The 15 Funniest Thanksgiving Episodes in Sitcom History

Thanksgiving episodes are a staple of American television that offer a comforting mix of chaotic family dynamics and holiday cheer. Sitcom writers often save their best material for these annual installments to showcase the distinct personalities of their cast. The high stakes of cooking a perfect meal combined with forced family proximity create the perfect recipe for comedic disaster. These memorable half-hours have left a lasting impact on pop culture and continue to be rewatched every November.

‘New Girl’ (2011–2018) – “Thanksgiving”

Jess invites a music teacher she admires to the loft for a holiday dinner despite the objections of her roommates. The guys eventually agree to help her impress her crush with a turkey dinner. The evening takes a dark turn when they discover the corpse of their elderly neighbor in her apartment. The group must navigate the awkwardness of the situation while trying to salvage what is left of their burnt meal.

‘The Middle’ (2009–2018) – “Thanksgiving II”

Frankie Heck attempts to work a retail shift on Thanksgiving to take advantage of a holiday discount on a dryer. Mike and the children try to manage the dinner preparations at home without her supervision. The celebration is interrupted when a family of pristine neighbors arrives unexpectedly to join the festivities. The Hecks struggle to maintain a facade of normalcy while their dinner plans slowly unravel.

‘Community’ (2009–2015) – “Cooperative Escapism in Familial Relations”

Jeff Winger tries to avoid Shirley’s Thanksgiving party to visit his estranged father. The rest of the study group finds themselves trapped in Shirley’s garage and plots a dramatic escape. Abed narrates the situation as if it were a prison break movie similar to ‘The Shawshank Redemption’. The group ultimately realizes they rely on each other and arrives to support Jeff during the confrontation with his dad.

‘Modern Family’ (2009–2020) – “Three Turkeys”

Phil and Claire decide to cook the Thanksgiving dinner but entrust the duties to a sophisticated app on the iPad. A power outage forces them to move the entire meal to Jay and Gloria’s house. Jay tries to hide the fact that he and Gloria were planning a secret trip to Mexico to avoid the family gathering. The chaotic cover-up results in a multi-layered farce involving a cooked turkey concealed in a suitcase.

‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ (2013–2021) – “Thanksgiving”

Amy Santiago hosts a Thanksgiving dinner in an attempt to get a mentorship request approved by Captain Holt. The food situation turns dire when the turkey gets flushed down the toilet by a hungry guest. Holt and Jake must leave the party to track down a thief who stole money from the evidence locker. The precinct ends up celebrating with Chinese takeout after solving the case and bonding as a team.

‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ (1996–2005) – “No Fat”

Marie decides to serve a healthy Thanksgiving dinner featuring a tofu turkey to lower the family’s cholesterol. Ray and the rest of the family struggle to hide their disgust with the gelatinous soy creation. They secretly order a traditional meal from a restaurant to eat in the kitchen. The plan falls apart when Marie catches them indulging in real turkey and fixings.

‘Roseanne’ (1988–2018) – “We Gather Together”

The Conner family hosts a large gathering that includes both sets of demanding grandparents. Roseanne tries to keep the peace between her mother and her father while managing the kitchen duties. A shocking secret regarding the parents’ marriage comes to light during the dinner conversation. This early episode set the tone for the show’s realistic depiction of blue-collar family holidays.

‘Bob’s Burgers’ (2011–Present) – “Turkey in a Can”

Bob eagerly prepares a three-day salt rub for his turkey only to find the bird in the toilet each morning. He becomes increasingly paranoid and accuses his family members of sabotaging his favorite holiday. Louise leads an investigation to find the culprit while Bob loses his mind from sleep deprivation. The resolution reveals a sleepwalking family member and a heartwarming acceptance of quirky traditions.

‘Frasier’ (1993–2004) – “A Lilith Thanksgiving”

Frasier and Lilith travel to a prestigious boarding school to gain admission for their son Frederick. They leave Martin and Niles to babysit Frederick while they meet with the headmaster. The former couple ends up obsessively trying to solve a logic puzzle meant for the students. Their intellectual vanity causes them to ruin the interview while Martin enjoys a simple holiday with his grandson.

‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ (2005–Present) – “The Gang Squashes Their Beefs”

The gang decides to invite all the people they have wronged over the years to a Thanksgiving peace treaty dinner. Guests include the McPoyles and Gail the Snail who create a volatile environment in the apartment. Mac and Dennis try to keep the peace while Frank and Dee scheme against their enemies. The gathering inevitably descends into chaos as old grudges resurface and trap everyone inside a burning apartment.

‘How I Met Your Mother’ (2005–2014) – “Slapsgiving”

Marshall prepares to use the third of five slap bets against Barney during the group’s first Thanksgiving together. The anticipation of the impending slap tortures Barney throughout the entire meal. Lily acts as the Slap Bet Commissioner to ensure the rules are followed strictly during the festivities. The episode establishes a recurring holiday tradition for the series that fans celebrate to this day.

‘Seinfeld’ (1989–1998) – “The Mom and Pop Store”

Jerry accidentally knocks a trophy out of a window and damages a car that George believes belongs to Jon Voight. Kramer gets a nosebleed every time the gang tries to confront the supposed owner of the vehicle. Elaine wins a radio contest for Mr. Pitt that allows him to hold the Woody Woodpecker balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The balloon meets a tragic fate due to the chaotic events caused by the group.

‘Cheers’ (1982–1993) – “Thanksgiving Orphans”

The regulars at the bar find themselves with nowhere to go for the holiday and gather at Carla’s house. Diane tries to enforce a traditional atmosphere while Norm struggles with the cooking of the turkey. Tensions rise as the hungry guests wait for the bird to finish roasting. The evening devolves into a massive food fight that leaves the entire cast covered in holiday trimmings.

‘Friends’ (1994–2004) – “The One with All the Thanksgivings”

The gang reminisces about their worst Thanksgiving memories in this flashback heavy episode. Chandler learns the reason he lost a toe during a past holiday at the Geller home. Joey gets his head stuck in a turkey in an attempt to scare Chandler. Monica eventually dances with the turkey on her head to earn forgiveness from Chandler in a moment that leads to a declaration of love.

‘WKRP in Cincinnati’ (1978–1982) – “Turkeys Away”

Arthur Carlson organizes a promotion involving dropping live turkeys from a helicopter. The plan goes disastrously wrong when the birds plummet to the ground. Reporting live from the scene is Les Nessman who treats the event with Hindenburg levels of horror. The episode ends with the station manager uttering one of the most famous lines in television history regarding the flight capabilities of turkeys.

Tell us which Thanksgiving sitcom moment makes you laugh the hardest in the comments.