15 Filipino Thanksgiving Recipes – Panlasang Pinoy

Thanksgiving is one of the most special times of the year to celebrate family, food, and gratitude. For many Filipino Americans, it is also the perfect opportunity to create meaningful Thanksgiving recipes that combine both Filipino and American traditions. When November comes, our tables often feature the familiar turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy right alongside our beloved pancit, lumpia, and lechon kawali. It is a celebration of cultures and flavors that tell our story as Filipino Americans.

The smell of garlic, soy sauce, and calamansi blends with the aroma of roasted turkey. The kitchen stays busy all day, the rice cooker never stops, and laughter fills the air. That is what makes Filipino Thanksgiving gatherings so special. It is not only about the food but also about gratitude, connection, and the warmth of being together.

A short history of Filipino Thanksgiving

The story of Thanksgiving in the Philippines began during the early nineteen hundreds when the country came under American influence. Schools and government offices adopted the American version of the holiday, holding celebrations to promote gratitude and unity. The first official Thanksgiving in the Philippines was even declared by President Manuel Quezon during the Commonwealth era. It was celebrated much like the American one, but over time, Filipinos reshaped the meaning to fit their own values of family and pasasalamat, or giving thanks.

After World War Two, the tradition remained in some communities, especially among families with relatives who had worked with or studied under American institutions. Filipino cooks began preparing dishes that mixed local ingredients with American favorites, such as roast chicken seasoned with soy sauce and calamansi instead of turkey with herbs. It became common to host a simple meal at home where families gave thanks for blessings and togetherness.

When Filipinos started migrating to the United States in greater numbers during the nineteen sixties and seventies, they brought that familiar sense of gratitude with them. Many found comfort in adopting Thanksgiving as their own because its spirit felt close to Filipino values. Families prepared both turkey and rice, mashed potatoes and pancit, and pumpkin pie beside leche flan. The meal reflected their dual identity, grateful for opportunities in a new land while staying deeply connected to home.

Today, Filipino Americans continue to celebrate Thanksgiving in a way that is uniquely their own. Some keep the holiday simple, while others turn it into a full feast that feels more like a fiesta. Either way, it always revolves around family, food, and appreciation for life’s blessings. The Filipino version of Thanksgiving may have started with history, but it continues because of the heart that every Filipino brings to the table.

How Filipino families celebrate Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day in a Filipino home begins early in the morning. The kitchen fills with the sounds of chopping, simmering, and happy conversation. One person prepares marinades, another sets the table, and someone is always in charge of frying lumpia. There is a pot of rice cooking in the background and the smell of garlic and soy sauce fills the air.

Some families still prepare roast turkey, but others choose roasted pork belly, chicken inasal, or beef caldereta as their main dish. Lumpia, pancit, and adobo are also common favorites. Before eating, everyone pauses to pray and give thanks, in English or Tagalog, and then the real feast begins. After dinner comes dessert, coffee, and sometimes karaoke that lasts into the night. This is what Filipino Thanksgiving looks like, full of love, laughter, and great food.

15 Filipino Thanksgiving Recipes You Will Love

These fifteen dishes bring Filipino flavor and comfort to the Thanksgiving table. Each one tells a story and adds its own unique touch to your list of Thanksgiving recipes.

Bringing it all together

The beauty of Filipino Thanksgiving is how naturally both cultures come together in one meal. You can serve turkey beside Lechon Kawali, mashed potatoes next to Pancit, and end with both pumpkin pie and Cassava Cake. There are no strict rules, only love, gratitude, and delicious food. These Thanksgiving recipes are more than dishes, they are stories that connect generations.

A personal reflection

Thanksgiving always brings me back to my first years in the United States. I did not fully understand the holiday at first, but I knew what it meant to be thankful. My family would gather around a table filled with turkey, adobo, mashed potatoes, and rice. It may not have looked traditional, but it felt right.

Over time, I realized that Filipino food belongs anywhere people gather to share a meal. It carries the warmth of home and the joy of togetherness. Whether you are in California, Chicago, or Manila, these Filipino Thanksgiving recipes will make your celebration truly special. Celebrate the people you love, be thankful for every blessing, and enjoy every bite. Happy Thanksgiving, my friends. May your hearts and plates always be full.