The first Thanksgiving meal looked very different than the feast you’re probably used to. Dating back to November 1621, the first holiday’s menu likely included venison, onions, beans, mussels and squash, according to History—not a single mini marshmallow in sight. Nowadays, we have access to butter, potatoes and all the canned goods a host could want to pull off a monumental feast in a flash. But which expected dishes are actually worth preparing?
Using my food editor superpowers, I ranked 16 classic Thanksgiving foods below from nasty to necessary, so you can plan your menu accordingly. Sure, these are just one person’s opinions, and taste is subjective…but you may as well consider my reviews scientifically proven.