Ranking Thanksgiving foods

Ella Saputra | Conant Crier

Crier staff member Jessie Hairrell breaks down traditional Thanksgiving foods in her ranking of best the Thanksgiving foods.

Thanksgiving has never been one of my favorite holidays, mostly because it’s not Christmas, but also because I’m not crazy about turkey.

Turkey is probably the most difficult to cook; it’s dry, and it’s just boring. The main thing I do look forward to on Thanksgiving is the side dishes. Here are my personal favorite, classic dishes that should be on everyone’s thanksgiving table this season.

7. Sweet Potatoes
A very popular Thanksgiving dish is sweet potato casserole, complete with marshmallows on top. I am not crazy about the marshmallow idea, however, I do love sweet potatoes, whether they are boiled, baked, or mashed. Add some cinnamon, butter, and brown sugar and they are immediately perfect.

6. Mashed potatoes
Mashed potatoes are a classic. Every Thanksgiving table must have them. The best thing about mashed potatoes is that it’s nearly impossible to mess them up. Everyone likes them a little bit different, skin or no skin, lumpy or smooth, they’re all delicious!

5. Corn/Cornbread
I LOVE CORN. Sorry green bean casserole, but corn is elite. It’s so sweet and creamy, and it mixes well with everything else on the plate. Corn makes me happy and that is all.

4. Rolls/Biscuits
This one is obvious. We all love bread. Even when I think I’m too full to possibly eat any more food, I always have room for another roll. I have no shame in the amount of bread I consume on Thanksgiving, and neither should anyone else.

3. Stuffing
Just thinking about stuffing makes my mouth water. It’s the perfect holiday food. It’s soft but also crispy. It’s warm. It has all the fancy spices in it. Stuffing is the only food on this list that I only eat on Thanksgiving. Why? It is too special to have all year. Thanksgiving is really just “Stuffing Day” in my mind.

2. Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Unlike stuffing, macaroni and cheese is not reserved for Thanksgiving day, but that does not make it any less important. Macaroni and cheese is the perfect food for all ages. I have always loved macaroni and cheese, and I will always love macaroni and cheese. It is essential on Thanksgiving as a comfort food, and as another dish that makes turkey more bearable.

1.Gravy
Can gravy be considered its own dish? The answer is yes. Gravy is what makes your Thanksgiving plate complete. What other food can bring all the different Thanksgiving foods together in such a harmonious way? Gravy is the most necessary moistening agent on the Thanksgiving table. It makes turkey less dry and gives the mashed potatoes a little spunk. I mean seriously… mashed potatoes are nothing without gravy. Simply put, Thanksgiving cannot be Thanksgiving without good gravy on the table.

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