Weird question, but has anyone hosted one family for Thanksgiving lunch and another for Thanksgiving dinner? We just remodeled our house and want to show it off so talked about hosting my family for Thanksgiving (my mom past away last year so it's kind of been up to my sister and I to host holidays if we still want the family to get together). My wife was onboard but also wanted to host her family. I suggested we just have everyone together for lunch. She would rather do lunch with her family (potluck style) and a more traditional (i.e. we cook) dinner with my family.

I still don't really see how the logistics of this would work out. Anyone done it?

We did a sous vide turkey that was actually really good last year. So with the Turkey we were thinking of doing the sous vide for lunch and my BIL brining over a smoked turkey. We'd also do a sous vide for dinner, just leave it going until we're ready for final preparations and fry a turkey.

I agree with swapping the pot luck but don't think that's really an option. My wife's family all do dinner with their other half of the family and most my family comes in from out of town so would be hard to bring meals.

My thoughts: turkeys outlined out per above. Wife would also probably make homemade cranberry sauce that could be had at both thanksgivings as well as all pies/desserts. We'd make a batch of mashed potatoes for lunch and all other sides would be brought over. For dinner, in theory, we'd have plenty of time to do another batch of mashed potatoes, some green beans, corn, mac and cheese, etc. But in actuality I know we'll have family over all day so time will slip. I know my wife's parents will probably hang out but my MIL would help us cook, so that'd be a help. I just see this being overly complicated....buy maybe I'm making it overly complicated.

Depending on size of family and the amount of leftovers, I bet you could find a way to reheat the turkey that still maintains quality.

Also, take mac and cheese from lunch, put in a fresh casserole, scatter panko and bake till heated through.

Mix the crispy onions on your green bean casserole into the casserole, put in a fresh dish and scatter fresh crispy onions on top. Bake till heated through.

Basically, put a coat of makeup on your leftovers from lunch.

Plain veggies are easy to reheat, and you can reheat/keep ready a lot of veggies if you have a sous vide circulator.

I'm just spitballing.

This sounds like a really long, busy day. Doesn't leave anytime for football and a nap. I'd either do everyone at once or split it up over two days.

FIDO*98* said:

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If I couldn't resolve getting the families together, I'd do something non-traditional and light for lunch like soup and tea sandwiches or maybe start earlier and have a brunch. If your wife's family is having a traditional dinner with their other half, they would probably prefer that anyway. I personally wouldn't try to refresh a lunch and serve it twice.

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That's a good idea. And I agree on not serving the same meal twice, just considering options for OP. Could it be done? Sure. Will it be fun? Hell no.

You would be best served to havw all at same time, unless you left out that the two sides of family hate each other. Etc

Yeah. I'm pushing for all at once. Definitely don't hate each other. Wife just thinks it'd be weird. Not sure why

I can understand that if neither side is close. It would be a good opportunity to get closer.

Personally I would be sorta hurt if I was only invited to one sides gathering on the same day/same place.

She thinks the house is too small. It'd be like 23 people.

But yalls responses confirmed my thoughts on how difficult this would be so pushed harder and convinced her to at least do a brunch type meal with her family vs a traditional thanksgiving. As yall said, all her siblings are doing thanksgiving for dinner anyway. We offered her parents to have thanksgiving with us as well.

Texker said:

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htxag09 said:

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She thinks the house is too small. It'd be like 23 people.

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Exceeding capacity is part of Thanksgiving.

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As is ensuring plenty of booze on hand.

Grandparents, older relatives and hosts eat in the dining room.
Uncles and kids in the living room/outside.
Teenagers in the kitchen or outside.

It will be fun with everyone there!

I think you're being slightly over dramatic. Nobody is kicking anyone out of the house. People would be mingling together as they were coming and going throughout the afternoon. Hence I said I knew time would get away from us as we were interacting with family. My wife's siblings and their families would naturally leave as they go to their in laws' thanksgiving dinners.

Also, I feel like it's pretty normal to have 2 thanksgiving meals. We've done it, just never hosted both. And my wife's family has done it every single year. Lunch with one side, dinner with the other, they are all from Houston and all their families are in Houston. Same with Christmas, Easter, etc.

FitzChivalry said:

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Just bring both sides together for one large meal.

Thanksgiving is a meal shared with family close and distant.

If it has to be done separately for specific reasons (I know there's some reasons out there) then do it on different days or have one side host instead of y'all.

Hosting 2X for separate family members will be exhausting and awkward.

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Yep.

Thanksgiving is about getting together and letting your hair down. We have a smaller home and it is always jam packed. The oven, offset smoker and kamado are all full of meat and cooking. there is a folding table in the garage to hold all of the pies and desserts. The old guys are watching football, kids are running around, little ones are in the back yard playing with the dogs (my dog and whoever else brought one). Teens and young adults are out front with the neighbors playing 2 hand touch in the street and being way too loud. the kitchen is packed with people.

Every leaf is in the dining room table plus a small folding table on the side and folding tables on the patio.

Around the main table we put out the nice china set that I bought years ago while stationed in Japan. I do not know why we even do it. No one cares. Everyone is just so happy to be together and also eat the food people have brought.

No one is going to remember or want to be a part of anything too stuffy. That is what all the work parties are for. People should feel relaxed and like family in our homes.

Its loud, kids (and some adults) spill stuff but we all pitch in at the end and cleanup is like a machine. Its like chaos with love.

We've hosted at our place for 22 plus years and have my side, her side, our side, brothers, sisters, their spouses and kids, cousins w/ spouses and children of whom most of the children are now grown and married with kids of their own, their spouses folks on several occasions.....folks have come in from Dallas, Houston, Austin, Arkansas, Arizona, Illinois, Mississippi.....it's kinda of an open house around here at TG....the more the merrier..... we provide the meat, potatoes and gravy and others bring a side, a desert, bread or rolls......daughter of Rattler has been in charge of pickles and olives.

I have had Thanksgiving at my house for 18 years straight. It is a revolving door from 10am to 10pm (at least.). Family, friends, etc.

A good Thanksgiving is a relaxed Thanksgiving

Sounds like a beating. Can you host one side for Thanksgiving and the other for Christmas?

We go to inlaws for lunch and then go to my parents for dinner. They're around the block from each other.

I've given this further thought and realized this has precedence. The early crowd should get a light meal of popcorn, toast, pretzels and jelly beans with a sundae for dessert. This video is a great guide. Beagle optional.

Food logistics are a concern and several on this thread have weighed in with some good ideas. Most realistic option for you would be to have dinner be the potluck.

My biggest worry would be figuring out how to kick out the lunch crowd before the dinner crowd arrives. I'm not sure how your family works, but mine/my wife's always show up late (or arrive in waves) and stick around LONG after the pre-stated finish time. I'd also be concerned about my ability to spend quality time with the lunch crowd and not be distracted by getting ready for the dinner.

This isn't really an issue. My wife's family all have dinner commitments so will be leaving because of that. My family is coming into town and I'd be shocked if they arrive before 3. Yes, we'll have some overlapping but that's part of it. We want the overlapping and mingling. But because of other commitments we aren't worried about having to "kick anyone out" for my families dinner.