While the roast turkey may be the official centrepiece of a Canadian Thanksgiving dinner, the real debate often centres around the supporting cast: the side dishes. New data reveals that your allegiance to mashed potatoes, stuffing, or sweet potato casserole isn't just a matter of personal taste—it's often a reflection of where you live in the country.
The Geography of Gravy: DoorDash's Regional Breakdown
DoorDash released a detailed Thanksgiving Trends report, analyzing the most-ordered grocery items for popular side dishes during Thanksgiving week last year. The findings paint a vivid picture of Canada's regional culinary preferences.
Cristen Milliner, a consumer trends expert at DoorDash, told HuffPost, "Turkey may get the spotlight, but the sides are where Thanksgiving gets personal." She noted that the popularity of certain sides clusters geographically, "almost like regional dialects rooted in place, history and habit."
The data shows clear regional patterns. According to Milliner, "Our data shows that the South gravitates toward sweeter, warmer flavors like sweet potatoes and cornbread, the Midwest leans creamy and comforting with mashed potatoes, and the Northeast skews more vegetable-forward." She described these variations as the same holiday tradition being expressed in different local 'languages.'
Google's Search Trends: Stuffing Takes the Crown
DoorDash wasn't the only company analyzing Canada's Thanksgiving plate this year. Google also released its own Turkey Day trends data, breaking down the top-searched Thanksgiving side dishes based on search queries from October 10 to November 10.
The undisputed champion in Google's findings was stuffing, which dominated search interest in the overwhelming majority of provinces. Other dishes like cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, deviled eggs, and green bean casserole also garnered significant attention.
Jenny Lee, Google Trends' lead analyst, expressed surprise at the lack of variety, telling HuffPost, "I anticipated there would be more variety on the map, definitely more states searching for sweet potato casserole, but that wasn't the case." Despite her own personal dislike for stuffing, Lee acknowledged its clear popularity as a holiday staple.
What Your Side Dish Says About You
Both reports suggest that examining these regional food preferences can be more than just a curiosity—it can be a fun, connecting activity. Lee encouraged people to explore the data, saying, "I hope people have fun looking at the data and seeing what they can relate to. If you have family members around the country, it would be a great activity to see how your home states differ with their preferences."
This data provides a fascinating look into how tradition, geography, and personal habit combine to shape one of Canada's most beloved holiday meals. Whether your table features creamy mashed potatoes from the Midwest, vegetable-forward dishes from the Northeast, or sweet potato classics from the South, your side dishes tell a story of local culture and family history.
