A modern feast: Dishes and drinks to keep your Thanksgiving on-trend

Thanksgiving is a time for getting together with family and friends—but it’s also a time to enjoy a traditional holiday menu that, in most families’ cases, hasn’t been updated in generations.

One suspected reason for this: these menus are delicious. People love a slow-roasted turkey with stuffing and potatoes and green bean casserole and long to drown it all in a sea of salty gravy. It’s been a crowd pleaser (and nap-inducer) for your father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, so no need to mess with success.

But what if this year’s spread could be delectable AND indicative of some of the latest trends in food and beverage?

By no means are we suggesting you push all your time-honored favorites off the table. But with evolving consumer tastes and trends in the realm of meals, desserts, and drinks, there’s a chance to tweak tradition a bit—and still deliver savory selections.

Is it okay to fear resistance? Sure, but remember: our family members and friends are also consumers. They’re part of the population driving change, so maybe they’d like more chiles incorporated into this year’s sides. They might appreciate a dish or two built with healthy ingredients, an embrace of locally sourced items, and incorporation of global flavors into our favorite eating day of the year.

Oh, and they may ask to swap their typical pilsner for a non-alcoholic option—or for something with cannabis in it.

These are just some of the trends currently reshaping the food and beverage space, and we have ways to incorporate each into this year’s Thanksgiving menu. Feast your eyes on the following on-trend ideas, as well as a recipe or purchase direction for each.

The trend: Chiles in everything

The dish: Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Consumer tastes continue to trend spicy, with chiles—in a variety of dishes and drinks, and with varying degrees of heat—a key ingredient in satiating the need for sweat-inducing selections. ​

Aji Amarillo Pepper, Fresno Chile Pepper, Morita, and Toredo are adding a wide range of flavor to both American and international recipes; and elevated spice levels for condiments, dips, and sauces continue to be popular with the cherished 18- to 34-year-old demo.​

But when it comes to incorporating the chile craze into your Thanksgiving spread, there’s no reason to overthink it. A different take on a yawn-inducing dish like roasted Brussels sprouts can be as easy as adding some poblano pepper. Yawn: meet heat.

Get the recipe here.

The trend: Health-forward ingredients

The dish: Vegan Wild Rice-Stuffed Butternut Squash

According to the Technomic 2023 Flavor Consumer Trend Report, health benefits are a purchase driver for 41% of surveyed consumers—and 46% for those 18 to 34 years old.​

That’s a significant number, and those interested in getting more health-forward items into their daily helpings won’t abate anytime soon. Many are making what they term as “stealth health” decisions, buying traditional drinks and dishes with ingredients like lavender or plant-based products mixed in. Inventive prep of simple vegetables are adding allure to healthy choices, too.

This stuffed butternut squash dish meets these needs for younger Thanksgiving guests, all while providing more experienced celebrants a side that’s both aesthetically pleasing and packed with traditional holiday flavors.

Get the recipe here.

The trend: Local flavors

The dessert: Skillet Apple Ginger Crisp

From that same Technomic trend report, 41% of consumers agree that’s it’s important for restaurants to offer local flavors. In one poll by Innova Marketing Insights, more than half of consumers surveyed stated they look for locally sourced products in the dishes they eat.

But it’s not just about using the local products. It’s about taking these ingredients in creative directions.

These same diners could be at your Thanksgiving table this year—so how can you answer their expectations? Find a cherished local ingredient, then feature it in an unexpected fashion. For those of us in New York, this sizzling apple crisp turns the traditional pie upside down, and in turn, supports a local delicacy in need of a boost.

Get the recipe here.

The trend: Global flavors

The entrée: Jamaican-Spiced Turkey

Global flavors like Chinese, Italian, and Mexican are no strangers to popularity among consumers of all ages.​

But little by little, an increasing varietal of international cuisine is nosing into the mainstream—and an impressive number of consumers across all age demos are looking to make them part of their regular dining experience. To attach a figure to this level of interest, almost 30% of all restaurant-goers say they’d like to see more globally inspired menu items from locales throughout their neighborhoods.

Would these same consumers appreciate adding some Caribbean flavor to their most cherished of Thanksgiving headliners? This subtle selection could provide you with an answer and rub a little island heat into a usually chilly fall affair.

Get the recipe here.

The trend: Non-alcoholic beverages

The drink: Non-Alcoholic Sangria

The current no-alcohol trend embraced by Millennials and Gen Z’ers has established a market that topped $11 billion in 2022 and has shown no signs of slowing down since. ​

One of the main reasons the trend has had such legs is because of the multifaceted drink options that have dotted the market. Tasty non-alcoholic beers, seltzers, and more have laid waste to the mundane perception of these selections’ predecessors and have galvanized a movement that’s transforming the sober-curious to sober-committed.  

But with no alcohol at Thanksgiving, what are we supposed to pair with Detroit Lions football or uncomfortable family conversation? The answer: An invigorating sangria, packed with fresh fruits and juices—and sure to make the day after Thursday a bit more functional.

Get the recipe.

The trend: Cannabis-infused beverages

The drink: Hi-5 Cranberry THC Seltzer

Then again, if you do feel like your dinner guests may need something a bit more, um, soothing than the tart of apple and strawberry, there’s another beverage trend to access: cannabis-infused seltzers.

The current global market for cannabis-infused beverages was estimated to be $1.3 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $3.8 billion by 2030. For comparison purposes, the global alcohol market was valued at more than $1.6 billion last year—so the separation between the two isn’t so vast.

Still, is there a way to find a cannabis beverage that’s as complementary to your Thanksgiving spread as a chardonnay or an Oktoberfest beer? Massachusetts’ Hi-5 Cranberry THC seltzer has you covered, with a refreshing drink to go with your family feast—and a taste to align your celebration with the food and beverage trends of today. 

Get the product here.

Want to learn more about The Martin Group’s work in the food and beverage industry? Click here.