The most popular Thanksgiving side dishes of 2025
Thanksgiving dinner etiquette 101
Etiquette expert Diane Gottsman shares tips on how to have a good Thanksgiving dinner whether you're a host or a guest.
Sure, turkey is usually the main course on Thanksgiving. But for most Americans, it’s actually the side dishes that really make the meal.
You’re almost certain to pile up a mound of mashed potatoes and gravy next to that drumstick. And stuffing is a sure bet. But what about yams? Or even macaroni and cheese?
Food company Campbell's recently revealed the results of a survey showing what the typical Thanksgiving table looks like in 2025.
By the numbers:
The survey revealed:
- 63% of Americans prefer the sides over the entrée (up from 56% last year)
- 47% of Americans say they’d be happy with nothing but sides (up from 38% last year)
- 85% of Americans agree that leftovers are one of the best parts of Thanksgiving
- 44% of Americans call green bean casserole the "most iconic" side
File: A traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner. (jenifoto / iStock / Getty Images Plus)
Dig deeper:
Campbell’s list of most popular sides remains roughly the same as last year, but with one notable difference. Mac & cheese jumped over green bean casserole to take the fourth spot, and it appears to be driven by younger diners.
Mac & cheese is the most preferred side for Gen Z (41%), with 70% believing it should be a staple at every holiday meal. Millennials are right behind at 62%.
Top Thanksgiving sides by state
Top Thanksgiving sides, ranked
- Stuffing / dressing (steady from 2024)
- Mashed potatoes (steady from 2024)
- Sweet potatoes (steady from 2024)
- Mac & cheese (up one spot from 2024)
- Green bean casserole (down one spot from 2024)
RELATED: 6 classic Thanksgiving side dishes that have disappeared from American tables
The Source: Information in this story came from Campbell's "State of the Sides" report for 2025, which included a survey of 5,000 Americans 18 and over who celebrate Thanksgiving, with 100 people in each of the 50 states.