Gen Z Says Stuffing Is for Boomers — Here’s What They’re Serving Instead for Thanksgiving, According to a New Study

Get ready, America: Thanksgiving is getting a Gen Z makeover. A recent Hims & Hers study investigated which Thanksgiving side dishes various generations love most. According to results, it seems that the classic plate of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gravy that typically dominates dinner tables for the holiday is getting an update — and some classic side dishes are on the generational chopping block.

At first glance, America’s favorite Thanksgiving side dishes don’t look very different from how they looked in the past. Mashed potatoes take the top spot as America’s favorite side dish, followed closely by stuffing. Other traditional sides like gravy, dinner rolls, and sweet potato casserole also ranked highly. 

However, the study results highlight a clear divide in side dish preferences between younger and older generations. Specifically, the most pronounced preference gap is between the youngest generation we surveyed — Gen Zs, those aged 18 to 29 — and the oldest — baby boomers, those aged 60+. 

43% of baby boomers name stuffing as a favorite side dish compared to just 21% of Gen Zs

Mac and cheese ranked as Gen Z’s top side dish, with 26 percent of respondents from the generation naming it their favorite, and only 18 percent of baby boomers placed the cheesy side at the top of their list. By contrast, 43 percent of baby boomers named stuffing as their Thanksgiving side, while only 21 percent of Gen Z called the holiday classic their favorite. 

So how do you bring generations together at the Thanksgiving table? Mashed potatoes. The classic Thanksgiving side is still an American favorite, no matter who’s eating: It ranked in the top two spots among all generations.

Thanksgiving dishes are diversifying beyond classic dishes among younger generations to include more cultural nuance. Notably, Gen Z respondents were two times more likely than boomers to name “a dish specific to my culture” as a favorite (9 percent versus 4 percent).

Certain globally influenced dishes like curried butternut squash are finding their way onto many holiday tables. And some are swapping out the classic centerpiece of American Thanksgiving — turkey —  for alternative meat or no meat at all, perhaps catering to the population of Gen Z folks who follow vegetarian, vegan, or flexitarian diets.

Gen Z respondents were two times more likely than boomers to name “a dish specific to my culture” as a favorite (9% vs. 4%) 

Generational differences aside, Thanksgiving also looks different depending on the state where you are celebrating. Cornbread is nearly twice as likely to be served on Thanksgiving tables in Georgia as in the rest of the country (20 percent of Georgians name it as a favorite versus 12 percent of Americans overall). And you are five times more likely to have cranberry sauce in South Carolina (21 percent say it’s a favorite) than in Colorado, where only 4 percent of people like the tangy sauce. 

One surprise is that Idaho, a state known for its potatoes, isn’t necessarily eating them on Thanksgiving. (Perhaps they’ve had their fill?). In fact, more Idahoans name mac and cheese as a favorite than mashed potatoes (28 percent versus 27 percent), and only 14 percent of respondents are serving roasted potatoes on Thanksgiving day. For roasted potatoes, specifically, head to Kansas — the only state where the dish took first place for favorite side (23 percent). 

When it comes to nutrient-rich Thanksgiving side dishes, Vermont and Delaware got top marks. Folks in both states share a taste for roasted vegetables, with Delaware two times more likely than the national average to serve roasted Brussels sprouts (18 percent versus 9 percent, respectively) and Vermont nearly two times more likely to champion roasted or glazed veggies (18 percent versus 10 percent nationally). Both states were also twice as likely to opt for roasted pumpkin or butternut squash (15 percent versus 8 percent of America overall).

89% of Americans are willing to swap out a Thanksgiving side for a healthier alternative.

In general, we found that Americans are open to making some healthy Thanksgiving swaps: 89 percent of respondents said they’re willing to trade a traditional side for a healthier alternative. 

But, no need to deprive yourself of a dish you love, even if it doesn’t have the richest health profile. Rather than skipping favorite sides altogether, consider the four tips below to help make them healthier. 

1. Trash the Cans

To reduce the sodium and sugar content of your dishes, swap out your canned sides for fresh options.

2. Veg Out

Bulk up the vegetables in your dinner to increase your nutrient intake. This doesn’t mean replacing stuffing with salad, but for one idea, you might consider shifting your stuffing from a 100 percent bread base to a two-to-one vegetable-to-bread ratio. Doing so may help you maintain flavor while cutting carbohydrates. 

3. Sub Away

Greek yogurt is just one healthy substitute to try out in your Thanksgiving side recipes, like America’s favorite—mashed potatoes. Low-sodium broth in gravy, wild rice in stuffing, and chickpea pasta in mac and cheese are other easy substitutes.  

4. Air-Fry It

Lots of Thanksgiving side dishes are great air-fried. Brussels sprouts, potatoes, green beans, and cornbread are all good candidates for air-frying, which can help cut down on the oil required to pan-fry. This method saves oven and stove space, to boot!

This study is based on a 6,985-person online survey, which included approximately (1) 5,000 18-to-65-year-old respondents in the top 50 metropolitan areas (100 respondents per city); (2) 5,000 18-65-year-old respondents in each of the 50 states (100 respondents per state); and (3) a nationally representative sample of 500 18-to-65-year-old respondents to contextualize results. These three categories are not mutually exclusive; some respondents fall within more than one category. The study was fielded in August 2025. 

Findings were analyzed by more than 150 demographic and psychographic cuts, including city, region, gender (when we refer to “women” and “men,” we include all people who self-identify as such), age, race and ethnicity, relationship status, parenting status, sexual orientation (heterosexual, bisexual, gay, lesbian, pansexual, asexual, queer, etc.), fandoms (music, sports, etc.), and fitness and diet preferences, among other areas of interest. 

All data in this study are from this source, unless otherwise noted. Independent research firm, Culture Co-op, conducted and analyzed research and findings.

Questions about our study? Contact us at [email protected].