Turkey may traditionally command the center of the Thanksgiving table, but holiday diners across the United States are making it abundantly clear that the side dishes are the true main attraction.
The Campbell's Company officially published its fifth annual State of the Sides Report. Commissioned through independent research firm Reputation Leaders, the comprehensive national study surveyed 5,017 American adults across all 50 states to measure holiday dining preferences. The findings revealed that an overwhelming 80 percent of Americans enjoy preparing side dishes more than cooking the turkey—a dramatic 11-point increase compared to 2023. Furthermore, 46 percent of celebrants admitted they would be completely satisfied filling their entire holiday plate with sides alone.
Stuffing And Mashed Potatoes Dominate Nationwide Preferences
For the third consecutive year, stuffing (also referred to regionally as dressing or filling) secured the title of America's favorite Thanksgiving side dish, finishing as the top choice across 39 individual states. Mashed potatoes claimed the runner-up spot nationally, ranking number one across nine states.
The report confirmed that America's top five favorite Thanksgiving sides remain consistent with recent years:
- Stuffing Or Dressing: Ranked first overall, praised as the most essential dish on the holiday table.
- Mashed Potatoes: Ranked second overall, maintaining universal cross-generational appeal.
- Yams Or Sweet Potatoes: Ranked third, landing in the top three across 24 states.
- Macaroni And Cheese: Ranked fourth nationally, while remaining the undisputed number-one choice among Gen Z for the second straight year.
- Green Bean Casserole: Ranked fifth overall, serving as the country's most fiercely protected recipe, with only 19 percent of cooks willing to alter its traditional preparation.
Gen Z Preferences And Massive Seasonal Soup Volume
The study also highlighted the sheer volume of holiday spreads, finding that 86 percent of hosts plan to serve at least four sides this year, with a median of five dishes per table—totaling an estimated 749 million holiday sides nationwide.
Campbell's products continue to serve as cornerstone ingredients for these seasonal staples. The company confirmed that 87 percent of consumers who make green bean casserole view Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup as essential, driving seasonal sales of nearly 40 million cans between November and January. Meanwhile, macaroni and cheese emerged as the quickest dish to disappear, with 42 percent of households reporting zero leftovers.
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