Texans Are Replacing Turkey With Brisket This Thanksgiving

Within the Lone Star State, Thanksgiving traditions are evolving, embracing a smoky, slow-cooked transformation.

For many Texans, the conventional roast turkey is yielding to a more local and flavorful option: the perfectly smoked brisket.

Wait, Texans want to serve brisket over turkey on Thanksgiving? You betcha!

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Goodbye Turkey, Hello Brisket for Thanksgiving

Across barbecue-enthusiastic regions of Texas, from the Hill Country to the Permian Basin, the notion of substituting turkey for brisket is no longer a jest; it is becoming a significant shift in holiday customs.

Within my family, we maintain the Thanksgiving tradition of serving turkey while also incorporating the contemporary preference for brisket, preparing both simultaneously.

If you can have both, why not? We do.

Why Break Traditional Thanksgiving Tradition?

The shift can be attributed to several factors.

Firstly, there's a matter of practicality; turkey can be dry, heavy, and lacks the distinctive Texas flavor profile.

However, the change is also deeply rooted in culture. In Texas, beef and barbecue are quintessential elements. Brisket, in particular, represents community, skilled craftsmanship, and regional pride.

As Texans gather for their holiday meals, a question arises: if the Pilgrims had arrived in Texas, would brisket have become the traditional centerpiece?

It all seems feasible if brisket were readily available for the Pilgrims. Least, that's how I see it.

This Thanksgiving, in Texas households large and small, you might hear the smoker fire up early, the aroma of post oak or mesquite drifting through the air, and conversations turning from “who carved the turkey” to “how long did you smoke the brisket.”

For those who swapped the bird for brisket, the answer is simple: tradition evolves, especially when it’s delicious. Who can argue with that?

Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving

You may not want to cook or have a mess at home. So don't. These restaurants are open on Thanksgiving.

Gallery Credit: Melissa Bartlett

13 Perfectly Nostalgic Songs About Thanksgiving

For all the great Christmas songs out there, there really aren't all that many about Thanksgiving.

That's just plain not fair. Turkey Day might get lost in Christmas' shadow a bit, but it's still one of the best days of the year: From the food to the family, it's a holiday that deserves its moment in the spotlight.

That's why Taste of Country is compiling this list of perfectly nostalgic songs for your Thanksgiving playlist. It's easy enough to find country music with a theme of gratitude, but we took it a step further.

Each and every song on this list is either about Thanksgiving itself or a food closely associated with the holiday, with one exception. One submission on this list is about family dynamics -- something that admittedly isn't explicitly about the November holiday, but does come up at quite a few Thanksgiving tables each year.

Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak