The Best Thanksgiving Cooking Competitions to Watch Before Turkey Day

It’s 2025, time to change up the traditional Thanksgiving menu. Whether you are a professional cook or only cook on holidays, it is not too late to brush up on some new skills to impress your dinner guests. Each TV series will inspire your next holiday menu, featuring traditional dishes and desserts, and a reminder of the importance of gathering with family.

“Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge”

If cooking a Thanksgiving Day meal came with a payday, everyone would be running to the kitchen. In “Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge,” five chefs compete to see who can prepare the best original holiday feast, including a turkey dinner, dessert, and side dishes. The winner will walk away with $25,000. “Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge” is hosted by Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis and streaming on HBO Max, Tubi, and Hulu.

“Worst Cooks in America”

If this is your first time taking over the kitchen for Thanksgiving or you’re looking for a good laugh, “Worst Cooks in America” is a great starting point. Some of the contestants start without knowing how to boil water. The “Worst Cooks in America” Thanksgiving Redemption series brings back past contestants with big personalities to compete for a prize of $5,000 worth of kitchen appliances and an invitation to cook for their families during the holidays.

Food Network chef Anna Burrell and a guest chef instruct each team of amateur chefs on how to create a meal like a pro, after which they must prepare it independently. “Worst Cooks in America”  turkey day special is streaming on Discovery Plus, Hulu, and HBO Max.

“Chopped”

On “Chopped,” you never know what they will pull out of that mystery basket. Because “Chopped” has many seasons, spin-offs, and specials, starting with episodes that focus on Thanksgiving. In the “Chopped” Thanksgiving special, the contestants will pull out fall holiday-themed items to incorporate into their dish for three rounds. Watch “Chopped” on HBO Max, Hulu, and Discovery+. If you are still unsure of what to add to the dinner table, watching “Chopped” can provide ideas and last-minute substitutions for holiday feasts.

“Iron Chef America”

Iron Chef is another food competition with numerous seasons and various spin-offs of the show, so don’t miss Thanksgiving as an opportunity to catch up. Again, like “Chopped,” you want to focus on the Thanksgiving episodes. Warning: do not attempt the dishes featured on the show unless you feel like your chef skills have elevated this holiday season. The contestants are professional chefs competing against each other, incorporating the featured dish item into a new dish. If you’re unsure what to do with your leftovers, watch Season 10, Episode 27 on Hulu, HBO Max, or purchase it on Apple TV.

“Holiday Baking Championship”

Turkey, green beans, casseroles, and don’t forget the pies. The turkey is the superstar of the meal, but you also need dessert for after. “Holiday Baking Championship” is a food competition streaming on Discovery Plus and Hulu where bakers put a spin on classic holiday treats by infusing their culture and family traditions. Bakers bake a wide range of items, including cookies, pies, custards, cakes, frostings, and breads. There are episodes of “Holiday Baking Championship,” a food competition focused on holiday desserts, such as season 11, episode 2. “Holiday Baking Championship” is also a food competition show that helps transition into the Christmas season.

Gravy, Giggles, and Holiday TV

‘Tis the season for food, family, and a time to remember what we are thankful for. The best way to spend time together is enjoying a good holiday throwdown on TV before the heat turns up in the kitchen. If your preference is working over the stove or chilling on the couch this Thanksgiving, you are sure to find a show that will feed the soul and steal a recipe or two.