The Most Googled Thanksgiving Recipe by State


Kristin Cooke
Mar 18, 2022
Icon Time To Read2 min read

’Tis the season to start loosening your belt! Holiday feasts are just around the corner, and whether you will be visiting loved ones or celebrating at home, we hope that good food is on the menu. 

To whet your appetite for holiday cooking, SatelliteInternet.com analyzed Google Trends to find the most searched Thanksgiving recipes in every state.

Ready to see what people are craving? 

Thanksgiving dish infographic

America’s most googled Thanksgiving recipes

This year, as CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines discourage the huge potluck holiday parties of past years, Americans are craving traditional holiday favorites.

Here are the most popular Thanksgiving recipes ranked by the number of states that like them best: 

  • Mashed potatoes: 14
  • Mashed sweet potatoes: 6
  • Sweet potato casserole: 6
  • Jell-O: 6
  • Green bean casserole: 1
  • Sweet potato casserole with marshmallows: 1
  • Roast turkey: 3
  • Pecan pie: 3
  • Cranberry sauce: 1
  • Cornbread dressing: 1
  • Honey-baked ham: 1
  • Candied yams: 2
  • Gravy: 5
  • Classic stuffing: 1

What we learned

Most people mash—From coast to coast, mashed potatoes were the most sought-after recipe. Whether you’re mashing sweet potatoes or the classic Idaho russet, mashed potatoes make most meals better. 

More potatoes, please—Sweet potato casseroles are also a favorite across the nation, with Alaska and Tennessee insisting on marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes. Candied yams are also a favorite. 

Gravy soothes the soul—Grandma makes the best gravy, but many of us can’t quite make it like she does. So, it’s off to our friend Google to figure out how to make this simple yet essential Thanksgiving staple.

Pecan pie—Although pecan pie is the only pie that landed on the list, we hope that there will be plenty of pie in all varieties this Thanksgiving. Pecan pie reigns supreme in the states of Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, while other states have regional pie specialties of their own. 

Jumpin’ for Jell-O—Jell-O is a hundred-year American tradition that’s a favorite in states ranging from Hawaii all the way to Wisconsin. 

Decline of green bean casserole—This year marks a decline in searches for green bean casserole recipes, with the side dish taking first place in just one state (Montana), down from first place in six states last year. 

Where are the rolls?—We noticed that homemade rolls don’t feature in any state’s top searches this year. We hope this means that local bakeries are getting a lot of business for the holidays! 

Happy Turkey Day—Roast turkey is the top search in only three states, which could mean that more of us are going vegetarian, but it could also indicate that people are talking to friends and family rather than Google for fail-safe directions on this holiday classic. 

Are you aligned with your state’s favorite dish? Let us know in the comments.

Your state’s favorite Thanksgiving recipe

State
Recipe

Alabama

Sweet potato casserole

Alaska

Sweet potato casserole with marshmallows

Arizona

Mashed potatoes

Arkansas

Pecan pie

California

Mashed potatoes

Colorado

Mashed potatoes

Connecticut

Mashed sweet potatoes

Delaware

Roast turkey

District of Columbia

Mashed sweet potatoes

Florida

Sweet potato casserole

Georgia

Honey baked ham

Hawaii

Jello

Idaho

Mashed potatoes

Illinois

Mashed potatoes

Indiana

Gravy

Iowa

Jello

Kansas

Mashed potatoes

Kentucky

Sweet potato casserole

Louisiana

Cornbread dressing

Maine

Cranberry sauce

Maryland

Candied yams

Massachusetts

Mashed sweet potatoes

Michigan

Jello

Minnesota

Mashed potatoes

Mississippi

Candied yams

Missouri

Gravy

Montana

Green bean casserole

Nebraska

Jello

Nevada

Mashed potatoes

New Hampshire

Roast turkey

New Jersey

Mashed sweet potatoes

New Mexico

Mashed potatoes

New York

Mashed sweet potatoes

North Carolina

Sweet potato casserole

North Dakota

Mashed potatoes

Ohio

Jello

Oklahoma

Pecan pie

Oregon

Mashed potatoes

Pennsylvania

Classic stuffing

Rhode Island

Mashed sweet potatoes

South Carolina

Sweet potato casserole

South Dakota

Gravy

Tennessee

Sweet potato casserole

Texas

Pecan pie

Utah

Mashed potatoes

Vermont

Roast turkey

Virginia

Mashed potatoes

Washington

Mashed potatoes

West Virginia

Gravy

Wisconsin

Jello

Wyoming

Gravy

Sources

  1. Deliso, Meredith, “CDC Issues Robust New Thanksgiving Guidance as Cases Surge in US,” November 2020. Accessed November 11, 2020.
Kristin Cooke
Written by
After graduating with a degree in English from the University of Utah, Kristin learned to geek speak while working as a technical recruiter, interviewing software developers and tech companies. For over 20 years, she has created award-winning content for technology, health, and finance companies. Kristin is an advocate for affordable internet for all and writes about rural internet solutions, satellite internet news, and tech products at SatelliteInternet.com. Her work has been featured in New York Post, PCMag, Forbes, Business Insider, Telecompetitor, Space.com, and The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society.