Celebs With the Most Insane Thanksgiving Traditions

Thanksgiving usually means turkey, stuffing, and spending time with family, but celebrities often do things very differently. They’ve come up with some surprisingly unusual and over-the-top traditions, from cooking Mexican food to wearing fancy gowns while they cook. These stars go all out to make their Thanksgiving celebrations special and unlike anyone else’s. Here’s a look at how twenty different celebrities celebrate the holiday, with traditions ranging from quirky to incredibly demanding.

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston hosts a unique Friendsgiving each year, serving homemade enchiladas instead of turkey. She started this tradition after Jimmy Kimmel playfully complained about eating turkey so often in November. Now, she makes a large Mexican spread for her friends, offering a flavorful alternative before the traditional Thanksgiving meal. Her spicy enchiladas are now the highlight of the celebration for her famous guests.

Martha Stewart

Every year, Martha Stewart bakes around thirty pies for her staff and guests. She spends several days making everything from scratch – the crusts and all the fillings – to make sure each pie is perfect. She loves offering a wide range of flavors, like lemon meringue and chocolate pecan, to really capture the joy of the holidays. This impressive baking effort shows just how dedicated she is to creating delicious food.

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey celebrates the holidays in full glamour, preparing her festive feast while wearing stunning gowns and diamonds. She always maintains her signature style, even while cooking! Her family participates in the multi-day cooking and eating extravaganza, and Mariah loves sharing these fashionable culinary moments with her fans, showcasing her diva lifestyle.

Matthew McConaughey

I’ve heard Matthew McConaughey has this amazing tradition at every meal. Before anyone eats, everyone goes around the table and shares what they’re grateful for. It’s not a quick thing either – he really encourages people to take their time and really think about what they appreciate. He says being thankful is way more important than having hot food! Seriously, nobody touches their plate until everyone has had a chance to share. It’s a really beautiful way to start a meal.

Chris Pratt

Chris Pratt likes to hunt and prepare his own turkey instead of buying one from the store. He’s proud of getting food directly from nature and enjoys involving his family in the process. For him, it’s a way to connect with the outdoors and appreciate the origins of his meals, resulting in a uniquely flavorful Thanksgiving turkey compared to what most people are used to.

Ina Garten

Ina Garten kicks off her holiday cooking with a batch of whiskey sours for herself and her husband. She finds the refreshing cocktail helps her stay calm while preparing a big meal. She serves them with easy appetizers to keep guests happy as dinner finishes cooking. This laid-back and festive start sets a cheerful mood for the evening at her Hamptons home.

Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg doesn’t always serve turkey on Thanksgiving. Instead, he prefers to roast chicken or other favorite comfort foods. He works with his family to plan a menu that really shows off his personal style and what he loves to eat. You can always count on his table having flavorful greens and his special macaroni and cheese recipe. He’s more about delicious food and family fun than following Thanksgiving traditions exactly.

Julianne Hough

After a big family meal, Julianne Hough and her siblings have a lively dance competition. These professional dancers use their living room as a stage, performing planned routines to work off the extra food. It’s a fun tradition that includes costumes and sometimes judges, turning what could be a sleepy afternoon into an energetic and playful contest.

John Legend

John Legend is famous in his family for his incredible macaroni and cheese, and he’s the only one who makes it! He dedicates hours to perfecting his recipe, ensuring layers of cheesy goodness and a golden, crispy top. While his wife, Chrissy Teigen, handles the rest of the meal, everyone agrees the mac and cheese belongs solely to John, who proudly embraces his title as the ‘Mac and Cheese King’ at home.

Sarah Michelle Gellar

Sarah Michelle Gellar kicks off her elaborate Elf on the Shelf tradition right after Thanksgiving dinner. She creates detailed scenes with the elf toys, surprising and delighting her children and helping to make the transition to Christmas more festive. She dedicates as much time and effort to setting up the elf display as she does to cooking the Thanksgiving meal.

Mark Wahlberg

Let me tell you, Mark Wahlberg is dedicated. He starts his day incredibly early – around 4 AM, actually – with a serious workout. He says it’s all about getting those calories burned before the holiday feasting begins. And he doesn’t just do it alone; he tries to get the whole family involved in a pre-pie, pre-stuffing sweat session! It’s a smart move, really. It allows him to enjoy everything he wants to eat without feeling guilty about skipping his fitness routine. Talk about discipline!

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus celebrated a completely plant-based Thanksgiving, meaning no animal products were served. The main course was a roast made with either maitake mushrooms or seitan, and all the side dishes used vegan alternatives to butter and cream. She wanted to show everyone that a compassionate, cruelty-free Thanksgiving can be just as tasty as a traditional one.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow is known for serving healthy meals that are light on carbs and avoid processed foods. She often chooses eco-friendly options, like carbon-neutral dishes, and swaps out traditional, heavy sides for lighter choices. Paltrow focuses on fresh, local, and organic ingredients, like vegetables and poultry, to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Her dinners are designed to leave guests feeling good and energized, not weighed down.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Jesse Tyler Ferguson loves starting the holidays with pie for breakfast! He thinks it’s silly to save dessert until after dinner when there are so many delicious pastries to enjoy. He makes it a tradition to try different slices with his coffee while watching the morning parades. It’s become a must-do ritual for his family.

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey is famous for throwing large parties, inviting not only her family but also students and close friends. She’s hosted dinners for as many as twenty graduates from her leadership academy at her home. Oprah personally manages a huge feast, with multiple turkeys and plenty of side dishes, to feed everyone. This tradition is all about being generous and making guests feel at home, especially those who are away from their own families.

Kristen Bell

Kristen Bell loves to playfully trick her family with stunning vegetarian centerpieces that look just like turkeys! She builds these festive displays using a variety of plant-based ingredients instead of meat. Focusing on seasonal fall vegetables and flavorful gratins, she makes sure the meal is satisfying and anything but bland. Her inventive cooking ensures everyone enjoys a creative and delicious vegetarian feast.

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon loves to serve a classic Southern Thanksgiving dinner, and her secret weapon is a deep-fried turkey. She fries the turkey outdoors to make sure it cooks fast and stays incredibly moist and flavorful. She completes the meal with comforting favorites like casseroles and lots of biscuits, embracing the rich tastes and warm hospitality she remembers from her Tennessee upbringing.

Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts loves to cook the entire Thanksgiving dinner herself, refusing any help from her staff or family. She dedicates days to prepping everything from scratch, chopping vegetables and baking pies to make sure it all tastes homemade. She finds cooking relaxing and rewarding, and enjoys the feeling of nourishing her family with a meal she made with her own hands. Until dinner is served, she prefers to work alone in the kitchen.

Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne Johnson views his holiday meal as a well-deserved break from his healthy eating plan. He enjoys a huge feast, piling his plate with all the side dishes and desserts he can find. He sees it as a reward for staying disciplined the rest of the year and happily indulges without any guilt, eating as much as he wants.

Kate Hudson

After dinner, Kate Hudson and her family love to have karaoke nights. They each take turns singing popular songs while everyone else cheers them on. It’s a fun way for this talented family to show off their musical skills and often turns into an all-night private concert.

Let us know in the comments which holiday tradition from a celebrity you’d be most excited to incorporate into your own celebrations!

2025-11-28 12:16