They made their way back to North America with European settlers and became a staple crop in the 18th century.

The oldest known recipe for mashed potatoes is found in the 1747 English cookbook “The Art of Cookery” by Hannah Glasse, reveals Real Simple. By the 19th century, mashed potatoes had become a popular side dish in American cuisine, including Thanksgiving meals.

Sweet, Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet potatoes are native to Central and South America and were cultivated in the southern United States by the 18th century. The addition of marshmallows to sweet potato dishes began in the early 20th century, explains The Nutrition Insider.

In 1917, the Angelus Marshmallow Company published a recipe for “mashed sweet potatoes baked with a marshmallow topping” to promote marshmallows as an everyday ingredient, leading to the popularization of this dish in Thanksgiving feasts.

Easy Green Bean Casserole

This dish was created in 1955 by Dorcas Reilly, a home economist at the Campbell Soup Company. The recipe combined green beans with cream of mushroom soup and topped it with fried onions, aiming to provide a simple side dish using common pantry items. Its convenience and taste quickly made it a Thanksgiving favorite.

Pumpkin pie. (tynza/Adobe Stock)

It’s Not Thanksgiving Without Pumpkin Pie!

Pumpkins are native to North America and were used by Native Americans long before the arrival of European settlers. The Pilgrims and other early colonists adopted pumpkins into their diet, but the pumpkin pie as we know it today evolved over time. By the 18th century, pumpkin pie had become a staple in New England Thanksgiving celebrations.

The evolution of Thanksgiving dishes reflects a blend of Native American traditions, European influences, and modern innovations. Each dish tells a story of cultural exchange, adaptation, and the enduring spirit of gratitude that defines the holiday.

Top image: Traditional American Thanksgiving meal.    Source: evgenyb/Adobe Stock

By Gary Manners