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Vintage 1940s Thanksgiving Menu

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September 25, 2023 By Lisa Sharp Leave a Comment

Step back in time to a bygone era with this Vintage 1940s Thanksgiving Menu, a delightful collection of classic dishes and forgotten favorites that will transport you to the heart of mid-century holiday feasting.

Thanksgiving table with traditional food with text real 1940s thanksgiving vintage meal plans

Exploring the culinary traditions of the 1940s adds a fascinating dimension to our understanding of holiday feasts. I’ve always been drawn to vintage magazines, scouring their pages for glimpses into the past, and recently, I stumbled upon a treasure trove of Thanksgiving menu ideas from the 1940s that I couldn’t wait to share.

As I perused these historic articles, I was struck by the blend of familiar dishes that have stood the test of time and those that have gracefully evolved. While some recipes harken back to the era, others have embraced a more modern twist.

I love sharing these vintage meal plans with others so we can all enjoy this look into the past. They can also provide inspiration for our modern Thanksgiving meals. I’ve been sure to link to as many vintage recipes as I could find.

Vintage 1940s Thanksgiving Menus

black and white photo of 1940s housewife holding a calendar with November on it and a turkey next to her

While there are a lot of dishes included in these menus it’s pretty simple likely due to the fact WWII had hurt food supplies and many families were struggling. It’s a very seasonal menu and not all that different from a Thanksgiving meal in modern times. 

  • Roast Turkey
  • Mashed Potatoes
  • Gravy
  • Yellow Corn
  • Oyster Stuffing
  • Baked Squash
  • Celery, Cucumbers, Pickles
  • Cranberry Sauce
  • Homemade Rolls
  • Butter Mold
  • Pumpkin Pie

This 1940s Thanksgiving menu is a bit bigger and seems like one that would be better for a larger family gathering.

  • Cranberry Shrub
  • Roast Turkey
  • Sage Stuffing
  • Cranberry Sauce
  • Sweet Potato-Stuffed Apples
  • Mashed Potatoes
  • Hubbard Squash
  • White Turnips
  • Onions in Cream
  • Boston Celery
  • Cranberry Waldorf Salad
  • Hot Squash Biscuits

Dessert Your Choice: 

  • Hot Apple Pie
  • Mince Pie
  • Pumpkin Pie
  • Suet Pudding
  • Orange Cream Mousse

Just like not many of us pull a Thanksgiving menu from a magazine now and follow it fully, it’s unlikely homemakers were doing that in the 1940s. It does still give us an idea of popular Thanksgiving dishes in the 1940s.

You can also get some more vintage Thanksgiving recipes here on the blog. They come from some top bloggers and are all delicious and would be perfect on a vintage Thanksgiving menu or a modern one!

PLANNING YOUR VINTAGE THANKSGIVING

If you want to plan a 1940s-style Thanksgiving you want to be organized. I’m sure in the 1940s they would have just used a notebook to plan but we have a lot more options these days.

I have a printable Thanksgiving planner available that is great for planning a modern or vintage Thanksgiving meal. It will help you stay on track, make grocery lists, keep track of recipes, and more.

You can also use this free Thanksgiving week planner. It has fewer bells and whistles than my full Thanksgiving planner but if you don’t need as much help it can still help you get planned.

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Filed Under: 1950s Housewife Tips, Holidays, Thanksgiving Tagged With: vintage meal plans

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Welcome to my blog! My name is Lisa and I'm the Retro Housewife trying to live a greener life. I share my love of all things vintage, homemaking and green living here on the blog. To read more, click here.

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