Friends: Best Thanksgiving Episodes, Ranked

Key Takeaways

• Thanksgiving episodes in Friends are iconic, showcasing heartwarming, hilarious moments fans cherish.
• Memorable plotlines revolve around friendship, forgiveness, and unconventional celebrations during Thanksgiving.
• Guest appearances, physical comedy, and unexpected twists make each Thanksgiving episode stand out.

Friends is one of the most popular sitcoms of all time. Fans love a series that never fails to entertain them, as they bond with the six main characters and accompany them in their personal conquests, challenges, failures, love stories, and everything else.

The show has become iconic as a staple of American pop culture, and it’s only a given that some of the best episodes of Friends revolve around the festival of Thanksgiving. Over the course of ten seasons, fans have witnessed the gang experience this festival in the most hilarious and eventful ways possible.

8 The One Where Underdog Gets Away

Season 1, Episode 9

• The first Thanksgiving episode in the series.

It’s only a given that the first-ever Thanksgiving celebration between the gang would be a monumental moment for the series. While almost everyone has plans to celebrate this holiday with their families, things don’t go according to plan after the group is locked out of Monica’s apartment.

However, instead of being dejected, the group realizes that they don’t mind spending this time together, even though dinner is ruined and flights are missed. It’s a heartwarming moment that sets the stage for Friends and its lovable cast to continue getting closer with each episode.

7 The One With Chandler In A Box

Season 4, Episode 8

• Chandler’s punishment and Rachel’s betrayal make for fun times.

Chandler and Joey are best friends, which makes the former’s backstabbing act hit harder when Chandler kisses the woman Joey has been seeing. As a comeuppance, Joey tells Chandler that he will spend the entirety of Thanksgiving in a box, a punishment that Chandler agrees to.

Along with this, Rachel’s penchant for returning gifts hurts Ross when he realizes that the Christmas gift he’d given her during their time together was also returned. These plotlines make for a memorable Thanksgiving episode, especially when Joey and Chandler make amends in a heartwarming moment.

6 The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs

Season 7, Episode 8

• Features some of the series’ most iconic moments.

“The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs” is another Thanksgiving episode in Friends that’s an instant classic. The jokes in this episode are quite memorable courtesy of Ross’ self-imposed agony at failing to declare himself the smartest person in the room. Chandler’s hatred of dogs also takes center stage when Phoebe introduces her lovable mutt to the gang.

It’s hilarious to imagine that Phoebe had a dog in the house all this time without Chandler being aware of it. Of course, it would be hard not to mention this episode without talking about Joey’s “moo point” joke, which has become an iconic line.

5 The One With All The Thanksgivings

Season 5, Episode 8

• A compilation of the gang’s highs and lows.

Compilation episodes can either set the stage ablaze or irritate fans with filler scenes and storylines. Thankfully, in this case, Friends managed to wow everyone with a Thanksgiving episode that takes a look at the series’ past.

Some memorable moments include Chandler calling Monica fat in the past, Chandler losing his toe in a kitchen accident several years ago, and Joey getting his head stuck in a turkey. Just when fans think that the newly-formed couple will break up over past transgressions, Chandler lets it slip that he loves Monica near the end, making for a heartwarming end to their fight.

4 The One With The List

Season 2, Episode 8

• Ross’ pragmatic list of pros and cons irritates Rachel.

Just when Ross and Rachel started dating, the latter finds an incriminating list that ruins her Thanksgiving. Right after their legendary kiss, Ross’ pragmatic side rears its ugly head when he decides to make a pros and cons list of whether he should date Rachel or not.

It irritates Rachel to no end, leading to a fight. To make things worse, Monica decides to surprise the gang with a synthetic chocolate substitute for dessert that further dampens the spirit of the holiday, but makes for a hilarious and unconventional Thanksgiving episode.

3 The One With The Rumor

Season 8, Episode 9

• Brad Pitt’s guest appearance is a joy to witness.

Watching Brad Pitt make a guest appearance as Will in Friends is one of the series’ highlights, and his antagonism towards Rachel is executed perfectly. While she thinks that Will is into her, the truth is that Rachel bullied him in the past for his weight, causing him and Ross to form an I Hate Rachel club that spread malicious rumors about her in high school.

Will’s weight-loss journey makes for some great jokes, while Rachel’s hurt reaction to Ross’ mean antics in school lends greater depth to their relationship. It’s a star-studded Thanksgiving episode and one of Friends‘ best moments.

Season 3, Episode 9

• A memorable episode that focuses on the Geller Cup.

The Geller Cup is one of the most hilarious creations in Friends that reappears around Thanksgiving. While both Ross and Monica are initially banned from participating, the stakes are upped after this supposedly friendly game of football turns into an all-out war between the boys and the girls.

Both parties go all-out in their attempts to win the Geller Cup, making for a Friends episode with a focus on physical comedy instead of its usual biting wit. This makes for a fresh change of pace, even if the holiday itself isn’t a major focus.

1 The One Where Ross Got High

Season 6, Episode 9

• Features everything from Ross’ lies to Rachel’s disastrous creation.

After Chandler and Monica start dating, they decide to break this news to Monica’s parents by having them over for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, it turns out that one of Ross’ lies ended up damaging Chandler’s reputation with them, leading to a plot line where Ross is all but forced into revealing the truth.

If this wasn’t funny enough, this episode also features one of the most hilarious culinary disasters in television history. After Rachel mixes up two different recipes, the gang is treated to an inedible dish that’s half Shepherd’s Pie and half English Trifle.