Top 10 Thanksgiving Episodes for Kids You Can't Miss
Confession... I love a good themed TV episode, don't you? In fact I think the Friends episode where Rachel makes the gross Thanksgiving trifle (and Monica outs Ross to her parents for smoking in college!) is one of the best Thanksgiving episodes literally ever written. This excitement has definitely carried down to my kids who devour almost every TV show around the holidays that have anything to do with Thanksgiving.
If yours do too, we polled our CityMoms members for their long-time favorite annual Thanksgiving episode for kids, perfect for popping on at home when you're feeling all festive.
But stick with this list because in addition to the family-friendly holiday eps, we're also dropping a few for you ('member when Jess invited Paul to the roommate Thanksgiving on New Girl?) at the bottom!
Top 10 Thanksgiving Episodes for Kids You Can't Miss…
1. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
The plot: Peppermint Patty invites everyone to Charlie Brown's house for a Thanksgiving meal. However silly Snoopy decides to cook his own massive holiday feast with help from the whole gang. This classic must-watch also became an Emmy Award-winning holiday special of the 1970s.
Where to watch: Apple TV+, who also occasionally airs it for free to non-subscribers around the Thanksgiving holiday season.
2. Garfield's Thanksgiving
The plot: Everyone's favorite lazy cat Garfield ends up having a chaotic Thanksgiving with Jon and Odie after trying to avoid his responsibilities (and being put on a strict diet by the vet just in time for turkey day).
Where to watch: Here on YouTube
3. Teen Titans Go! Thanksgiving
The plot: In Season 2, episode 23, Robin's plans for a perfect holiday are disrupted when Raven's father, Trigon, unexpectedly shows up, leading to chaos and comedic mishaps. Will Robin be able to create his perfect Thanksgiving feast? (Pro tip: If you're trying to limit screen time maybe before bedtime, this episode is only 8 minutes long.)
Where to watch: Here on YouTube
4. Fuller House "Fuller Thanksgiving"
The plot: This was definitely one of our fan-favorite shows at home, especially because I grew up with the original Full House. In Season 2, episode 6, the Tanner-Fuller family's Thanksgiving gathering fills the house to the brim, challenging DJ to step up her organizational game as she navigates the whole holiday of chaos. If you haven't binged the entire series yet, it's a great family watch.
Where to watch: Netflix
Looking for more family night fun? These might not be holiday episodes but here are:
More Thanksgiving Episodes for Kids You Can't Miss…
5. PAW Patrol "Pups Save Thanksgiving"
The plot: Of all the special episodes of PAW Patrol, this is a fave. Ryder and the Paw Patrol team work together to guarantee a fantastic Thanksgiving in Adventure Bay, but their efforts are thrown into disarray when Mayor Goodway's turkey feast is snatched by a band of playful turkeys, prompting the courageous pups to step in and save the day. Hot tip: Marshall the Dalmatian will be one of the large feature balloons in the 2024 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!
Where to watch: Here on YouTube
6. Llama Llama "Thanks-For-Giving Day"
The plot: In this Thanksgiving TV episode, Llama Llama and his friends prepare for a special day of gratitude and giving thanks to the grownups who serve their community. As they work together to create handmade gifts and share in the joy of togetherness, they learn the true meaning of the holiday and the importance of appreciation.
Where to watch: Netflix
7. Bob's Burgers "Turkey In A Can"
The plot: The episode kicks off with Bob excitedly cooking his renowned Thanksgiving turkey, only to realize that it has disappeared, leading him on a mission to apprehend the perpetrator and retrieve the bird before dinner.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
You need good food for Thanksgiving? We gotchu:
More Thanksgiving Episodes for Kids You Can't Miss…
8. A Winnie the Pooh Thanksgiving
The plot: In the Hundred Acre Woods Winnie the Pooh and friends attempt to gather for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Amidst their usual (but endearing!) chaos and a couple unfortunate events, they learn that the true spirit of Thanksgiving lies in giving and sharing with friends, ultimately coming together for a happy Thanksgiving. This whole episode is such a wholesome watch for the whole fam.
Where to watch: While Winnie the Pooh is normally a PBS Kids show, this episode aired on ABC.
9. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse "Thanksgiving with the Happy Helpers"
The plot: In this short, 5-minute Thanksgiving special episode, Mickey and the Happy Helpers must plan the perfect Thanksgiving dinner while also helping their friends with various challenges. Side note... If you catch Daisy's double-berry cranberry sauce recipe, let me know, k?
Where to watch: Here on YouTube or on Disney+
10. Olivia The Pig "Olivia Talks Turkey"
The plot: Olivia plans a grand Thanksgiving parade with her group of friends, but things take a creative turn when the turkey goes missing. My daughter was a huge fan of the Olivia books and loved the series even more! I had a hard time not hitting "replay" on this one.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Ok, I know we promised the best Thanksgiving episodes for kids, and hopefully we delivered but, I also promised a peek a mini round up of Thanksgiving episodes you would love too. Here are a few of my faves:
Anything from the Friends Thanksgiving TV episode category: The One Where Underdog Gets Away from the Macy's annual Thanksgiving parade is a classic from Season 1, and so is The One With The Rumor (hiiii Brad Pitt), but nothing - and I mean nothing compares to The One Where Ross Got High, and Judy Gellar has to declare "that's a lot of information to get in 60 seconds." Watch them all now on Max.
Modern Family's "Three Turkeys" episode from Season 6, episode 8: Next to their acclaimed Halloween holiday episodes, this is a favorite. Phil and Luke cook a Thanksgiving turkey, Claire prepares a backup turkey in secret, and the episode ends with the surprise arrival of three turkeys. Watch on Hulu.
How I Met Your Mother's "Slapsgiving" makes me laugh every time. Found in the first half of Season 3, this episode 9 follows the story of Lily obsessing over the perfect Thanksgiving dinner, Robin inviting her much-older boyfriend to Thanksgiving, and Marshall teasing Barney in the diabolical plot of Slapsgiving before his third slap. Now available on Netflix.
Gilmore Girls "A Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving" in Season 3, episode 9 comes from one of those fan-favorite shows that I fell into later in life. While the episode follows the story of Jess and Rory making their relationship public, but fans will remember it more for the Lane-Dave Rygalski kiss. As far as favorite fandoms go, Gilmore Girls is one of mine. Now available on Netflix.
