Turducken vs. Turkey: Which Is Better for Thanksgiving?

Published on October 28th, 2025
Updated on October 30th, 2025

A Tale of Two Centerpieces: Tradition Meets Indulgence

When it comes to turducken vs turkey conversations, know this: both have a very American history and both are fantastic Thanksgiving additions.

Turkey is practically synonymous with Thanksgiving, but it doesn’t go all the way back to the first Thanksgiving feast. Author Sarah Josepha Hale spent many years of her life trying to convince presidents to make Thanksgiving an annual event, and wrote a novel that details a Thanksgiving feast, including turkey. In fact, an entire chapter of the book is devoted to describing the foods of thanksgiving. 

Hale was so in love with the holiday and so influential to how we celebrate today that she’s been called “the mother of Thanksgiving.” President Abraham Lincoln officially made Thanksgiving a holiday in 1863, and largely because of Hale’s book and annual Thanksgiving column in the Godey’s Ladies Book, a widely circulated magazine, turkey was a part of it. 

Hale was from New England, which has a lot of turkeys, and it was traditional for people from the area to eat turkeys during harvest celebrations and unofficial Thanksgiving holidays. 

The turducken is a more modern invention, and yes, more indulgent, but also one that deserves a place at the Thanksgiving feast. 

What Is a Turducken?

Much later than Hale’s time, down South in Louisiana, the turducken was born. It’s unclear exactly who first created the turducken, but Hebert’s Specialty Meats claims to have invented it in 1984. Cajun Chef Paul Prudhomme popularized it a few years later, serving it in his New Orleans restaurant and even trademarking the name, and NFL commentator John Madden made it a national sensation when he carved one on air. 

From New England to Louisiana, both the turkey and turducken have deep cultural roots and loyal fans, and both are excellent for Thanksgiving. 

The Case for Traditional Turkey

If you’re looking for Thanksgiving dinner ideas, lets dig into the pros and cons of turducken and turkey. 

Turkey is the OG Thanksgiving dish. It’s hard to root against it in a turducken vs turkey battle. It’s the classic Thanksgiving centerpiece, a symbol of the holiday, and comes from the area of the country where Thanksgiving originated. 

While you can certainly get creative with your turkey preparations, it’s still generally simpler to prepare than a turducken. It’s easier to find turkeys around the holidays (not all butchers special in turducken) and if you’re ordering in, there are tons of options. 

While most people are familiar with turkey, not everyone is going to be keen to try turducken. Unless your Thanksgiving table is full of adventurous eaters, a turkey might be a safer bet. Plus, people get sentimental around the holidays and sometimes like to stick to tradition. If there’s no turkey—just turkey, that is––it might not feel like Thanksgiving dinner. 

(P.S. If you’re debating what kind of turkey to serve this year, we’re partial to smoked.)

Where to Order or Try Turducken

The turducken is a Louisiana, so leave it to the specialists in the state. 

Of course, turkey is a classic for a reason, and if you’re going that route, there are plenty of options. Whichever you choose–turkey or turducken–you can order it delivered to your door for Thanksgiving, so you can enjoy the party and the food.