Maybe I’m in the minority, but I think Thanksgiving food is overrated. I love the holiday because I get to catch up with family and friends, and discuss the progress we’ve all made in life since the last gathering. However, I don’t look forward to the food we eat at dinner. I like mashed potatoes and stuffing as much as the next guy, but these are not foods that I wait all year to eat. Traditional Thanksgiving dishes are overhyped, and I’d like to propose a list of foods that should be added to my family’s Thanksgiving meal (and maybe yours, too).

First off, we need to get deliciously baked, homemade macaroni in the mix. It’s got to be thick, and it’s got to be cheesy. I’ve been struggling to convince my family to incorporate this dish into our dinner, but I think it would be a perfect addition between potatoes and stuffing. I eat various Thanksgiving dishes year-round, but a perfect homemade mac n cheese— that’s a delicacy. 

Does anyone actually like eating turkey? In my opinion, it’s the driest, blandest meat I’ve ever had and it doesn’t pair well with any sauce. I know eating turkey is part of the holiday tradition, but many people like myself don’t enjoy it. There’s a reason some people only eat it once a year– it’s simply not that good. This will be controversial, but I think we should replace the turkey with chicken. I know many families will not agree to this, but I truly believe turkey is for sandwiches, not for the most special meal of the year. A couple rotisseries would do a fine job, or we could order KFC for all I care. Plus, chicken wouldn’t take as long to cook as turkey does. 

I’m not sure about your family, but mine makes a green bean casserole every year, and it needs to stop. The casserole never even gets finished because only a few people at the table can stomach it. The dish is made with green beans, cream of mushroom soup and fried onions. I’ve never liked it, and considering its soupiness and bland flavor, I’d rather eat plain green beans. My idea for a substitute would be a veggie casserole. This would incorporate the warm and comfortable feeling of a casserole into something with more flavor.

All of this is to say, we have been serving the same dishes for Thanksgiving every year. Since the dishes aren’t meeting the expectations of many dinner guests, myself included, I think it is time to make some changes. Hopefully these ideas can help to improve your family’s Thanksgiving dinner table spread.