We’re putting a bow on the season as the ground freezes, and making plans to enjoy Thanksgiving with our families. In preparation, we put together a list of the 10 most Minnesotan Thanksgiving dishes. While there are several hotdishes/casseroles that made the cut, there’s much more to Minnesota than that! Check it out!
10. Lefse
The Johnsons, Hansens and Petersons that live in Minnesota serve up this Norwegian classic. Whether you serve it with butter and sugar or with jam, Minnesotans do lefse well.
9. Green Bean Casserole
You can’t do green bean casserole without the French-fried onions on the top. Don’t mess this one up.
8. Fresh Cranberry Sauce
Forget about the canned jelly that maintains its shape. We know what a cranberry bog is, and we use real cranberries and real sugar to make our cranberry sauce.
7. Deep Fried Turkey
We brave the cold to make a moist turkey for our families.
6. Venison wrapped in bacon with a water chestnut- deep-fried
We use the deep fryer to make our appetizers, too. This treat is served on a toothpick and definitely hits the spot.
5. Tatertot hotdish
This is delicious every day of the year, but makes an awesome side on Thanksgiving. Bonus- this can serve as an entre for someone who doesn’t like turkey!
4. Wild rice
We serve this one up to our guests on Thanksgiving and then use it as the base for our leftover hotdish (spoiler alert on number 1)!
3. Sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top
It’s like a dessert. Only it’s a side dish. Genius!
2. Jello Salad
We Minnesotans have a thousand different recipes for Jello salad. As such, it is necessary to have no less than two types at any Thanksgiving meal.
1. Thanksgiving Leftover Hotdish
Nobody has the ability to take 15 different leftovers and turn them into one hotdish like Minnesotans do. This one isn’t served on Thanksgiving, but for every meal for two weeks following Thanksgiving.