Picture this, if you will: You and your family gather on Thanksgiving Day, smiles ear-to-ear because you’re so happy to all be together. Granddad is at the head of the table as everybody stands around holding hands and takes turns sharing what they are grateful for in their lives. Then, Grandma comes swishing out of the kitchen with a perfectly golden-brown turkey that smells as good as it looks and is the perfect complement to all of the wonderfully prepared sides already waiting on the table, still piping hot. It’s a scene worthy of a Norman Rockwell painting.
This, folks, is a total fantasy, because we all know that’s not how Thanksgiving Day — as glorious as it is — ever goes down. Family drama and kitchen mishaps are what Turkey Day is really all about.
We all want to create a Martha Stewart-esque Thanksgiving spread, but sometimes it just doesn’t happen. Take these hilarious fails, for example. Also, pro tip: If browsing through the #ThanksgivingFail hashtag has taught us anything, it’s to steer clear of pies and sweet potato casseroles.
Originally published November 2015. Updated November 2017.
Overturned pie fail
The No. 1 Thanksgiving nemesis: the pie.
Mashed potatoes fail
You had one job, glass lid. One job.
Green bean casserole fail
The crunchy onions on the top are still totally fine.
Turkey on the floor fail
A case for not drinking too much before you get the turkey safely to the table.
Burnt from the inside out fail
Who knew that molten lava came out of overcooked sweet potatoes?
Lemon meringue pie fail
When you need a ladle for your pie, you know it’s bad.
Turducken fail
The seafood version of a turducken — aka the stuff nightmares are made of.
Pie crust fail
Pie crusts like this are why professional bakeries exist.
Burnt turkey fail
Turkey jerky is actually pretty expensive, so… silver lining?
Pumpkin pie fail
Pumpkin pie: Why do you have to be so difficult?
Apple crisp fail
This brings new meaning to the term “crisp.”
Caramel apple fail
Sometimes apples just don’t want to overachieve.
Turkey treat fail
Wait, wait, wait — wasn’t Halloween last month?
Cat vs. pie fail
Because at the end of the day, cats really are just tiny fur-covered jerks.
Dessert fail
Probably shouldn’t have tried to meld 19 desserts together.
Mac & cheese on the floor fail
Forget the five-second rule. The five-hour rule comes into play for mac and cheese.
Fruit crisp fail
When you can barely recognize it as dessert, you probably failed.
Sweet potato casserole fail No. 2
I like toasty marshmallows as much as the next guy, but…
Pie fail… again
When you can’t get past step 1, abort immediately, and drive to the bakery.
Cranberry sauce fail
Does anybody really care about the cranberry sauce?
Pecan pie fail
Not a total fail, but one more strike against pies.
Cornbread fail
When you can pick up a whole pan of cornbread like this, you know something went wrong.
Goopy pie fail
If it was this consistency going into the oven, you never had a chance.
Sweet potato casserole fail
The burned marshmallow solution: Scrape ’em off, and start over.
Half-cooked turkey fail
We can just eat the bottom half…
Turkey cupcake fail
Nope. Turkeys do not need to look like this. Ever.
Bursting mac & cheese fail
I would risk the glass shards for deliciously cheesy pasta.
More pumpkin pie fails
For the last time… just buy the damn pie.
Burnt rolls fail
Nothing a little scraping won’t fix.
Deep-fried fail
Is it Thanksgiving or the Apocalypse?
Hand mixer fail
Sally the Lab is gonna need a little help with that.
Lost turkey fail
We’ve heard of the chicken crossing the road… guess this turkey wanted to make a go of it.
Crispy fail
It’s safe to say the goose is cooked.
Flaming fail
Brûlée sweet potato casserole is on the menu tonight!
Rising rolls fail
On the bright side, that loaf would make for one amazing leftover turkey sandwich.
Cake pop fail
20 bucks says they still taste amazing.
Hungry puppy fail
When #DogShaming and #ThanksgivingFail collide.
Truffle balls fail
Just close your eyes when you eat them and everything will be fine.
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