18 Korean Recipes for Thanksgiving Dinner!

While some Korean foods go great with the traditional American Thanksgiving dishes, there are others that just totally overpower everything else. Here are some of my best Korean dishes for a Korean American Thanksgiving dinner this year!

Korean Food for Thanksgiving!?

YES! Why NOT!? Above is a picture of our Korean American Thanksgiving feast with friends and family from a few years back. For the last 10 years, we have been lucky and blessed to be part of a “family”: a group of friends and their children who have been celebrating Thanksgiving together for almost every year for their 25+ year friendship.

Being a first-generation immigrant and not having family close by, Thanksgiving is a quiet small family (of 3) event, unless we traveled to my sisters’ families (which was always wonderful). Having a local “family” to celebrate the holidays together has been such a blessing, and we are forever grateful for their company! 😍

Anyways, in the picture, you can see that we had Kimchi Tofu and Japchae mixed with the usual Turkey, stuffing, Caesar salad, and my Kimchi Brussel Sprouts!

The Tale of Thanksgiving kimchi

For many Korean Americans (and anyone who loves Korean food), I know Thanksgiving food equals bland + bland.

On the year we got married, my husband and I visited my brother’s home for Thanksgiving. The table was full of fabulous Thanksgiving dishes, prepared as a group effort by my sisters and in-laws. A few bites into the dinner and I heard someone say, “Hmm… I feel like we’re missing something important… huh… OH— KIMCHI!!!”

“No!” I tried my very best to protest, “we better not ruin such a thoughtfully prepared American Thanksgiving dinner with Kimchi, you know how strong the smell is!”

Yet…

… let’s just say that almost everyone ended up with Kimchi on their plates, and in their bellies. “Yesss… that Kimchi totally hit the spot! We seriously needed something spicy and fresh,” they said, completely satisfied.

I kinda agreed with them, but didn’t want to admit it at all. 🥲

Oh well, we Koreans just can’t help it. In case you haven’t noticed, we’re hopelessly addicted to Kimchi. I mean, it’s crunchy, refreshing, and leaves your mouth watering for more— what’s better than that?

My Family’s Thanksgiving

Now, unlike many Koreans, I actually LOVE a properly cooked turkey and the usual trimmings. Much like how Korean New Year’s or Chuseok holds special memories for me, Thanksgiving stirs up the most wonderful and warm emotions in my heart. Even after I became an adult, I was lucky to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving at the homes of my older siblings, regardless of whether it was in the US, or in Korea.

For a few years, all 7 of us celebrated together. After that, it was with whoever was at home at the time. As the years went on, my older siblings spread their wings, and went on to head to college. Back then, traveling wasn’t something you could often do, so it just wasn’t possible to have big family reunions yearly.

But no matter where we lived, in India, in Korea – my parents made sure we had a special family dinner, even though American Thanksgiving had no special meaning in our Korean culture. However, churches in Korea (which was founded by American missionary back in 1884) always reminded us to be thankful for another year full of his blessings and grace.

Let me now share my 18 Korean recipes for Thanksgiving. Hope you have a wonderful time making them! ❤️

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Appetizers

Let’s start with some of my best appetizers that’s wonderful for any party.

1.Sweet Gochujang Meatballs

*Includes both Instant Pot and Stovetop recipes.

This has become the most requested dish for me in our neighborhood holiday parties so be sure to try this one!

I also love making this dish because it’s just such a simple recipe to follow. Feel free to use frozen, pre-made meatballs (Trader Joe’s is my favorite) which makes it even easier to make.

2.Wanja Jeon & Kkaennip Jeon — Pan-fried Beef Patties & Stuffed Perilla Leaves

*This dish can be made gluten-free by using gluten-free flour in the coating batter.

The Korean term “Jeon” stands for food that is battered and pan-fried. Jeons are commonly featured in classic Korean dishes that you can make into sides but is amazing as an appetizer. 🤤❤️

These can be served at room temperature so you can easily make ahead. And serve with some soy dipping sauce.

3.Korean Cocktail Meatballs

Korean cocktail meatballs with Sweet Soy Glaze is a Korean Fusion dish that will be something different than your usual appetizer meatballs. The addition of tofu and kimchi makes this very flavorful while the sweet soy glaze makes it all work together.

4.POKE NACHOS

Poke Nachos is the perfect marriage of the best flavors of Asian and Mexican food and it has totally become my top favorite party appetizer to make for my friends.

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Kimchi Dishes

I hope you try some Kimchi with your Turkey this Thanksgiving because it really adds such a perfect punch to your meal.😉

5.Oi Kimchi — Cucumber Kimchi with Chives

Different from most Kimchi dishes, Oi Kimchi is vegan (no fish sauce needed), and quite easy to make.

This cucumber kimchi is one of the most refreshing types of Kimchi there is. Make ahead 4-5 days ahead for a perfect side dish to accompany your Thanksgiving meal!

6.Yangbaechu Kimchi — Green Cabbage Kimchi

Living outside of Korea makes it very difficult to get your hands on Korean cabbages, so this recipe that use the common green cabbage is the perfect one to have. And you don’t need hours to make it – this kimchi is done in 1 hour.

7.Kimchi Tofu

The raw and mild flavored tofu balances the strong flavors of the sauteed Kimchi, a classic Korean recipe that adds a great punch to your Thanksgiving plate.

8.Easy Brussel Sprouts with Kimchi and Pancetta

I developed this recipe specifically for Thanksgiving. Kimchi and bacon (or pancetta) is such a perfect pairing and then when you combine all 3 together, it is just… really, really good. I hope you really try this dish!

Noodles and Salads

These noodle and salad dishes will add a very much needed freshness and lightness to your meal. Hope you try these wonderful Korean Recipes for your Thanksgiving dinner!

9. Japchae – simple one-pan recipe

This mild-tasting glass noodle dish (this version is vegan!) will always win over anyone, regardless of how you serve it. Side dish or appetizer, it doesn’t matter— it all tastes amazing. I also have a full Japchae version that includes beef, if you want to go more traditional.

10.Soba Noodle Salad with Sesame Soy Vinaigrette

Soba noodles are well-known for being healthy. This soba noodle salad has a perfectly balanced sweet, tangy and nutty sesame soy vinaigrette dressing that goes well with just about everything.

11.Sweet Kabocha Squash Salad

Thanksgiving season means there’s going to be an abundance of squashes and pumpkins in stores.

True to its name, Sweet Kabocha Squash gives off a gentle sweetness, and it works wonderfully when paired with Thanksgiving dishes.

12.Spicy Baby Bok Choy Salad

Compared to the Kimchi, this Bok Choy salad is less garlicky and is milder and more refreshing.

You can make the dressing ahead of time, then you can just toss everything together when it’s close to serving time.

13.Korean Style Apple Onion Celery Salad

Inspired by a dish I once had at a restaurant, I came up with this recipe because I loved the flavors of apple and onion coated in the wonderful creamy dressing.

This salad can me made in around 10 minutes. It’s a low effort, high reward dish that’s hard to come by!

14. MILK BREAD ROLLS

A modified recipe of my Milk Bread recipe to make the perfectly soft and moist bread roll for the holidays!

15.Salada Ppang — Korean Potato Salad Sandwich

These salad sandwiches are commonly sold in bakeries in Korea, and their popularity has remained over 50 years so you know it’s good!

All you’ll need is bread, preferably a sweet and soft bread like milk bread, sweet Hawaiian rolls or even better, you can use the milk bread rolls from above. I found that sweeter kinds of bread work best with creamy potato salad.

Korean Desserts for Thanksgiving Dinner

Here are some great Korean sweets that maybe you can add to your Thanksgiving goodies list. And they are also all GLUTEN FREE! 😊

16. Yaksik — Korean Sweet Rice Dessert

*Includes both Instant Pot and Stovetop versions!

Combine sweet rice, chestnuts, dried jujubes, pine nuts. Season with soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, and cinnamon and you have the amazing Yaksik!

Yaksik 약식 means ‘food that is like medicine’ which means it’s healthy enough to be (almost) a medicine. It’s great as a snack or even breakfast!

17. Sweet Rice mini Bundt Cake

This gluten-free Bundt cake is an oven-baked dessert that’s made from sweet rice flour, eggs, butter, milk and sugar. My post used a special grain mill but please feel free to use plain mochiko flour instead of freshly ground rice.

This one bakes like a regular cake, which means you can finally break out the fancy molds and give your cake a stylish look!

18. Bukkumi — Pan-fried Rice Cake Dumplings with Sweet Red Beans

Aren’t these just the cutest things ever?! Bukkumi comes from the Gangwondo province of Korea. They are sweet rice cake dumplings that are stuffed with sweet fillings, and then pan-fried.

If you’re feeling a little bit extra like me, don’t hesitate to decorate with some fresh edible flowers or herbs — the end product (pictured above) speaks for itself!

EXTRA – What to do with Leftover Turkey?

Korean Style Spicy Turkey Leftover Soup

After spending so many years of Thanksgiving, I’ve come to realize that leftover turkey is a yearly Thanksgiving event that you’ll never be able to avoid.

Because of this, I’ve decided to make a recipe similar to Dakgaejang (similar flavors to Yukgaejang) that can breathe life into your leftover turkey once more! Do give it a try if you can! ❤️

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Happy Thanksgiving!!

May you have a time full of blessings~

XOXO,

JinJoo 🦃💛

^{Nov 2018, 2019: Updated with GF, VG keys}

^{Nov 2024: Updated with 2 additional recipes}