Thanksgiving bingo is a homemade table game: simple cards with a five-by-five grid, each square a small drawing or icon of a holiday food or object, and beans, pennies or candy as markers. You do not need a store-bought set, and you should not copy a copyrighted bingo game. Make a few unique cards, call the icons from a shuffled stack of matching slips, and play until someone fills a line. See Thanksgiving dinner party games, Thanksgiving table, drinks, and activities, and the Thanksgiving guide.
Make the cards, then call the icons
Cut cardstock into squares or use index-card-size sheets. Draw a five-by-five grid and put a Thanksgiving icon in each square: a pie, a turkey, a pumpkin, corn, a leaf, a basket, a roll. Leave the squares without words if you want the game to work for early readers, or add simple labels in your own handwriting. Shuffle the same set of icons on a second pile of slips to use as the call deck. The middle square can be a free space if you like. Make each card’s layout different so players do not all win at once.
To play, draw one slip at a time and say the icon. Players cover a matching square. A line — across, down or diagonal — is a usual win; you can also play four corners or a full card if the group wants a longer round. A small, non-food prize is enough, or no prize at all. Keep the stack of slips; you can replay with the same cards after dinner or on the weekend.
This is a homemade game, not a reproduction of a commercial bingo set. Do not photocopy a boxed game or a copyrighted character card. If you want more after-dinner ideas, use the party-games guide rather than inventing a second rule set here. Related: Thanksgiving place cards if you are already cutting paper for the table.
Cards can be made days ahead and stored flat. Markers should be large enough that they do not roll into the gravy. If children are playing, skip anything that is a choking hazard and sit with them for the first round.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need official bingo cards?
No. Homemade grids with your own icons are enough, and they avoid copying a commercial set.
How many cards should I make?
One per player, plus a couple of extras. Each card should have a different arrangement of the same icons.
When should we play?
After the meal works well, when the table is cleared enough to spread the cards. It can also fill the gap while dessert is plated.
Helpful kitchen tools
- OXO Good Grips 2-Cup and 4-Cup Glass Measuring Cup Set — Measure stock, sugar or juice without guessing.
- OXO Good Grips 11-Pound Digital Kitchen Food Scale — Weigh bread, sugar or cranberries so batches stay consistent.
- OXO Good Grips Chef’s Precision Digital Instant Read Thermometer — Check 165°F in the center of dressings and leftover reheats.
- Cuisinart Stainless 16-Inch Roasting Pan with Rack and Deluxe Basting Set — Useful the same week if you are also roasting the turkey.
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