Thanksgiving is one of those holidays where kids are full of excitement… and parents are juggling a million things at once. Between cooking, entertaining family, and trying to keep kids busy while dinner finishes, it helps to have something simple, fun, and screen-free ready to go.
That’s why I love using Thanksgiving riddles for kids. They’re easy to share around the table, perfect for classrooms or family gatherings, and they get everyone laughing and thinking — without any prep.
Below you’ll find 100 of the best Thanksgiving riddles, all kid-friendly and grouped by type so you can quickly find what works best for your family.
Free Printable: Riddle Cards
Grab our free Riddles for Kids printable cards—perfect for car rides, brain breaks, family game night, or anytime kids want a challenge. Each card includes a kid-friendly riddle that gets kids thinking, laughing, and problem-solving together.
Pair them with our Thanksgiving trivia, our Thanksgiving knock knock jokes, our Thanksgiving puns, and our Whole list of Thanksgiving jokes!
Check out Our Thanksgiving Game Ideas!
Top 10 Best Thanksgiving Riddles for Kids
- What has feathers, gobbles, and loves Thanksgiving dinner?
Answer: A turkey - What runs but never walks on Thanksgiving?
Answer: The gravy - Why did the turkey cross the road?
Answer: To prove it wasn’t chicken - What kind of music did the Pilgrims listen to?
Answer: Plymouth Rock - What smells great but never tastes anything?
Answer: Your nose - What do turkeys give thanks for?
Answer: Vegetarians - What’s always at Thanksgiving but never gets eaten?
Answer: The table - Why did the cranberry turn red?
Answer: It saw the turkey dressing - What do families share most on Thanksgiving?
Answer: Gratitude - What’s the best thing about Thanksgiving?
Answer: Being together
More fun riddles and games kids love:
Funny Turkey Riddles
- Why do turkeys never tell secrets?
Answer: They might gobble it up - What do turkeys eat for dessert?
Answer: Peach gobbler - Why was the turkey in the band?
Answer: Because it had drumsticks - What kind of key opens a turkey?
Answer: A turkey key - Why did the turkey bring a microphone?
Answer: It was ready to gobble - What sound does a turkey’s phone make?
Answer: Wing, wing - Why did the turkey sit on the drum?
Answer: To beat the drumsticks - What do you call a running turkey?
Answer: Fast food - Why did the turkey join a gym?
Answer: To work on its drumsticks - What do turkeys say on Thanksgiving?
Answer: Gobble till you wobble
Thanksgiving Food Riddles
- I’m mashed, I’m buttery, and I’m a Thanksgiving favorite. What am I?
Answer: Potatoes - I’m sweet, orange, and sometimes topped with marshmallows. What am I?
Answer: Sweet potatoes - I’m round, baked, and served with whipped cream. What am I?
Answer: Pie - What food runs but never walks?
Answer: Gravy - I’m small, red, and jiggle on the plate. What am I?
Answer: Cranberry sauce - What Thanksgiving food is always late?
Answer: The stuffing (it gets stuffed) - What kind of pie do ghosts like?
Answer: Boo-berry pie - What do you call leftover Thanksgiving food?
Answer: A rehearse-al dinner - What food do Pilgrims never argue over?
Answer: Peas - What Thanksgiving food needs a fork and a smile?
Answer: Dessert
Easy Thanksgiving Riddles for Younger Kids
- What holiday comes in November with food and family?
Answer: Thanksgiving - What bird says “gobble gobble”?
Answer: A turkey - What do families sit at to eat Thanksgiving dinner?
Answer: A table - What color are most Thanksgiving turkeys?
Answer: Brown - What do we say before eating Thanksgiving dinner?
Answer: Thank you / grace - What season is Thanksgiving in?
Answer: Fall - What do leaves do in the fall?
Answer: Fall down - What comes after Thanksgiving on the calendar?
Answer: December - What do you use to eat Thanksgiving dinner?
Answer: A fork - What do we celebrate on Thanksgiving?
Answer: Gratitude / being thankful
Thanksgiving History & Pilgrim Riddles
- Who celebrated the first Thanksgiving?
Answer: Pilgrims and Native Americans - What did Pilgrims wear on their heads?
Answer: Hats - What did Pilgrims eat without forks?
Answer: Food with their hands - What ocean did the Pilgrims cross?
Answer: The Atlantic Ocean - What ship brought the Pilgrims to America?
Answer: The Mayflower - Where did the Pilgrims land?
Answer: Plymouth - What did Pilgrims give thanks for?
Answer: Food and survival - What season did the first Thanksgiving happen in?
Answer: Fall - What crop helped Pilgrims survive?
Answer: Corn - What did Pilgrims and Native Americans share?
Answer: A feast
Tricky & Thinky Thanksgiving Riddles
- What gets wetter the more it dries at Thanksgiving?
Answer: A towel - What has hands but never eats dinner?
Answer: A clock - What has a neck but no head at Thanksgiving?
Answer: A bottle - What is full of stuffing but never eats?
Answer: A pillow - What can you serve but never eat?
Answer: A tennis ball / notice (context-based) - What belongs to you but everyone uses it at Thanksgiving?
Answer: Your name - What runs around the Thanksgiving table but never moves?
Answer: A tablecloth edge - What comes once a year but lasts all day?
Answer: Thanksgiving - What can you catch but never throw at dinner?
Answer: A cold - What has eyes but can’t see on Thanksgiving?
Answer: Potatoes
Wordplay & Silly Thanksgiving Riddles
- Why was Thanksgiving soup so smart?
Answer: It had lots of broth-er ideas - What’s a turkey’s favorite dessert?
Answer: Gobbler pie - Why did the pie go to school?
Answer: To get a little smarter - What do you call a stuffed animal at Thanksgiving?
Answer: Dinner décor - Why did the pumpkin sit on the porch?
Answer: It had no hands to knock - What did one plate say to the other?
Answer: Dinner’s on me - Why did the turkey bring a pencil?
Answer: To draw attention - What do you call Thanksgiving without turkey?
Answer: A missed-steak - Why was the mashed potato stressed?
Answer: It got whipped - What do turkeys use to text?
Answer: Drumsticks
Gratitude & Family Thanksgiving Riddles
- What do families share most on Thanksgiving?
Answer: Gratitude - What meal brings everyone together once a year?
Answer: Thanksgiving dinner - What do kids wait for most on Thanksgiving?
Answer: Dessert - What do parents say before eating?
Answer: Let’s be thankful - What’s better than one slice of pie?
Answer: Two slices - What do grandparents love most at Thanksgiving?
Answer: Family - What do kids give thanks for at dinner?
Answer: Food and family - What holiday is all about appreciation?
Answer: Thanksgiving - What makes Thanksgiving special every year?
Answer: Being together - What’s the best Thanksgiving tradition?
Answer: Making memories
- What has layers and makes you cry while cooking?
Answer: An onion - What kind of pie can you never eat?
Answer: A math pie - Why did the turkey sit at the kids’ table?
Answer: It couldn’t handle the pressure - What did the gravy say to the mashed potatoes?
Answer: You complete me - What do you call Thanksgiving leftovers?
Answer: Tomorrow’s lunch - Why was the Thanksgiving table quiet?
Answer: Everyone was stuffed - What did the fork say to the spoon?
Answer: Let’s dig in - What do you call a thankful potato?
Answer: A grate-tater - Why did the turkey cross the road twice?
Answer: To show it wasn’t chicken - What’s the most thankful dessert?
Answer: Pie (everyone loves it)
- What’s the best thing about Thanksgiving?
Answer: Being together - What has feathers but doesn’t fly?
Answer: A cooked turkey - What do you get when you drop a pumpkin?
Answer: Squash - What smells great but disappears fast?
Answer: Thanksgiving dinner - What’s always invited but never eats?
Answer: The napkin - What do kids love after Thanksgiving dinner?
Answer: Pie and leftovers - What makes Thanksgiving noisy?
Answer: Family conversations - What holiday makes everyone sleepy?
Answer: Thanksgiving - What’s the best Thanksgiving exercise?
Answer: Passing the food - What do you call a thankful turkey?
Answer: Grateful gobbler
Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be perfectly planned to be meaningful. Sometimes the best moments come from laughing together, asking silly questions, and slowing down just enough to enjoy the people around you.
Whether you’re using these riddles at the dinner table, in the classroom, or during a quiet moment before dessert, I hope they help make your Thanksgiving feel a little lighter — and a lot more fun.
If your kids enjoyed these, be sure to check out our other riddle collections for year-round laughs and brain boosts.
Don’t miss these other riddles!
- Funny Riddles for Kids
- Hard Riddles for Teens (great for older siblings)
- Riddle Me This Riddles (classic brain teasers)
- Halloween Riddles
- Fall Riddles
Love Riddles Like This?
We’ve collected easy, tricky, and holiday riddles for kids—all in one place to make screen-free fun simple.
Thanksgiving Riddles FAQs
Michele Tripple is a renowned author and expert in the fields of parenting, relationships, and personal development. She is a certified Life Coach with her degree in marriage and family studies, her experience as a Family Life Educator, and over a decade of experience as a professional writer; Michele has authored books that provide practical advice and insights into improving family dynamics and personal growth. Her work is celebrated for its blend of research-driven information and relatable, real-world applications. Michele has been a keynote speaker at conferences and has contributed to numerous publications and media outlets, solidifying her reputation as an authoritative voice in her field and helping families build relationships.