Americans Divided Over Favorite Thanksgiving Dish

Americans are divided over their favorite Thanksgiving dish, with turkey, stuffing/dressing, and mashed potatoes taking the top three spots. Younger adults are more likely to prefer side dishes over turkey.

Thanksgiving is a time for Americans to come together and celebrate with a grand feast. However, there is often much debate over what should be on the dinner table. While some dishes, like pumpkin pie, are universally loved, others, such as cranberries and marshmallows on sweet potatoes, can cause heated discussions.

The Bird

According to a recent poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, turkey is the favorite dish of 32% of U.S. adults who will be celebrating Thanksgiving this year. Stuffing or dressing comes in second at 19%, followed by mashed potatoes at 6%.

For many, turkey is the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal. Ralph Caya, 71, from Pensacola, Florida, who participated in the survey, says, "Thanksgiving - it's about turkey." However, not everyone is a fan of the big bird. Vaidehi Upadhyaya, a 27-year-old pharmacist in Glen Rock, New Jersey, is a lifelong vegetarian and says she is all about the side dishes.

There is also a slight generational divide when it comes to turkey. Americans 45 or older are more likely to call turkey the best thing on the Thanksgiving table (39%), while younger adults who agree come in at 24%. Once the turkey is carved, about 4 in 10 celebrators (43%) prefer white meat over dark (28%), and about one in five (21%) have no preference. Older people are more likely than those under 45 to prefer dark meat (31% vs. 24%). Interestingly, one-tenth of 18- to 44-year-olds don't like turkey at all.

The Sauce

When it comes to the least favorite dishes on the Thanksgiving table, cranberries are at the top of the list. About two in 10 celebrators say cranberries or cranberry sauce wouldn't be missed. However, it's worth noting that KRC Research reports that 80 million pounds of cranberries are eaten during Thanksgiving week.

For some, cranberries are an important part of the meal, while others are indifferent. Carlos Stallworth, 58, of Los Angeles, who has taken a few culinary courses, appreciates the role cranberries play on the big day. "You definitely want a clash with the salty and the gaminess of the meat. So to me, cranberry is a must," he says.

Thanksgiving celebrators are generally divided on whether it's better to have cranberry sauce from a can or homemade. About one-quarter (24%) say the canned sauce is preferable, while 22% want it made from scratch. About one-third (35%) just don't like cranberry sauce, with those under 45 being more likely than older adults to dislike it.

The Pie

If you want to make the average guest happy, pumpkin pie is the way to go. According to the poll, one-third of U.S. adults who will celebrate Thanksgiving say that's their preferred dessert. Pecan pie got 17%, apple pie was right behind with 15%, and sweet potato pie was at 12%. Chocolate pie and cherry or berry pie were in the single digits.

However, regional preferences play a role in pie choices. Ralph Caya, in Florida, says, "Being this close to Georgia, I've got to go with pecan."

Sweet Potatoes: To Marshmallow or Not to Marshmallow?

One of the biggest debates of the holiday is whether marshmallows belong on sweet potato dishes. About one-third (32%) say they prefer that whoever is cooking nix the marshmallows, while 26% want them added. Another one-quarter don't like sweet potato dishes at all, and 16% have no preference.

There are some regional differences over marshmallows, according to the data. Northeasterners (42%) are more likely than Midwesterners (29%) or Southerners (29%) to say no to them. Upadhyaya, who has eaten sweet potatoes both ways, says there's not much difference: "I feel like it really doesn't affect the taste that much because the dish is already sweet enough without the marshmallows. It's good both ways."

The Human Touch

Lauren Feldman, 39, of Indianapolis, suggests another key ingredient for a successful meal: the human touch. Every year, she goes home and her mom makes turkey, lots of sides, cranberry sauce from scratch, and a pumpkin pie with homemade crust. That human touch - mom's touch, actually - makes all the difference, says Feldman: "I think if those things were store-bought, I probably wouldn't like them as much."

So who is doing the cooking? Among those celebrating Thanksgiving, women (34%) are more likely than men (19%) to say they will do all or most of the cooking. Slightly fewer than half of men (46%) who plan to celebrate Thanksgiving say they will do hardly any or none of the cooking. Just one-quarter of women participants say the same.

Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and food. While there may be debates over what should be on the table, there is one thing everyone can agree on: it's a time to come together and enjoy a delicious meal.