With Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror we thought it would be fun to take a look at the trends and traditions that shapes America’s food choices during this holiday. While turkey, and mashed potatoes are near-universal staples, the data shows that many households change at least a few dishes each year. Pie preferences also reveal surprising regional differences, from the preference of pumpkin-pie in the South to the sweet potato pie ranking highest in the Northeast.

The biggest trend is consistency: most Americans keep their Thanksgiving meals mostly the same each year, with only a minority reporting major changes. And although pumpkin pie remains America’s default dessert, the regional breakouts show that not everyone is on board with the standard choice.

Key takeaways:

• 🥧 🍾Pumpkin is king, but not everywhere: Across the country, pumpkin pie consistently ranks as the most preferred Thanksgiving dessert. But the Northeast breaks the pattern. In Northeastern states, pecan and sweet-potato pie score significantly higher than in other regions, making it the only region where pumpkin isn’t the favorite. Apple pie holds steady as a top-two choice in most places, while berry filled pies trail behind.
• 🍽️🙏 Most meals stay the same, with small changes: Nationally, just over 50% of Americans say their Thanksgiving meal is “mostly the same but a few things change.” Another 26% say their meal is the same every year. Only about 15% report major differences from year to year. Regionally, the Northeast, South and West are the most consistent (around 55–56% say most of the meal stays the same), while the Midwest is the most variable at 43%.
• 🍗🦃 Thanksgiving favorites: Thanksgiving favorites are remarkably consistent across demographics, with turkey and the sides clearly standing out as the top choices for nearly everyone. No matter the region or age group, people tend to agree that the main dish and its supporting sides are the highlight of the meal. Desserts follow just behind, showing some regional variation but still ranking solidly as the third most-loved part of the holiday.