The Thanksgiving table is the centerpiece of the holiday. Imagine if this grand tradition were magnified, with nearly 100,000 fans gathering for dinner. They gather at AT&T Stadium for the fun.
Every year, the Dallas Cowboys host their Thanksgiving game here. This event is more than just football, it’s a complete holiday experience. Even in the huge stadium, you can feel comfortable and cozy.
They made sure every fan had a special Thanksgiving. The concourse area was transformed into a festive food area. The AT&T Stadium staff started preparations early. It was such a huge undertaking.
The preparations started long before the first fan arrived. Just thinking about the amount of food is mind-blowing. Preparing food for so many people takes planning. It takes skill and a lot of commitment. Culinary Director Marcelo Vasquez talked about starting the preparations ahead of time.
George Wasai is the stadium’s vice president of food and beverage. He’s excited to announce something new: Tyson Dallas Cowboys chicken nuggets are here. It may not be a Thanksgiving tradition, but the star-shaped nuggets are a fun new addition, and they’re a signature item on the lunch menu. There are other items on the menu, too.
Some of the creations are truly unique and mouth-watering. Every fan with a ticket is invited to participate. They can try out this wonderful array of Thanksgiving delicacies.
Franchise chef Heather Fuller describes it for us, and it sounds like an entire Thanksgiving platter on a buttered bun. “Everything you can think of is on it,” she says. Macaroni and cheese, stuffing, smoked turkey, green beans, gravy, cranberry sauce—all on a buttered bun,” she adds.
Does that list make your mouth water? It’s a holiday feast on a layered level. Not only is this sandwich huge, it looks like it’s hard to eat alone. In fact, it’s recommended to share it with a friend.
Imagine huddling with friends at a game. You pass this delicious sandwich back and forth, and you slowly savor every bite.
Turkey is often the star of the holiday table. Side dishes include fluffy mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes, corn and green beans. A variety of casseroles also provide plenty of options.
The stuffing is a key layer in the giant Thanksgiving sandwich. It sits alongside the mac and cheese and the smoked turkey. Green beans, gravy, and cranberry sauce surround the stuffing. This perfectly balances the richness of the turkey and gravy. It makes the sandwich feel very complete.
Next up is the Thanksgiving Handmade Pie. This isn’t just any dessert, but a delicious, savory little treat. It has stuffing, sweet potatoes, and turkey. And green beans, cranberry sauce, and gravy filling it up.
Having stuffing in a pie might sound peculiar, but think about the role it plays in absorbing flavors. It also adds a comforting texture. In this new format, the inclusion of stuffing makes perfect sense. This pie also comes with a special bonus. It’s the only dine-in option.
Honey Brined Smoked Turkey
Equipment
- 1 54-quart Cooler Or a food-grade container large enough to fully submerge the turkey in brine.
- 1 Large Pot For heating water and mixing brine ingredients.
- 1 Grill Suitable for indirect cooking and smoking (charcoal or gas).
- 1 Probe Thermometer Essential for monitoring internal breast temperature accurately.
- 1 Heavy-duty aluminum foil For constructing the smoke bomb and covering the turkey.
Ingredients
Main
- 1 gallon hot water
- 1 pound kosher salt
- 2 quarts vegetable broth
- 1 pound honey
- 1 7-pound bag of ice
- 1 15 to 20-pound turkey, with giblets removed
- Vegetable oil for rubbing turkey
Instructions
- Combine the hot water and the salt in a 54-quart cooler. Stir until the salt dissolves. Stir in the vegetable broth and the honey. Add the ice and stir. Place the turkey in the brine, breast side up, and cover with cooler lid.. Brine overnight, up to 12 hours.
- Remove the turkey from the brine and dry thoroughly. Rub the bird thoroughly with the vegetable oil.
- Heat the grill to 400 degrees F.
- Using a double thickness of heavy-duty aluminum foil, build a smoke bomb. Place a cup of hickory wood chips in the center of the foil and gather up the edges, making a small pouch. Leave the pouch open at the top. Set this directly on the charcoal or on the metal bar over the gas flame. Set the turkey over indirect heat, insert a probe thermometer into the thickest part of the breast meat, and set the alarm for 160 degrees F. Close the lid and cook for 1 hour.
- After 1 hour check the bird; if the skin is golden brown, cover with aluminum foil and continue cooking. Also, after 1 hour, replace wood chips with second cup.
- Once the bird reaches 160 degrees F, remove from grill, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 1 hour. Carve and serve.
Notes
Tens of thousands of people eating in just a few hours is truly astonishing. The chefs and staff are totally committed to the cause.
The Dallas Cowboys’ Thanksgiving event at AT&T Stadium is about so much more than food. Preparing a feast for nearly a hundred thousand fans is an incredible logistical undertaking. However, at the heart of this annual tradition is passion and a deep respect for what brings people together. They come together to eat as much as to watch football on the field.
Truthfully, this day is about so much more than delicious food. No matter how creatively constructed or how big it is, it’s a day that means so much. The game itself is so important, it’s the rekindling of an old rivalry. It’s so important to bring families and friends together. Whether they’re at home or in the stands high up in the stadium. This day is steeped in the passion of football. You can feel the intensity of each game. And the roar of all the fans.
Every year during halftime, a heavyweight music artist takes the stage to perform. This tradition brings the biggest names in country music to the turf of AT&T Stadium. Think of recent performers like Luke Combs and Dolly Parton. This top-tier entertainment makes the halftime show a truly special moment. You can see this show during the Thanksgiving game’s telecast, which attracts millions of viewers.
Just this year during the Thanksgiving game, the Cowboys will be featuring another big name in country music. This superstar will be the headliner of the Salvation Army’s “Red Kettle” opening show. The team announced in October that Lainey Wilson is definitely the pick this year. She’s 32 years old and hails from Louisiana. Lainey has always been known for her unique voice. In addition, you can often see her in her signature bell bottoms.
In a video announcement, Wilson appears next to the famous Cowboys cheerleaders. She expressed her excitement about this wonderful collaboration. “I’m so excited to be working with the Salvation Army,” she made it clear. She added that this collaboration not only spreads love during the holiday season, but also makes a real difference in our communities throughout the year. Her inclusion highlights the philanthropic spirit that runs deep in the Cowboys’ Thanksgiving Day game history.
Lainey Wilson’s climb to such a big stage shows true grit. Her ascent to the top of country music didn’t happen overnight. She faced numerous rejections before she rose to fame – a common occurrence among hopeful artists. However, it’s these setbacks that make her current success all the more inspiring.
She mentioned on NBC’s The Voice that she auditioned for the hit singing show several times. In fact, she auditioned not once or twice, but seven times. Despite her many attempts, she ultimately didn’t make it to the stage. This is where the coaches “turned against her”. Remember, she was rejected from more than one show. She was also rejected from American Idol, which is now also a major platform for discovering musical talent.
Wilson didn’t give up and made the big decision to move. In 2011, she landed in Nashville. Her clear goal was to immediately launch her country music career. It took years of hard work and dedication to her career before she finally got her big breakthrough, with her hit single “What a Man Should Know” released in 2020. The song truly thrust her into the spotlight, earning her huge recognition in the music industry and recognition from her legions of fans.
Since Lainey Wilson burst onto the scene, her Southern voice has become a household name in the country music world. She has created several hit songs that have won the audience love, such as “Heart Like a Truck” and “Wildflowers and Wild Horses”. Her latest album, released in August 2024, includes familiar songs such as “Hang Tight Honey” and “4x4xU”, further consolidating her position as a top singer in the country music industry.
Her talent and hard work have won her many country music awards. At the 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards (CMA Awards), she won the Best Artist of the Year Award, which is unquestionable. Such recognition fully demonstrates her huge influence and popularity. In addition, at the 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards (CMA Awards), she also won the Best Female Vocalist of the Year Award and the Best Music Video of the Year Award. These awards fully demonstrate her musical talent and artistic accomplishments.
