Thanksgiving dinner cooks are known to spend days preparing a turkey — but most people prefer putting something else on their plates.
Campbell’s, one of the most well-known soup and sauce brands in America, has released their third-annual State of the Sides report, looking at holiday side dishes and recipe trends for the November holiday.
This year’s 2024 State of the Sides report has emphasized America’s love and passion for side dishes, with more than 55% saying they would rather stuff their plates with side dishes than the turkey itself.
Nearly 40% of Americans admitted that they would be perfectly content with a plate full of just side dishes and no turkey at all, showing that sides are the actual star of the show.
And the people eating the meal aren’t the only ones who prefer Thanksgiving sides — 60% find more joy in cooking side dishes than preparing the bird.
The preference for side dishes has remained consistent, with this year marking the third year in a row of Americans declaring them the better part of the Thanksgiving meal, according to Campbell’s previous State of the Side reports.
Gen Z thinks so, too, with 38% of 18 to 25-year-olds sharing that they make seven or more sides for their Thanksgiving table.
As for the flavors people prefer to have in their holiday meal, 42% want more creamy flavors and 38% crave cheesy flavors, which explains why Gen Z overwhelmingly loves mac and cheese — 45% of Zoomers consider it their favorite side dish each year.
Overall, stuffing, also called dressing, was named the top side dish this year, moving up from second place in 2023.
Millennials, Gen X, Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation all agree that stuffing is the ultimate side dish.
Last year’s first-place winner, mashed potatoes, has been bumped down to second place in 2024, though Americans insist that the comfort classic must be homemade.
In third place, up from fourth place in 2023, is sweet potatoes, with four out of five regions in the US ranking it as a top 3 side dish.
Up from fifth place last year, green bean casserole is ranked fourth this year. The beloved dish is served at 62% of Thanksgiving tables in the Midwest.
Gen Z’s love for mac and cheese wasn’t enough to keep it a top-three contender this year. The side dish dropped from third place to fifth in 2024, though the comfort food classic isn’t just limited to Thanksgiving — 54% of Americans enjoy mac and cheese year-round.
