USA TODAY's Best Thanksgiving Essentials have arrived and we're spotlighting the must-have products helping consumers get through the holiday chaos with ease.
From electric carving knives to Bluetooth-operated meat thermometers, the following products were chosen by our editorial team due to their consistent performance, quality, innovation and value.
Our goal is simple: we want to help you choose the Thanksgiving staples you'll use for years to come as you entertain guests during the holiday season. So, whether you're hosting friends and family or simply attending as a guest, you'll be sure to find a product on our list to help you navigate Thanksgiving Day.
Cookware and Bakeware
AlphaGrillers Meat Thermometer
This instant-read, waterproof digital meat thermometer is an easy-to-use tool that ensures
your turkey, ham or other Thanksgiving meat is cooked all the way through. We love its quick response time, allowing you to know the internal temperature of your dish in just seconds.
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Anyday Cookware 14-Piece Clear Glass Round Dish Set
These plastic-free, microwave- and dishwasher-safe containers are a great option for storing your heavy Thanksgiving day leftovers. This 14-piece set comes with several deep dishes including one that stores up to 12 cups of food.
$180 at Anyday Cookware
Black+Decker Comfort Grip Electric Knife
One of our editors says this electric carving knife is one of the only ways to precisely cut your turkey, chicken or ham extremely thin. It's a great tool to slice what you need for a large crowd without enduring the inevitable hand cramps that often come from serving ten or more people.
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Challenger Bread Pan
This cast iron loaf pan streamlines the process of baking a sourdough loaf, allowing for an all-around even bake. Not only do loaves rise higher than when made in a standard loaf pan, but the final product also crisps better and delivers the same standout flavor sourdough lovers enjoy. One of our editors says that due to its high-quality design and pre-seasoned cast iron material, you really feel like a professional baker while using it from the comfort of your own kitchen.
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Emile Henry French Ceramic Deep Ruffled Pie Dish
Emile Henry's ceramic ruffled pie dish allows for an evenly, slow-baked pie that still retains its moisture. The ruffled edges elevate the look of this dish, making it a great option to display on the table.
$40 at Emile Henry
Hamilton Beach Stay or Go Extra Large 10 Quart Portable Slow Cooker
The Hamilton Beach extra-large slow cooker lives up to its name, holding up to 10 quarts of food. One of our editors uses this cooker to make an entire Thanksgiving ham serving more than 10 guests. This cooker has three heat settings and a tightly clipped lid that helps reduce spills during transport.
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John Boos Block CB1054-1M2418150 Maple Wood Edge Grain Reversible Cutting Board with Juice Groove
This reversible cutting board is perfect for cutting meats, vegetables and everything in between. Thanks to its juice groove on one side, messes and spills are minimized. It's easy to use and easier to clean due to its smooth wood surface.
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KitchenAid 7 Speed Hand Mixer
KitchenAid's 7 Speed Hand Mixer is lightweight, quiet, and able to handle a range of ingredients. Our editors like to use this mixer to get their mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes smooth and creamy enough for side dishes.
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Nordic Ware Harvest Bounty Loaf Pan
If you're hoping to elevate the look of your typical spice cake or pumpkin loaf this Thanksgiving, this harvest bounty loaf pan is a great option. Cakes and loaves are easily removed without sticking, and you're left with an intricate design that impresses guests.
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Nordic Ware Lil' Pumpkins Cakelet Pan
The Lil' Pumpkins Cakelet Pan by Nordic Ware allows you to make intricately detailed miniature cakes without the difficulty of sculpting them yourself. Thanks to the pan's nonstick aluminum, cakelets are easy to remove without any breakage.
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Nordic Ware Original Bundt
Nordic Ware's original bundt pan is made from nonstick aluminum, allowing you to remove your cake without it getting damaged. Cakes bake evenly throughout, and cleanup is easy with little to no crumbs left behind.
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OXO 4 Cup Fat Separator
If you want to ensure your Thanksgiving gravy isn't too oily or greasy, then this OXO fat-separating cup is a great option. The cup's built-in strainer removes any unwanted bits, while its handle releases liquid from the bottom of the cup, leaving fat behind.
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OXO Good Grips Swivel Peeler
One of our editors says this peeler is a must-have for Thanksgiving preparation. It easily peels potatoes, carrots, or any other vegetable you decide to shave a layer off of without causing the typical hand cramps that often come with intense peeling.
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Staub Enameled Cast Iron Pumpkin Cocotte, 3.5-Qt
Staub's oven-safe, cast-iron cocotte shaped like a pumpkin will add a touch of whimsy to your Thanksgiving table while still allowing you to create stews and soups worth raving about. Due to its interior coating, this pot is nonstick and easy to clean.
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Sur La Table Ceramic Pie Weights
These washable, reusable pie weights from Sur La Table help ensure your pastries and crusts don't shrink or shrivel during their first bake. We love these weights' glass packaging that gives them an elevated look you won't feel the need to hide away from your guests when not in use.
$30 at Sur La Table
TempPro TempSync PLUS TP829B Wireless Meat Thermometer
If you want to have a drink and chat with family while your turkey is grilling or smoking in the backyard, then this is a great tool. It monitors the internal temperature of up to four meats up to 1,000 ft away, allowing you to juggle multiple tasks while ensuring your meat is well cooked. We love that this thermometer can be easily managed without a phone or secondary app.
$72 at TempPro
Tableware and Serveware
Renmxj Portable Deviled Egg Platter
Renmxj's portable deviled egg platter has 24 slots for you to fill with deviled eggs. We love this platter's wooden base that adds a luxe look to your Thanksgiving table.
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Sur La Table Thanksgiving Harvest Pheasant Serving Bowl
Sur La Table's microwave- and dishwasher-safe harvest pheasant serving bowl is the perfect finishing touch to your Thanksgiving table. We love the intricate border design that gives your table a fancy look at just $23.
$23 at Sur La Table
Sur La Table Thanksgiving Harvest Turkey Oval Platter
This harvest turkey platter from Sur La Table features an intricate design of two turkeys that is sure to elevate the look of any Thanksgiving meal. It's both microwave- and dishwasher-safe making reheating and clean up easy.
$35 at Sur La Table
Food and Drinks
Baileys Salted Caramel Liqueur
Whether you're topping off Thanksgiving night with a spiked hot chocolate, or you need some extra umph for your dessert recipes, Baileys Salted Caramel Liqueur is a perfect option for the season. One of our editors loves to use this cream liqueur as an ingredient in their spice cakes and pies.
$23 at Total Wine
Bell's Salt-Free Seasoning
Bell's Salt-Free Seasoning is a cornerstone of one of our editor's favorite family stuffing recipes. It provides a burst of flavor with none of the heavy sodium often found in similar seasoning blends. In this blend, you'll find rosemary, oregano, ginger, sage, thyme, marjoram and pepper.
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Boarderie Thanksgiving Large Cheese & FALLcuterie Board
Boarderie's Thanksgiving-themed pre-made cheese board features nearly 20 different meats and cheeses as well as over 15 other accompaniments like dried cherries, dried apricots, chipotle cashews, candied pecans, and more. The large board serves 10-14 people, but if you're expecting a smaller party you can opt for the small or medium-sized boards.
$249 at Boarderie
California Olive Ranch First Harvest Olive Oil
One of our editors declares this olive oil as a game changer. The cold-pressed concoction is light and fresh with a distinct flavor that doesn't overpower the food you're cooking it in. It's perfect roasting or sautéing and according to our editor, only comparable to the olive oils they've sampled on site in a California mill.
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Martha White Sweet Yellow Cornbread and Muffin Mix
This easy-to-use sweet cornbread and muffin mix just needs milk and eggs and takes roughly 20 minutes to bake. We recommend adding in your own spices to enhance its already sweet flavor.
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Original PieCaken
If you can't decide between pie or cake for Thanksgiving dessert, then the Piecaken is the perfect option for you. The multitier dessert features layers of pecan pie, pumpkin pie, and spice cake all covered in a cinnamon buttercream and topped with a mound of apple pie filling.
$110 at Goldbelly
Pillsbury Stuffed Pumpkin Cupcake Kit
These easy-to-make boxed cupcakes by Pillsbury will impress guests with their cream cheese filling. They boast the same great pumpkin flavor you'd expect to find in a dessert made from scratch.
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Wonderful Pistachios Dubai Chocolate
Fans of Dubai chocolate treats will love this new Wonderful Pistachios flavor. The unshelled pistachios are wrapped in crispy kataifi, white chocolate and dark chocolate, serving as a great healthier snack to munch on while you await Thanksgiving dinner.
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Wonderful Pistachios No Shells Unsalted
Waiting around for the big Thanksgiving meal to be ready typically mean tons of daytime snacking, and these unsalted Wonderful Pistachios with no shells are a great healthy option. One of our editors notes that finding a tasty unsalted option can often be tough since most brands are way too salty, but these nail it.
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Williams Sonoma Classic, Peppermint, & Double Dark Hot Chocolate Sampler Tin
If you want to test out multiple hot chocolate flavors just in time for Christmas season, we recommend this Williams Sonoma sampler tin. These tins come with three flavors: classic, peppermint and double dark chocolate made from Guittard chocolate shavings. Your guests will be impressed by the rich flavor they provide.
$45 at Williams Sonoma
Decor
Patelai Fall Pumpkin Napkin Rings
These bronze napkin rings will give your Thanksgiving table a high-end finish at a budget-friendly price. One of our editors notes that even after years of use, these napkin rings hold up well.
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Sur La Table Turkey Place Cards, Set of 12
A simple way to elevate your Thanksgiving table is with place cards, and this $6 set of 12 is a budget-friendly option that is sure to enhance the look of your table in one easy step.
$6 at Sur La Table
Teleflora's Enchanted Harvest Bouquet
Few items refine the look of a Thanksgiving table as well as a fresh bouquet of flowers. Teleflora's Enchanted Harvest Bouquet is full of orange and yellow roses, carnations, and other seasonal flowers in a ceramic pumpkin-shaped vase that adds a whimsical touch.
$90 at Teleflora
Teleflora's Modern Sage Bouquet
Teleflora's Modern Sage Bouquet is filled with peach and orange roses, red alstroemeria, and bronze cushion spray chrysanthemums. It arrives in a light sage green vase that sure to enhance the look of your Thanksgiving table.
$90 at Teleflora
Host Gifts
Francis Ford Coppola Winery Diamond Collection Claret
This Bordeaux-inspired red blend wine boasts notes of plum, black pepper and cocoa. One of our editor's describes it as a smooth blend, pairing perfectly with steak as its neither to sweet nor too strong. And thanks to its sleek bottle design and wallet-friendly price, it serves as a great host or hostess gift.
$24 at Francis Ford Coppola Winery
GODIVA Assorted Chocolate Holiday Masterpiece Bag
For those who want to usher in the Christmas season immediately after Thanksgiving, this Godiva holiday-themed bag of chocolates is a great start. This assortment comes with milk chocolate, dark chocolate and a dark chocolate filled with caramel.
$15 at Godiva
GODIVA Assorted Holiday Stars Gift Box
Godiva's Holiday Stars Gift Box is a wallet-friendly host gift that comes in a 9-piece or 16-piece set of chocolate ganache filled stars. The 9-piece assortment includes three milk chocolate stars, three dark chocolate stars and three white chocolate stars.
$20 at Godiva
The Prisoner 2024 Red Blend
One of our editors regularly drinks this red blend at family events, noting its full-bodied sweet and fruity flavor that won't overpower your dishes. Instead, The Prisoner's 2024 red blend will complement your Thanksgiving dishes well and serve as a perfect host or hostess gift.
$45 at The Prisoner Wine Company
Entertainment
Disc It
One of our editors says this fun outdoor game is a great option to play with friends and family. It requires four to 10 people to play on two separate teams and mixes the fun of frisbee with strategy. It's a great way to get everyone laughing, having fun and spending quality time together on Thanksgiving Day while waiting for the big meal to be ready.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The best Thanksgiving Day essentials of 2026, according to USA TODAY
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.
