The most popular Thanksgiving Recipes in Every State This Year

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, preparation is well underway. This year, though, you may see less roast turkey on Turkey Day.

A Thanksgiving with no roast turkey? This may seem drastic to some – it is an iconic main, after all – however, a recent study found that roast turkey isn’t the most popular Thanksgiving recipe in 2022. Instead, people across America are searching for more meat-free recipes to impress.

The study saw YorkTest scour Google Keyword Planner data over the past year to determine which Thanksgiving recipe each state has a growing appetite for.

So, what’s for dinner?…

Although turkey-based dishes remain an iconic centerpiece for many, the recipe with the biggest rise in searches across America (4,959% higher than last year), and the most popular dish to be served during the November holiday, is, stuffed butternut squash!

Everyone celebrates Thanksgiving differently, though. Below, look through a state-by-state breakdown of the most popular holiday recipes this year. How has your state fared?

The most popular Thanksgiving recipes in each state in 2023

Vegetarian mains to keep the doctor away

Stuffed butternut squash has soared in popularity as the most searched-for recipe in 27 states, with a 400% search increase for stuffed butternut squash in Arkansas alone – the biggest increase for any recipe in any state. Since about ten percent of Americans over the age of 18 consider themselves vegan or vegetarian, this is most likely the go-to veggie main for this year. 

Give Thanksgiving a twist with turkey roulade

Turkey roulade has also soared in popularity as the most popular Thanksgiving recipe in six states, undoubtedly to impress guests with some classy culinary skills. No one is more prepared though than those in South Carolina, where a 200% search increase for turkey roulade means you’ll be rolling out more of the recipe than any other state.

Sweet corn pudding to soak everything up

Sweet corn pudding has become the most searched for recipe in four states, but nobody loves the semi-sweet quick bread more than the people of Michigan. A popular corn-bread based recipe, sweet corn pudding can go alongside almost any main dish, so it’s no surprise that it’s making an appearance for the national get-together.

Kerri Ferraioli, expert nutritionist at YorkTest, commented on the research:

“Stuffed butternut squash is a great party centerpiece which can be filled with a wide range of things. However, considering around 33 million Americans have food allergies, the mix of fillings used in this popular recipe may leave you unable to get your party hat on. To avoid any discomfort this Thanksgiving, we suggest doing a food sensitivity test to see what food you can get stuck into without getting weighed down.

“Traditionally, Thanksgiving is a very turkey-focussed celebration, so it’s great to see a rising appreciation for vegetarian and vegan recipes across the nation – butternut squash is a great source of antioxidants, including vitamin C and vitamin E.

“For those who would never stray from a turkey centerpiece, turkey roulade is a fun twist to the traditional roast turkey that will no doubt leave your guests impressed”

“When getting stuck into your Thanksgiving feast, it’s easy to eat something that may not agree with you. Be sure to keep an eye out for symptoms of food sensitivity.”

Methodology

YorkTest analyzed Google Keyword Planner data from the US over the course of a year, to determine which Thanksgiving recipes have had the biggest change in searches, to reveal the most popular Thanksgiving recipes for 2023. Data up to date as of November 2023.