America’s Favorite Thanksgiving Sides, Ranked by Popularity

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Thanksgiving is all about tradition, and food is a huge, tasty part of that. Although turkey is the main course, Thanksgiving sides are just as important. What would Thanksgiving dinner be without mashed potatoes and gravy?
These are the most popular Thanksgiving side dishes, ranked by how many U.S. states prefer them, according to Google Trends data.
Honorable Mention: Cranberry Sauce

Country of origin: United States
Year created: 1912
States where cranberry sauce is a favorite: Shockingly, none.
Why Cranberry Sauce Is Underrated

It irks us that cranberry sauce didn’t make the cut. It wasn’t the most frequently searched side in any state, yet it’s an indispensable element of every Thanksgiving dinner.
When your plate is already covered with savory options like turkey and mashed potatoes, plus sweeter sides like cornbread and honey or sweet potato casserole, the tartness of cranberry sauce rounds out the experience.
17. Fruit Salad

Country of origin: United States
Year created: Early 1900s
States where fruit salad is a favorite: North Dakota
Why Everyone Loves Fruit Salad

North Dakota, we have questions. The state was the only one to name fruit salad as a Thanksgiving favorite.
We tend to think of it as more of a summery side, but there are simple ways of making a seasonal fruit salad with warm, wintery spices and dried cranberries.