Thanksgiving dinner may be built around a turkey, but Americans are increasingly putting the spotlight on the dishes served alongside it.
A new report
from Campbell's found that 80% of Americans who celebrate Thanksgiving enjoy cooking the side dishes more than the turkey. That's an 11-percentage-point increase from 2023, according to the company's 2026 State of the Sides Report, now in its fifth year.Americans are also planning to serve plenty of options at their holiday tables. The report found that 86% of respondents plan to serve at least four sides this year, with a median of five dishes per table. That amounts to an estimated 749 million sides nationwide.
Campbell's commissioned a survey of 5,017 U.S. adults ages 18 and older who celebrate
Thanksgiving, with 100 respondents from each state and additional respondents across the country. Independent research organization Reputation Leaders conducted the survey in August and September 2026.
So which dishes are Americans most likely to serve? Campbell's annual report identifies five favorites, while highlighting the enduring popularity of two holiday staples.
America's 5 favorite Thanksgiving sides
The report's top five Thanksgiving sides have shifted slightly in ranking over the years, but the same dishes have held their places for the past three years.
Here are the five favorites identified in the 2026 report:
- Green bean casserole
- Mac and cheese
- Yams and sweet potatoes
- Mashed potatoes
- Stuffing and dressing
Green bean casserole remains a Thanksgiving classic
Green bean casserole continues to evoke holiday memories. Sixty-seven percent of respondents said the dish reminds them of Thanksgivings past, and just 19% said they would change its recipe, the lowest percentage among the five leading sides.
Created in Campbell's Test Kitchen by Dorcas Reilly more than 75 years ago, the five-ingredient recipe remains a familiar part of the holiday meal. Sixty-nine percent of respondents said the dish is best made with cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup, while 87% said Campbell's Soup is their go-to for making green bean casserole.
The company also reported selling nearly 40 million cans of cream of mushroom soup during the holiday period over the past five years, underscoring the ingredient's role in Thanksgiving cooking.
Mac and cheese is a favorite among younger Americans
Mac and cheese was Gen Z's No. 1 Thanksgiving side for the second consecutive year, according to the report.
Fifty-seven percent of respondents said mac and cheese is a dish everyone can agree on, while 42% said there are never any leftovers.
The dish's appeal may also reflect its convenience. Forty-six percent of respondents cited easy preparation as a reason they choose mac and cheese for the holiday.
Younger Americans showed broader enthusiasm for sides, too. Sixty-five percent of Gen Z respondents and 56% of millennials said they would be happy eating a meal made entirely of side dishes.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com or on X @athompsonUSAT
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Do you agree? These are America's 5 favorite Thanksgiving sides
