More Than Half of Americans Plan to “Order” Thanksgiving Dinner This Year

If the idea of wrestling a 19-pound turkey at 6 a.m. makes you want to fake a sprained wrist, you are not alone.

A new report says 53% of Americans plan to order takeout or delivery for their Thanksgiving dinner this year… for at least one component of the meal.

That is more than half the country, and a huge jump from 37% last year and 32% the year before.

Another 5% of people say they are not even pretending to cook. They are eating their entire Thanksgiving meal at a restaurant. That number is holding steady from last year, though it is well below the surprise 2023 peak when 17% of Americans apparently said, “Table for four, and please bring the cranberry sauce in a ramekin.”

So why are so many people turning the holiday into a catered situation?

For starters, 63% say they just want to enjoy Thanksgiving without worrying about cooking. Which is fair, because the Venn diagram of “traditional Thanksgiving recipes” and “relaxing activities” is two circles aggressively far apart.

40% of people also believe it is cheaper or at least about the same to buy ingredients and cook everything themselves. Between inflation, the cost of butter, and the fact that somehow green beans now have an attitude problem, they might be right. And 35% of respondents are simply done with the hassle. They want the food but not the emotional trauma of timing six dishes to finish at exactly 3:42 p.m.

Then there are the honesty heroes. 26% say they would prefer a professionally cooked Thanksgiving meal, which is a very polite way of saying “I am a danger in the kitchen.” Another 19% say they are just too busy to prepare anything at all.

So if your Thanksgiving feast comes in plastic containers this year, do not feel guilty. Do not hide the bags. Do not pretend you “made the gravy from scratch” using a suspiciously restaurant-grade container of gravy. More than half the country is right there with you, enjoying a stress-free holiday and letting someone else deal with the dishes.

KFC Is Serving Gravy “Flights” for Thanksgiving

Forget the turkey, KFC is hoping you’ll let the Colonel handle Thanksgiving this year – with fried chicken, mashed potatoes, biscuits, and a gravy flight.

In a bold move to crash the most sacred of turkey holidays, KFC just rolled out its new Extra Crispy Festive Feast, and it’s got everything your carb-loving heart could want. For $25, you get eight pieces of crispy fried chicken, two sides of mashed potatoes, four biscuits, and a trio of gravies presented as a “flight“—because nothing says elegance like dipping chicken in three types of liquid fat.

The gravies include:

Classic Brown Gravy
White Peppercorn Gravy
A brand-new Southwest Cheddar Gravy, which, let’s be honest, might just be queso in disguise.

The new meal is clearly aimed at those who aren’t in love with turkey. According to KFC, a recent poll found that 35% of Americans don’t actually like it, which feels about right when you remember how many people would rather douse dry turkey in cranberry sauce than admit it’s not that great. KFC is leaning into that sentiment and giving people a comforting, fried alternative that doesn’t require basting, carving, or pretending to enjoy stuffing.

Also, let’s not overlook the marketing genius of calling three little cups of gravy a “flight.” It’s the same word trendy bars use for samplers of craft beer or fancy espresso tastings. Except here, you’re not sniffing tannins—you’re dunking biscuits in cheddar sauce. And honestly? No complaints.

KFC’s been known to roll out stunts and limited-time offerings during the holidays before, but this one feels especially tailored for folks who’d rather spend the day relaxing than cooking. Whether you’re feeding a small group, planning a Friendsgiving, or just anti-turkey on principle, the Festive Feast gives you a break from tradition without sacrificing flavor.

Will it replace Grandma’s Thanksgiving dinner? Probably not. But it might save you from dry white meat and awkward family arguments about politics.

Just be sure to call it a gravy flight when you show up with it. It makes it sound fancier.

Is It Possible to Eat So Much on Thanksgiving, Your Stomach Explodes?

It’s the annual battle between your willpower and your waistband. Every Thanksgiving, Americans load up on stuffing, turkey, mashed potatoes, pie, and more… and then go back for seconds.

With the average person scarfing down 3,000 calories and a stick of butter in one meal, you might start to wonder: could you actually eat so much your stomach explodes?

Short answer? Yes… technically. Long answer? You’re probably safe, unless you’re also snacking on forks.

“Gastrointestinal perforation”

A gastrointestinal perforation (the fancy medical term for a “burst gut”) is a real and very serious thing. But according to experts, it almost never happens just from overeating. More common culprits are things like swallowing sharp objects, ingesting harmful chemicals, or certain serious illnesses.

Your stomach is tougher than you think

Your stomach is built to take a beating. Its muscular walls are thick and stretchable, and the human body has a few built-in safety features that kick in when you’ve pushed things too far. Chief among them: vomiting. Basically, if your stomach’s too full to handle another bite, it’ll usually toss in the towel and toss everything else out with it.

What’s more likely to happen

So if you go too hard on the pumpkin pie, you’re far more likely to end up with indigestion, heartburn, or a case of the food sweats than an actual internal explosion. Still, good reasons to pace yourself.

So this Thanksgiving, enjoy the meal and even seconds. Just maybe leave a little room for your dignity. And pie. Always pie.

47% Would Sit at the Kids’ Table to Avoid the Adults

Thanksgiving is supposed to be about gratitude, family, and stretchy pants. But if you’ve ever survived one of those dinners that goes from cranberry sauce to crisis in 20 minutes flat, you already know: it’s not the turkey that gets roasted the hardest.

A poll commissioned by St. Francis Winery revealed that nearly half of Americans (47%) would be open to sitting at the kids’ table to avoid enduring another grown-up food fight over hot topics.

Millennials were especially eager to dodge the drama, with 62% saying they’d happily swap chairs with the juice-box crowd.

So, what exactly are we all trying to avoid this year? According to the survey, here are the top 10 conversation landmines that can turn your gravy boat into a sinking ship:

Politics: No surprise here. Nothing like a heated debate about the Electoral College to ruin the mashed potatoes.
Money: “So, how much are you making now?” is not the vibe.
Appearance or Weight: Don’t be the person who says, “Oh, more stuffing, huh?” (Looking at you, Grandma.)
Religion: Keep the faith talk light or off the table altogether.
Exes: Wondering why your nephew’s girlfriend didn’t come this year? Maybe don’t bring it up unless you want to see him cry.
Mental Health: Important, yes. But on Thanksgiving, nothing’s more important than stuffing and pie.
Career Woes: Let them enjoy their sweet potatoes in peace. No need to remind them they just got laid off.
Personal Struggles: Same goes for any tough life updates. Thanksgiving isn’t a therapy session.
Relationship Status: Wanna make things uncomfortable? Just ask that couple who’ve been dating for eight years, “So, when are you getting married?”
Absent Family Members: Talking smack about relatives who aren’t there is a fast track to arguments and awkward silences.

There’s plenty of other stuff to talk about without making things cringe. So pour the wine, pass the rolls, and stick to safe topics like football, pie, or how wild it is that cranberry sauce still comes in a can.

So, maybe take a cue from the kids’ table this year. Sure, the four-year-old is eating with her hands… but at least she didn’t bring up inflation.

Pumpkin Pie on Thanksgiving? Maybe Not for Long

Thanksgiving menus are usually locked in tighter than Grandma’s grip on the gravy boat. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, repeat. The only variations tend to happen when your health-nut cousin swaps butter for… whatever they use. But according to a new poll, the real action this year is happening at the dessert table.

Pumpkin pie is still #1

More than 7,000 Americans were asked which pie they want most on Thanksgiving. Pumpkin pie still sits on the throne at 30%, followed by apple at 20%, pecan at 15%, and sweet potato at 9%. Basically, all the classics you expect right after you swear you cannot eat another bite and then immediately eat another bite.

But older Americans are keeping it at the top

Here’s where things get interesting. Pumpkin and pecan pies are basically being carried by Boomers and Gen X. Millennials and Gen Z are leaning hard toward apple and, shockingly, chocolate pie. Yes, chocolate. That means we might be only a generation or two away from pumpkin pie going the way of DVDs and landlines.

And if you think the pumpkin pie crisis stops there, buckle up. 10% of Gen Z says they do not want any pie on Thanksgiving. None. Zero. This is compared to just 4% of Boomers, who are spiritually powered by pie and view pumpkin spice as a survival tool.

What each state is googling

Meanwhile, Google Trends dropped a map of which pies each state is searching for the most, and the results are a beautiful, chaotic dessert map. Pumpkin pie is number one in big states like California and New York, plus places like North Dakota and New Mexico. Apple dominates the Northeast and large parts of the Midwest, which feels very on brand for people who treat autumn like a personality.

Shoofly pie, tamale pie, and Frito chili pie

And then, there are the curveballs. Pennsylvania picked shoofly pie, Oregon wants tamale pie, and Kansas is the only state whose top choice is Frito chili pie. Which, to be fair, does sound delicious, but calling it a “pie” feels like someone is bending the rules just to justify eating it for dessert.

So this Thanksgiving, if the pumpkin pie is suddenly replaced by a chocolate silk monstrosity sprinkled with crushed Oreos, just know this is not a mistake. It is a generational shift.

Four Ways to Cut Calories on Thanksgiving Without Making It Sad and Weird

If you’re trying to keep Thanksgiving a little lighter this year (and not just the gravy), you can cut some calories without turning the meal into a health food hostage situation.

No one’s asking you to swap the turkey for a lentil loaf or serve mashed cauliflower with a side of tears. These tips will let you shave off calories while still keeping the “Thanks” and “giving” in Thanksgiving.

Here are four easy swaps to lighten up your Thanksgiving plate — and no, you don’t have to eat anything that jiggles unless you want to.

Pick white meat, skip the skin.

If you’re a turkey traditionalist, this one’s easy. White meat has about 50 fewer calories per serving than dark meat, especially if you skip the skin. Buying a whole turkey breast instead of a full bird is another smart move, but fair warning — some folks need their dark meat or they’ll riot. Maybe do a quick family poll before going full white-meat-only.

Stuff your stuffing with less fat.

You can still make stuffing from scratch and have it taste amazing. Try fat-free buttermilk instead of whole milk, and only use half the butter you normally would. It’ll still have that cozy, carb-loaded flavor — just with 90 fewer calories per scoop. Bonus: you might feel slightly less guilty going back for seconds.

Green beans over green bean casserole.

We get it, the crispy onion topping is half the reason people even look at green bean casserole. But if you skip the cream-of-something soup and make sautéed green beans with just butter and those same fried onions on top, you’re looking at about 150 fewer calories per serving. It’s still crunchy, still delicious, just… less beige.

Pick pumpkin over pecan.

Dessert is where Thanksgiving calories really go to party. A slice of pecan pie can hit around 800 calories, thanks to its sugary, buttery filling. Pumpkin pie, by comparison, clocks in at about 270. That’s a 500+ calorie difference per slice. So if you want to indulge but not go into a sugar coma, pumpkin’s the smarter pick.

Look, it’s Thanksgiving — no one expects it to be a diet day. But if you make just a couple of these swaps, your belt (and your future self) might thank you. And if you still end up eating like it’s your last meal, well… there’s always January.

Ocean Spray Filled Cranberry Sauce Cans with Something Way Less Delicious

The folks at Ocean Spray say they’re looking into reports that some cans of cranberry sauce purchased for Thanksgiving were inexplicably filled with water instead.

Several videos are going around social media, including the one below. But honestly, all I really have to say to this lady is, “DEAR GOD, BUY A CAN OPENER!!”

@jasmine_hun
My Bestfriend opened up cans full of water instead of cranberry sauce 🤣🤣 #oceanspray @Ocean Spray Inc. What’s going on??? #thanksgiving #Funny
♬ original sound – Jasmine

How to Make a Tequila Turkey (And Maybe Burn Down Your House)

Here’s how to make sure there’s a throw-down, knock-out fight at your next family Thanksgiving. Help your drunk uncle along by sneaking some booze into his main course.

Alcoholic poultry, anyone?

We just learned you can marinate a turkey in tequila, and it’s all thanks to a brave Midwesterner who did it and almost set their apartment on fire. When you’re an innovator, you’re gonna break a few eggs along the way. (And maybe explode a few birds.)

Tequila turkey nearly blows up oven.

Firefighters in Madison, Wisconsin, had to step in after a dangerously boozy bird almost turned a kitchen into a fireworks display. A local resident decided to try a tequila-marinated turkey recipe, but it backfired spectacularly. (And also literally.)

Just eight minutes into roasting, the oven door blew open with such force that they felt their only option was to call 911. Then firefighters showed up, and when they opened the oven, blue flames shot out.

The culprit? Vaporized alcohol.

The bird had soaked up so much tequila that the booze turned into flammable vapor in the oven. And once that vapor mixed with oxygen? Boom. A fireball.

The person cooking the tequila turkey said they’d used the recipe before without issue. So authorities think it may have been caused by poor ventilation in the oven, which allowed the alcohol fumes to build up to explosive levels. It’s also possible they used way more tequila than the recipe called for.

Firefighters ultimately removed the oven from the apartment to prevent any further risk. Despite the dramatic blast, the incident thankfully didn’t spark a larger fire. And as far as we’ve heard, no fowl play was suspected. (Sorry, I’ll see myself out.)

How to make a tequila-soaked turkey

If you’re a risk-taker with a well-ventilated oven, you can easily find tequila turkey recipes online. But spoiler alert: they probably won’t get you drunk.

Most of the tequila turkey recipes we were able to find call for a very minor amount of booze. (Think tequila basting, or tequila glaze.)

TasteTequila.com modified a recipe from The Food Network… and we’re being generous with the word “modified.” They basically just say to use a lot more booze. The Food Network version calls for just 3 tablespoons, which isn’t going to give you much of a buzz unless you spoon them directly into your mouth.

The booziest real recipe we could find is from the Barefoot Contessa herself – proud drinker Ina Garten – whose Tequila Lime Chicken calls for a full four ounces of the good stuff. (Or technically, not that good… she says to use Cuervo Gold. 🤮)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup gold tequila (*or more if you’re willing to risk a structure fire)
1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (5 to 6 limes)
1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (2 oranges)
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon minced fresh jalapeno pepper (1 pepper seeded)
1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic (3 cloves)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 whole (6 split) boneless chicken breasts, skin on

As fun as tequila turkey sounds, I bet there’s an 80% chance it’s gross… because who drinks any type of alcohol because it “tastes good”? No one. If you think you do, your decades of drinking have just obliterated your taste buds. (I’m talking to you, mezcal “fans.”)

So while it’s a fun idea, I think I’ll play it safe and stick to my normal Thanksgiving staples. First and foremost: rum ham.