All 50 State’s Most Famous Thanksgiving Tradition

Thanksgiving is a time for family and gratitude, hearty food, and feel-good memories with the people you love the most. Every family has their own Thanksgiving traditions and what they are most thankful for, it’s what makes the holiday so special. No two Thanksgiving tables and traditions are exactly alike.

The one thing you need to know about an Alabama Thanksgiving is the more bread the better. Bread and butter is literally what holds this table together. Alabama natives love their table rich and hearty like most of their diet. Whether it’s crescent rolls, baked garlic bread, or focaccia, the bread will find its way onto the table.

Alabama has lots of activities around this holiday time such as a Blues Festival, as well as their own Thanksgiving Parade. They even have their own “Gobble Wobble 5K Run” in tune with the Thanksgiving spirit. Count us in!

Alaskans love to wake up to the smell of something sweet on Thanksgiving morning. Cinnamon Rolls are the perfect treat to fill this void and Alaska households every Thanksgiving holiday love this cinnamon touch. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

Towns across Alaska host communal potlucks where everyone brings their special signature dish. Coming together as a community is a timeless tradition that native Alaskans continue to practice.

In contrast to Alaska, on an Arizona Thanksgiving table, Turkey is the star of the show. There is no Thanksgiving without their iconic finger-licking, feel-good turkey. Sometimes a classic is all that you need.

Going back about 40 years, Fountain Hills has been the location for the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade in Arizona and it does not disappoint.

Arkansas loves to break barriers at their Thanksgiving table. They are known for tossing their turkey with their spaghetti, the prime example of an untraditional concoction becoming a long-standing Arkansas tradition.

It is known that Springdale, Arkansas, is the “Poultry Capitol of Arkansas” and when examining national turkey production, Arkansas ranks third. Some would even go as far as to say that turkey is the glue that holds everything together, especially during the holidays. Arkansas sees great economic benefits from the turkey production sector making just over $443 million.

Californians love their green juice on the daily. They love being lean and green with their healthy habits, and it seems as though Thanksgiving follows suit with their famous Thanksgiving staple, green grilled brussels sprouts.

Being in California during the holidays is a real treat because the weather is always relatively warm. This means that you could even set up your Thanksgiving feast in the comfort of your own backyard if you wanted and have your celebrations by candlelight.

Coloradans favor glazing their ham as opposed to their turkey. There is nothing like a Colorado-glazed Thanksgiving ham on your holiday table. You’re sure to not want to leave the table until you’ve had a bite or a few. We won’t blame you.

A lot of people say that cranberry sauce is the glue that holds the Thanksgiving tradition alive. This can spark debate but not for Connecticut Thanksgiving tables, most would even say it is a necessity.

A sweet potato casserole with marshmallows is a never-ending debate amongst all the states, but whether you love it or hate it, there is no debating a Delaware sweet potato casserole.

Leave your pumpkin pie at the door. Florida opts for a more interesting and zesty dessert, key lime pie. They are called the Sunshine State for many reasons and we bet that one of them is the fact that you can’t help but smile when you have this pie at your Thanksgiving table.

Georgia is the “Peach State” so it comes as no surprise that they celebrate every Thanksgiving with an iconic peach dump cake. If Georgia specializes in anything it’s their peaches and we can’t complain. Any of us would be lucky to have it as our family’s Thanksgiving tradition.

For a Hawaiian Thanksgiving, besides the beautifully vibrant decorations, you better believe there will be sausage! Nothing beats this tradition, sausage in between every bite of stuffing is the best you could ask for during this holiday.

Most states go for the crescent rolls during Thanksgiving, but not Idaho, they favor biscuits over anything else. According to this State, it’s warmer, flakier, and fluffier in taste during every bite. Who won’t want a roll to last longer, especially on Thanksgiving? Just make sure you don’t need to fight your way for the last one.

An Illinois Thanksgiving is filled with mashed potatoes and they might just give Idaho a run for their money. Illinois families find mashed potatoes the perfect pairing to a turkey dinner. We can’t argue with that.

Corn pudding is the way to go when it comes to an Indiana Thanksgiving. The more corn the better when it comes to their Thanksgiving feast. It is as sweet as it is savory, which is exactly the type of balance you want.

The more pumpkin the better for this Iowa Thanksgiving table. If you want to get into the fall season and the Thanksgiving spirit in the best way possible look no further than this Iowa tradition packed with a nutmeg, cinnamon pumpkin punch.

Kansas family’s Thanksgiving tables like their holiday easy and tasty while favoring ham and cheese. This being the case, these ham and cheese pinwheels have become a family staple and Thanksgiving tradition for the ages.

When it comes to a Kentucky Thanksgiving, traditions may not be what you think. Sometimes turkey just isn’t a fan favorite and that’s okay. There is no one way to celebrate.

Lousiana’s tradition of merging two favorites, stuffing, and cornbread will win anyone over. We are already trying to score an invite because every side at this table is rich in flavor. In true New Orleans fashion, the dressing is made of oysters.

When trying to sum up a Maine’s Thanksgiving, what comes to mind for most tables this holiday, is comfort food. These Mainer’s marine dish is chicken pot pie. They just cant pass it up.

Is it really a Maryland Thanksgiving without some crab at the table? The answer is definitely not. These families can’t even start without Crab Cake Bites being the first bite of the holiday.

For Massachusetts families you can’t say  Thanksgiving without some creamy chowder, the more clams the better. You can even throw in some corn and leftover turkey for the next day.

A Michigan Thanksgiving is nothing without its traditional hot chili. If you’re good at something then why deny your calling? For Midwesterners, it’s their chili. Whether its a sporting event, viewing party, or a holiday, you know there will be chili.

Casserole on casserole on casserole is what a Minnesota Thanksgiving is all about. Some might even swear that Minnesotans never met a casserole that they weren’t a fan of. Green bean casserole is everyone’s favorite out here.

Toasted pecans isn’t a popular dish at everyone’s Thanksgiving but it is for Mississippi families. They like to save the leftovers from other dishes such as pies and casseroles and toast the rest into another yummy side dish or for a post-dinner holiday snack. Once you have some of these slow-cooked candied pecans you’ll surely adopt them for your own.

Missourians also love their casseroles but not in the same way as Minnesota. They save this casserole tradition for the next day. The morning after the Thanksgiving holiday is filled with an egg, cheese, bacon, and French toast casserole with everything you love about the holiday, comfort.

Montana’s fresh vegetables roasted to perfection on Thanksgiving, is a beautiful site. They’re been blessed with fresh produce right in their backyards.

Monkey Bread for a Nebraska Thanksgiving is the ultimate tradition. Before pumpkin pie or anything else, these Nebraskan families know that the holidays start and end with nothing but Monkey Bread.

Sometimes old-school is the way to go. We can’t argue with a Nevada classic, heavy on the peanut butter. To the contrary of pies for dessert, the Nevada Thanksgiving table is nothing without warm peanut butter cookies, freshly baked.

Thinking about this New Hampshire Blueberry pie already has us salivating. Nothing says Thanksgiving tradition in this state like a big slice of blueberry pie for the heart and the soul. It’s as easy on the eyes as it is rich in taste. The more blueberries the better.

You can’t get crab cake burgers at every Thanksgiving table and New Jersey folks love going against the grain. That’s why it’s such a special New Jersey tradition. There are also special activities such as the Festival of the Trees at the Historic Red Mill Museum in Clinton.

What is Thanksgiving without a mix of cultures? Blending cultures is what the holiday is all about and these New Mexican families know how to do it right. New Mexico has a lot of Latin influences so it comes as no surprise that traditional empanadas aren’t far behind.

New York Cheesecake is famous for a reason. There is nothing quite like it, whether it’s Thanksgiving or a birthday you know these New York families are adding this classic cake to the table.

North Carolina’s traditional cornbread is how you know it’s officially Thanksgiving in North Carolina households. What’s extra special is the fact that they drizzle some honey on top with they serve you up as slice.

North Dakotan families love their apple crisp during Thanksgiving, but you can’t forget that scoop of vanilla ice cream that ensures a sweet holiday for everyone involved.

When you think of Thanksgiving often times corn comes to mind. It’s one of those autumn favorites that you can’t get enough of and it is something that we’ve been eating at Thanksgiving since the beginning, but Ohio families serve it a different way. Whipped corn dip is the ultimate Ohio tradition during this holiday.

Pecan pie is a southern staple when it comes to Thanksgiving traditions but no one does it quite like they do it in Oklahoma. The holiday has officially started only when someone has gotten the pecan pie out of the oven, if you’re lucky than there is more than one.

Stuffing is a Thanksgiving classic and Oregon just can’t get enough. What’s their secret to getting it just right every time? We think it’s the thyme or the orange juice perhaps.

Chances are we’ve all eaten potatoes on Thanksgiving at one point or another but no one does potatoes quite like Pennsylvania. Pennsylvanian households are over achieves and their potatoes game does not disappoint. The level of potato dish assortments is nothing like you’ve ever seen before.

Rhode Island’s Cheesy Pull-Apart Bread is definitely a tradition worth keeping around every year. The gooier the cheese the better. Now these Rhode Islanders just need to figure out who has the better cheese pull. This sticky pull-apart bread is putting all the other monkey breads to shame.

Both states of the Carolinas are passionate about their sweet potato pie.  Particularly South Carolina’s tradition is to take marshmallows and sweet potatoes to different heights. Instead of baked mashed sweet potatoes with marshmallow topping they make a beautiful sweet potato pie with homemade marshmallow whipped fluff to top it off.

Sometimes the best way to celebrate Thanksgiving is with the classics. All Midwesterners, especially, South Dakotans like to honor long-standing traditions, that’s why pumpkin pie is a can’t-miss on their Thanksgiving menu.

A Tennessee Thanksgiving tradition is their sausage balls. These sausage balls can beat out any cocktail meatballs you can find at any other table. These are the go-to appetizers for every family in this state, you can bet on that.

A Texan Thanksgiving is nothing without its Chicken Spaghetti. This tradition is quite different than most states’ Thanksgiving but don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.  Turkey isn’t on the same level here as in other states, but that doesn’t slow down those Texans. They’ve created their own special traditions, like their famed barbecue brisket.

Probably one of the things all states have in common the most during Thanksgiving is the amount of leftovers. We all know and love those Thanksgiving sandwiches made of leftovers and we all have them. We may make them differently but we can’t have the holiday without them. Utah households have taken this tradition and made it their own by using crescent rolls as the base of this ritual. We give them points for creativity.

Vermont’s Thanksgiving tradition revolves around this to-die-for butternut squash dish. The holiday can’t start without it. Somehow despite all the heavy foods during this holiday, they manage to throw in some health. You don’t need to compromise on taste to do that and this soup is proof.

You don’t want to miss this cheesy Virginia tradition. It’s cheesy but exactly where you want it. When it comes to their mac and cheese the cheesier the better, the more types of cheese the better.

It’s never too early to start baking sugar cookies, well at least according to Washington. For these Washington households getting into the holiday spirit starts with homemade sugar cookies from the minute the leaves start to change. These cookies can come in all shapes and sizes but the bigger the better.

West Virginia’s buffalo chicken dip is filling as it is low-maintenance. You don’t need any fancy appetizers when you have a tradition this good. West Virginians also can’t pass having their holiday feast without their pepperoni rolls, biscuit stuffing, and apple butter.

Wisconsin’s Jumbo Garlic Shrimp is the best tradition to pair with some Thanksgiving classics and once you have it on the table you can’t have Thanksgiving the same way again. Wisconsin is the land of the cheese so you better believe that this holiday is no exception to a cheesy good time, shrimp or otherwise.

Ending this list is Wyoming’s traditional pork chops. These hungry Wyoming households have a big appetite to fill especially around Thanksgiving. Pork chops are a favorite to fill this spot in addition to turkey and all the other bells and whistles.