Most people prefer this Thanksgiving food to turkey: poll

Thanksgiving dinner cooks have been known to spend days preparing a turkey — but most people would rather put something else on their plates.

Campbell’s, one of America’s most popular soup and sauce brands, has released their third annual State of the Sides report, looking at holiday cooking and recipe trends for the November holiday season.

This year’s State of the Sides 2024 report highlighted America’s love and passion for side dishes, with more than 55% saying they’d rather fill their plates with side dishes than turkey itself.

Almost 40% of Americans admitted they would be perfectly satisfied with a plate full of sides and no turkey, showing that sides are the real star of the show.

And diners 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 naming them the best part of the Thanksgiving meal, according to previous Campbell State of the Side reports.

Gen Z thinks so, too, with 38% of 18- to 25-year-olds saying 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% want cheesy flavors, which explains why Gen Z overwhelmingly likes mac and cheese – 45% of Zoomers consider it their favorite dish every year.

Overall, the filling, also called the sauce, was named as the second main 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 best side dish.

Last year’s first-place winner, mashed potatoes, has fallen to second place in 2024, although Americans insist the comfort classic should be homemade.

In third place, up from fourth place in 2023, are sweet potatoes, with four out of five US regions ranking it as a top 3 side dish.

From fifth place last year, the bean casserole ranks fourth this year. The beloved dish is served at 62% of Thanksgiving tables in the Midwest.

Gen Z’s love of mac and cheese wasn’t enough to keep him a top three contender this year. The side dish dropped from third place to fifth in 2024, though the classic comfort food isn’t limited to Thanksgiving — 54% of Americans enjoy mac and cheese year-round.