# Thanksgiving This or That Questions and Game Source: https://thisorthatquestion.com/thanksgiving-this-or-that Updated: 2026-11-11 Food, pie and tradition pairs to play while the turkey finishes. Fifteen pairs fill about 10 minutes. ## Quick facts - In the United States, Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November. In 2026 that is November 26. - Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October, so Canadian groups play these pairs about six weeks earlier. - The Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys host NFL games on Thanksgiving Day every year, which makes football pairs easy to tie in. - Food pairs split a Thanksgiving table most evenly, because every family has its own side dishes and its own pie. - Play while dinner is cooking or between dinner and dessert. Ten to fifteen pairs fit that gap without delaying the meal. ## Thanksgiving food this or that These this or that Thanksgiving food pairs settle the side dish arguments that come up every November. 1. Turkey or Ham? 2. White meat or Dark meat? 3. Stuffing or Mashed potatoes? 4. Cranberry sauce from a can or Homemade cranberry sauce? 5. Sweet potato casserole or Mac and cheese? 6. Gravy on everything or Gravy on the side? 7. Green bean casserole or Roasted Brussels sprouts? 8. Dinner rolls or Cornbread? 9. Roasted turkey or Deep-fried turkey? 10. Marshmallows on sweet potatoes or Pecans on sweet potatoes? 11. Corn on the cob or Creamed corn? 12. Drumstick or Wishbone? 13. Stuffing inside the bird or Stuffing in a dish? 14. Thanksgiving lunch or Thanksgiving dinner? 15. Leftover sandwich or Leftover plate reheated? ## Pies and desserts 1. Pumpkin pie or Pecan pie? 2. Apple pie or Sweet potato pie? 3. Whipped cream or Ice cream on pie? 4. Pie or Cake? 5. Pie crust edge or Pie filling? 6. Dessert right after dinner or Dessert an hour later? 7. One big slice or A sliver of every pie? 8. Pumpkin roll or Cheesecake? ## This or that Thanksgiving edition: traditions 1. Watch the parade or Sleep in? 2. Football game on TV or Backyard football? 3. Turkey trot or Nap on the couch? 4. Kids' table or Grown-ups' table? 5. Say what you're thankful for or Write it on a card? 6. Black Friday shopping or Stay home Friday? 7. Friendsgiving or Family Thanksgiving? 8. Board games after dinner or Movie after dinner? 9. Help cook or Do the dishes? 10. Decorate for Christmas that weekend or Wait until December? 11. Fall decorations or Thanksgiving table centerpiece? 12. Big crowd or Small table? ## Thanksgiving this or that questions for hosts and guests Use these this or that Thanksgiving questions with adults and teens who have hosted, traveled or cooked a dish. 1. Host or Be a guest? 2. Cook everything or Potluck? 3. Drive to dinner or Fly to dinner? 4. Take leftovers home or Leave them for the host? 5. Fancy table or Paper plates? 6. Cook from a family recipe or Try a new recipe? 7. Seat yourself or Place cards? 8. Arrive early to help or Arrive right on time? 9. Stay overnight or Drive home after pie? 10. Bring a side dish or Bring a dessert? ## Silly Thanksgiving pairs for kids 1. Be a turkey or Be a pilgrim hat? 2. Hand turkey drawing or Paper plate turkey? 3. Giant parade balloon or Float with music? 4. Eat only pie or Eat only rolls? 5. Turkey that talks or Pie that sings? 6. Fly on a parade balloon or Ride on a float? 7. Pick the wishbone or Pick the first slice of pie? 8. Leaf pile jump or Pumpkin bowling? 9. Gobble like a turkey or Waddle like a turkey? 10. Dinner in pajamas or Dinner in fancy clothes? ## How to play the Thanksgiving this or that game 1. Pick 10 to 15 pairs. Start with food, because everyone at the table has an answer. 2. Read a pair aloud: "Stuffing or Mashed potatoes?" 3. Everyone votes at once by raising one finger for the first option or two for the second. 4. Ask the smaller side to make a one-sentence case. The table can switch sides after hearing it. 5. Keep score of who lands with the majority most often. That person gets the first slice of pie. 6. For a classroom, read one pair a day the week before the break. Students vote by moving to a side of the room. ## Tips for this or that questions Thanksgiving week - Stick to food, football and traditions at a mixed-age table. Skip politics, even as a joke. - Give younger kids the silly pairs. They answer faster when both sides are easy to picture. - At work, post one pair a day in the team chat the week of Thanksgiving. Food pairs get the most replies. - Print the page so a guest can read the pairs while the host cooks. Use your browser's Print button. - For a random order, use the picker at /this-or-that-generator. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Thanksgiving this or that? Thanksgiving this or that is a question game where each person picks one of two Thanksgiving favorites, such as "Pumpkin pie or Pecan pie?" or "Stuffing or Mashed potatoes?". Families play it while the turkey finishes, teachers use it the week before the break, and offices post it as a poll. Each pair takes seconds, so 15 pairs fill about 10 minutes. ### What are good Thanksgiving this or that questions? Good Thanksgiving this or that questions put two favorites side by side, such as Pumpkin pie or Pecan pie, Stuffing or Mashed potatoes, and White meat or Dark meat. Add tradition pairs like Watch the parade or Sleep in so non-cooks have opinions too. ### How do you play a this or that Thanksgiving game? Read a pair aloud, have everyone vote at once with one or two fingers, and ask the smaller side to defend its pick. Play 10 to 15 pairs while dinner cooks or before dessert. It needs no supplies and works for any age. ### What are the best thanksgiving food this or that pairs? The best thanksgiving food this or that pairs are the side dish debates. Try canned or homemade cranberry sauce, stuffing inside the bird or in a dish, and marshmallows or pecans on sweet potatoes. Pie pairs come close behind. ### Can I use this or that questions thanksgiving week at school? Yes. Read one pair each morning the week before the break and have students move to a side of the room. Use the food and silly pairs for younger grades. A full class of 25 votes on one pair in about a minute. ### When is Thanksgiving? In the United States, Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November, which is November 26 in 2026. In Canada it is the second Monday of October. Plan your this or that questions around the date your group celebrates. ### How many pairs do I need for a thanksgiving this or that game? Plan 10 to 15 pairs for a family dinner and 20 for a classroom or party. Each pair takes about 30 seconds with a quick reason from one person. Keep extras ready in case the table wants another round. ### Can I print these Thanksgiving pairs? Yes. Use your browser's Print button or Save as PDF, and the page prints in a clean layout. The site does not offer a separate download, so print this page or copy the pairs you want into a document.