Search trends say charcuterie is Missouri's favorite Thanksgiving side. Confused? Us too.

Susan Szuch, Springfield News-Leader
·2 min read

While our neighboring states favor potatoes, rolls, green beans, and gravy, Missouri's Thanksgiving dinner side of choice is a charcuterie board, at least according to Zippia, a career site.

The trays of cured or smoked meats paired with cheeses, vegetables, fruits and bread were also a favorite side for Minnesota — though one could argue charcuterie is more of an appetizer than a side dish.

Fifteen states have eyes only for spuds, including Missouri's neighbors Illinois (mashed potatoes) and Oklahoma (baked potatoes). Other favorites include carbs such as biscuits and rolls, veggies like green beans or collard greens, and gravy.

To determine the top sides for each state, Zippia looked at Google search trends during November 2022 based on 20 Thanksgiving classics.

More: These dehydrated meals developed by Ozarks food organizations pair local, foraged produce

"For example, while Nebraska eats all the Thanksgiving classics the rest of the country does, the search interest in crescent rolls is excessively higher than in the remaining states — making crescent rolls more popular in Nebraska than anywhere else," the company said in a press release.

Zippia's research also found that nearly three-quarters of American expect to be eating at least four side dishes on Thanksgiving, and most (75%) of Thanksgiving meals feature mashed potatoes and stuffing (or dressing, if you're from the South). Additionally, 64% of meals feature cranberry sauce, but no word on if it's jellied or whole berries.

Virginia and Vermont were the only states that had macaroni and cheese as a favorite side.

See the full results from Zippia below:

  • Alaska — Stuffed mushrooms

  • Alabama —Sweet potato casserole

  • Arkansas — White gravy

  • Arizona — Mashed potatoes

  • California — Mashed potatoes

  • Colorado — Mashed potatoes

  • Connecticut — Mashed potatoes

  • Delaware — Cauliflower mashed potatoes

  • Florida — Rolls

  • Georgia — Collard greens

  • Hawaii — Mashed potatoes

  • Iowa — Green beans

  • Idaho — Side salad

  • Illinois — Mashed potatoes

  • Indiana — Green beans

  • Kansas — Creamed corn

  • Kentucky — Hashbrown casserole

  • Louisiana — Cornbread dressing

  • Massachusetts — Mashed potatoes

  • Maryland — Collard greens

  • Maine — Stuffing

  • Michigan — Rolls

  • Minnesota — Charcuterie tray

  • Missouri — Charcuterie tray

  • Mississippi — Cornbread

  • Montana — Turkey gravy

  • North Carolina — Biscuit

  • North Dakota — Fruit salad

  • Nebraska — Crescent roll

  • New Hampshire — Stuffing

  • New Jersey — Stuffed mushrooms

  • New Mexico — Side salad

  • Nevada — Mashed potatoes

  • New York — Sweet potatoes with marshmallows

  • Ohio — Green beans

  • Oklahoma — Baked potato

  • Oregon — Mashed potatoes

  • Pennsylvania — Stuffing

  • Rhode Island — Glazed carrots

  • South Carolina — Collard greens

  • South Dakota — Baked sweet potatoes

  • Tennessee — Hashbrown casserole

  • Texas — Creamed corn

  • Utah — Rolls

  • Virginia — Macaroni and cheese

  • Vermont — Macaroni and cheese

  • Washington — Roasted vegetables

  • Wisconsin — Baked potato

  • West Virginia — Rolls

  • Wyoming — Baked potato

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri's fave Thanksgiving side? Search trends say it's charcuterie