Thanksgiving hosts tired of doing everything themselves may soon have a new way to put their guests to work, without having to ask.
Butterball is introducing the Butterball Buddy, a turkey-shaped gadget that chimes and vibrates to hand out holiday chores. Whoever is holding it could be tasked with setting the table, helping prepare the meal or tackling the dishes.
The retro-style device is meant to make Thanksgiving more of a team effort, with prompts timed to different stages of the celebration. Butterball Buddies will be available for free online beginning Monday, Nov. 2, at 1 p.m. ET, with additional releases planned for Nov. 9 and Nov. 16, while supplies last.
The idea tackles a familiar Thanksgiving problem. Butterball's 2026 Togetherness
Report found that 85% of hosts would prefer guests to offer help, but only 38% actually ask them to pitch in.
How does the Butterball Buddy work?
Guests pass the Butterball Buddy from person to person during Thanksgiving. When the device chimes and vibrates, whoever is holding it gets a preprogrammed task. Once the chore is finished, the Buddy gets passed to someone else.
The gadget does more than delegate Thanksgiving duties. Its reverse side includes contact information for Butterball's Turkey Talk-Line, which offers help with turkey preparation, thawing and cooking questions. After Thanksgiving, the Buddy can also be used as a kitchen timer.
Why did Butterball create the gadget?
The tasks were inspired by Butterball's 2026 Togetherness Report and the company's 45 years of experience answering holiday cooking questions through its Turkey Talk-Line.
According to the report, one-third of hosts hesitate to ask guests for help because they don't want to inconvenience them. Another 65% say they would like cleanup help at the push of a button.
The Butterball Buddy essentially does the asking for them, prompting guests to pitch in without leaving the host to delegate every job.
How to get a free Butterball Buddy
Butterball Buddies will be available at ButterballBuddy.com beginning at 1 p.m. ET on Nov. 2. Additional releases are planned for Nov. 9 and Nov. 16, while supplies last.
Hosts who need help preparing their turkey can also contact the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line at 1-800-288-8372. The service marks its 45th anniversary in 2026, with more than 50 experts expected to help holiday cooks through Dec. 24.
Butterball also offers turkey cooking, thawing and food safety guidance on its how-to website.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com or on X @athompsonUSAT
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Want Thanksgiving guests to help? Butterball has a fix
