Thanksgiving is just around the corner, but it seems like we are not quite ready to let go of maps of the United States representing contentious results.
Career website Zippia has a side gig in data analysis and decided to release a map showing what the most popular side dishes for Thanksgiving were by state.
“Using Google Trends, we determined what Thanksgiving side each state eats a disproportionate amount of,” they explain. “We examined over 20 Thanksgiving classics. Some controversial decisions were made, including counting gravy as a side.” That is controversial: gravy should be a main course!
Mashed potatoes took the lead by far, named as the most popular side dish in ten different states. Seven states celebrate mac and cheese every year, and in general, carbs ruled the country. Casseroles had many different variations according to regional preference, from green bean to sweet potato to whatever hashbrown casserole is—that was Alaska. They do things different up there. As long as there’s cheese and potatoes involved, it sounds pretty good.
Here’s a breakdown of every state’s most popular Thanksgiving side:
Alabama – Dressing
Alaska – Hashbrown casserole
Arizona – Green bean casserole
Arkansas – White gravy
California – Mashed potatoes
Colorado – Mashed potatoes
Connecticut – Mashed potatoes
Delaware – Mac and cheese
District of Columbia – Mac and cheese
Florida – Sweet potato casserole
Georgia – Mac and cheese
Hawaii – Turkey gravy
Idaho – Green bean casserole
Illinois – Mashed potatoes
Indiana – Deviled eggs
Iowa – Corn
Kansas – Cream corn
Kentucky – Broccoli casserole
Louisiana – Cornbread dressing
Maine – Side salad
Maryland – Mac and cheese
Massachusetts – Stuffing
Michigan – Green bean casserole
Minnesota – Mashed potatoes
Mississippi – Baked sweet potatoes
Missouri – Rolls
Montana – Mashed potatoes
Nebraska – Green bean casserole
Nevada – Mashed potatoes
New Hampshire – Cranberry sauce
New Jersey – Stuffing
New Mexico – Green bean casserole
New York – Stuffing
North Carolina – Mac and cheese
North Dakota – Mashed potatoes
Ohio – Green bean casserole
Oklahoma – Rolls
Oregon – Biscuits
Pennsylvania – Stuffing
Rhode Island – Stuffing
South Carolina – Mac and cheese
South Dakota – Crescent rolls
Tennessee – Sweet potato casserole
Texas – Green bean casserole
Utah – Rolls
Vermont – Stuffing
Virginia – Mac and cheese
Washington – Mashed potatoes
West Virginia – Rolls
Wisconsin – Mashed potatoes
Wyoming – Brown gravy
Essentially, these results are based on what people are Googling how to cook the most in late November, so if your family uses a classic cookbook or grandma’s recipes, you will not be represented here.
Naturally, this made the map quite divisive:
https://twitter.com/ElizabethEThorp/status/1326039490327158784
https://twitter.com/Zonnie_W/status/1326021425380143105
https://twitter.com/JamonTheGreat/status/1325992902472970240
No tamales on this map. Invalid. https://t.co/rb2GtBVnmb
— Jorge Torres (@JorgeTWeather) November 10, 2020
Though some were pleased to see their favs getting the shout out they deserve:
https://twitter.com/mormonbeknowin/status/1325999782075232256
https://twitter.com/atkerijean/status/1326031086556753920
Proud to be from a stuffing state https://t.co/UaOjVLkdd3
— Art Vandelay (@Agman__) November 10, 2020
What no one entirely understands is why Maine went for “side salad” on Thanksgiving:
why is maine lying https://t.co/uUvr0kvW9S
— Lana Berry (@Lana) November 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/WilliamVenomous/status/1326015429718888448
who THE FUCK voted side salad? I want to fight https://t.co/DznWVRkOkp
— emmy (@emmashmemma11) November 10, 2020
I definitely am wondering why they needed to Google how to make one so much. It’s not that complicated. Definitely not nearly as involved as making Deviled Eggs… and not nearly as worth it.
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