Thanksgiving at Our House: Some Traditions Are Worth Keeping (Even If We Buy the Rolls)
Family recipes, a turkey on the grill, a house full of people, and a few traditions we’ve made our own.
Every Thanksgiving, there’s one thing you won’t find in my oven — the turkey.
Years ago, Chris and I started grilling our Thanksgiving turkey. Not because we were trying to do anything fancy or create a new holiday tradition. I simply needed the oven space!
Between the cornbread stuffing, homemade mac and cheese, casseroles, and everything else that needs to be ready at roughly the same time, the oven was becoming prime real estate.
So we moved the turkey outside.
And we’ve never looked back.
I’ve always used my grill as an extension of my kitchen. I’ve even baked cookies on it! So cooking our Thanksgiving turkey outside wasn’t really much of a stretch.
What started as a practical solution has become one of our family traditions.
And that’s the funny thing about traditions. Sometimes they come from recipes handed down through generations, and sometimes they happen simply because you need more room in the oven.
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The Dishes That Tell Our Family Story
The Dishes That Tell Our Family Story
There are certain things that have to be on our Thanksgiving table. The menu may change a little from year to year, but some dishes are simply nonnegotiable.
Cornbread stuffing is one of them.
It always makes me think of my Granny and those wonderful family meals at her farmhouse in Ohio. So much of what I learned about cooking, gathering, and making people feel welcome started in her kitchen.
Then there’s the mashed potatoes.
My daughter often brings those, made just like her grandma — my mom — makes them. Lots of butter, cream cheese, and sour cream. They’re rich, creamy, and definitely not something anyone would mistake for diet food.
But it’s Thanksgiving!
I usually make homemade mac and cheese, too. And before anyone asks, yes, mine is made with Velveeta and a little pinch of sugar. It’s the way our family likes it, and I’m not about to mess with a good thing.
My daughter-in-law loves green bean casserole, so that’s usually her contribution.
And then there’s what my kids have always called Holiday Salad.
It’s a lettuce-based salad with toasted pecans, feta or blue cheese, red onion, and my homemade no-sodium balsamic dressing.
I’m not exactly sure when it officially became Holiday Salad, but somewhere along the way, that’s what everyone started calling it. Now it’s one of those dishes that just belongs on the holiday table.
Another family favorite is homemade ravioli.
My daughter makes them using my mother-in-law’s recipe. We used to have them at Thanksgiving or Christmas, but lately they’ve become more of a Christmas tradition.
I love that she’s keeping that recipe alive. It’s one more little piece of family history that gets passed along every time she makes them.
And of course, there are rolls.
Although I have to confess, these days we buy them.
My Granny, who made homemade yeast rolls and let the dough rise on the register, would probably be terribly disappointed in me.
Sorry, Grandma. Some traditions have to give a little. 😂
Desserts tend to vary from year to year, depending on what sounds good and who’s bringing what.
The important part is that there’s always plenty to eat, and everyone has a favorite they’re looking forward to.
Making Room for Everyone
Here’s something you should know about our Thanksgiving gatherings.
Our house isn’t very big.
In fact, when we’re hosting, just about every space has to do double duty.
But we’ve never let that stop us.
Over the years, we’ve learned to be flexible about how we celebrate. Depending on everyone’s schedules and plans with their in-laws, Thanksgiving might be lunch one year and dinner the next.
It really doesn’t matter to us.
We adjust the timing, figure out who’s bringing what, and make it work.
My brother-in-law often joins us, and my nephew comes when he’s in town and his other family plans allow.
Some years we have a few more people around the table, and some years a few less.
That’s just how family life works.
I’ve never believed you need a huge dining room or a picture-perfect house to host a wonderful holiday.
You need enough room to gather, good food to share, and a willingness to be a little flexible.
And maybe a grill to free up the oven. 😉
A New Generation of Thanksgiving Traditions
One of the things I enjoy most about Thanksgiving these days is having the grandbabies around.
Of course, that also means finding ways to keep little hands busy while we’re trying to get dinner on the table!
I’ve started planning a few activities for them each year.
Last Thanksgiving, I found a tablecloth with Thanksgiving pictures that everyone could color. I also picked up a Thanksgiving-themed Bingo game.
I thought they would be fun ways to keep the kids entertained while we finished cooking.
As it turned out, I think the adults spent more time coloring than the kids did!
And you know what? That made it even better.
It’s funny how something as simple as a coloring tablecloth can become part of the day’s memories.
We also tend to play board games after dinner with whoever is still around.
Nothing elaborate or carefully planned. Just everyone settling in, spending time together, and enjoying the day.
Those are the moments I find myself remembering long after the leftovers are gone.
A Few Things I’ve Learned From Hosting Thanksgiving
After hosting Thanksgiving for so many years, I’ve learned a few things that make the day easier and a lot more enjoyable.
1. Use every cooking space you have.
Our grilled turkey started out as a solution to an overcrowded oven, and it’s been one of the best changes we’ve made.
If you have a grill that can maintain a steady temperature, it can be a wonderful extension of your kitchen. We use indirect heat and a meat thermometer to make sure the turkey cooks safely and reaches 165°F.
2. Let people contribute.
I don’t need to make every single dish myself.
Having my daughter bring Grandma’s mashed potatoes, my daughter-in-law bring her green bean casserole, and other family members contribute makes the meal more manageable.
And honestly, it makes it more meaningful because everyone brings a little of themselves to the table.
3. Be flexible with the schedule.
Thanksgiving doesn’t have to happen at a particular hour.
With grown children, grandchildren, and multiple family celebrations to coordinate, we’ve learned that flexibility matters more than whether we eat at noon or five.
4. Plan something for the kids — and maybe the adults, too.
A simple activity like Thanksgiving Bingo or a coloring tablecloth doesn’t take much preparation, but it gives everyone something fun to do.
And apparently, you’re never too old to color a turkey.
5. Don’t feel obligated to make everything from scratch.
I love cooking. I love homemade food. And I love recipes that have been in our family for generations.
But I also buy the rolls.
There. I said it.
You don’t have to do everything yourself to make a holiday special.
6. Remember why everyone is there.
The food matters. The traditions matter. But what matters most is having everyone together.
A little chaos, a crowded kitchen, and a few dishes that aren’t quite ready at the same time are all part of the experience.
Some Traditions Change. The Reason We Gather Doesn’t.
When I think about Thanksgiving, I can’t help thinking about my Granny’s farmhouse.
Every Sunday, our extended family gathered there for a meal. The food was wonderful, but looking back, I realize the most important part wasn’t what was on the table.
It was who was around it.
I think about that more now that our own family has grown and we’re creating traditions with another generation.
Some of the recipes have stayed exactly the same. Others have changed. Some have been passed down to our children, who now make them for us.
And some, like grilling the turkey, are traditions Chris and I created simply because we needed a little more oven space.
Our house may be small, the meal might be lunch or dinner, and the rolls may come from the store.
But there’s always room for family, laughter, and another memory around the table.
Because the best part of Thanksgiving has never been having everything perfect. It’s having everyone together.
And that is one tradition I hope never changes.
Happy Thanksgiving from our home to yours.
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