2025 State Of The Sides Reveals Iowa And Illinois’ Favorite Thanksgiving Dishes

We're headed straight into fat pants season!

Even those of us who try to eat healthy most of the year can agree that Thanksgiving and Christmas is not the time to do that. Besides all kinds of festive treats, we're having hearty side dishes that stretch us out.

Somehow, Thanksgiving 2025 is practically here, and that means Campbell's '2025 State of the Sides' report has come out.

The report looked at over 5,000 Americans from 50 states and found that 63% of people actually look forward to the Thanksgiving dinner sides the most, instead of the entree. 81% of people said that cooking side dishes is how they show love for friends and family.

The top 5 side dishes were:

• Stuffing/dressing
• Mashed potatoes
• Yams/sweet potatoes
• Stuffing/dressing and mashed potatoes
• Mac & cheese

The map found that Iowa's favorite Thanksgiving side is stuffing/dressing. Not the case across the river. The report found that Illinoisans prefer mashed potatoes.

Stuffing/dressing won out as the overall national favorite Thanksgiving side this year.

Mac and cheese saw a rise to the top that it hasn't in Thanksgivings past. 70% of Gen Z said it's a mandatory part of their plate and Florida and New York crowned it the best side.

Besides stuffing, the Midwest also says that they leave space for green bean casserole on their Thanksgiving plates.

It could be a pricey holiday. Staples like stuffing, potatoes, and pumpkin pie are up 2.7% year-over-year and turkey prices have jumped up 40%. Places like Walmart, ALDI, and Costco are offering value-oriented meal bundles this year.