Side Dishes Steal Spotlight at Thanksgiving

A 2026 Campbell's survey finds most Americans enjoy cooking Thanksgiving sides more than the turkey.

Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in American Cuisine

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of a ceramic green bean casserole with golden onion topping beside a wooden spoon on a cream field. — Campbell's 2026 State of the Sides Report finds 80% of Americans who celebrate Thanksgiving enjoy cooking side dishes more than the turkey. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Will you be serving at least four side dishes at your Thanksgiving table this year?

Campbell's released its 2026 State of the Sides Report, finding that 80% of Americans who celebrate Thanksgiving enjoy cooking side dishes more than the turkey, an 11-percentage-point increase from 2023. The survey estimates 749 million sides will be served nationwide this year.

Why it matters

The findings show side dishes have become a central part of the holiday meal for most households, with 86% of respondents planning to serve at least four. The consistency of the top five sides over three years suggests established holiday traditions continue to shape what American tables look like.

The survey of 5,017 U.S. adults, with 100 respondents from each state, found 67% say green bean casserole reminds them of past Thanksgivings and 69% prefer cream of mushroom or celery soup in the recipe. Respondents' stated preferences are self-reported and do not measure actual consumption.

The players

Campbell's

Campbell's is a major American food company known for its canned soups, and it created the green bean casserole recipe more than 75 years ago.

Reputation Leaders

Reputation Leaders is an independent research organization that conducted the survey for the report.

The details

The top five Thanksgiving sides are stuffing and dressing, mashed potatoes, yams and sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, and green bean casserole, unchanged for three years. Campbell's noted that green bean casserole was created by Dorcas Reilly at Campbell's more than 75 years ago.

• August and September 2026: Reputation Leaders conducts the survey of U.S. adults.
• November 1, 2026: Campbell's releases the 2026 State of the Sides Report.

Culture Shift

The survey's finding that green bean casserole still evokes past Thanksgivings extends the recipe Dorcas Reilly created at Campbell's over 75 years ago. Its persistence in the top five sides reflects how a single 1950s recipe continues to anchor American holiday tradition.

For home cooks planning Thanksgiving, the survey suggests making at least four sides is now typical, with five dishes as the median per table. Green bean casserole remains a dish most respondents associate with family tradition and prefer made with cream-of-mushroom or cream-of-celery soup.

The takeaway

Planning a Thanksgiving menu around four or five sides matches what most American households now serve. Sticking with a familiar recipe like green bean casserole can carry the tradition forward for many families.