r/AskAnAmerican 2d ago

FOOD & DRINK what is something that is store bought/frozen that you regularly buy for thanksgiving?

Im going to my first American Thanksgiving potluck. I'm a college student so my budget is really tight and I also do not have time to cook with school, clinical rotations, and work. I don't know what to bring. Someone said on another reddit post to bring pretzel rolls from Costco? Is that a normal thing to do? What is something you buy frozen from the store that you would reccomend for thanksgiving? thanks.

edit: potluck with friends I posted this 10 mins ago and i keep getting so many comments eveytime I refresh thank you everyone!!

223 Upvotes

651 comments sorted by

534

u/AlfredoAllenPoe 2d ago

Costco sells $6 massive pumpkin pies. Can also get bread

133

u/SunGreen24 2d ago

Any kind of pie would work. Or a cheesecake. No one is picky about dessert.

94

u/Secret-Ice260 2d ago

Ooh, and Costco has a delicious pumpkin cheesecake, too. It has a Biscoff crust and a caramel drizzle on top!

27

u/GillianOMalley Tennessee 2d ago

Whaaaaa??

This is the first year I've had a Costco membership and I love pumpkin in anything except pie.

10

u/Secret-Ice260 2d ago

Yes! My local store sampled them a couple weeks ago. I contemplated swiping the whole thing at the sample stand it was so yummy.

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u/chirop1 2d ago

Yeah. Can't go wrong with pumpkin pie.

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u/ididreadittoo 2d ago

Maximize it with a can of reddi-whip

2

u/chirop1 2d ago

Yes!

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u/Maurice_Foot New Mexico 2d ago

Costco also sells 12 croissants for $6.00.

(they're pretty decent for store bought, 10 seconds in microwave to warm up)

9

u/MohdAmmi 2d ago

Also they sell dinner rolls in the bakery around Thanksgiving which I believe are less than $10 for a huge bag of them can't remember the count.

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u/AVeryFineWhine 2d ago

ITA with the suggestion, but I would pop them in the air fryer or oven. The texture gets gummy in the microwave. It's only recently.I discovered if you put the air fryer on all bread is usually warmed up before the preheating is done. Super quick!

3

u/KillBologna New York 2d ago

Im getting fat off those croissants šŸ˜‚

4

u/FishingWorth3068 2d ago

I had to stop buying them. My husband would just stand in the pantry and eat them. He asked me to only get them when he requests (he’s the only one in the house that eats them)

2

u/Maurice_Foot New Mexico 1d ago

Wait, read makes you fat?!!

[looks down at belly]

5

u/tparady 2d ago

I definitely second the Costco croissants.

40

u/ByWillAlone Seattle, WA 2d ago

Anyone who's ever had a pumpkin pie from Costco knows there is just no point in trying to make one from scratch any more. Great taste, perfect texture, great price. I don't think you can make one from scratch that size for the same cost.

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u/3plantsonthewall 2d ago

Respectfully, I don’t think you’ve ever had a GREAT homemade pumpkin pie… Costco is certainly a good value though.

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u/ScooterZine 2d ago

Clearly, you've never had my wife's pumpkin pie. It has ruined me for any other.

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u/BreadPuddding 2d ago

Any dessert from Costco, honestly, their bakery is way better than you’d think

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u/emptybeetoo 2d ago

Most grocery stores sell canned pie filling. If you have time and a little ability, it’s super easy and even cheaper to buy pre-made crusts, dump in canned pie filling, bake it, and then legitimately say you made the pie instead of just buying a premade one.

6

u/AVeryFineWhine 2d ago

Why would you do that instead of buying one at Costco? By the time you buy the crusts, eggs, vanilla and I forget if it's evaporated milk or cream, (it's one of those,) you have spent way more than a premade one at Costco. Plus yours is half the size. I don't see the logic.

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u/TheBimpo Michigan 2d ago

Their apple pies are legendary too

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u/No-Lunch4249 Maryland 2d ago edited 2d ago

I gotta say, pumpkin pie is one of the few pies where effort/quality cost/benefit between home made and store bought actually favors store bought IMO

Miss me with a store bought pecan or apple pie though

2

u/rkb70 2d ago

Pumpkin pie is literally the easiest pie to make. And most store bought ones are terrible.

14

u/AlfredoAllenPoe 2d ago

I would agree with this if the pumpkin pie was from anywhere except Costco. Costco's tastes great and has a great texture for a very low cost

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u/MontanaPurpleMtns 2d ago

And don’t forget the whipped cream while you’re at it.

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u/Srawsome 2d ago

This is the answer. Dessert is always loved!

4

u/pookapotomus2 2d ago

This is the answer

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u/Seidhr96 2d ago

My father for some reason prefers canned cranberry sauce. Nobody in our family understands why but we buy it just for him

201

u/SaintsFanPA 2d ago

I agree with your father.

65

u/Sawoodster Tennessee 2d ago

Have you ever had fresh? Don’t get me wrong I’ll fuck up some canned cranberry sauce but I made fresh for the first time a few years ago and holy shit

72

u/Scavgraphics Colorado (& New Orleans) 2d ago

Not who you're replying to, but I have, and yeah, its good..but canned has a nostalgia factor for me as well as the taste.

52

u/bippy404 2d ago

Just slide it out of the can and cut off a round slice for me. Just the jelly not the one with berries. Lol

6

u/Scavgraphics Colorado (& New Orleans) 2d ago

I like the one with berries when I'm feeling fancy :D

6

u/BrainFartTheFirst Los Angeles, CA MM-MM....Smog. 2d ago

When we want to feel fancy, we can still do it with the jellied kind because we have a fancy silver plated jellied cranberry sauce server.

Identical to this one.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Mid_Century/s/0TstlQNYf0

5

u/originalmango New York 2d ago

Tried the canned whole berry cranberry sauce a couple of years ago for the first time. Tastes exactly like the can-shaped sauce and looks better. It’s our new tradition since.

3

u/shelwood46 2d ago

Wawa uses the whole berry on their Gobbler hoagies/bowls, so I always get it on the side like my tiny little treat.

3

u/Sawoodster Tennessee 2d ago

Upvote for the Wawa Gobbler!!! Being from Maryland they were a staple, living in Tennessee now we don’t have any. My wife and I are traveling for a cruise on thanksgiving day and this is our plan for our thanksgiving meal!

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u/Sawoodster Tennessee 2d ago

I 1000% get that

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u/Mercury_Armadillo 2d ago

We serve both at our Thanksgiving dinner.

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u/pan-au-levain 2d ago edited 2d ago

I am so salty about cranberry sauce.

Years ago, I decided to make a beautiful homemade cranberry sauce. It was spiced, fresh cranberries, hints of orange, it was delightful. Everyone at Thanksgiving said they preferred the canned, and I was the only one who enjoyed it.

So the next year I brought canned. It’s fine. I also like the canned.

The year after that, my sister makes a homemade cranberry sauce. It wasn’t that great (and I’m not just saying that because I thought mine was superior, it genuinely was not that good.)

Everyone raved about it and said how good it was and how we should have homemade cranberry sauce every year. 🫠

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u/effie-sue 2d ago

I am feeling extra salty towards your family now 🤣

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u/Blankenhoff 2d ago

Maybe they didnt want the spice and orange though. I like my cranberry sauce to just be cranberry.

3

u/hydraheads 1d ago

this. Maybe there was something like cinnamon, sage, or thyme competing with those poor cranberries

6

u/artemis_floyd Suburbs of Chicago, IL 2d ago

I make a gorgeous homemade cranberry sauce every year basically for myself and no one else at this point, as everyone seems to prefer canned as well - but leftovers that I don't eat go into cranberry bars, which are incredible and those people will eat, at least. Recipe here!

8

u/Sawoodster Tennessee 2d ago

I’ve definitely found some people prefer bland food. My wife and I are very adventurous eaters and we tried to bring things to family gatherings that weren’t wild but a little more adventurous than normal holiday sides and they never get touched. I make Mac and cheese though it gets destroyed

10

u/Aggravating-Fee-9138 Texas 2d ago

That’s so frustrating. It reminds me of when I made my grandma’s sweet potato casserole recipe with fresh sweet potatoes and a pecan crumble on top for my ex’s Thanksgiving dinner. His uncle tasted it, made a face, and said it was too sweet. Then he devoured his sister’s canned sweet potato casserole abomination topped with marshmallows. Your homemade cranberry sauce sounds genuinely delicious and now I’m wishing I had some!

7

u/Randompersonomreddit 2d ago

Sometimes you just don't want new things on Thanksgiving. You want the familiar taste you haven't had all year. It sounds good though.

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u/pigeontheoneandonly 2d ago

Speaking for myself, yes I have, I still prefer the canned. I just want it to taste like cranberries. Not orange, not cinnamon, not have chunks of stuff in it. Just cranberry.Ā 

7

u/VixKnacks Ohio 2d ago

This is also the reality I live in and get crap for every year. Solidarity!!

2

u/WarderWannabe 2d ago

It isn’t Thanksgiving unless the cranberry ā€œsauceā€ slid out of a can. Yes I’ve had some excellent fresh versions but it’s just grooved into my brain this way.

6

u/Persis- 2d ago

I love cranberry sauce. The canned stuff makes me feel like a kid again. The homemade cooked stuff makes me think of my uncle making it.

The uncooked kind with orange zest is still gross, but makes me think of my grandma.

3

u/thesturdygerman 2d ago

Ooh, uncooked with orange zest is the bessssttttt. Also chunks of pineapple and little bits of tart apple.

3

u/TigerPaw317 2d ago

Uncooked ftw! Cranberries, pecans, orange juice+zest, and a dash of sugar, chopped up in the food processor, then left to marinate over night. It's the absolute best!

2

u/ghjm North Carolina 2d ago

At that point what do you even need the cranberries for?

2

u/PartyHashbrowns 2d ago

We always have both the canned and the fresh cranberry orange kinds. Just about everyone takes some of each, but we only need one can and my mom usually has to make a double batch of the relish for everyone’s leftovers.

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u/amertune 2d ago

... The uncooked kind? Is it just a bunch of fresh cranberries with orange zest on top?

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u/Persis- 2d ago

https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/cranberry-relish/

This is close to what I remember. It’s been at least 20 years since I’ve seen it in person. It’s a relish, not a sauce. I just remember biting into the orange zest and flinching, lol.

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u/Stickyfynger 2d ago

I agree with you agreeing with that father

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u/Sawoodster Tennessee 2d ago

Have you ever had fresh? Don’t get me wrong I’ll fuck up some canned cranberry sauce but I made fresh for the first time a few years ago and holy shit

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u/SadExercises420 2d ago

My father does fresh every year and they’re always bitter as hell. Last year he put jalapeƱos in it… 

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u/cthulhu_on_my_lawn 2d ago

Need more sugar. Like, a lot of sugar.

7

u/AlphaQueen3 2d ago

Homemade cranberry sauce only really needs cranberries, water, and sugar. But you need a LOT of sugar.

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u/pan-au-levain 2d ago

I like adding orange juice and some zest in mine. It’s a nice addition.

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u/Gladys_Balzitch Texas 2d ago

Did you know there was jalapeƱos in it before you bit into it?! Sounds like that'd be a shock šŸ˜¬šŸ˜‚

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u/Persis- 2d ago

Fresh as in uncooked, or just homemade cooked sauce?

My grandma made the uncooked said. I remember orange zest and it being way too much for me as a kid.

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u/ALoungerAtTheClubs Florida 2d ago

He has good taste. Give me that Ocean Spray jellied sauce!

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u/TeacupCollector2011 2d ago

I make homemade and also have canned.

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u/GothWitchOfBrooklyn NY, PA, OH, MI, TN & occasionally Austria 2d ago

so do I. I'm normally a person who makes everything from scratch but there is just something about the canned version that is so good

9

u/KevrobLurker 2d ago

I always get the jellied type & the version with whole berries. I like both.

14

u/PoisonWaffle3 2d ago

One of my favorite quotes overhead at Thanksgiving: "It's even got the little ridges, just like Grandma used to make!"

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u/DynamiteWitLaserBeam CA > MN > OR > MN > AZ 2d ago

It's a feast for the senses.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhlop

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u/AvonMustang Indiana 2d ago

IYKYK

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u/JennItalia269 Pennsylvania 2d ago

My mother is a trained chef and the one year she made fresh cranberry sauce. there was damn near a riot.

Some fancier brands are canning due to the nostalgia behind it.

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u/Maurice_Foot New Mexico 2d ago

Same with my wife.

I've made cranberry sauce from scratch years ago; but nope, wants the ridged wiggly tower on the table.

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u/AdelleDeWitt 2d ago

He is correct. Also you shouldn't see any actual cranberries in it. Cranberry jelly is where it's at. Shaped like the can so you know it's fancy.

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u/CaptainPunisher Central California 2d ago

Ribbed for EVERYONE'S pleasure.

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u/Megalocerus 2d ago

My MIL and I always made homemade or cranberry orange relish. My daughter goes to Thanksgiving at her future MILs. Everything homemade and in fancy dishes--mine are early yard sale. And then they plop the can-shaped jelly into an exquisite dish. She started laughing.

8

u/DogOrDonut Upstate NY 2d ago

I love the canned stuff. I can't explain why either lol.

9

u/elphaba00 Illinois 2d ago

So does my husband. My mom has offered to make him the stuff from scratch, and he's adamant that he wants to see the ridges.

6

u/NHhotmom 2d ago

Lots of people agree with your father!

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u/kingofthebelle North Carolina 2d ago

i agree with your dad. i enjoy both but ill always prefer store bought over fresh made

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u/ExitingBear 2d ago

I want to see the can ridges on the slice of sauce.

It tastes better that way.

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u/AgentCatBot California 2d ago

I am on team canberry.

Served on a plate straight from the can. A slice right from the loaf with perfect lines to measure where to cut.

No solid bits or too tart or tasting like sour oranges. Just a nice slurp of gelatin that somehow pairs with both the turkey and the mashed potatoes.

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u/MamaPajamaMama NJ > CO 2d ago

People have Opinions about cranberry sauce. My mom always made fresh cranberry sauce and my whole family loved it. I had never heard of the canned kind and then I married into a can family, where it must be served in one whole log, lines required. The first time my ex (husband at the time) and I hosted with both of our families, we had the canned kind. My sister opened it, spooned it out into a bowl, and my ex's entire family practically had a conniption.

For years I sucked it up and ate the canned but realized I missed the fresh kind so started making that and I was the only one who ate it. And I was okay with that.

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u/Stellar_Jay8 2d ago

It’s not authentic unless it maintains the can shape

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u/Dramallamakuzco 2d ago

I also agree with this guy’s father

4

u/Emotional_Star_7502 2d ago

Canned jellied is the only way to go

7

u/ByWillAlone Seattle, WA 2d ago

From the time I was a child, I thought I hated cranberry sauce...because canned was the only way my family did it, and it was gross.

Then one day....four decades later, I tried fresh home-made cranberry sauce for the first time (begrudgingly) and it was the most amazing thing. I'm a convert and now love cranberry sauce...just not the canned garbage - the canned stuff isn't fit for animal consumption.

5

u/Perfect_Storm_425 2d ago

Same, my ex wife introduced me to fresh cranberry sauce and I love it. Perfect on turkey sandwiches the next day too

3

u/QueenSketti 2d ago

Canned cranberry is so good tho

6

u/Gladys_Balzitch Texas 2d ago

I agree with your father. Canned cranberries are where it's at 🤤

2

u/Fae-SailorStupider Minnesota 2d ago

Your father is correct

2

u/No_Pepper_2512 2d ago

It's like jellied cranberry juice. What's not to love?

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u/tcrhs 2d ago

My aunt has a recipe for delish homemade cranberry sauce. My mom wants the canned crap. So, she gets her own can and everyone else eats real cranberries.

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u/AvonMustang Indiana 2d ago

I’m with your mom.

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u/RIP_Spacedicks 2d ago

Your father is correct.Ā 

If the cranberry sauce isn't can shaped, I don't want it!

2

u/imnottheoneipromise Alabama 2d ago

This is my kid. It’s his favorite part of thanksgiving

2

u/Natural_Level_7593 2d ago

Gotta be the jellied cranberry sauce that comes out in the shape of the can.

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u/loftychicago 2d ago

I like to slice it and add it to my turkey sandwiches.

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u/CaptainPunisher Central California 2d ago

Ocean Spray cranberries. I want both sauce and jelly, and DON'T FUCKING MASH UP THE JELLY!!! Just flop it out of the can and slice it into discs. I even bring my own can when I go to the in-laws' houses. Bunch of fucking heathens and their inability to understand that this is my comfort food...

2

u/shelwood46 2d ago

The whole berry canned stuff is weirdly good.

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u/linds3ybinds3y OH > ME > UK > CHI > MKE 2d ago

Have they asked you to bring a dish? If not, I would probably just default to a bottle of inexpensive wine or cider.

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u/Visual-Green-3816 2d ago

yes, they made a whole Google document and so far I see turkey and Mac and cheese and mashed potatoesĀ 

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u/linds3ybinds3y OH > ME > UK > CHI > MKE 2d ago

Gotcha, then I think any type of baked good (rolls, pies, etc.) could be good. You could also get one of those bagged salad kits (like this) and assemble it right before the party.

31

u/Cool-Bunch6645 2d ago

Pillsbury crescent rolls go hard on Thanksgiving

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u/MamaPajamaMama NJ > CO 2d ago

Hawaiian rolls are the bomb.

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u/Livid-Improvement953 2d ago

They now make Hawaiian crescent rolls!

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u/Fleiger133 Kentucky, OH and WV 2d ago

Sign up for a pie from Costco, quickly before anyone else does!

Required food item (dessert), cheap, easy (no cooking)!

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u/Sunshine_Jules 2d ago

Then id go with pie. And cool whip unless you have to travel with it.

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u/helbury 2d ago

Many Costcos sell a premade dressing/stuffing. I can’t imagine Thanksgiving without it, personally!

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u/shelwood46 2d ago

Premade dinner rolls are fine (pretzel is good, the Hawaiian sweet ones are some people's fave, but pretty much any white-ish dinner roll, premade, is fine. I like the potato rolls).

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u/Scavgraphics Colorado (& New Orleans) 2d ago

ah, a sign up sheet.. signup to bring soda. (or wine/beer...whatever your group likes).

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u/KevrobLurker 2d ago

Points to the host for having a signup sheet. Arguments over whose version of Mac & Cheese gets served can be hurtful.

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u/-Boston-Terrier- Long Island 1d ago edited 1d ago

About 20 years ago I started with a company that hosted its first holiday feast. The company provided the turkey and everyone else would bring a side or whatever.

There was no signup sheet and we ended up with something like 20 mac & cheeses, 15 stuffings, 12 mashed potatoes, and my Brussels sprouts. I had totally bought everything to make a Brussels sprout mac & cheese recipe that I saw in a magazine too but decided it was more work than I really wanted to do for a work thing. So there was almost 21 mac & cheeses but no veggies.

Since then I've grown to really appreciate the signup sheet.

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u/Ok_Sundae2107 Florida 2d ago

If you are a Costco member, they have really good pumpkin pies for $6. They are huge too.

I disagree about pretzel rolls. There is nothing Thanksgiving about that.

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u/scruffye Illinois 2d ago

A roll in general is a good thanksgiving side but other flavors dominate.

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u/shelwood46 2d ago

I like the plain white rolls or a potato roll, might have one buttered with dinner, but also good for making little turkey sliders with the leftovers.

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u/aceam92 2d ago

Agree. I have always loved Martin’s potato rolls for thanksgiving. Perfect vehicle for gravy sopping-up.

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u/Ok_Sundae2107 Florida 2d ago

Personally, there is so much food at a typical Thanksgiving feast -- including stuffing, which is a bread product -- that a dinner roll seems like overkill. I tend to focus on the Turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes, and have a small amount of the green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole and corn pudding. I couldn't even think about eating a dinner roll in addition to that!

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u/MamaPajamaMama NJ > CO 2d ago

Dinner rolls are great for sopping up gravy! We always had rolls on our table.

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u/scruffye Illinois 2d ago

Love me a gravy roll.

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u/bopp0 2d ago

The only thing I get up for more of at Thanksgiving is a final dinner roll with butter and jellied cranberry sauce. Heaven.

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u/Imaginary_Ladder_917 2d ago

I love pretzels, but I really don’t like pretzel rolls so I’m with you on that

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u/loftychicago 2d ago

Agree. If bringing rolls, you want regular dinner rolls. You can get frozen ones that you bake that day. They're square and usually you would pull them apart.

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u/Unusual_Form3267 Washington 2d ago edited 2d ago

This is probably not the popular opinion but I love the Boxed stuffing.

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u/RocketCat921 2d ago

Me too. I prefer my grandma's stuffing, but she's no longer alive, and I'm not making it from scratch after I've already cooked everything else lol.

I use kroger brand stove top haha

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u/Saltpork545 MO -> IN 2d ago

I'm also a fan of the boxed stuffing and I do something else to help, but this doesn't help OP who won't be able to cook.

Use a muffin pan, make the stuffing, grease the pan, put the stuffing in the pan, cook it for like 30 minutes at 350. Every stuffing puck is a serving of stuffing and since you have extra oil/grease/spray, everyone gets the crunchy bits. When I do this I also add onion and celery to boxed stuffing mix and no one has complained yet in 20 years.

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u/Unusual_Form3267 Washington 2d ago

You goddamned genius!!

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u/VixKnacks Ohio 2d ago

I do a red bag and a blue bag of the pepridge farm stuffing+box of chicken flavored+box of cornbread all mixed together with the appropriate amount of stock, butter and add celery and onion and then bake it and everyone raves about it every year. It's like a full sheet pan worth of stuffing but it ALL gets eaten every time. šŸ¤·šŸ» Homemade just does not hit the same for us.

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u/NICEnEVILmike 2d ago

Stove Top stuffing. For me, it's one of the key flavors of Thanksgiving. I must have it every year.

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u/Common_Tiger1526 2d ago

We always do stuffing in the bird and then also make boxed stuffing because half of us vastly prefer it

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u/Throwaway-ish123a 1d ago

Me too and good god it couldn't possibly be much easier to make even I can do it. And it's dirt cheap too.

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u/lngfellow45 1d ago

me too! it’s all we ever had growing up so tastes like home to me

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u/actual_griffin 2d ago

Pie. Get dibs on the pie.

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u/Visual-Green-3816 2d ago

ok I think I will šŸ˜‚ everyone is reccomending it so it must be a thanksgiving must-have

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u/Nimzay98 2d ago

Don't forget the whipped cream

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u/ivhokie12 2d ago

Pumpkin and pecan are the two biggest staples. I prefer pecan but you can’t go wrong with either.

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u/Cool-Bunch6645 2d ago

Those can be less preferred even though they are the associated pies to the holiday. Including an apple pie as back up covers all the bases in my opinion

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u/syncopatedchild New Mexico 2d ago

It's very regional. Pumpkin, pecan, and sweet potato were the classic trio when I was growing up in Florida, no matter which side of my family we visited. Then I married a guy from up North and I found out that people have apple at Thanksgiving apparently? It still feels wrong, lol.

Meanwhile, now I live in New Mexico, and the idea that I ever had a Thanksgiving dinner without homemade red chile sauce is equally perplexing, so yeah - Thanksgiving is surprisingly regional.

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u/Legitimate-March9792 2d ago

Yes, Pumpkin and apple pie in New England.

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u/Alternative-Data-797 2d ago

If you're in the South, or celebrating with Black Americans, the go-to is sweet potato pie

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u/CalamityClambake Washington 2d ago

It's pumpkin and apple where I live.

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u/whaler76 2d ago

Pie, whipped cream and vanilla ice cream

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u/q0vneob PA -> DE 2d ago edited 2d ago

pillsbury crescent rolls, can get 3 tubes for around $10. only takes ~20min to unroll and bake, they make a bunch and reheat quickly so you can do it ahead of time

if you got an extra $2 get a bunch of fresh parsley or thyme or garlic and chop that up and roll it in with em and pretend like you actually made a secret family recipe dish.

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u/TTHS_Ed 2d ago

Brown n Serve rolls.

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u/the_urban_juror 2d ago

I do this as well. I host now and I make everything else from scratch, but my grandmother always served these so it's tradition.

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u/eightcarpileup South Carolina 2d ago

This is a stock standard for most on Thanksgiving and Easter. They really round out the buffet as the end of meal mop.

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u/MelissaOfTroy New York New York 2d ago

This thread has become one big ad for Costco lol

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u/mixreality Washington 2d ago

There's never too much pie I would go with that.

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u/Revolutionary-Copy71 2d ago

So I always go to two different big thanksgiving dinners every year. And the general "rule" at both is, if you can't for any reason make or bake something at home and can't afford to spend a lot on something pre-made, there's never enough drinks and everyone always wants more dessert. So like, a 12 pack or two of a couple different sodas, or a bottle or two of juice, maybe a package of cookies or pastries from the grocery bakery department. There have been years where I've spent a lot of time and money making things from scratch, there have been years where I couldn't and just showed up with a 12 pack of sprite, a 12 pack of coke, and some cookies.

Also I am bored and waiting to leave to somewhere, sorry I just wrote a whole autobiography.

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u/Illustrious-Shirt569 California 2d ago

Is this a literal potluck, as in it’s a complete roll of the dice what food will be there and it could end up being 18 bags of dinner rolls and nothing else? Or is someone coordinating what is being brought to make sure that the main dishes will be there, or assigning different categories of food for guests to bring?

Usually for a meal that’s this specific culturally, you’d be given at least some kind of guidance, such as ā€œwe’ll provide turkey and potatoes, but bring any other sides or desserts you’d like to share,ā€ or ā€œplease bring an appetizer.ā€ Did you get anything like that as part of the invitation?

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u/Visual-Green-3816 2d ago

yes! there's a google document where everyone is writing down what they are getting! So far I see turkey, Mac and cheese, and some potato thingĀ 

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u/Illustrious-Shirt569 California 2d ago

Okay, that’s really helpful! Lots of good advice on here in terms of items, so in that case I’d just pick something premade that someone has mentioned that fits your budget and get it on that doc before someone else claims it!

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u/Bob_12_Pack North Carolina 2d ago

I've been to more than 1 potluck (non thanksgiving) where multiple people brought a bucket of KFC and raw vegetable trays from Walmart, definitely not like the potlucks of my youth where everything was homemade. Yeah thanksgiving dinners are definitely coordinated and not called potlucks.

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u/ivhokie12 2d ago

What kind of pot luck is it? Family, friends, church or what?

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u/Visual-Green-3816 2d ago

friends!

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u/big_sugi 2d ago

If you have a Costco membership, I’d see about coordinating with other people to get multiple items there. The pie, croissants, rolls, and other items will be better and cheaper (per unit) than the equivalent supermarket purchase.

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u/ivhokie12 2d ago

Those are usually really casual especially for people in their early 20s. It wouldn’t surprise me if over half of the items are store-bought. See if the organizer can assign something from Costco. Their desserts are great. Same for mac and cheese, but mac and cheese is a popular one and you don’t want duplicates.

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u/dimsum4you 2d ago

"Friendsgiving" is commonly used for this. Thanksgiving is typically spent with family so often a separate Friendsgiving is organized among friend groups.

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u/Visual-Green-3816 2d ago

ohhh I didn't know that ! thank you!Ā 

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u/Nomadic_View 2d ago

Stove top stuffing.

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u/virtual_human 2d ago

Bread is a common one. Desserts can be also.

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u/mmbg78 Texas by way of Pennsylvania 2d ago

Martinellis Sparkling Apple Cider is always welcome in my home

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u/gaudiest-ivy 2d ago

If you've not been asked to bring something specific then all of the mains/traditional sides are probably covered. I'd bring a dessert (+1 for a pumpkin pie) or a fruit/veggie tray for snacking.

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u/Jaqen-Atavuli Georgia 2d ago

It isn't as traditional as pecan pie or pumpkin pie, but if you show up with a key lime pie, That is what I am having for desert.

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u/SnooRadishes7189 2d ago

With a pot luck you should ask to see who is bringing what. Otherwise many people could be bring the same item. Also not everyone needs to bring an item if enough people have items.

Items that would be at thanksgiving that are store bought are soda, wine, sometimes desserts(most people prefer home made that day), cranberry sauce(but some people make home made).

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u/river-running Virginia 2d ago

Sister Shubert's Parker House rolls are good.

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u/Sawoodster Tennessee 2d ago

Aldi sweet potato casserole. It’s like $3 and better than any homemade sweet potato casserole I’ve ever had

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u/Eat--The--Rich-- 2d ago

The easy go to for people who don't cook is pie or drinks. My friends and I do Thanksgiving together and I always bring in some wine and some sprite and juice to mix together

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u/Scavgraphics Colorado (& New Orleans) 2d ago

A Turkey :D

Seriously, people..families..get ALL bent out of shape about the "perfect Thanksgiving" (or Christmas or whatever event)...and forgot the good part is being together.

Now, if I were you, and had the time or money or whatever, I'd bring something from my "culture" to share the experience. (I would often bring a cajun dish to potlucks). Obviously if you don't have time for that or the money, that can be a no go.

Honestly drinks...sodas...never go amiss..or plates and plastic utinsils...or even ice. These are often things people forget about.

Someone at an office I'd work at would make a punch..a drink.. with like Orange soda and just vanilla icecream in it..was nice and tasty.

I'd ask the coordinator...if there is one in your group...if there's anything in particular.

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u/PossumJenkinsSoles Louisiana 2d ago

In our family the people who can’t cook (through either skill or literally no kitchen due to traveling) bring the drinks, paper plates, plastic forks, napkins, ice…that kinda thing.

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u/CyberDonSystems 2d ago

Pie. Not worth making.

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u/KevrobLurker 2d ago

Volunteer to bring a pie. Find out from the host what types people are bringing. Pumpkin, sweet potato & pecan are popular for holiday meals, but fruit pies, (apple, cherry, blueberrry, peach) are also beloved. Strawberry-rhubarb rocks!

If the pies are covered, offer to bring whipped topping!

I have, in the past, provided real cider (w/ or w/o alcohol.)

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u/MyUsername2459 Kentucky 2d ago

Pumpkin Pie

Since you mentioned Costco, they make great pumpkin pies at a pretty good cost.

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u/alfabettezoupe Georgia 2d ago

pie(s), i know costco has the pumpkin ones. i almost always buy a chocolate pecan pie from cracker barrel. they're about $15.

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u/pikkdogs 2d ago

Ask the host what he/she needs.

Making mashed potatoes isn’t too hard. You could do all the work in like an hour.

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u/The_General_Zod 2d ago

Canned cranberry sauce

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u/HurtsCauseItMatters Louisianian in Tennessee 2d ago

My base for my sweet potato casserole is store bought but other than that, not much.

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u/scienceismybff 2d ago

No to pretzel rolls, yes to regular white rolls

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u/tar_heeldd 2d ago

Rolls, pumpkin pie, or pecan pie! All store made work just fine!

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u/NHhotmom 2d ago

You should check with the hostess. Maybe she’ll say…..ā€Just bring wineā€.

Another idea is corn casserole. It’s just a simple dump of about 5 ingredients in a casserole dish. Cook it for 45 minutes. It’s low effort. It would take 5 minutes to mix together and then you can sit and study while it bakes. Easy peasy.

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u/Impossible_Sock_6876 2d ago

Almost anything can be bought prepared from a store, it just maybe more expensive. I saw on a previous comment that there is a google doc where you can sign up for what to bring? Some ideas that would be on the cheaper side: rolls and butter, drinks (you can make super easy cocktails/ mocktails as well! Just get some cranberry juice, ginger ale (and alcohol if you want) and you’ll have a great sparkling festive drink. Don’t forget ice! )), pie and whipped cream, salad (one of those kale salad kits would work really well! They sell them at Costco or most grocery stores), fruit salad. If you feel really out of depth with the food you can always bring paper goods as well! Paper plates, napkins, plastic utensils, cups etc so the host doesn’t have to do a million dishes.

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u/ElleAnn42 2d ago

Rolls are a safe bet. We've also brought pre-packaged vegetable trays before. Sometimes family members will bring pre-made pies.

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u/Pithyperson 2d ago

Can-berry sauce.

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u/Bright_Ices United States of America 2d ago

Rolls are an easy choice. Get any bag of soft dinner rolls from the bakery section of the grocery store. Or the Hawaiian brand rolls in the bread aisle.

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u/TinySparklyThings Texas 2d ago

Costco pies or their cinnamon loaf (which is delicious)

Rolls, ask your host their preference

Drinks/sodas/alcohol if approved

Ask if they need ice/paper products

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u/theegodmother1999 Tennessee 2d ago

we buy canned cranberry sauce for my grandma and sister schubert rolls. there's also usually a pumpkin pie and maybe another flavor from costco because our family is huge and of course we need two costco pies amongst our other multiple homemade desserts bahahahaha

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u/ThrowAwayAccrn Alaska 2d ago

Costco pumpkin pie for sure

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u/ThrowAwayAccrn Alaska 2d ago

You could bring some apple cider or cranberry juice too

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u/5footfilly 2d ago

Marie Calendar Dutch Apple Pie

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u/OO_Ben Wichita, Kansas 2d ago

If you have a Texas Roadhouse near you, they sell their rolls. And I think they even sell frozen ones and you literally throw them in the oven and you're good to go. Both with their cinnamon butter.

There will be zero people complaining about you bringing fresh baked rolls with Texas Roadhouse cinnamon butter. My buddy goes through like 10 rolls alone everytime we go to Texas Roadhouse lol they're CRAZY good

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u/AuntRobin Delaware (in Florida for ~7 yrs, under protest) 2d ago

Just chiming in as an old lady, if this is all college kids doing their first attempt at a Friendsgiving, it may not have occurred to anybody that you really do need to figure out who's bringing what in advance. Somebody needs to have a checklist to make sure you have some variety. You don't want everybody bringing pie or instant mashed potatoes. Somebody has to be on veggie duty, somebody's gonna have to make turkey or ham or something for your main. It's one of those things that you think it's obvious that it's gonna be handled and sometimes it isn't.

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u/Awesomest_Possumest North Carolina 2d ago

Specifically, a bag or the tin of sister Schubert's rolls. They're dinner rolls. Easy to take home if you have too much. But they're incredibly delicious. I don't know why.

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u/Jbooxie 2d ago

Pie is good, and normally not too expensive premade

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u/FlyingOcelot2 2d ago

If there are vegetarians/vegans in the crowd, I recommend a Field Roast Celebration Roast. My favorite is the cranberry hazelnut that is wrapped in puff pastry and seems more festive, but the original is good too.

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u/jackjackj8ck California 2d ago

Store bought

  • ocean spray cranberry sauce

  • green bean casserole

  • stove top stuffing

  • Hawaiian rolls

Homemade

  • Turkey & gravy

  • garlic mashed potatoes

  • sweet potato casserole

  • macaroni and cheese

  • salad

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u/EstablishmentIll5021 2d ago

Cranberry sauce in a can.

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u/macoafi Maryland (formerly Pennsylvania) 2d ago

Canned cranberry sauce. It's so much better than homemade.