The Ultimate Ranking: All 10 'Friends' Thanksgiving Episodes From Worst to Best
Relive the hilarious moments of the 10 iconic Thanksgiving episodes from the beloved TV show 'Friends' that aired from 1994 to 2004
The Friends group is famous for their chaotic Thanksgivings - with secrets revealed, Chandler dealing with his difficult childhood memories, and Joey indulging in excessive meat consumption. However, certain episodes stand out more than others.
The NBC show aired for 10 seasons, from 1994 to 2004, starring Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and the late Matthew Perry as Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Ross, Joey, and Chandler, respectively.
During its run, the sitcom aired several holiday episodes, some of which included well-known guest stars. A notable example is Brad Pitt's cameo on season 8's "The One With the Rumor." (At the time, Pitt was married to Aniston, but they divorced in 2005 after five years of marriage.)
Keep reading to find out the We team's ranking of your favorite Friends Thanksgiving episodes.
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10. “The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs” (Season 7, Episode 8)
Summary: Chandler finally admits he dislikes dogs instead of pretending to be allergic, while Rachel's dinner invitation to her assistant, Tag, is ruined when Joey reveals her crush on him.
Revised Quote: "Fine, go ahead and listen to them. No one ever listens to me. When the package looks this good, no one cares about what's inside." - Joey
On the Menu: Pumpkin pie, apple pie, turkey, sweet potato stuffed pumpkins, stuffing, cheese platter, green beans.
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9. “The One With Chandler in a Box” (Season 4, Episode 8)
Synopsis: Chandler decides to spend Thanksgiving in a box as a gesture of apology for kissing Joey’s girlfriend. At the same time, Monica extends an invitation to Richard Burke’s son, Timothy Burke, for dinner. Ross discovers that Rachel occasionally exchanges the gifts she receives.
Highlighted Quote: "Perhaps you should ice that." - Chandler advises Monica after an ice mishap in her eye
Featured Dish: Roast turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, tangy cranberry sauce, crisp green beans, and indulgent candied sweet potatoes with fluffy marshmallow topping.
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8. “The One With Rachel’s Other Sister” (Season 9, Episode 8)
Rachel's sister Amy (Christina Applegate) makes a surprise appearance and ruins the gang's Thanksgiving dinner. Meanwhile, Monica and Chandler finally use their wedding dishes and discover that Rachel and Ross have chosen them as Emma's caregivers in case of an emergency.
Memorable Quote: "Emma, it's your first Thanksgiving! What are you thankful for? Mommy's boobies?" - Rachel
On the Menu: Turkey, sweet potatoes, bread, green bean casserole, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes.
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7. “The One With the List” (Season 2, Episode 8)
Plot: A romantic entanglement! Ross decides to end things with Julie after sharing a passionate kiss with Rachel at Central Perk. His hopes for a relationship with Rachel are dashed when she discovers that he had made a list comparing her to Julie, revealing their complicated love triangle.
Top Quote: "You've always been the one, Rach." - Ross
On the Menu: No conventional dishes! Instead, Monica experimented with Thanksgiving recipes featuring "Mockolate" in her quest for a new job: Mockolate cookie crumb crust, cookies, cranberry cake, nut bars, and hot chocolate.
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6. “The One Where Underdog Gets Away” (Season 1, Episode 9)
Plot: Monica prepares a Thanksgiving feast for the group, complete with three types of mashed potatoes. Joey stays behind because of his family's embarrassment over his STD ads, while Rachel fundraises for her skiing trip to Vail. The meal is disrupted when everyone rushes out to search for the runaway Underdog hot air balloon from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Best Quote: "If it weren't for your unfortunate circumstances, we wouldn't all be together. So, I'm grateful that your Thanksgivings were terrible." - Chandler
On the Menu: Ross's favorite mashed potatoes with lumps, turkey, yams, cider, stuffing, tater tots for Joey, mashed potatoes with peas and onions for Phoebe, and pumpkin pie. Chandler's meal consists of tomato soup, grilled cheese, and Funyuns.
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5. “The One With the Late Thanksgiving” (Season 10, Episode 8)
Plot: Monica's anger flares up as everyone arrives 45 minutes late to Thanksgiving dinner — Rachel and Phoebe took Emma to a beauty pageant, while Ross and Joey went to a Rangers hockey game. However, her mood takes a turn when she and Chandler receive a call from an adoption agency about a baby.
Top Quote: "Prepare to savor my unique cranberries. Or should I say ... Chanberries!" — Chandler
Featured Dishes: Roast turkey, moist stuffing, Brussels sprouts, chocolate pies, cranberry sauce, bread, salad, and macaroni and cheese.
Warner Bros. Television / Courtesy: Everett Collection
4. “The One With All the Thanksgivings” (Season 5, Episode 8)
Plot: During a group reunion, Monica confesses that she overheard Chandler calling her fat in college. She later accidentally cut off Chandler’s toe while trying to seduce him. In the present, Monica tries to cheer him up by wearing a turkey on her head as a joke.
Best Quote: "Oh, my God, there’s a toe in my kitchen." — Judy Geller (Christina Pickles)
On the Menu: Turkey, apple pie, pumpkin pie.
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3. “The One Where Ross Got High” (Season 6, Episode 9)
Synopsis: Monica's parents at long last discover that she's cohabitating with Chandler. Meanwhile, Rachel assumes the responsibility of making dessert but mistakenly mixes the ingredients for a classic English trifle and Shepherd's pie.
Best Quotes: “It tastes like feet!” — Ross
“I mean, what’s not to like? Custard, good. Jam, good. Meat, good!” — Joey
"Hurricane Gloria didn't destroy the porch swing, Monica did." - Ross
Menu:
Turkey, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, and Rachel's famous traditional English trifle: Layers of ladyfingers, jam, custard, raspberries, ladyfingers, beef, peas, and onions, custard, bananas, whipped cream.
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2. “The One With the Football” (Season 3, Episode 9)
Plot: The group decides to play football in the park. Monica and Ross, who were banned from playing after Monica accidentally broke Ross’ nose in a childhood game, face off once again to determine the winner of the Geller Cup. Chandler and Joey, on the other hand, compete for the attention of a Dutch woman.
Best Quote: "Ow, broken boob!" - Phoebe
“Let go! I’m a tiny little woman!” — Monica
On the Menu: Turkey, marshmallows in “concentric circles” on sweet potatoes, stuffing, mashed potatoes.
Danny Feld/NBCU Photo Bank
1. “The One With the Rumor” (Season 8, Episode 9)
Welcome, Will! Monica invites an old high school friend named Will Colbert (Pitt) to Thanksgiving dinner. The only issue? He used to dislike Rachel and even co-founded an "I Hate Rachel Green" club with Ross. As they reminisce, it comes out that Ross had a fling with their 50-year-old librarian Anita.
Top Quote: "Look at her holding those yams. My two biggest adversaries, Ross. Rachel Green and complex carbohydrates." - Will
“Oh, come on Will. Take off your shirt and tell us!” — Phoebe
On the Menu: Turkey (just for Joey!), yams, cranberry sauce, green beans, bread, nonfat pie, “Chandler’s chicken.”
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