Holiday meals have a way of keeping certain dishes alive long past their expiration date—tradition, or maybe guilt, keeps them on the table. Some of these classics are more about obligation than actual enjoyment, barely touched but never skipped. From overly sweet concoctions to side dishes no one asked for, they somehow survive year after year. Here are some of the worst offenders.
Fruitcake
Often seen as the ultimate holiday food failure, fruitcake is dense, overly sweet, and packed with mysterious, brightly colored candied fruits. Many find it dry, hard to chew, and overly rich. Its reputation as a re-gifted item overshadows any redeeming qualities.
Canned Cranberry Sauce
Its wobbly, jellied texture and artificially sweet flavor make it divisive. Served straight from the can, complete with ridges, it often feels more like a retro relic than a festive addition. Fresh cranberry sauces easily outshine this processed version.
Green Bean Casserole
While nostalgic for some, many dislike its mushy texture and reliance on canned soup. The fried onions on top, meant to be crispy, often turn soggy after sitting for a while, leaving a dish that looks unappetizing and lacks fresh flavor.
Eggnog
Thick, custardy, and overly sweet, eggnog is a holiday drink that’s hard to love. The rich texture is off-putting for many, and even the addition of alcohol doesn’t save it for those who find the combination of cream, eggs, and sugar overwhelming.
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are a classic holiday side that often gets a bad rap due to poor preparation. When boiled or underseasoned, they taste bitter and sulfurous. Even roasted versions can be polarizing if not seasoned or cooked properly to enhance their flavor.
Ambrosia Salad
This retro dish combines canned fruit, mini marshmallows, and whipped cream or mayonnaise, resulting in a cloyingly sweet and overly soft texture. It’s hard to categorize—too sweet for a side dish and too weird for dessert—and often gets left untouched.
Sweet Potato Casserole
Topped with marshmallows, this dish toes the line between side and dessert, often confusing diners. The sugary topping combined with the natural sweetness of the potatoes can feel overwhelming and mismatched with savory dishes like turkey or stuffing.
Boiled Carrots
Often underseasoned and overcooked, boiled carrots come off as bland and mushy. They lack the depth of flavor that roasting or glazing can bring, leaving them as an uninspiring side dish that feels more like filler than a thoughtful addition to the meal.
Turkey
The supposed star of the holiday table is often dry and flavorless, especially when overcooked. Even with gravy or stuffing, turkey tends to pale in comparison to side dishes and desserts, leading many to question why it remains the main course of choice.
Pumpkin Pie
While iconic, pumpkin pie divides opinions with its soft, custardy texture and dominant canned pumpkin flavor. Some find it overly spiced or too plain, and it’s often overshadowed by more dynamic desserts like pecan or apple pie.
Pecan Pie
This ultra-sweet dessert can feel like a sugar overload. The sticky filling and hard, overly sweet pecan topping are polarizing, and its heaviness often makes it less appealing after a rich holiday meal.
Cheese Logs
A holiday appetizer that feels dated and uninspired, cheese logs are often bland and overly dense. Coated in nuts or herbs, they lack the sharpness or variety of a good cheese board and end up being ignored after a polite first bite.
10 Recipes Everyone Pretends to Love But Secretly Hates
Some dishes have a reputation that far exceeds their actual appeal. You know the ones—those foods everyone claims to adore, but deep down, you know they’re just being polite. From questionable casseroles to desserts that should have stayed in the ‘60s, these are the recipes people pretend to love just to keep the peace.
Read it Here: 10 Recipes Everyone Pretends to Love But Secretly Hates
15 Secretly Healthy Dinners That Taste Like Guilty Pleasures
We’ve all had those meals that are good for you but feel like a chore to eat. This list is here to change that. These recipes are secretly packed with good-for-you ingredients, but they taste like the kind of comfort food you crave after a long day. So, whether you’re cooking for yourself or feeding the whole family, you can enjoy something that feels like a treat while still sneaking in some healthy choices.
Read it Here: 15 Secretly Healthy Dinners That Taste Like Guilty Pleasures
*Select images provided by Depositphotos.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
