In short: a Thanksgiving raclette is not a sacrilege. It is actually a rather lovely tribute, as long as you leave room for the turkey (or at least the cranberry sauce). And if you are looking for the true raclette holidays, everything happens between October and February, with Christmas and New Year’s Eve as the grand finale.
Every year, on the fourth Thursday of November, Americans gather around a turkey the size of a small dog. In 2026, that is November 26. And every year, somewhere, a raclette fan watches the scene and asks the awkward question: what if we got the grill out instead?
What is Thanksgiving, exactly?
Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and on the second Monday of October in Canada. Families give thanks for the year, around a meal that is far too generous. So far, raclette ticks every box.
The holiday looks back to the 1621 harvest feast in Plymouth, Massachusetts: three days of celebration and at least 140 guests, including about 90 Wampanoag men who came with their leader Massasoit. According to the Plimoth Patuxet museum, the only eyewitness account names just two foods, venison and wildfowl. Everything else is an educated guess: fish, mussels, lobster, corn, squash, beans, cranberries.
The case for sacrilege
The turkey is sacred. Thanksgiving without turkey is a bit like raclette without cheese: technically possible, morally questionable. Your in-laws may take it as a betrayal.
There was no cheese in 1621. The Plimoth Patuxet museum mentions goats’ milk and eggs, but no cheese. History purists have a point. There were no potatoes either, by the way: sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes reached the table much later.
The culture clash. A North American holiday and an Alpine cheese: on paper, it is an arranged marriage. And pumpkin pie has never quite recovered from being placed next to a raclette pan.
The case for honor
The spirit of sharing. Thanksgiving is a big table where everyone helps themselves and nobody leaves before the end. Raclette is exactly that, with the bonus of being allowed to play with fire. It is hard to find a friendlier meal.
A harvest festival. The 1621 meal celebrated the end of the harvest. Raclette is an end-of-season dish too: it comes out when the days get shorter. In France, raclette cheese sales are concentrated between October and February, according to FranceAgriMer. Late November is right in the middle of the season.
It steals nobody’s spot. A raclette grill needs no oven. The turkey can roast in peace while the pans heat up. This may be the best diplomatic argument in this article.
Our verdict: a Thanksgiving raclette is an honor
Making raclette for Thanksgiving does not betray the holiday, it translates it. The secret is to keep the colors of Thanksgiving on the plates. Here is our Thanksgiving raclette menu:
The cheese: a raclette from Savoie or Valais, plus a smoked cheese for a campfire touch. Plan on about 200 g (7 oz) per person.
Around the pans: slices of smoked or roast turkey (using up leftovers is very American), roasted sweet potatoes next to the regular potatoes, grilled butternut squash cubes, red onions and mushrooms.
The game changer: a spoonful of cranberry sauce on the melted cheese. The sweet and tart flavor works like a jam with a strong cheese. Add a few crushed pecans on top, and your in-laws start to have doubts.
For dessert: a slice of pumpkin pie, because you have to give Thanksgiving what belongs to Thanksgiving.
The holidays where raclette rules
Thanksgiving is adventure territory. Other holidays, on the other hand, are recognized as raclette country. Here is our ranking, from the most obvious to the most festive.
| Holiday | When | Why raclette |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas | December 24 and 25 | In Switzerland and France, it is a very common festive meal: everyone cooks at the table, and the host finally gets to sit down. |
| New Year’s Eve | December 31 | The great classic in France, Switzerland and Germany, where the New Year’s Eve (Silvester) raclette is a real tradition. It easily lasts until midnight. |
| Ski holidays | December to March | The après-ski meal par excellence, in a chalet or at home. |
| Bagnes, Capital of Raclette | Late September | In Le Châble, Valais, a raclette cheese festival every year. In 2026, it took place on September 26 and 27. |
| Start of the season | Late September, early October | 45% of French people think the season starts at the end of September, according to a CSA survey. The first chilly evening gives the signal. |
| Thanksgiving | 4th Thursday of November | Not a tradition, but an honor, according to our verdict. Do not forget the cranberry sauce. |
What about the Netherlands?
In the Netherlands, the most popular Christmas dinner is called “gourmetten”: small pans, meat, vegetables and often cheese, at the table, just like a raclette. According to a Hart van Nederland survey, 35% of Dutch people chose it for Christmas 2024. Raclette is never far from the holidays, even under another name.
Questions about Thanksgiving raclette
Can you really replace the turkey with raclette at Thanksgiving?
Yes, but we advise against replacing it completely: serve turkey slices with the raclette. You keep the symbol, and everyone gets melted cheese.
Which cheese should you choose for a Thanksgiving raclette?
A classic raclette from Savoie or Valais, plus a smoked cheese. Wood-fire flavors go very well with turkey, squash and cranberry sauce.
What is the best holiday for raclette?
New Year’s Eve and Christmas come first: raclette lasts for hours, and no cook is stuck in the kitchen. And the season runs from October to February.
So, turkey or raclette pan?
If you try a Thanksgiving raclette, keep the cranberry sauce close and tell us what your guests thought. Next, our raclette recipes are waiting for you, and our guide to cheese quantities per person will make sure you never run out, which would be the real sacrilege.
Sources: Plimoth Patuxet Museums, Réussir, Les Marchés (FranceAgriMer, CSA), Valais.ch, Bagnes Capitale de la Raclette, Hart van Nederland, Tour My Germany
