What People Are Actually Buying for Thanksgiving This Year

Whether there’s a side dish you always have to have at your Thanksgiving table or a pie-baking competition that your family loves to partake in, everyone’s Thanksgiving dinner looks a little different across the country. To figure out exactly what dishes are on everyone’s mind this Thanksgiving, Instacart dived into its data from 2024 to find out which Thanksgiving staples are most popular (and where). 

Here are the Thanksgiving dishes that people tend to enjoy the most by region—with some states putting a little remix on the classics.

What's Trending on Turkey Day?

Each region has their own particular taste when it comes to Thanksgiving Day. Here are the stats that stand out among the rest.

Where Turkey Breast Is Best

For those who aren’t ordering a whole turkey this year, turkey breast seems to win the largest number of orders across the U.S. It’s especially popular in the eastern U.S., where Pennsylvania and Maine catapult themselves over the national average when ordering turkey breast.

Fresh Cranberries for Some, Canned for Others

Fresh cranberry sauce wins out over canned on Instacart. A majority of states are interested in a batch of fresh cranberries ahead of Thanksgiving, with Midwest states taking the lead. The East Coast, on the other hand, appreciates the canned alternative; Vermont had the most purchases of canned cranberries on Instacart, compared to the national average.

Iowa Loves Fried Onions

Are crispy fried onions a part of your Thanksgiving table? If you live in states like California, Texas, or New Jersey, you're an outlier. Instacart shows that crispy fried onions are a major hit in the Midwest, but aren’t as popular in western and southern states. Iowa in particular orders a whopping 140% above the national average. 

Pumpkin Pie Rules Dessert

The most popular pie flavor at Thanksgiving is still pumpkin pie—whether states prefer to order a whole pie, a pre-made crust, or bake the entire thing from scratch, it’s clear that hosts across the U.S. require this winter treat at their Thanksgiving table. Believe it or not, apple pie comes in second place this year according to Instacart’s data, followed by pecan pie, sweet potato pie, and cherry pie. 

When it comes to baking a pie from scratch (well, mostly), the eastern half of the U.S. takes the cake—or should we say pie? Instacart saw that Missouri and West Virginia were the two states that beat out the national average the most when ordering fresh pie crusts. The Deep South, on the other hand, tends to prefer frozen pie crusts. 

Don't Forget These Thanksgiving Must-Haves

Most of the U.S. turns to a little last-minute Thanksgiving shopping, too. While you might have already pre-ordered your turkey for pickup, what about your baking supplies? Instacart found that pie-making supplies were the most common last-minute order in 2024.

Oven bags and cloth napkins were two more last-minute orders that Instacart received the day before, so it’s a good idea to check that you have everything you need to set the table, not just the food you'll fill it with.

On the day of, the number one thing people realize they need is a food thermometer. Don’t forget to double-check that yours still works to perfection ahead of turkey day. If you’re concerned there’s something else you’re forgetting, check out Instacart’s full report on popular Thanksgiving dishes and supplies.