What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side? For me, it’s all about the mashed potatoes. I remember at my first Thanksgiving with my now-husband and his family, I was absolutely APPALLED that no mashed potatoes were in sight. Yes, you read that correctly. Not a single tater was mashed in their kitchen that Thanksgiving.
Our relationship almost ended then and there. Luckily, I muddled through (thank you, pinot grigio), and now when we spend Thanksgiving with his family, I bring the potatoes! (This is my favorite recipe, BTW. You can thank me later).
As my mashed potato-less Thanksgiving proves, not everyone serves up the same side dishes. In fact, the menu seems to vary depending on where you live. Zippia created a list of the most popular Thanksgiving side dish in each state, based on analyzing unique Google searches in 2020, and the results are interesting.
Not surprisingly, stuffing — or dressing, as it’s called in the Southern states — is a top contender. Folks in Alabama, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont love this iconic side.
Casseroles also rule in many states, with people in Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas all piling up the searches for various versions of this side, including broccoli, corn, green bean and sweet potato casseroles.
Ten different states were on my team, by the way, ranking mashed potatoes as their most-searched side, including the fine people of California.
There are some unique picks on the list, as well. Oregonians like biscuits, Mainers like side salads and Hoosiers like deviled eggs, for example.
Without further ado, here is the entire list of the most-Googled Thanksgiving side dish in each state and Washington D.C., according to Zippia:
- Alabama: Dressing
- Alaska: Hash brown casserole
- Arizona: Green bean casserole
- Arkansas: White gravy
- California: Mashed potatoes
- Colorado: Mashed potatoes
- Connecticut: Mashed potatoes
- Delaware: Macaroni and cheese
- District of Columbia: Macaroni and cheese
- Florida: Sweet potato casserole
- Georgia: Macaroni and cheese
- Hawaii: Turkey gravy
- Idaho: Green bean casserole
- Illinois: Mashed potatoes
- Indiana: Deviled eggs
- Iowa: Corn
- Kansas: Creamed corn
- Kentucky: Broccoli casserole
- Louisiana: Cornbread dressing
- Maine: Side salad
- Maryland: Macaroni and cheese
- Massachusetts: Stuffing
- Michigan: Green bean casserole
- Minnesota: Mashed potatoes
- Mississippi: Baked sweet potatoes
- Missouri: Rolls
- Montana: Mashed potatoes
- Nebraska: Green bean casserole
- Nevada: Mashed potatoes
- New Hampshire: Cranberry sauce
- New Jersey: Stuffing
- New Mexico: Green bean casserole
- New York: Stuffing
- North Carolina: Macaroni and cheese
- North Dakota: Mashed potatoes
- Ohio: Green bean casserole
- Oklahoma: Rolls
- Oregon: Biscuits
- Pennsylvania: Stuffing
- Rhode Island: Stuffing
- South Carolina: Macaroni and cheese
- South Dakota: Crescent rolls
- Tennessee: Sweet potato casserole
- Texas: Green bean casserole
- Utah: Rolls
- Vermont: Stuffing
- Virginia: Macaroni and cheese
- Washington: Mashed potatoes
- West Virginia: Rolls
- Wisconsin: Mashed potatoes
- Wyoming: Brown gravy
Thanksgiving is sure to be a little different this year but there’s no reason you can’t still whip up your favorite side dish, even if it’s on a smaller scale! Happy holidays.