America’s Favorite Thanksgiving Foods

America’s Favorite Thanksgiving Foods

Every family has its own Thanksgiving traditions. For some, it’s grandma’s secret cranberry sauce recipe. For others, it’s creamed onions and green been casserole. But what’s clear according to a new national survey is that while the country stands united in its preference for the main course (82 percent of Americans eat turkey), our favorite sides differ significantly by region.

The survey of 1,058 households, conducted by SurveyMonkey, found that mac and cheese is the go-to side dish of the Southeast, appearing on 35 percent of tables compared to just 20 percent in the country as a whole. (Southern households are also more likely to serve canned cranberry sauce instead of homemade.) Cornbread is a staple in 40 percent of homes in most other southwestern states, but only in 28 percent of homes accross the rest of the country. New England loves its squash, with a whopping 56 percent of households serving it on Thanksgiving as compared to 18 percent in the rest of the country. Cauliflower is most popular in the Mid Atlantic, where 17 percent of homes serve it as a side versus a mere nine percent ion the rest of the country. The Midwest is split between green bean casserole and biscuits, while the western states win the prize for the healthiest side preference, serving up more salad than anywhere else in the nation.

The country comes together again over dessert. Pumpkin pie is by far the nation’s favorite sweet treat. But there’s disagreement over the runner up. The Northeast and Mid Atlantic overwhelmingly prefer apple pie as the second desert option while the West and Midwest lean toward cherry pie. The Southern states, for their part, stick to pies made from two of their staple crops: Pecans and sweet potatoes.

Looking to start your own Thanksgiving tradition? Check out our favorite recipes for crowd-pleasing sides and mind-blowing desserts.