There are your Thanksgiving staples — turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes and stuffing. Some people have strong opinions about which is the best, and which other dishes deserve a spot on the table.
Those opinions may differ based on where you live.
According to a Thanksgiving trends report compiled by DoorDash, the favorites vary by state and offer a glimpse into what dish will be scraped clean on Thursday. Google also found which dishes were most searched by states.
Side dish stars
A consumer trends expert at DoorDash told HuffPost that after examining the data, what stood out was how Thanksgiving side dishes clustered geographically, “almost like regional dialects rooted in place, history and habit.”
The South gravitated toward some sweeter options, including sweet potatoes, corn and cornbread, and cranberries.
The Midwest preferred green beans and gravy. The Northeast varied between carrots, squash and other dishes.
And out West, mashed potatoes won out. In Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington and Oregon, mashed potatoes was the No. 1 most ordered Thanksgiving side dish last year.
According to Google’s data, the most searched Thanksgiving side in nearly all states was a recipe for stuffing.
Just a few states had variations, including Nevada with a cranberry inquiry, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska and Louisiana searching green bean casserole, and Iowa and Mississippi looking up sweet potato casserole.
What about dessert?
Even after a large meal, Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without the pie.
Using purchase data from last year, Instacart and Google found which pies were most popular for the country.
Out West, pumpkin pie was the clear favorite. California, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington all love pumpkin pie, “embracing this seasonal classic with its deep autumn flavors and timeless appeal.”
There’s some variation as you examine the rest of the country, though.
Utah, for example, is one of just a few states that opted for cream pie, which Instacart describes as a “nostalgic twist on tradition.”
Several states leaned toward cherry pie, chocolate pie, strawberry rhubarb pie and french silk pie.
A few favorites in the South include pecan pie and sweet potato pie, but peanut butter pie topped the charts in several states, including Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas and Pennsylvania, the data found.
“Looking at the most uniquely popular pie in each state reveals a lot about our country’s regional tastes and traditions — sparking big Thanksgiving debates about what truly belongs on the table,” Instacart’s trends analyst Alex Orellana said. “While pumpkin pie is a nationwide favorite, it’s fascinating to see how different states embrace their own traditions.”
Google found that the most searched pie is generally pumpkin pie, but this year, Utahns are looking up chocolate pie the most.
Celebrating Thanksgiving in 2025
According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, this year, American’s will see a “moderate decline” in prices for their annual Thanksgiving dinners.
Organizers found that a 10-person dinner including Thanksgiving staples will cost $55.18. It’s a 5% decline in cost from 2024 and marks the third-straight year that prices have dropped from a record high cost in 2022.
While the Thanksgiving dinner bill may not be as costly as previous years, Americans are noting that cost of living and other costs have risen and will add some financial strain heading into the holiday season.
Still, it’s known that Americans across the country will gather with friends and family to devour some favorite dishes — no matter if there’s debate about which one is the best.
What dish is your favorite? Or do you have a particularly strong opinion over pie? Add a comment to let us know.