Bob’s Burgers: The definitive ranking of Thanksgiving episodes

Bob’s Burgers may just be the television show most devoted to Thanksgiving. And with the holiday a few days away, we’re ranking its Turkey Day episodes over the years.

Bob’s Burgers, an animated show centered on Bob Belcher and his family’s burger restaurant, may be the show that has expressed the most devotion to Thanksgiving over its 10-season run. (It makes sense considering it’s series ostensibly about food.)

Thanksgiving is also Bob Belcher’s favorite holiday. While in later seasons, Christmas takes on a bigger role (particularly with the two-parter musical episode, “The Bleakening,” in season eight), true Bob’s Burgers fans know Thanksgiving is the most important holiday.

In honor of the show’s 10th season and recently filmed 200th episode, below is our definitive ranking of all Bob’s Burgers Thanksgiving episodes to date, from least memorable to most.

Season 9 Episode 7:  “I Bob Your Pardon”

In “I Bob Your Pardon,” the Belchers discover the mayor’s pardoned turkey is headed for the slaughterhouse and decide they must save it. While Bob simply wants to get back home and cook, Linda and the kids lead him on a journey to take the turkey to a farm where he can truly be pardoned.

The episode turns into an insane caper as the Belchers fight against the mayor’s cover-up and try to do the right thing, including bringing a reporter along for the ride. While it’s a funny premise, it’s less memorable than an earlier episode with a similar plot: “Sacred Cow” from the first season.

Season 6 Episode 6:  “Gayle Makin’ Bob Sled”

“Gayle Makin’ Bob Sled” finds Bob picking up Gayle for Thanksgiving dinner, only to get stranded in a snowstorm, forcing Linda and the kids to prepare dinner.

As much as I love Megan Mulally’s Gayle, a little goes a long way, and, generally speaking, the Gayle-centric episodes are not my favorites.

Gayle is also particularly awful in this episode, lying to Bob, and forcing him to leave the kitchen and relegate the Thanksgiving cooking to Linda and the kids (which is truly a nightmare for him).

Season 10 Episode 8:  “Now We’re Not Cooking With Gas”

This season’s episode, “Now We’re Not Cooking With Gas” finds Bob set to have his best Thanksgiving yet, as he finally gets the call that he’s going to receive a heritage, farm fresh turkey. However, when the gas goes out, Bob resorts to cooking the turkey over a fire in the street.

Sending the kids on a mission to find wood for the fire, Bob gets increasingly crazed by the fire, and Linda gets distracted by finding mementos that are suitable for burning. As often happens, Bob almost loses sight of what’s important in an attempt to make the perfect turkey, but realizes he’s acting crazy before it’s too late.

Season 8 Episode 5:  “Thanks-hoarding”

“Thanks-Hoarding” finds Bob once again pulled away from his Thanksgiving meal (do you see a pattern yet?) in order to help Teddy prepare for his family’s arrival. When the Belchers show up, they’re horrified to discover Teddy is a hoarder.

While, at first, Linda tries to spearhead a mass cleaning of his apartment, she realizes she’s sending Teddy into more of a tailspin than its worth. The episode is a sweet reminder of the different forms that love and family can take.

Season 3 Episode 5:  “An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal”

In “An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal,” Mr. Fischoeder bribes the Belchers into posing as his family so he can woo an ex who is only attracted to married men. The first Bob’s Thanksgiving episode also establishes the tradition that Thanksgiving is Bob’s favorite holiday.

This episode takes on the zanier madcap comedy of other earlier episodes, balancing out Bob’s desire for a quiet family Thanksgiving with Linda’s desire to win money from Mr. Fischoeder, eventually culminating in a rifle chase throughout the house.

Season 4 Episode 5:  “Turkey in a Can”

“Turkey in a Can” finds Bob preparing his turkey, only to discover that someone has dumped it in the toilet the next morning.

Throughout the episode, the turkey keeps getting dumped in the toilet, and Bob has to go back to the grocery store multiple times to buy a turkey, which cues up a hilarious subplot with the deli guy thinking he’s only coming back to see him.

It’s little moments like these — including Bob fessing up that he’s not on his level — that thread the queer needle constantly running as an undercurrent in the show.

Overall, it’s a sweet episode that centers Bob and Tina’s relationship as she plans to move on from the “kids table” and he fears she’s growing up too fast. (The reveal of who is dumping the turkey in the toilet and why is the weirdly precious thing that only Bob’s can pull off.)

Season 5 Episode 4:  “Dawn of the Peck”

In “Dawn of the Peck,” due to Linda and the kids choosing to attend an inaugural Thanksgiving festival, Bob decides to boycott Thanksgiving. Things soon go awry when a wild bird attack ruins the festival.

This is the first Thanksgiving episode to take it up to another level, telling a slightly non-linear story with Bob, once again, displaced in his favorite holiday. With the excellent Donna Summer soundtrack, the kids have to fight against wild turkeys to get back home to Bob, and hilarity ensues.

Season 7 Episode 6:  “The Quirk-ducers”

“The Quirk-ducers” finds the Belcher kids putting on an original Thanksgiving play at school while Linda discovers potato that looks like her dead grandfather (and takes that as far as you might imagine).

This episode leans into the madness and darkness that is always lurking on the edge of Bob’s Burgers. The show does a careful balancing act, never going too far into any one part of its tone, but the episode sees Tina quietly speaking up for herself through a school play after seven seasons of merciless bullying by her crush, Jimmy Jr. and all of her other “friends” at school.

When Louise and Gene take advantage of the play to get out of school, Tina has a reaction that is long overdue and completely understandable. The music is also particularly amazing in this episode, putting “The Quirk-ducers” as the best Thanksgiving episode, but also one of the best Bob’s episodes overall.

Stream all ten seasons of Bob’s Burgers on Hulu with your family this Thanksgiving.