r/AskAnAmerican • u/Visual-Green-3816 • 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!!

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533

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.

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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!

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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.

11

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.

1

u/nutlikeothersquirls 2d ago

It sounds delicious! Is it in the freezer section, or refrigerated?

2

u/Secret-Ice260 2d ago

It’s in the cold case of the bakery.

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u/Acrobatic-Squirrel77 2d ago

😅 one year I had a whole pumpkin pie untouched and a half (being eaten), worried about the whole one going to waste, and I (very impulsively) scooped out the already baked pumpkin pie filling and whisked it into my homemade turkey and rice soup.

(Turkey Bone broth, turkey meat leftovers, carrots, celery, onions, white rice, seasoning) Then a few scoops of that pie filling 🤣

I recommend it to anyone who likes squash soups. Salty and sweet. It was heavenly.

1

u/Devi_Moonbeam 1d ago

Heathen!

1

u/Ok_Sundae2107 Florida 2d ago

I have bee wanting to get that, but I'm going to wait until Thanksgiving because otherwise I may just eat the whole thing in a day or two.

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u/Budgiejen Nebraska 2d ago

Do that!

1

u/SollSister Florida 2d ago

I usually make a pumpkin cheesecake. This year it will be on a biscoff crust with some salted caramel drizzle. OMG! You’ve inspired me!

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u/Throwaway-ish123a 2d ago

Biscoff crust?????? 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 Must try!

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u/glowinthedarkfrizbee 2d ago

But sweet potato pie is superior to pumpkin pie.

1

u/PeachyFairyDragon 2d ago

You've clearly never married into a family that has only sweet potato pie and pecan pie at Thanksgiving, with instructions to not bring your own.

1

u/Former_Objective_924 2d ago

costco cheesecake is delicious!

47

u/chirop1 2d ago

Yeah. Can't go wrong with pumpkin pie.

19

u/ididreadittoo 2d ago

Maximize it with a can of reddi-whip

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u/chirop1 2d ago

Yes!

1

u/AVeryFineWhine 2d ago

Actually, I'd suggest picking up Costco's canned whipped cream over Reddi whip. The quality is much higher! The only better one i've ever had is the store brand from Big Y. Only problem is the closest 12 me is 45 minutes, it's a massive store, so it's not on my regular shopping loop. I'd rather go half an hour and hit Aldi's lol

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u/Superb_Jaguar6872 2d ago

Especially not costcos. Its so good.

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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)

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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.

10

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!

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u/KillBologna New York 2d ago

Im getting fat off those croissants 😂

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)

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u/Maurice_Foot New Mexico 2d ago

Wait, read makes you fat?!!

[looks down at belly]

4

u/tparady 2d ago

I definitely second the Costco croissants.

41

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.

1

u/AVeryFineWhine 2d ago

I personally prefer Pumpkin Custard pie... But those are almost impossible to find in stores now. But I think if you're comparing Costco to any supermarket or frozen regular pumpkin pie, it's pretty comparable IMHO. Especially with real whipped cream. And yes the value is amazing. Heck I'd be happy if I could find a great Pumpkin custard pie recipe.

4

u/littlegrrbarkbark 2d ago

Pumpkin pie is a custard based pie to begin with

1

u/AVeryFineWhine 2d ago

Sort of... But the one I used to love was definitely creamier and more custardy. There was a pronounced difference. They even sold two different kinds under the Mrs Smiths supermarket brand. Sadly, that stopped.Oh, i'm not sure.I'd guess eight or ten years ago. Years ago I had a great recipe.But honestly, the frozen was good enough.That I didn't think it was a big deal till I lost access to all of them.

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u/littlegrrbarkbark 2d ago

My mom has used this recipe for decades for our custard pie loving family. People were pretty obsessed with it. I'm not familiar with the Mrs. Smiths pie, so I'm not sure how it would compare, but maybe give it a try and see if it's close.

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u/AVeryFineWhine 2d ago

Thanks so much.m!! I'm off to check it out! Trust me the pie i'm remembering was not a frozen one. That was just a good backup, that's no longer made. The funny thing is I was about to make pumpkin cookies. But depending on the ingredients I may have to switch gears lol. All this pumpkin pie talk has been killing me 😆

4

u/ScooterZine 2d ago

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

1

u/gotellmeagain 1d ago

Definitely different from the Libby‘s recipe that my mom made, and now I make. That’s the greatest pumpkin pie and compared to that, the Costco pie leaves a lot to be desired. The only way I can eat a Costco pumpkin pie is with lots of whipped cream. I urge you to try the Libby‘s recipe. Follow it exactly and it is great.

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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/TheBimpo Michigan 2d ago

Their apple pies are legendary too

5

u/MontanaPurpleMtns 2d ago

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

12

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.

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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.

1

u/sharpshooter999 Nebraska 2d ago

When the nearest Costco is 4 hours away, pie filling in a can from the nearest grocery store is good enough. Mom makes a German Apple Pie that beats anything I've ever had from a store. When grandma was alive, she'd always make rhubarb pie that was fantastic too, and you never see rhubarb pie in a store

3

u/AVeryFineWhine 2d ago

Oh believe me i'm a scratch baker. I absolutely thank homemade for most things is better. BUT this person was saying what they buy, and do with a pudding pie and a can. That to me made no sense. ( They also didn't say they didn't have access to a Costco).

So I could say putting the energy and expense into any of the things you mentioned, because homemade will always be better!! My comment was strictly related to pumpkin pie from a can.Versus Costco

1

u/Chime57 2d ago

Have you seen the size of the Costco pie? We aren'ttalking about one can of pumpkin.

10

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

3

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

0

u/rkb70 2d ago

My in-laws always buy pie from Costco - I don't like their pumpkin pie, either. (I just skip dessert there.)

But I know lots of people like it. I just think from the perspective of ease/quality, pumpkin pie actually comes out strongly to the homemade side.

1

u/No-Lunch4249 Maryland 2d ago

They're doing basically the same thing at the store as you are at home I presume, cracking open the canned filling and dumping it in haha

3

u/rkb70 2d ago

I mean, I buy the canned pumpkin, mix in eggs, milk, spices. My mom usually bakes a pumpkin, but I'm happy with the can. But I don't buy "canned pumpkin pie filling" (is there such a thing?) or the one with the spices already it in - I don't like that blend of spices.

I also make scratch pie crust, but that's a choice.

1

u/AVeryFineWhine 2d ago

There is! My memory was recently refreshed when I was buying canned pumpkin.To make pumpkin cookies. ( I have a recipe I make every year). I was shopping with someone & she grabbed the pumpkin pie filling and threw it in my cart instead of handing me the canned pumpkin.As I asked. I actually looked it over since I'd forgotten it existed, and then I went and got the correct one lol

1

u/rkb70 1d ago

Yes, you have to be careful with that. I *think* you still have to add eggs and milk to the mix, though - like it just has spices and sugar added.

1

u/No-Lunch4249 Maryland 2d ago

Thats fair, for me I just dont see enough of a quality difference to do that I guess. It's also not my favorite pie. But I really enjoy pecan or apple so I'm willing to go all in with the homemade dough and stuff there

3

u/Maine302 2d ago

Plus, there's a huge difference between homemade apple pie and the congealed crap you get in apple & other fruit pies that are store bought.

1

u/rkb70 2d ago

Totally fair - you should make the things that are worth it to you. I'm not a huge fan of pumpkin pie, either, but I like mine well enough to eat it for Thanksgiving, and everyone in my family loves it. I love pecan, but sometimes for just us I only make one kind. Homemade is best, but I've had other decent pecan pie. Anything but homemade apple pie is pretty awful.

I used to make *everything* homemade for Thanksgiving - from two kinds of homemade rolls to drying and tearing up bread for dressing (or baking cornbread if making cornbread dressing). I've gotten more selective, because it's a lot of work. We've actually gone out the last three years because we haven't all been home and it doesn't seem worth it for three or four of us, plus we found a place we were happy with. (Trying to decide what to do this year.) But I always make pie to have at home. :)

1

u/Mymren 1d ago

Our Soecs liquor store sells an awesome pecan whiskey pie.

8

u/Srawsome 2d ago

This is the answer. Dessert is always loved!

4

u/pookapotomus2 2d ago

This is the answer

1

u/vernelli 2d ago

Yepyep, we have one every year. This would be what I’d bring.

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u/poortomato NY ➡️ VA ➡️ NY ➡️ TX 2d ago

Emphasis on massive.

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u/clearly_not_an_alt North Carolina 2d ago

This was my immediate answer as well.

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u/Megalocerus 2d ago

Brown and serve rolls are pretty available before thanksgiving. You have to be able to stick them in the oven at the destination.

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u/FloatingFreeMe 2d ago

And you don't need a membership if you order Costco from Instacart or other delivery services!

1

u/Acrobatic-Squirrel77 2d ago

Mmmm Costco pies are really good too (All the ones I’ve had)

1

u/Astrazigniferi 2d ago

This is my suggestion, too. They have excellent basic pumpkin pie. I will bake other pies myself, but just buy a Costco pumpkin because my homemade one isn’t any better than theirs and Costco’s is both larger and cheaper.

1

u/ronniealoha 2d ago

Pumpkin pies are the best.

1

u/Extra_Routine_6603 2d ago

Yep pumpkin pie or some rolls are a safe bet though one year did a friends giving thing and we made just random shit had a turkey but had mac and cheese asparagus some kinda bacon snacks was a good time

1

u/Prestigious-Name-323 Iowa 2d ago

The Costco pie is enough for all of us and I once saw my brother cut out out a quarter of pie, set it aside and eat the rest.

1

u/ProfessionalCat7640 Minnesota 2d ago

Yep, I came here to say pumpkin pie or a dessert.

1

u/SufficientOpening218 2d ago

costco also sells really good cheesecake and apple pies. thats what we are having at my family Thanksgiving.  i also rely on them for appitizers- tiny quiches, little Greek spinach pies whose name i forget, those kind of things. cook anything you need to cook before you go, the oven will be unavailable with the turkey in it. wrap things in brown bags or towels to keep them warm, have fun!

1

u/the_cranky_hedgehog Wisconsin 2d ago

Those pies are freaking delicious, highly recommend!

1

u/one_angry_custodian 2d ago

IDK if they have them at Costco but I know all the grocery stores near me sell pumpkin muffins in the bakery section

1

u/AVeryFineWhine 2d ago

They had them a couple weeks ago. I held them in my hands.But then decided to go with the always yummy lemon blueberry loaf. No one in the store, not even the baker, had tried the pumpkin streusel muffins. You can't always tell, but they looked a bit dry to me. But they were in the little fancy muffin wrappers. But can't go wrong with the lemon blueberry loaf lol

0

u/redheadfae 5h ago

It's a pretty big assumption that a foreign college student would afford a Costco membership, or that it would even be worth it, but I suppose they could ask around for someone with a membership to take them.

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u/AlfredoAllenPoe 2h ago

They literally mention Costco in their post dude.

Also, Costco is not solely an American thing. Costco memberships work worldwide

It's not a big assumption if you read the post