The most popular Thanksgiving side dish across the United States is mashed potatoes, adored in 9 states.
The runner-up is rolls, favored by Utah, Florida, North Carolina, and West Virginia.
74% of Americans anticipate enjoying at least 4 side dishes this Thanksgiving.
Approximately 75% of Thanksgiving meals include mashed potatoes and stuffing or dressing, 69% feature dinner rolls, 64% have cranberry sauce, and 59% serve sweet potatoes.
While some individuals work during the holidays, the majority of people can appreciate a day off to celebrate Thanksgiving.
This year, the ongoing trend of companies delaying Black Friday hours continues, providing even more employees the chance to enjoy festive meals and quality time with loved ones.
This got us thinking—what foods will everyone be enjoying this year? Are some states more enthusiastic about corn than others? We analyzed Google searches to uncover each state’s favorite Thanksgiving side.
The takeaway? Thanksgiving may be known as Turkey Day, but perhaps it should be rebranded as mashed potatoes and rolls day.
Other Interesting Findings
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In general, carb dishes reign supreme—crescent rolls, stuffing, and dressing all made the list.
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While most states lean towards carbs, Rhode Island is opting for glazed carrots.
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However, bread should take a backseat; potatoes are truly the people’s choice.
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A remarkable 15 states should be celebrating potato day.
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No judgment, but can we discuss how Montana’s top side is turkey gravy? Hopefully, it’s enjoyed with other dishes and not consumed solo.
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Louisiana prefers dressing, which is Southern for stuffing.
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Unsurprisingly, if you’re looking for a casserole, the South is the place to be—preferably made by a family member.
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Mac n’ cheese has seen a significant decline in popularity compared to last year.
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Only two states (Virginia and Vermont) still recognize its cheesy, gooey, baked goodness.
How We Determined This
Using Google Trends, we analyzed which Thanksgiving side each state consumes disproportionately. We considered over 20 Thanksgiving classics and identified which sides had significantly higher search interest.
For instance, while Nebraska enjoys all the traditional Thanksgiving dishes, the search interest in crescent rolls is notably higher than in other states, making it Nebraska’s standout favorite.
Some debatable decisions were made, including classifying gravy as a side. However, since it’s not the main dish and ideally isn’t consumed as a beverage, we felt justified. Apologies if your family has an unusual tradition of serving shrimp cocktails, Red Lobster Cheddar biscuits, or other unique dishes for Thanksgiving.
Your family may not fit the mold, but this data should represent what most of us indulge in during Thanksgiving.
We looked at search trends throughout November 2022 to identify what people were most curious about in each state. Interest in Thanksgiving sides typically spikes on the holiday itself (Turns out, when you’re searching for “how to make mashed potatoes,” so is most of the country.)
How this year may differ won’t be clear until after Thanksgiving—who wants to wait that long? Fortunately, it’s safe to assume that many will still be preparing mashed potatoes, mac n’ cheese, and other favorites this year—and likely in 2050 as well.
Wishing You a Joyous Mashed Potato Day!
Let’s face it, Thanksgiving turkey isn’t always a culinary triumph.
We’ve all experienced the struggle of enduring dry turkey, politely proclaiming, “This is delicious,” to the chef. Or waiting for hours for the turkey to finish cooking…only for it to be overdone.
In fact, cooking a turkey can be quite unpredictable, so ham or other meats are often served alongside it.
So let’s give credit where it’s due—the sides. Stuffing, mashed potatoes, mac n’ cheese, and more are the real champions of the day.
The best part? You don’t have to pick just one. Load your plate with green bean casserole, rolls, and perhaps some cranberry sauce too. Why not pour it over the turkey and enjoy every bite?
Each State’s Favorite Thanksgiving Side
| State | Favorite Side |
|---|---|
| Alaska | Stuffed mushrooms |
| Alabama | Sweet potato casserole |
| Arkansas | White gravy |
| Arizona | Mashed potatoes |
| California | Mashed potatoes |
| Colorado | Mashed potatoes |
| Connecticut | Mashed potatoes |
| Delaware | Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes |
| Florida | Rolls |
| Georgia | Collard Greens |
| Hawaii | Mashed potatoes |
| Iowa | Green beans |
| Idaho | Side salad |
| Illinois | Mashed potatoes |
| Indiana | Green beans |
| Kansas | Creamed corn |
| Kentucky | Hashbrown casserole |
| Louisiana | Cornbread Dressing |
| Massachusetts | Mashed potatoes |
| Maryland | Collard Greens |
| Maine | Stuffing |
| Michigan | Rolls |
| Minnesota | Charcuterie Tray |
| Missouri | Charcuterie Tray |
| Mississippi | Cornbread |
| Montana | Turkey gravy |
| North Carolina | Biscuit |
| North Dakota | Fruit salad |
| Nebraska | Crescent roll |
| New Hampshire | Stuffing |
| New Jersey | Stuffed mushrooms |
| New Mexico | Side salad |
| Nevada | Mashed potatoes |
| New York | Sweet potatoes with marshmallows |
| Ohio | Green beans |
| Oklahoma | Baked potato |
| Oregon | Mashed potatoes |
| Pennsylvania | Stuffing |
| Rhode Island | Glazed Carrots |
| South Carolina | Collard Greens |
| South Dakota | Baked Sweet Potatoes |
| Tennessee | Hashbrown casserole |
| Texas | Creamed corn |
| Utah | Rolls |
| Virginia | Macaroni and cheese |
| Vermont | Macaroni and cheese |
| Washington | Roasted Vegetables |
| Wisconsin | Baked potato |
| West Virginia | Rolls |
| Wyoming | Baked potato |
Author
Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.
