The Most Popular Thanksgiving Side Dish In Every State

With only two short weeks until Thanksgiving Day, I'm already dreaming about the piles of gravy-drenched dressing, green bean casserole, and mashed potatoes I will eat. You’ll notice that I have not mentioned anything about the turkey, because in my mind, Thanksgiving isn’t a bird-centric holiday—instead, it’s all about the sides. 

I know for a fact that plenty of other people feel the same way. Campbell’s, the company behind the cream of mushroom soup in everyone's green bean casserole recipe, has released its latest State of the Sides report. It found that 63% of people prefer eating side dishes over turkey, and that’s up from 56% in 2024!

That might have something to do with skyrocketing turkey prices, or it could be because Thanksgiving sides are really that good. 47% of people surveyed said that they’d be “perfectly happy with a plate full of sides,” and I couldn't agree more.

What Are America's Favorite Thanksgiving Sides?

The list of most popular sides ranks all the classics in order of popularity, and the ranking will come as a shock to green bean casserole fans:

1. Stuffing/Dressing
2. Mashed Potatoes
3. Sweet Potatoes
4. Mac & Cheese
5. Green Bean Casserole

Campbell’s also revealed the most popular sides in each state, and the results were conclusive. In the vast majority of U.S. states—including Texas, California, Michigan, and Pennsylvania—stuffing, or dressing, depending on the region, reigns supreme. As someone who spends hours preparing her great-grandmother’s cornbread dressing every year, I’m not surprised that it’s at the top of the list. Most people only eat stuffing or dressing around the holidays, so it makes sense that people really look forward to this herby, carb-laden favorite. 

Mac and cheese has also seen a major spike in interest in recent years, especially among Gen Z and Millennial eaters, Campbell's says. 50% of people surveyed said the dish should be on every Thanksgiving table, and it earned the “favorite side” spot in Florida and New York. 

In four states—Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, and Maryland—multiple Thanksgiving sides tied for the top spot. Delaware couldn’t decide between mashed potatoes and stuffing, which is totally fair. Who among us wants to choose between these two Thanksgiving icons? Maryland was even more indecisive, with mac and cheese, yams or sweet potatoes, and stuffing all coming in on top. 

Fortunately, when Thanksgiving Day actually arrives, we won’t be forced to choose between our favorite sides. Instead, I’m looking forward to scooping some of every dish on my family’s table onto my plate—with cranberry sauce, of course—and eating until it’s time to find a quiet place to nap.