Can AI Make a Better Thanksgiving Feast Than Grandma?

Need a new recipe to spice up your Thanksgiving feast? Turning to AI might not be the answer.

AI might be able to mimic human writing with a small degree of success, create some art that isn’t completely off-putting, and even generate music that doesn’t set the hearers to screaming like they’re in a horror movie. However, this doesn’t mean AI should be donning a digital apron anytime soon.

As evidenced by the recipe that popped up on social media for peppermint nachos. No, we’re not talking sweet where the chips, cheese, and salsa are replaced with dessert counterparts. We are talking about cheesy, meaty, tortilla chip nachos to which crushed peppermint candies have been added. I’m all for kitchen creativity, but how did AI dream up this one?

Of course, we should appreciate that AI restricted itself to actual food products in this recipe — unlike another AI recipe suggestion that advised people to add non-toxic glue under the cheese on pizza to keep it from sliding off.

When I asked ChatGPT to give me this recipe, it did so with this encouragement, “Enjoy these Peppermint Hot Chocolate Bacon Cheeseburger Nachos as a delightful and surprising treat that combines sweet and savory in every bite! Perfect for parties, game nights, or holiday gatherings.”

If AI was really clever, it would probably have added the anti-nausea medicine directly to the recipe.

In general, it’s probably best that innovations in the kitchen remain the purview of those with taste buds.

One radio station even issued a warning to users to check the origin of recipes lest they start cooking and wind up with something, well, gross.

On one level, it does seem as if a compilation of “all” the recipes should enable AI to combine the best parts of each and produce the most-amazing-recipe-ever. Only, to use an adage that had nothing to do with AI when created, too many cooks spoil the broth.

Most of those that insist that using AI to create recipes is a great idea also admit that one should always check the recipe for logicalness before setting out to make it. In other words, a person who has baked many cakes can generally read a cake recipe and determine whether following the ingredient list and directions will produce a cake-like dish or a stand in for a hockey puck.

A newbie in the kitchen relying only on AI for a recipe might end up with saltless, flavorless, or otherwise gaggy food.

Even if the recipes aren’t failures, AI recipes might leave one asking themselves, “Should stuffing ever be topped with streusel?” Um, let’s go with no.

As for adding chocolate crust and swirls to pumpkin pie? I see how that could work.

With that in mind, I headed to ChatGPT to ask if making a lemon cake with paprika and chocolate filling and pumpkin and sage cream cheese frosting was a good idea. I was told that, “Overall, this flavor combination could be very intriguing and delicious if balanced correctly! It might be worth testing a small batch first to see how the flavors meld before committing to a full recipe. If you’re feeling adventurous, go for it!” When I asked for the recipe, it generated one and told me, “This cake will have a delightful balance of flavors, with the tartness of lemon, richness of chocolate, and warmth of pumpkin and sage creating an intriguing dessert for any occasion!”

I have my doubts, but I guess what AI lacks in common sense, it makes up for in encouragement. Although I don’t think anyone should be encouraged to make that cake or make their turkey into a dessert — another idea that the chatbot celebrated for being unique.

However, with a fair amount of common sense, kitchen skills, and culinary knowledge, one might be able to discover some new ideas using AI.

Can any of those newly generated recipes for things like Spiced Apple Cider Turkey Brine or Pumpkin Risotto beat the recipes that have graced our tables for years? Probably not.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that Gingerbread Pecan Pie is such a bad idea, but family recipes are a part of us. One taste or even scent can take us back in time.

Whether your table is filled with recipes passed down for generations or the gastronomical hallucinations of AI, we wish you a blessed and happy Thanksgiving with the people you love.

Happy Thanksgiving!