By India McCarty
Everybody knows that the turkey is the main event at Thanksgiving, but an annual survey finds that Americans are just as excited about the side dishes!
“63% prefer eating side dishes over the turkey at Thanksgiving, up from 56% in 2024,” Campbell’s fourth annual State of the Sides survey found.
In fact, 47% of those surveyed said “they’d be perfectly happy with a plate full of sides and nothing else, up from 38% in 2024.”
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Related: What’s the Most Popular Thanksgiving Dish in Your State?
In 2024, Eric Jones, an assistant professor of mathematics at Rowan College of South Jersey, shared his hypothesis on turkey’s fading popularity.
“The data always suggests that turkey’s prominence at Thanksgiving is fading because it is not liked by younger generations,” he told Fox News. “Older Americans over age 60 are the least picky eaters, [while younger Americans] have constantly had more choices throughout their lives, especially with food, so they don’t feel obligated to eat something they might not like or even to pretend to like it.”
Newsweek compiled the results of Campbell’s survey to find out each state’s favorite side dish, with stuffing or dressing topping the list in 42 states. Second place goes to mashed potatoes, with nine states, including Indiana, Kansas, New Mexico and Washington, voting the dish their favorite. Yams and sweet potatoes came in third, with Arkansas, Mississippi and Michigan choosing it as their top side dish.
Campbell’s survey also revealed a growing trend, led by Millennials and Gen Z: “50% of the nation believes Mac & Cheese should be a staple at every holiday table.”
Another recent report gave Americans cause to celebrate this Thanksgiving — the American Farm Bureau Federation recently announced the cost of a Thanksgiving meal has dropped 5%, to $55.18. A large part of that is the drop in turkey prices. AFBF stated the average cost of a frozen turkey is $21.50, down more than 16% from last year.
“It’s encouraging to see some relief in the price of turkeys, as it is typically the most expensive part of the meal,” AFBF Economist Faith Parum, Ph.D said in a statement. “Farmers are still working to rebuild turkey flocks that were devastated by avian influenza, but overall demand has also fallen. The combination will help ensure turkey will remain an affordable option for families celebrating Thanksgiving.”
AFBF President Zippy Duvall added, “We are blessed to live in a country that is capable of producing such an abundant food supply, and for that we should be thankful.”
Whether it’s turkey or a classic side dish, it looks like Americans are ready to enjoy some of their favorite foods this Thanksgiving!
Read Next: Here’s One Simple Way to Share Your Gratitude This Thanksgiving
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