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Thanksgiving is one of the ten federal holidays in the United States, celebrated annually with family gatherings and feasting. While some individuals work during the holiday, many are grateful for the chance to enjoy a festive meal with loved ones. In recent years, a growing number of retailers have opted to refrain from opening on Thanksgiving Day, allowing more people to relish this cherished time.
This led us to ponder: What dishes are people enjoying this Thanksgiving? Are there regional favorites that stand out? To find out, we analyzed Google search trends to identify each state’s most popular Thanksgiving side dish.
And the findings? While Thanksgiving is often dubbed Turkey Day, it might as well be called Mashed Potato Day or Mac ‘n Cheese Day!
Most Interesting Findings
- Mashed potatoes reign supreme as the favorite in 10 states.
- Hot on their heels, mac n’ cheese holds the top spot in 7 states, proving it’s not Thanksgiving without this cheesy delight.
- While many states opt for traditional carb-rich sides, Maine stands out with a preference for side salads.
- The South may not be known for casseroles, but the Midwest can’t get enough, especially of green bean casserole.
- In Alabama, it’s “dressing” instead of stuffing, a regional twist on the traditional dish.
- Only New Hampshire shows a clear preference for cranberry sauce.
- Forget fancy sides; biscuits, rolls, and crescent rolls keep it simple and satisfying.
- A whopping 47 states gravitate towards carby, cheesy, and delicious sides, with just 3 focusing on vegetables.
How We Figured This Out
Utilizing Google Trends, we identified which Thanksgiving sides each state searches for disproportionately. We evaluated over 20 classic Thanksgiving dishes to determine which side garners the most search interest relative to the rest of the country.
For instance, while Maine indulges in the same Thanksgiving staples as others, the search interest for side salads is notably higher, marking it as the state’s favorite.
Some decisions were subjective, such as considering gravy a side. However, since it’s not a main dish and ideally not consumed as a beverage, we included it. Apologies if your family’s Thanksgiving traditions involve curious dishes like shrimp cocktails or unique items!
This analysis aims to represent what the majority of Americans enjoy during Thanksgiving, even if your family’s culinary preferences diverge.
We examined search data from November 2023 to uncover trends, noting that many search queries for Thanksgiving sides peak on the holiday itself (it turns out when you’re googling “how to make mashed potatoes,” so is much of America!).
How preferences shift in the coming years remains to be seen, but it’s likely that many will continue to savor mashed potatoes, mac ‘n cheese, and other beloved sides well into the future—possibly even in 2050!
Have A Happy Mashed Potato Day!
Let’s face it: Thanksgiving turkey sometimes misses the mark.
We’ve all experienced a dry turkey, reluctantly saying, “This is great,” to the chef. Or waiting impatiently for the turkey to finish cooking.
Given the unpredictability of turkey, many families opt for ham or other meats as alternatives.
Therefore, let’s acknowledge the true stars of the day: the sides. Dishes like stuffing, mashed potatoes, mac n’ cheese, and more are the real heroes of Thanksgiving.
The best part? You don’t have to choose just one! Fill your plate with green bean casserole, rolls, and maybe some cranberry sauce too. Go ahead, pile it on the turkey and enjoy every bite!
Each State’s Favorite Thanksgiving Side
| State | Side |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Dressing |
| Alaska | Hashbrown casserole |
| Arizona | Green bean casserole |
| Arkansas | White Gravy |
| California | Mashed Potatoes |
| Colorado | Mashed Potatoes |
| Connecticut | Mashed Potatoes |
| Delaware | Mac And Cheese |
| District of Columbia | Mac And Cheese |
| Florida | Sweet Potato Casserole |
| Georgia | Mac And Cheese |
| Hawaii | Turkey gravy |
| Idaho | Green bean casserole |
| Illinois | Mashed Potatoes |
| Indiana | Deviled Eggs |
| Iowa | Corn |
| Kansas | Cream Corn |
| Kentucky | Broccoli Casserole |
| Louisiana | Cornbread Dressing |
| Maine | Side Salad |
| Maryland | Mac And Cheese |
| Massachusetts | Stuffing |
| Michigan | Green bean casserole |
| Minnesota | Mashed Potatoes |
| Mississippi | Baked Sweet Potatoes |
| Missouri | Rolls |
| Montana | Mashed Potatoes |
| Nebraska | Green bean casserole |
| Nevada | Mashed Potatoes |
| New Hampshire | Cranberry Sauce |
| New Jersey | Stuffing |
| New Mexico | Green bean casserole |
| New York | Stuffing |
| North Carolina | Mac And Cheese |
| North Dakota | Mashed Potatoes |
| Ohio | Green bean casserole |
| Oklahoma | Rolls |
| Oregon | Biscuits |
| Pennsylvania | Stuffing |
| Rhode Island | Stuffing |
| South Carolina | Mac And Cheese |
| South Dakota | Crescent Rolls |
| Tennessee | Sweet Potato Casserole |
| Texas | Green bean casserole |
| Utah | Rolls |
| Vermont | Stuffing |
| Virginia | Mac And Cheese |
| Washington | Mashed Potatoes |
| West Virginia | Rolls |
| Wisconsin | Mashed Potatoes |
| Wyoming | Brown Gravy |
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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.
