When you think of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, you may visualize rolling farmland, movie-worthy downtown settings, farmers markets, Amish buggies and PA Dutch villages. The region is rich in local history, tradition and foods, lending itself to a beautiful backdrop for any Thanksgiving celebration.
S. Clyde Weaver makes preparing for Thanksgiving in Lancaster, PA, simple. We have the meats, cheeses and sides to round out your feast or the scrumptious gift baskets to show gratitude toward your holiday host.
Explore how you can embrace the county’s culture and time-honored traditions in this guide to a Lancaster-style Thanksgiving.
Why Lancaster County Is Special at Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is an amazing time of year in Lancaster County. The region’s Amish and Pennsylvania Dutch history, paired with its agricultural heritage, means easy access to some of the most incredible, locally-sourced Thanksgiving dinner staples.
Many local dishes reflect centuries of German-American traditions, with recipes that families have passed down through generations, often with Lancaster-grown ingredients. Thanksgiving here feels deeply connected to the local farmland and history.
In addition to the local flavors, there’s much to do in Central PA this time of year. Delicious food is just one of the region’s major attractions. Whether you want to browse the stands at one of the many farmers markets or catch a show at a historic theater, there are endless options for exploring Lancaster, PA, in late autumn.
Plus, the region has multi-generational appeal, making it the perfect place for all members of the family. Kids and grandparents alike can participate in traditions, enjoy the area’s various attractions, appreciate the scenic Lancaster farmland views and shop for local goods. If you’re looking to slow down and embrace the holiday in a traditional way, Lancaster is the perfect backdrop.
Building a Pennsylvania Dutch Thanksgiving Menu
Lancaster County’s culture, traditions and food are heavily influenced by its Pennsylvania Dutch roots. The Lancaster tradition is balanced and abundant, making Thanksgiving the perfect opportunity to take your dinner table selection to the next level.
“Seven sweets and seven sours” is a PA Dutch saying that reflects the ideal meal’s carefully balanced flavor profile with lots of tasty variation. If you’re hosting a Lancaster-style Thanksgiving dinner, the “seven sweets and seven sours” philosophy can guide your holiday table selection, ensuring your meal has all the crowd-pleasing fixings.
Learn more about creating the best Thanksgiving dinner in Lancaster, PA, below.
Main Dishes
Turkey isn’t the only star of the show on this holiday. Many Lancaster households opt for a delicious Thanksgiving ham instead. You can choose from several varieties for your table’s centerpiece, depending on your guests’ unique tastes.
S. Clyde Weaver offers the following smoked hams for your holiday feast:
- Bone-In Shankless Ham: This ham provides a traditional presentation. It’s golden brown, tender and has a smoky richness.
- Smoked Boneless Ham: Our boneless ham is easy to carve and serve. It offers a savory-sweet balance and exceptional texture.
- Old-Fashioned Bone-Removed Ham: If you want Lancaster County authenticity, this ham is perfect. Extra smokehouse time means a smoky-sweet taste that will elevate your Thanksgiving dinner.
Lancaster-Inspired Sides
In addition to a mouthwatering ham, you need side dishes to round out your Thanksgiving table.
Some Lancaster-inspired sides guests will love include:
- Pennsylvania Dutch stuffing: Potato and bread filling is a PA Dutch favorite, especially for Thanksgiving. You can make it at home or find authentic premade options at a local market.
- Chow chow: No holiday tablescape is complete without the Chow Chow from S. Clyde Weaver. This sweet and sour staple features string beans, cauliflower, lima beans, carrots, celery, sweet corn, kidney beans and onions pickled in sugar and vinegar.
- Sweet potatoes: Locally grown sweet potatoes can be candied for a sugary bite or baked into a savory casserole.
- Green beans: Add some depth to your table with either sauteed or baked green beans.
- Stewed dried corn: This type of corn is a PA Dutch tradition and Lancaster County Thanksgiving staple. It offers a creamy texture and rich taste.
- Buttermilk cornbread: PA Dutch cornbread is tasty and light, making it a perfect sweet addition to your Thanksgiving meal lineup.
Local Desserts
Desserts are a must-have for any Pennsylvania Dutch-inspired holiday feast. Move over, pumpkin pie. The following are Lancaster County favorites that will satisfy every sweet tooth:
- Shoofly pie: This irresistible dish has a sugary sweet molasses base and delectable crumbly top.
- Sticky buns: This treat is a popular PA Dutch dessert that blends sugar, butter and cinnamon. These buns are baked to golden perfection, leaving a gooey, sweet treat that you can enjoy for breakfast or as a post-dinner dessert.
- Whoopie pies: Who doesn’t love creamy frosting sandwiched between two cake-like pastries? S. Clyde Weaver has pumpkin whoopie pies with cream cheese filling that are a must for Thanksgiving dessert.
Lancaster-Style Thanksgiving Charcuterie Boards
In addition to the main dishes, having grazing options on the side is a great way to round out a holiday feast. Charcuterie boards are the perfect way to present snacks, whether you’re hosting dinner or arriving as a guest. S. Clyde Weaver offers a diverse range of entertaining trays, which are ideal for busy hostesses or travelers.
You can easily get all the hors d’oeuvres needed for your celebration on one or two trays. We offer meat and cheese trays as well as charcuterie boards with a variety of snacking options, from cheese to pickles to pepper shooters.
If you’re building your own board, you need a wooden board or another type of serving tray to get started. You may also need small dishes to serve condiments, jellies or other spreads, depending on your snack selection.
Creating your own PA Dutch-inspired charcuterie board is simple with a few tips and a little direction.
Cheeses
Cheese is a must-have for Thanksgiving dinner in Lancaster. S. Clyde Weaver’s cheese selection is legendary in Central PA, with a heritage dating back to the 1920s and a special aging process developed in the 1990s for bringing out the best flavors.
For your Thanksgiving charcuterie board, consider mixing aged and flavored varieties:
- Aged Cheddar: The longer this cheese ages, the sharper and more complex its flavor gets. S. Clyde Weaver offers several options, up to the Ultra-Rare 20 Year Aged Cheddar.
- Lancaster Conestoga Sharp Cheddar: A local favorite with bold, distinctive taste.
- Smoked Cheeses: Try smoked yellow cheddar, smoked Gouda or smoked Swiss for a unique twist.
- Horseradish and Smoked Horseradish Cheese: These options can add a peppery kick to your board.
- Pepper Jack Cheese: This option is ideal for those who like a little heat.
- Swiss Cheese: A milder option that pairs well with lighter meats.
- Jarlsberg Swiss: A premium choice with a slightly sweet, nutty flavor.
Consider mixing cheese textures and flavor intensities. For example, you may pair a creamy mild cheese with a sharp aged cheddar and a smoked cheese for variety.
Meats
S. Clyde Weaver’s smoked meats are the foundation of any Lancaster County charcuterie board. Their hardwood smoking process creates authentic, flavorful options perfect for holiday entertaining.
Top choices for a Thanksgiving charcuterie meat assortment include:
- Hardwood Smoked Bacon: This meat is a top-rated bacon in Pennsylvania! Slice it thin for an elegant presentation.
- Smoked Boneless Ham: A classic that pairs beautifully with aged cheeses. Consider thin slices or cubes.
- Lebanon Bologna: A Lancaster staple with a distinctive smoky-sweet flavor.
- Farm Style Sweet Bologna: This bologna is milder and slightly sweet, appealing to a wide range of palates.
- Lancaster Style Beef Jerky: Layer our flavorful beef jerky onto your board for easy eating.
Including three or four meat varieties is best for giving guests options. Consider arranging your thinly sliced meats in attractive rolls or loose folds for visual appeal.
Finishing Touches
While the meats and cheeses are the stars of the show, a few finishing touches can enhance your board while introducing more flavors.
Pickles are a fantastic “sour” for your board. S. Clyde Weaver has a variety of pickle options, including Bread and Butter, Kosher Genuine Dill, Candied Sweet Mixed and Sweet Heat Mixed Pickles.
Add a crunch to your Thanksgiving charcuterie board with Honey Mustard Pretzels for a sweet and savory kick. Crackers, such as Bruschettini and Petits Toasts, are also excellent choices.
Spreads and condiments can take your snacking selection to the next level. These can include Asiago Artichoke Cheese Spread or Horseradish Mustard. S. Clyde Weaver Honey Mustard adds a sweet touch, while our German Mustard is bold and tangy. Jams, jellies and preserves are perfect for pairing with crackers.
Tips for Hosting a Lancaster-Style Thanksgiving
The following are top tips to make hosting a Lancaster-style Thanksgiving dinner simple.
1. Make a Plan
Preparation is key to creating a balanced meal that incorporates the “seven sweets and seven sours” rule. Plan your menu in advance with the number of guests in mind.
Beginning about three or four weeks before the holiday gives you plenty of time to secure your ingredients, serving plates and any other special items needed to please your guests. Staying on top of your shopping list is key because markets can run out of popular items near the holiday.
Consider ordering online if needed. S. Clyde Weaver allows you to select a future ship date checkout to ensure you get the products you want when you need them.
2. Shop Local
A huge advantage of having Thanksgiving in Central Pennsylvania is the extensive variety of local markets and shops to buy from. If you’re looking for authentic Lancaster County-style food, you’ll want to source it from businesses that use locally grown ingredients and have strong PA Dutch roots, like S. Clyde Weaver.
3. Choose Leftover-Friendly Dishes
Leftovers are a cornerstone of a great Thanksgiving meal. When planning your menu, consider picking options that you and your guests can enjoy for days after the holiday.
You can ask guests to bring food storage containers with them or stock up before the big day to share leftovers with your friends and family as they leave.
Thoughtful Thanksgiving Gifts From Lancaster
For those attending someone else’s Thanksgiving dinner this year, consider bringing the host a gift.
S. Clyde Weaver makes delicious, Lancaster-style gifts simple with assorted gift packs, including options with PA Dutch staples and Lancaster County favorites. Our gift baskets include aged cheeses, artisanal smoked meats, homemade spreads and dips, and sweet treats.
We also have family-sized packs that you can share with everyone at your celebration. For example, our Family Gathering Ham Gift Pack includes a baby ham and over 25 assorted snacks. Our Lancaster County Gift Baskets are also perfect for sending to faraway friends and family members whom you may not see for the holiday.
Lancaster Thanksgiving Events
Spending Thanksgiving in Lancaster County? Here are some festive events and holiday activities in the region during November.
Festive Local Attractions
In the days around Thanksgiving, you can explore the local attractions that make Lancaster so special. Some favorites include:
- Kitchen Kettle Village: This charming village in Intercourse is a must-visit destination featuring unique shops, restaurants and attractions.
- Lancaster Central Market: This iconic Downtown Lancaster institution is the perfect place to shop for fresh produce, meats, cheeses and local specialties to complete your Thanksgiving feast. Find the S. Clyde Weaver stand for your holiday staples.
- Strasburg Rail Road: The historic railroad provides scenic train rides throughout the month, offering beautiful views of the Lancaster countryside during autumn. Check out their site for information on their Thanksgiving events.
- Sight & Sound Theatres: Experience world-class theatrical productions at this state-of-the-art venue in Lancaster. The theater operates year-round and offers multiple showtimes throughout the week.
Dining on Thanksgiving Day
If you’re looking for an authentic Amish Thanksgiving dinner in Lancaster, PA, you have several options, including Miller’s Smorgasbord in Ronks and Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant & Smorgasbord in Bird-in-Hand. The Fireside Tavern in Strasburg also hosts a rave-worthy Lancaster-style Thanksgiving dinner. However, you’ll need to make reservations for the holiday far in advance to secure your seats.
Get Your Thanksgiving Staples From S. Clyde Weaver Today
Whether you’re hosting a Lancaster-style Thanksgiving gathering or want to bring a delicious hosting gift to a celebration you’re attending, S. Clyde Weaver has the tasty treasures you need. We’re your go-to shop for Pennsylvania Dutch staples this holiday season.
We have smoked ham for the main event, aged cheeses for those scrumptious charcuterie boards and plenty of show-stopping sides, from pickles to whoopie pies. We’re your partner in classic Lancaster County feasting for every holiday or event.
Shop our selection of smoked meats, cheeses and more online today!
