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Wendys, Krispy Kreme, Firehouse Subs
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The Best Thanksgiving Fast Food Items To Try This Fall

As Thanksgiving quickly approaches, grocery store shelves are getting stacked with all the holiday meal necessities, from turkey and stuffing to potatoes, and cranberry sauce. Yet why do all the cooking when some of your favorite fast food restaurants can do it for you? This year, skip the elbow-to-elbow in the grocery store, the frantic early morning cooking, and the constant oven shuffle that only ends with burned casseroles. This year, swing through your favorite fast food’s drive-thru for your Thanksgiving dinner, and enjoy special limited-edition turkey day menu items while you’re at it. 

KFC

While KFC might be known for their crispy fried chicken, the chain is offering a limited-edition KFC Turkey Dinner for Thanksgiving featuring roasted turkey, creamy mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, and a biscuit. Maybe you’re planning on feeding a crowd? KFC has you covered with large meal packages that include multiple sides, biscuits, and gravy. And if you’re like me and don’t love turkey, you can always swap it out for some good old fashioned fried chicken. 

Denny’s

The popular chain diner is gearing up to offer an unforgettable holiday season. This year, Thanksgiving dinner will be served all day, all season at Denny’s Diner. The Denny’s Turkey and Dressing Dinner features slow-roasted turkey, mashed potatoes with thick gravy, stuffing, veggies on the side, cranberry sauce, and a dinner roll. 

Or, if the traditional Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t quite suit your fancy, try Denny’s Turkey and Bacon Melt: all the delicious components of a full Thanksgiving feast, sandwiched between two pieces of bread. 

Wendy’s 

You thought the Baconator was good? Get ready for the limited-time Turkey Bacon Ranch Sandwich, which includes not just one, but two turkey patties topped with extra crispy bacon, creamy ranch sauce, and all the sandwich fixings. If you want to spice up Thanksgiving dinner this year, try the  Spicy Chicken Nuggets or keep it on the sweeter side with Wendy’s seasonal menu of fall-flavored milkshakes such as pumpkin or apple cider!

McDonald’s

Though the McRib is often associated with a summer barbecue, its unexpected return to the seasonal menu makes McD’s the perfect pit stop on Thanksgiving. While it’s not exactly turkey, it has all the right tenderness, seasoning, and zest of one. But would it be Thanksgiving if you didn’t finish it off with dessert? Luckily, McDonald’s has the classic warm apple pie, or you can lean into the season with the new pumpkin-filled pie.

Boston Market

This year Boston Market is offering a “Holiday Feast” which features oven roasted turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and even a side of cranberry sauce. If you don’t have time to grab a seat inside Boston Market, the chain is also offering “Thanksgiving To Go,” with all the fixings pre-packed for convenience. Don’t forget to add on a few iconic sides, like from the classic  sweet potatoes or green beans to Boston Market’s famous mac and cheese.

thanksgiving fast food 2024
Boston Market

Popeyes

Popeyes is claiming Thanksgiving perfection this year with their cajun-style turkey. Even better?  Popeyes will deliver it right to your doorstep this Thanksgiving. All you have to do is thaw and cook, which means less time in the kitchen and more time spent with loved ones.

thanksgiving fast food 2024

White Castle

This Thanksgiving, White Castle is mixing up the usual beef sliders with turkey sliders. This limited time offer lets you pick 10 sliders – either stuffing, turkey, or a mix — in their Seasonal Sampler. If you’re tired of Thanksgiving flavors, White Castle is also offering a delicious deal on Thanksgiving Day: buy two cheese sliders and get two more for free.

Chick-fil-a

Chick-fil-a’s exclusive Thanksgiving menu includes sweet potato soufflé, banana pudding, and buttery cornbread. If the Turkey Day specials aren’t enticing enough, Chick-fil-a is bringing Chicken Tortilla Soup just in time for soup season (or, the perfect appetizer to your Thanksgiving feast).

thanksgiving fast food 2024
Chick Fil A

Subway

Subway is carving up a delicious Thanksgiving inspired sandwich featuring carved turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. If you’re looking for an alternative Thanksgiving dinner while still feeding a large crowd, Subway’s Titan Turkey sandwich is prepared and sliced into 16 large sandwiches, all wrapped and ready for your Thanksgiving table. 

Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme released an all new Thanksgiving Pie Doughnut collection for the holiday season, including seasonal flavors such as Chocolate Silk, Blueberry Crisp, Lemon Creme, and Apple Crumble. 

Arby’s

Arby’s has brought back the fan-favorite Gobbler sandwich – which is stuffed with deep-fried turkey and all the Thanksgiving favorites – for a limited-time this fall. Plus, Arby’s will be serving sweet pumpkin pie turnovers and deep-fried mac and cheese bites this holiday. 

Paris Baguette

Enjoy all the fall-inspired goodies from  Paris Baguette. Order a handcrafted pumpkin or apple cake right to your door, or check out your local Paris Baguette and snag some  pumpkin danishes for Thanksgiving dessert. While you’re there, grab a seasonal pumpkin spiced latte for a caffeine boost before cooking.

Firehouse Subs

thanksgiving fast food 2024
Firehouse Subs

This Thanksgiving, Firehouse Subs is releasing a brand new Thanksgiving Turkey Sub sandwich with thick-sliced turkey breast, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mayo, served hot on a fresh roll. The best part? A portion of all Thanksgiving sub sales will go to first responders and public safety organizations. 

Sophia Westfall is the editorial director at Spoon University at the Rutgers New Brunswick chapter. She hosts weekly meetings, oversees the editorial board, as well as edits and approves each post produced by the chapter.

Outside her role at Spoon University, Sophia is studying English and Digital Studies with a minor in Writing. Sophia works as the senior editor for The Undergraduate Review at Rutgers, where she manages submissions, interviews, marketing, and the overall editorial process of the publication. She is a senior writing consultant for The Writing and Design Lab at Rutgers, where she teaches writing technique in both classroom and individual settings. Sophia is the founder of The Secret Society of Poetry, an online literary magazine dedicated to publishing young and emerging voices in an otherwise crowded and competitive community. Additionally, she works for Proof, Rutgers new center for printing, where she researches historical printing techniques and teaches sustainable alternatives to mass printing. When Sophia is not at school, she works as a specialist at Apple where she leads sales and visual standards. Aside from her education and work, she is the two-time award winner for The Young Writers short story contest, has had her research on the evolution and historical hypocrisy of grammar showcased at The Celebration of Undergraduate Research, and has had her poetry featured at the Annual New York Poetry Society Festival. Her short story, The Long Lost Legacy, has been published on Dreame and her research on the sexual suppression of ancient Roman women in relation to immaculate conception is currently being published by Rutgers. Lastly, she is the recipient of The Patricia Mc-Cracken Kelly Fund award as well as The Experiential Learning Fund.

Sophia enjoys day trips to gardens and coffee shops and antique book stores. She loves to collect unique vintage items, visit museums, and dive into ancient Roman history in her free time. She especially loves creative writing, and is currently working on the first book in her upcoming book series.