What Did the Pilgrims Eat at the First Thanksgiving?
Have you ever wondered what the Pilgrims ate at the first Thanksgiving? We dig into how similar the menu was to the traditional American Thanksgiving meal.
By Amy Traverso|Nov 23 2021|
What Did the Pilgrims Eat at the First Thanksgiving?
Photo Credit: Mark FlemingThe Thanksgiving meal is remarkably consistent in its elements: the turkey, the stuffing, the sweet potatoes, the cranberry sauce. Barring ethical, health, or religious objections, it is pretty much the same meal for everyone, across latitudes and longitudes, and through the years of their lives. We stick with the basics and simply change the seasonings.
What Did the Pilgrims Eat at the First Thanksgiving?
But what about that first Thanksgiving in the fall of 1621 (historians don’t know the exact date, but place it sometime between September 21 and November 9), when British settlers hosted the first documented harvest celebration? What did they eat at the first Thanksgiving, and how similar is it to the traditional American Thanksgiving meal today?
Here’s how Edward Winslow described the first Thanksgiving feast in a letter to a friend:
“Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruits of our labor. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which we brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.”
What They (Likely) Did Have at the First Thanksgiving
- Venison
- Fowl (geese and duck)
- Corn
- Nuts (walnuts, chestnuts, beechnuts)
- Shellfish
So venison was a major ingredient, as well as fowl, but that likely included geese and ducks. Turkeys are a possibility, but were not a common food in that time. Pilgrims grew onions and herbs. Cranberries and currants would have been growing wild in the area, and watercress may have still been available if the hard frosts had held off, but there’s no record of them having been served. In fact, the meal was probably quite meat-heavy.
Likewise, walnuts, chestnuts, and beechnuts were abundant, as were sunchokes. Shellfish were common, so they probably played a part, as did beans, pumpkins, squashes, and corn (served in the form of bread or porridge), thanks to the Wampanoags.
Photo Credit : Mark Fleming
What They (Definitely) Did Not Have at the First Thanksgiving
- A turkey centerpiece
- Potatoes (white or sweet)
- Bread stuffing or pie (wheat flour was rare)
- Sugar
- Aunt Lena’s green bean casserole
But how about bringing a little more truly traditional flavor back to your table? Back in 2003, we consulted with historians at Plimoth Plantation, the Wampanoag and English settlers living history museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and asked writer Jane Walsh to devise a menu that incorporated some of the foods that would have been served at the first Thanksgiving. We didn’t eliminate any favorites or try to go sugar-free. We skipped the venison. Really, like everyone else who will gather around a table on the fourth Thursday in November this year, we simply changed the seasonings.
Thanksgiving Recipes | Tradition with a Twist
Watercress-Currant Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette
Stuffing of Jerusalem Artichokes, Currants, and Grapes
Pumpkin Chiffon Pie with Sweet Walnut Crust
Historically-Inspired Thanksgiving Recipes
The Wampanoag and English settlers may not have had access to all of the ingredients included in these recipes, but by including pheasant, goose, or venison in your Thanksgiving menu, you’re at least paying tribute to a meat they likely enjoyed back in 1621. Chestnuts and native corn were common, too. Here are a few dishes to get you further inspired — both reader-submitted and from the Yankee recipe archives.
Venison Tenderloin
Roast Goose
Chestnut Croquettes
New England Succotash
This post was first published in 2012 and has been updated.
First thanksgiving, what did the Pilgrims eat. Where is the menu in this article? Is it the 3 non meat recipes at the end of the articke? If historians say the feast was very “meat heavy”, why would you remove venison if it were very likely to be the heart of the entire feast? How about some main course meat recipes?
“as well as fowl, but that likely included pheasants, geese, and duck. Turkeys are a possibility, but were not a common food in that time.”
William Bradford states in his account entitled “Of PlymouthPlantaton”, states that, “And besids water foule, ther was great store of wild Turkies, of which they tooke many” (paragraph 162).
Additionally, pheasants were not introduced to North America until 1881.
In light of this, I’m not sure why the article states that turkeys probably not eaten, and that pheasants were.
A agree. I dont know why this reporter went out of the way to dismiss such a time honored tradition (backed by the facts) to remove turkey from Thanksgiving?
Having been born and raised in Winchester and Medford , I absolutely love reading anything that centers around Plymouth…the rock, the plantation, their way of life, introduction to the Indians, cooking, recipes…you name it. Thank you for sharing.
I agree with “Joel” , pheasant could not have been part of the repast at the first Thanksgiving as there were NO pheasants in the new world at that time.
Ben Franklin joked about making the Turkey the national symbol for America during it’s founding days, so clearly Turkeys were around and were probably eaten when the Pilgrims were here, years before.
Pheasants were not native to North America. They were first imported in 1773. I think grouse was a possible entree, but not pheasant.
Sweet potatoes and green bean casserole are not part of a traditional New England Thanksgiving. They are regional in other regions. I never encountered them until I was in SC in the 1970s. They are now eaten more often here, but are definitely not native.
A strange pheasant would be mentioned that were not around at that time, but turkeys were!
Believe me, they probably had some turkey! We still have wild turkeys here on old Cape Cod, right around the corner from Plimoth/Plymouth and this is where the Pilgrims first landed! I recently had 5 beautiful wild turkeys on my property here,a sign of abundance according to Native American folk lore! Attend the Wampanoag Pow Wow in Mashpee on the Cape here in the summer on the 4th of July and have some real native American food like I did and see how they really ate! Grew up eating Succotash every Thanksgiving! Thanks for sharing all~
You are absolutely correct. Of copurse turkey was on the menu. Refre to my comment above (if not censored). Turkey was rare and expense in England, it was also referred to as “fowl” there.
Descendants of Puritans, our family’s TG dinners were always consisted of turkey, cranberry sauce and squash, pumpkin and (real) mincemeat pies …never yams or green beans.
All so interesting—–did they roast on an open fire??
I use bread stuffing to put in my Turkey.
Me and my husband who loves history enjoyed the information and stirues
THANKS
Thanks for great information
Its false.
did the pilgrims have turkey at the first thanksgiving
Enjoyed every time
It seems for some reason you are going out of your way to rewrite or downplay American tradition and Thanksgiving? Why? First, let’s start with the Turkey. To begin with, the Turkey is native to the Americas. It was first exported to Europe by the Spanish and then later gradually over the decades made its way to various affluent quarters in England. I quote; “Turkey is native to North America and acquired its name when the Spanish brought it to Europe. When the rare bird made its debut in England, it was mistaken for a Guinea Hen, a common FOWL regularly imported from Africa by Turks”. In all likelihood, as “Guinea Hens” were imported (i.e. expensive) they were not for the common folk. The Pilgrims may have never seen nor eaten a turkey before. And even if they had, what else would the Pilgrims call them other than the term used in England, which was FOWL? Which is clearly referenced in your text. Secondly, in terms of wildlife & meat, deer and wild turkey have been and still remain abundant in New England, including today! So why wouldn’t the Pilgrims eat Turkey along with venison? Thirdly, the fact that you seem to go out of your way to make a point of referring to the Pilgrims as British (I doubt they even referred to themselves that way) as they were escaping from British religious persecution and rule, may give some indication? Certainly a more “American” view would have been to traditionally refer to them as the Pilgrims or early settlers in America. I am so tired of people attempting to rewrite American history and our traditions. So with that said, Turkey at Thanksgiving was and is clearly one of our cherished traditions! To all Americans at home and abroad, at this difficult time, give thanks and wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your delicious American Turkey!
wait didn’t they have eel to?
Wow.
Yes, they were dyed in the wool Brits. And would remain that way for next 100 years..
I’m pretty sure they have eel at the first thanksgiving
I loved this article, availability of turkey questions and all. Following the “time of Covid”, the rules. arguments and isolation, it is a beach of normal American fresh air, and I’m so THANKFUL.
I’m bringing the dreaded green bean casserole, fresh whole Cranberry sauce, and apple pie to our family feast. Everyone from three states will be there.
Actually you have described the second Thanksgiving. At the first, each person had only five kernels of corn. At the second Thanksgiving, in addition to the feast you describe, each person was given a small plate with 5 kernel of corn so they would never forget that first Thanksgiving…guess it didn’t work, because most folks have forgotten.
I’m sure glad that I follow the Puerto Rican tradition, and always have a pork roast for Thanksgiving.
Have you ever eaten a wild turkey? I have you would need at least 4 to get a 10 lb turkey of today . They are not fat birds and they are mostly dark meat . I can see they had turkey but., I’m betting they had venison. I think pumpkin and cranberry and corn probably Blueberries . I naming what I know to be found in the woods
And plenty of fish ( including shell fish)
They ate what the American Indian shared with them…and it was a hit.
I am sooo happy to read your articals . You are a wonderful sauce of information . I am from Framingham , Mass. and going to Pilgrims Plantation many times really brought a lot memories back to me . Thank you for all of your hard work and Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Of course there was wild turkey then and now. Not to mention wild boar and other edible meats. As far as sugar, the Indians were well aware of Molasses and honey so why shouldn’t there be desserts? As always Americans seem to forget that Africans were here first brought by Spanish exploreres before the British pilgrims came …there were yams and other root vegetables, seeds, etc. from Africa and possibly Spanish foods used to trade with the Indians before the first thanksgiving. Sometimes common sense about historical facts should be used when discussing these things. I choose to believe these articles do not tell the entire truth and to be thankful for whatever you choose to eat on this holiday regardless of the partial truth given online.
When in doubt (ignorance) print the “legend”.
Now I’m wondering how Indian Pudding fits into this holiday
No pheasants in North America until 1773 (non native species).
Was ham ever eaten on thanksgiving?
I love thanksgiving