Most searched for Thanksgiving side dish in each state

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What are the most popular side dishes for Thanksgiving? An article by Kathy Morris at Zippia the career company on October 26, 2021 is titled The most popular Thanksgiving side in every state (spoiler: mashed potatoes are still the best). She showed a map for fifty states, with 25 most searched items (in November of 2020).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As shown above via a bar chart, mashed potatoes (9 states) were first, followed by rolls (4 states). If we include crescent rolls (NE), there are 5 states rather than four. Then there was a four-way tie for third place (3 states) between baked potato, collard greens, green beans, and stuffing.

 

For New York (NY) she lists Sweet potatoes with marshmallows. That reminded me of a statement by Peg Bracken in The I Hate to Cook Book:

 

“It’s nice to know that they’ve recently repealed the law that made marshmallows mandatory in every dish of baked sweet potatoes.”

 

The last two, Turkey gravy (MT) and White gravy (AR) really don’t belong. As was pointed out on November 4th at the Bob and Tom Show, they are not side dishes – they are just condiments.

 

 An image of a turkey is adapted from from a 1905 Puck magazine at the Library of Congress.