'My father has to have "Peanut Butter Salad" every Thanksgiving': 20 Turkey-day dishes that will go untouched for the the whole day

Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor

Nov 20, 2023 5:00 PM EST

Each family has at least one cherished memory of the time someone botched Thanksgiving dinner really badly. You know the kind of story: an aunt promises to bake the turkey, and roasts it for 6 hours… in a cold oven. Or maybe you had a dad who was so proud of his fresh apple pie, only to immediately drop it on the floor, where the dog then ate it. These Thanksgiving memories are often infuriating in the moment, and then become hilarious family memories as soon as the fam eaten their proper holiday meal.

With that in mind, we have found some Thanksgiving dinners and dishes that just did not go as planned. I'm a huge fan of the bright purple turkey. You only make the mistake of cooking your poultry with red wine instead of white wine once. No one really wants to chow down on purple turkey, and in addition, how will you know if it's fully cooked? Make sure you have a meat thermometer and a family with a strong stomach.

Up next, this boss told his employee that he'd better be on call during his vacation, unless the employee went somewhere totally remote… so the employee was like, "challenge accepted."

01

via u/fostech10
02
Welcome to Jello Thanksgiving

via u/Jackmember
03

via lookmanmey
04
No, this isn't Barney the dinosaur

via u/alwaysangrythrowaway

U/alwaysangrythrowaway writes that their friend made this, and once cooked, it burned and turned black. It did not get eaten.
05
As the OP puts it, "These pecans pecan't."

via isiteverythingyouhopeditwouldbe
06
Have any of you 80's babies tried the Explosion Surprise Turkey?

via u/Worried-Criticism
07
You can see this monstrosity in the next picture

via u/SpikeH-K
08
It sure lives up to its title!

via u/SpikeH-K
09
Pie ending in tragedy

via indygirl
10
Please tell me the bottom layer isn't turkey...

via u/Specialist_Duck3

It looks like the top layer contains carrots with string beans laid across it. Then there's a layer of peas, then a layer of spinach or collard greens (maybe??) and finally, the bottom layer could be either cabbage or turkey. A frightful mystery, to be sure!
11
Cut yourself a slice!

via u/rockety21
12
This is "Red hots, lemon jello, and applesauce"

via u/socialpronk

U/Socialpronk adds, "My mom insists every Thanksgiving and Christmas. Nobody really eats it." It certainly is vibrant!
13
What's wrong babe? You've barely touched your hot dog-topus

via u/aloriaaa
14
I just know that turkey has never felt the heat of an oven

via u/Faraday9999
15
Oh, you shouldn't have

via u/ohokaymybad
16
This person got "creative" with their leftover food, leading to a very pickley turkey

via u/molstad182
17
If these had turned out, they would've been a really cool appetizer

via Imgur
18
Another leftovers-lover made sushi out of their remaining Thanksgiving foods

via u/JustAddWhatever
19
Any takers for the turkey burrito?

via mrhollywoog
20
Is it even Thanksgiving if you don't make your guests some cursed "gamer nachos"?

via Imgur