With Thanksgiving right around the corner, everyone’s getting ready to spend time with their loved ones and, most importantly, feast on Fall favorites like turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie.
In honor of Turkey Day, we’ve gathered a list of some of our top food influencers and culinary content creators who’ve risen to the top of their craft. These social media foodies go far beyond recipe sharing with their amazing on-screen personalities that keep audiences invested in their content. Brands and audiences alike flock to their content because they share authentic stories through food – and what better time to share stories than over a delicious Thanksgiving dinner?
1. Steph Grasso
Steph Grasso is a licensed dietitian with over 2.2M followers on TikTok. She’s known for her popular and engaging nutritional content focused on inspiring her audience to eat right. Her bite-sized TikToks make eating right easy and accessible while her bubbly personality will inspire you to take your cooking, grocery shopping, and meal prepping to new, healthier heights.
In the video below, Steph Grasso shows us how she takes the boxed stovetop Top stuffing (a Thanksgiving staple in many households) and upgrades it to be more balanced and delicious than ever – to the point where your guests might think you made it from scratch!
@stephgrassodietitian THE ONE TIME I EDIT ON TIKTOK, I ACCIDENTALLY HIT STORIES. ugh although quality is down, it’s a high quality recipe How to upgrade a thanksgiving classic (and by upgrade I mean more balanced and DELICIOUS). -Carbs: Stove top bread -Protein: pre cooked apple chicken sausage (and egg) – Veggies/fiber: mushrooms, celery, onion -fats: walnuts + parm cheese -extra nutrients: dried cranberries Ingredients: -1 box Stove Top stuffing mix -1 1/4 cups chicken broth -1/2 medium onion, chopped -1/2 cup celery, finely chopped -2 cloves garlic, minced -1 cup precooked sausage, finely chopped -1/2 cup dried cranberries and walnuts (a bag with both) -Fresh sage and rosemary, finely chopped -1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese -1 egg, beaten -Salt and black pepper to taste Directions: 1.Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F . Grease baking dish and set it aside. 2. Saute the Aromatics: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, celery, mushrooms, sausage, and minced garlic. Cook until the onions become translucent and tender, which should take about 5 minutes. 3. Add Flavors: Stir in the dried cranberries, chopped walnuts, rosemary, sage, salt, and black pepper. Cook for an additional 2 minutes, then remove the skillet from the heat. 4. Mix Stuffing: In a large mixing bowl, combine the Stove Top Stuffing Mix with the vegetable and sausage mixture. Pour in the chicken broth and mix well. Allow the mixture to sit for a few minutes to fully absorb the liquid. 5. Incorporate Eggs and Cheese: Add the beaten egg and grated Parmesan cheese to the stuffing mixture, and stir well until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. 6. Transfer to Baking Dish: Transfer the stuffing mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly. 7. Bake: Bake the stuffing in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and slightly crisp. 8. Cool and Serve: Remove the dish from the oven and allow it to cool for a few minutes before serving. #thanksgiving #stuffing #balance #dietitian #veggies
2. Al Dante
Al Dante is a culinary creator with a clever wit that begins with his creator alias. “Al” is his first name and “Dante” is the name of his adorable dog. Putting them together gives you “Al Dante”, which is a food-related pun for “al dente”, which is an Italian phrase for perfectly cooked pasta.
His social media feed is a cornucopia of culinary wonders with production value that rivals Food Network’s best chefs. And with over one million followers on Instagram and 960K on TikTok, he’s found a huge audience of like-minded foodies with delicious recipes like Ghapama (aka Armenian stuffed pumpkin) and creamy salmon chowder.
One of his best seasonal standouts has to be his classic Thanksgiving Turkey on Salt with over 2M views.
@al_dante_channel Thanksgiving Turkey on Salt 📕Recipe here: Ingredients: ❂ For turkey 9 Lb Whole Raw Turkey 3 sprigs Rosemary 3 sprigs Thyme 2 sprigs Sage 2 Oranges 3 Shallot 2 Packs of Kosher Salt (coarse grinding) ❂ For Butter Spread 240g. Salted Butter 1 Tbsp Smoked Paprika 4 sprigs Thyme 3 sprigs Rosemary 1 sprig Sage 6 Garlic Cloves 1 Tbsp Ground Coriander 1 Tsp Black Ground Pepper ❂ Cooking process: 1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Prepare a large roasting pan. Remove the turkey from its packaging and remove the giblets and neck. 2. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels. Using a small rubber spatula to separate the skin away from the turkey breast, taking care not to puncture the skin. 3. Prepare the herbed butter spread. In a mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, greens, smoked paprika and pepper. Mix until well combined. 4. Spread the butter underneath the turkey skin, inside and all over, coating it well. 5. Stuff the turkey with the citrus fruit, garlic, herbs and shallots. 6. Use twine to tie the turkey legs. 7. Wrap the drumstick tips with foil to prevent them from burning! 8. Sprinkle coarse salt into a 1.5-2 inch layer on a large roasting pan and place the turkey on top of the salt. 9. Bake the turkey in the preheated oven 3.5 hours. 10. Simply put the turkey to a platter and decorate to your liking (oranges and herbs work well). The turkey is ready for the festive table. Bon appetite and Happy Holidays! #thanksgiving #turkey #easyrecipes #thanksgivingdinner #foodie #foodaddict #fypシ
3. Tess Sinatro
Tess Sinatro, who goes by lamb_chop97 and Instagram, has over 1.3M followers across the two platforms. Her impeccable taste extends to her music choices as well, cooking up her culinary creations to the likes of John Mayer, Gnarls Barkley, Hall and Oates, and Dropkick Murphys – just to name a few.
Tess did a five-part Thanksgiving series where she showed us how to take your side dishes to the next level that got over 1M combined views. So make sure to check out her Green Beans Almondine, Brown Butter Corn Souffle, Stuffing, Scalloped Potatoes, and Maple bourbon pork belly brussels.
Everyone knows the best part of Thanksgiving is the leftovers the next day. For those, she’s got her famous Chicken Pot Pie recipe (we suggest swapping out the chicken for turkey) and her from-scratch Thanksgiving Eggs Benny (no store-bought English muffins here!).
@lamb_chop97 thanksgiving benny 🍳 #fyp #eggsbenedict #leftovers #breakfast #eggs #thanksgiving #turkey #gravy #mashedpotatoes #pancake
4. Salad Lab
Salad Lab’s bio reads “having fun making salads”, and it couldn’t be more accurate. She’s amassed over 2.7M followers on TikTok and 515K on Instagram with delicious delights such as her Winter Harvest Salad (which makes an amazing Thanksgiving appetizer) and her Thanksgiving Leftovers Salad.
One of her most popular salads (with over 7.5M views on TikTok alone) is the Chicken and Avocado Salad with Honey Tabasco Dressing that could make even the most dedicated meat eaters try some greens – and it also happens to be her daughter’s favorite, too.
@thesaladlab Chicken and Avocado Salad with a Honey Tabasco Style Dressing #salad #thesaladlab #saladsoftiktok #daughtersfavorite #easyrecipe #kalesalad #honeytabascodressing #walnuts @World Market @TABASCO BRAND #lacrema #pinot
5. LindseyBakedThis
LindseyBakedThis is an outstanding baker and content creator whose cupcakes blur the line between food and art. With over 3M followers on TikTok and 401K on Instagram, Lindsey has a dedicated audience of cupcake connoisseurs who eagerly await her every creation.
Her adorable Autumn hedgehog cupcakes were a smash, as were those inspired by the Super Mario universe (her cupcake based on Mario’s iconic red mushroom got over 2M views). But for Thanksgiving, you have to see the Turkey cupcake she made with a Twix bar, the mini pumpkin pie complete with crust, and her “sweater weather” cupcake with texturing so detailed, it really does look like a bite-sized knitted sweater.
@lindseybakedthis Sweater weather! 💚 using wilton tip 14 #sweaterweather #cupcake
6. Tobias Young
Tobias Young – who goes by simplyfoodbyty on TikTok, simplytobiasyoung on Instagram, and Tobias Young on YouTube – boasts over 2M followers across the three platforms. He specializes in Southern cooking and soul food and his Maryland Crab Dip generated over 10M views on TikTok, while his BBQ Dinner “racked up” an astounding 12M views!
Tobias is a man of many talents. In addition to his high-energy cooking videos, he’s also a singer/actor and a proud member and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
He can be loud and brash but his love of food always comes through. One thing that sets him apart from other online chefs is how in-depth he goes with some of his cooking videos. His previously mentioned crab dip and BBQ dinner videos are around 9 minutes long (even on TikTok) but he also has plenty of short-form content too. He’s a versatile creator who isn’t afraid to let his audience get to know him beyond his cooking.
Paris Hilton Cookware tapped Tobias to put her new baby pink cookware to the test. At first glance, Tobias and Paris are an unlikely pairing – but dig a bit deeper and this is an iconic brand collab! Paris Hilton even commented on the video – now #ThatsHot!
@simplyfoodbyty BBQ DINNER! bbqtiktok soulfood
7. Food My Muse
Nadia Aidi, known on social media as Food My Muse, is a food influencer who does Thanksgiving a little differently because of her Mexican heritage. Turkey is specially reserved for Christmas, so she celebrates Thanksgiving with a mouthwatering Tenderloin Roast and Balsamic Brown Butter inspired by her father’s recipe.
Nadia has over 824K followers on Instagram and 251K on TikTok. Her content and recipes incorporate multiple influences from all over the world, reflecting her own diverse background. For everyone hosting Thanksgiving this year, she’s put together a cheese board that’s to die for, perfect to hold your guests over until the main course begins.
Her Tenderloin Roast and Cheese Board posts were part of a brand partnership with Albertsons, showcasing how Nadia and other influencers like her can seamlessly integrate a brand into her content in a natural way.
@foodmymuse #ad In my family, turkey is reserved for Christmas because of my Mexican background, so we celebrate Thanksgiving with a tenderloin roast. This recipe is inspired by my dad’s roast, and it is so delicious for any holiday celebration! The holidays can be hectic with all of the recipes, ingredients, and guests, but @Albertsons has you covered with their Deals & Delivery app – I use DriveUp & Go™ during this time of year to save time on shopping, and I know I can always count on a quick grocery delivery with Albertsons Flash™ Delivery in case I forget an ingredient! Check out all of the holiday offerings at www.albertsons.com! #AlbertsonsforU Tenderloin Roast & Balsamic Brown Butter Ingredients: 3 lb tenderloin butt roast (peeled and silverskin removed). kosher salt. 8 oz unsalted butter. 1 garlic clove (minced). 1/2 tbsp soy sauce. 1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar. 1/4 cup fresh parsley (chopped). 1/4 cup chives (chopped). seasoned salt to taste. Directions: 1. Tie your roast with butchers twine so it cooks evenly. Coat in kosher salt and let it sit uncovered in the fridge for 1 hour and up to 12 to draw out excess moisture and season the meat. 2. Pat dry your tenderloin and let it come to room temp. Sprinkle with seasoned salt. 3. Sear the tenderloin in a preheated oven safe pan until browned. 4. Roast at 400F for 15-25 min or to an internal temp of 125-130F for medium rare, internal temp will raise while resting. 5. In a saucepan brown your butter and once it is golden, turn heat off and add in balsamic, soy sauce, garlic and herbs. 6. Whip your butter over ice until it is all incorporated. 7. Once your tenderloin is resting, baste it with half of the butter and cut the twine off. 8. Melt the rest of the butter and spoon it over your tenderloin once you serve it.
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8. Wishbone Kitchen
Wishbone Kitchen is run by Meredith Hayden, a professional chef and recipe developer who’s passionate about inspiring you to cook at home. She’s garnered more than 2.2M followers on TikTok and 1M on Instagram with her charming personality, food inspo, and great vibes.
One of her fan-favorite videos features a bunch of tips and tricks for making your Thanksgiving the best it can be – starting with a mood board to achieve that perfect fall aesthetic. In just a few short days, the video gained over 334K views on TikTok as she discusses how she’s embracing the classic Thanksgiving – think Gossip Girl, except you don’t need a billion dollars to pull it off!
In the video below, Meredith shows off everything she made for her annual Friendsgiving, featuring all of her must-haves including turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and canned cranberry.
@wishbonekitchen my thanksgiving non-negotiables: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, canned cranberry, and pumpkin pie. additions are welcomed but substitutions will not be tolerated. #thanksgiving #friendsgiving #privatechef
9. Hangin’ With Haley
Hangin’ With Haley, known on social media as @hanginwithhaley, has captivated over 111K followers on TikTok and 185K on Instagram with her warm, Southern-style recipes and charming personality. Haley’s content offers a blend of classic comfort food with modern twists, often set to the tunes of country and folk music that perfectly complements her laid-back cooking style.
During the holiday season last year, she released a video on her unique version of a homemade Pumpkin Spice latte, an absolute must-try for those looking for a fresh take on a seasonal favorite.
@hanginwithhaley I absolutely love my new espresso machine! Trying out my first specialty drink with a pumpkin spice latte! #pumpkinseason #pumpkinspicelatte #pumpkinspice #pumpkinspiceseason #specialtycoffee
10. Tiffy Cooks
Tiffy, known as @tiffycooks on social media, has a loyal following of over 2M on Instagram and 3.3M on TikTok, where she shares easy, mouth-watering recipes with a focus on Asian-inspired comfort food. Her Thanksgiving content is perfect for those looking to add a unique twist to the traditional holiday spread.
Last year, Tiffy’s video on a sweet and savory miso-glazed turkey became a fan favorite, offering viewers a creative and flavorful alternative to classic roasted turkey. Her recipes are approachable, beautifully presented, and filled with flavors that bring an international flair to the Thanksgiving table.
@tiffycooks Every year during the holidays I get sick 🥲 and the only thing that can save me, is my veggie packed chicken congee! I am using leftover rotisserie chicken today to save tons of time #jook #congee #chicken
How Viral Nation’s Influencers Can Boost Your Holiday Campaigns
As Thanksgiving approaches, now is the perfect time to partner with top food influencers to take your holiday campaigns to the next level. At Viral Nation, we specialize in connecting brands with influencers who resonate with your target audience, creating authentic and engaging content that drives results. From recipe tutorials to mouth-watering meal prep ideas, our network of creators will help you capture the essence of Thanksgiving while boosting your brand’s visibility. Let Viral Nation bring your holiday marketing to life with influencer campaigns that deliver big returns.
