Thanksgiving is quite an affair in North Carolina, mixing Southern charm with a powerhouse of local production. From topping the nation in raising turkeys and hogs to supplying a great portion of the country’s corn, and sweet potatoes, the Tar Heel State takes center stage when it comes to bringing Thanksgiving dinner to family tables coast to coast.

Although most of my writing is normally dedicated to liberty and politics in North Carolina, I’d like to take the time to point out some unique and special qualities of the state we love and how it plays a major role in Thanksgiving celebrations across the country.

Let’s take a closer look at why North Carolina is right at the heart of the holiday feast!

The turkey capital of the South

Thanks to 29 million turkeys grown annually, North Carolina holds the No. 2 spot for turkey production in the country, behind Minnesota. Top turkey farm brands in North Carolina include Butterball LLC (Garner), House of Raeford Farms (Raeford), and Prestage Farms (St. Pauls).

Chances are good your Thanksgiving turkey spent some time roaming the Tar Heel State. Whether you like your bird roasted, injected, deep-fried, or smoked — a regional favorite — your local North Carolina farmers work hard to make your holiday meal a great one.

But for North Carolina, the turkey is more about tradition than farming — it is a centerpiece meat for North Carolinian Thanksgiving. 

From lively community turkey trots in Raleigh, to coastal oyster roasts where the turkey second-fiddles, the Old North State puts a unique spin on the Thanksgiving experience.

Pork it up!

It might be a day for the turkey, but in North Carolina, pork has a place at the table, too. 

North Carolina is second in the nation in hog production (aka pigs, swine, etc.), producing many millions of pigs each year. Country ham, pulled pork, livermush, even ribs with barbecue sauce — are all Thanksgiving menu items here, as tasty replacements for, or additions to, the customary turkey.

In the Piedmont region, families gather around the tart vinegar-based Eastern Carolina BBQ (although I debate whether vinegar or mustard base is considered Eastern style) with sweet cornbread dressing and collard greens. This is one meal that very well represents the steeped food traditions of this state and will no doubt leave your belly very full.

Corn: The sidekick superstar

But corn is a Thanksgiving table stalwart, and North Carolina helps make that possible.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, North Carolina even used corn as a form of commodity money because it was one of the leading producers of this cash crop in the country at that time.

While corn production doesn’t quite rival giants like Iowa and Illinois today, the North Carolina’s rolling farmlands yield enough corn to keep plates filled with cornbread, creamed corn, and even corn pudding — a sweet-and-savory favorite in many a North Carolinian household.

This side dish is a favorite, goes well with most of the Thanksgiving menu items, and adds a special regional zest to the feast.

Sweet potatoes for pies and casseroles 

I will be upfront with you and say that I am not a fan of sweet potatoes. However, most North Carolinians absolutely adore them, and any Thanksgiving meal without them would be a travesty.

North Carolina sweet potatoes are often served at Thanksgiving in the form of sweet potato pie or sweet potato casserole with several common variations. Some recipes may include cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, marshmallows, bourbon whiskey, or even a Moravian ginger snap crust. 

North Carolina is the No. 1 leading producer of sweet potatoes in the United States. In fact, some estimates suggest that 60% of all sweet potatoes in the country come from North Carolina farms.

As a caveat, it is important to note that some families may refer to their sweet potatoes as yams, or vice versa. However, yams and sweet potatoes are technically different species, genera, and families. Most foods labeled as yams in the United States are, in fact, sweet potatoes unless purchased in African, Caribbean, or Asian markets. Most likely, if someone in North Carolina refers to the sweet potatoes in their grocery buggy as yams, they are sweet potatoes — this is just a colloquial term. 

Feast with a side of adventure

Thanksgiving in North Carolina means more than food — it’s about the experiences that go along with the food. There are so many different ways to make the holiday special in ol’ North Cackalacky:

  • Cherokee harvest traditions: On the western part of the state, the Cherokee people practice their harvest-time customs, offering a glimpse into the complex cultural history that molded the region. A true celebration reminiscent of the foundations of the holiday between Natives and Europeans.
  • Hikes in the mountains: Burn off that Thanksgiving dinner on a hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where crisp air and radiant autumn foliage create the perfect backdrop for post-meal adventure — well, at least if those respective areas are opened from the most recent storms caused by Hurricane Helene.
  • Christmas Tree Farms: Right after dinner, most families usually head up to High Country to pick out a Fraser fir Christmas tree. I love starting North Carolina Christmas season right after Thanksgiving dinner. Did you know North Carolina is the second highest in the country in producing Christmas trees? You’ve probably read my article on that here.

North Carolina: The unsung hero of Thanksgiving

From North Carolina’s turkeys and hogs to its cornfields and sweet potatoes, North Carolina is an essential part of what makes Thanksgiving delicious and memorable. Whether you’re enjoying a locally sourced turkey, indulging in BBQ with all the fixings, or savoring a slice of cornbread made with North Carolina-grown corn, the state brings flavor and heart to the holiday table.

This Thanksgiving, take a moment while gathering with your loved ones and be grateful for North Carolina’s many contributions to the feast — because, without it, the Thanksgiving holiday just wouldn’t be the same for North Carolinians or the rest of the nation!