Bob’s Burgers: The Best Thanksgiving Episodes, Ranked
Thanksgiving means staying at home and binge-watching the holiday specials from popular TV shows. FOX‘s Bob’s Burgers has had a Thanksgiving special since its third season on the air. The Belcher family are always up to some cookey and comical antics that fans can not help but enjoy. Out of 12 seasons of Bob’s Burgers, some Thanksgiving episodes have taken the cake for being spectacular, but some have fallen short on storyline.
‘I Bob Your Pardon’ (Season 9, Episode 7)
The Belchers go to town hall to watch the mayor pardon a turkey. When Louise, Tina, and Gene find out the turkey will instead be sent to a slaughterhouse, they start a rescue mission. Dragging along Bob and Linda, they tail the mayor’s assistant. A low-end reporter gets involved hoping for his big break.
The episode has its fun holiday charm and shenanigans but lacks enough story to keep viewers invested. “‘I Bob Your Pardon’ has the ideal setup to put Bob through another round of holiday hell, albeit one that feels less fresh and distinctive than the show’s best holiday episodes,” explained the AV Club.
‘Now We’re Not Cooking with Gas’ (Season 10, Episode 8)
For ‘Now We’re Not Cooking with Gas,’ Bob’s holidays are once again ruined. As a food aficionado, Bob gets his hands on his dream turkey from Riverbrook Lake Farms. When the gas is shut off for the entire block, Bob improvises and tries to cook the turkey in the alley.
The episode has its fun moments of shenanigans but lacks a certain hook that it needs to carry things through. Tina, Linda, Louis, and Gene are doing their own thing while Bob becomes obsessed with the turkey.
‘Thanks-hoarding’ (Season 8, Episode 5)
Teddy is the star of ‘Thanks-hoarding.’ It works surprisingly well enough for a holiday episode. The Bob’s Burgers Thanksgiving episode entails Teddy panicking when his family decides to come over for the holidays. Teddy is a better handyman than cook, and Bob reluctantly agrees to help him.
Bob never expected helping Teddy cook would be an entire mission. Meanwhile, the kids and Linda uncover Teddy’s dark secret. He is a hoarder, and they try to help him break his habit and throw things away. The episode focuses on a supporting character besides the Belchers, which makes it a fun watch.
‘Diarrhea of a Poopy Kid’ (Season 11, Episode 7)
Gene’s holiday plans are absolutely ruined when he gets food poisoning on Thanksgiving. It just so happens that Bob is making a feast and trying new recipes like pear and brie. To distract himself, he asks Tina and Louise to tell him stories.
The Bob’s Burgers Thanksgiving episode follows the tradition of the holidays going awry one way or another. The episode has a fun charm with intricate and pop culture-based stories.
‘The Quirk-ducers’ (Season 7, Episode 6)
Bob’s Burgers fans often recall ‘The Quirk-ducers’ because of how bizarre it is as a Thanksgiving episode. What makes it so interesting to watch is the surprising level of gore and guts, literally. Luis hatches a plan to ruin Mr. Frond’s holiday play so the students can get a half-day.
Louis tricks Tina into using one of her many holiday fan fictions about coming-of-age turkeys. But Tina is unaware Louise plans to warp her story finale into a bloody, gutsy, and grotesque display.
‘Gayle Makin’ Bob Sled’ (Season 6, Episode 4)
For ‘Gayle Makin’ Bob Sled,’ it is up to Tina, Louise, Gene, and Linda to cook Thanksgiving dinner. When Gayle injured her foot, Linda sends Bob to get her to be with the family for the holidays. A snowstorm forces Bob to trek Gayle on foot.
Not being able to make it on time to cook the turkey, Bob enlists the help of his family. The episode is fun and relatable. The idea of cooking a turkey is daunting, even for Linda. Being caught in the snow is something many fans have likely experienced.
‘An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal’ (Season 3, Episode 5)
The fifth episode of Bob’s Burgers Season 3 is the very first Thanksgiving episode for the show. It holds a special place in fans’ hearts. Mr. Fischoeder hires Bob to cook Thanksgiving at his home. The catch? Linda, Louise, Gene, and Tina pose as Mr. Fischoeder’s family to seduce his old lover. The episode is chaotic, comical, and a joy for the holidays.
‘Stuck in the Kitchen with You’ (Season 12, Episode 8)
Once again, ‘Stuck in the Kitchen with You’ takes the Belchers to an unsuspecting location for Thanksgiving. Bob agrees to cook a magnificent feast for the residents of the retirement home. Louise gets stuck as his assistant but becomes annoyed as Bob’s nitpicking and rules. Meanwhile, Tina, Gene, and Zeke entertain the residents.
‘Dawn of the Peck’ (Season 5, Episode 4)
The Belchers are in a fight for their lives in the Thanksgiving episode ‘Dawn of the Peck.’ Linda and the kids spend the holiday at the Wonder Wharf for the first annual “Turk-tacular Turkey Town Festival.” Bob is hurt by it and refuses to cook dinner, and stays home. The festival goes awry when the turkeys used for a race are angry and feral. The residents and the Belchers must survive the turkey war any way they can.
‘Turkey in a Can’ (Season 4, Episode 5)
The Bob’s Burgers Thanksgiving episode ‘Turkey in a Can’ is chaotic but full of holiday cheer and comedy. Bob finds his three-day brine turkey in the toilet and wants to know who is responsible. No one confesses. When Bob’s new turkey is again in the toilet, Bob goes mad trying to find the culprit. At the same time, Tina tries to convince her way into the adult’s table and become a young woman.
