Thanksgiving may be known for turkey, but Campbell’s latest research suggests the real stars of the holiday table are the dishes around it.

Campbell’s has released its fifth annual State of the Sides Report, finding that Americans are placing even more importance on the casseroles, potatoes, pasta and stuffing that define a holiday meal. Based on a survey of 5,017 U.S. adults who celebrate Thanksgiving, the 2026 report paints a familiar picture: tradition still matters, but home cooks are also looking for convenience and flexibility.

Sides Take the Spotlight

The appetite for side dishes is clear. Campbell’s reports that 80% of Americans enjoy cooking the sides more than the turkey, an 11-point increase from 2023. Meanwhile, 86% expect to serve at least four side dishes this Thanksgiving, with a median of five per table.

That enthusiasm is particularly strong among younger generations. Nearly two-thirds of Gen Z respondents, along with 56% of Millennials, said they would be happy eating an all-sides meal.

The nation’s top five Thanksgiving sides have remained consistent for the past three years, though their order has shifted slightly:

• Green bean casserole
• Macaroni and cheese
• Yams or sweet potatoes
• Mashed potatoes
• Stuffing or dressing

Campbell’s estimates those holiday menus will add up to roughly 749 million side dishes served nationwide.

Green Bean Casserole Holds Its Ground

Green bean casserole continues to stand out as one of the most emotionally connected dishes on the table. Sixty-seven percent of those surveyed said it reminds them of Thanksgivings past, and only 19% said they would alter its recipe—the lowest share among the top five sides.

The dish, developed more than 75 years ago in Campbell’s Test Kitchen by Dorcas Reilly, has stayed close to its original five-ingredient formula. Campbell’s says 69% of Americans believe it is best prepared with cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup, while 87% name Campbell’s Soup as their preferred option for making it.

The seasonal demand is substantial: Campbell’s sells nearly 40 million cans of Cream of Mushroom soup during the holiday period. Over the last five holiday seasons, the company says it has sold more than 308 million cans.

Mac and Cheese Brings Everyone Together

If green bean casserole is rooted in nostalgia, macaroni and cheese is positioned as the crowd-pleaser. Fifty-seven percent of respondents described it as the side dish everyone can agree on, and it remains Gen Z’s top side for the second consecutive year.

It is also a dish that rarely lingers. Forty-two percent said there are never leftovers when mac and cheese is served. For many cooks, simplicity is part of its appeal: 46% cited easy preparation as a reason for choosing it for a holiday meal.

Tradition, With Space for New Ideas

The report points to a holiday table that is both traditional and adaptable. Americans are holding onto family and cultural recipes while making room for new flavors, shortcuts and sources of inspiration—including AI-assisted meal planning.

For Campbell’s, the findings reinforce a simple conclusion: while holiday menus may evolve, sides remain the dishes that make the gathering feel complete.

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Campbell’s commissioned the survey in August and September 2026 through independent research organization Reputation Leaders. National results carry a margin of error of plus or minus 1.4 percentage points.

For more information and holiday recipe ideas, visit Campbell’s Sides Season.

Warm Up Autumn Days with Rich, Creamy Pumpkin Soup

(Feature Impact) Nothing screams fall quite like pumpkins, and as the weather gets cooler, there’s no better way to enjoy them than in a hot bowl of homemade soup.

Roasting a whole pumpkin or kabocha squash creates deeper, richer flavors in this Creamy Pumpkin Soup recipe, but if you don’t have much time to spend in the kitchen, canned pumpkin offers a convenient alternative. Aromatic onion and garlic join warm autumnal spices like ginger and cardamom for a bowl with harmonizing layers of flavor.

Whether you want a pot of pumpkin soup simmering on the stove on a rainy day or plan to serve it as a sophisticated holiday appetizer, this recipe is a delicious way to make the most of the season’s harvest.

Find more seasonal recipe inspiration at Culinary.net.

Creamy Pumpkin Soup

Recipe adapted from Love and Lemons
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Servings: 6

• 1       pumpkin or kabocha squash (about 4 pounds)
  
• 2       tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling, divided
  
• 1       teaspoon sea salt, plus more for sprinkling, divided
  
• freshly ground black pepper
  
• 1       medium yellow onion, chopped
  
• 1       shallot, chopped
  
• 3       garlic cloves, chopped
  
• 1       teaspoon grated fresh ginger
  
• 1       teaspoon ground cumin
  
• 1/2    teaspoon ground coriander
  
• 1/2    teaspoon turmeric
  
• 1/2    teaspoon ground cardamom
  
• 1       can (14 ounces) full-fat coconut milk, divided
  
• 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth
  
• 1       tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  
•          water (optional)
  
• cayenne pepper, to taste
  
• 1/4    cup roasted pumpkin seeds (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 400 F and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Cut pumpkin in half and scoop out seeds. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper then place cut side down on baking sheet. Roast 40-60 minutes, or until soft. Allow to cool then peel away skin and measure 4 1/2 packed cups of flesh.
3. In large pot or Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-low heat. Add onion and shallot and cook 12-15 minutes until softened and caramelized.
4. Add 1 teaspoon salt, garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, turmeric and cardamom; stir 30-60 seconds until spices are aromatic. Stir in cooked pumpkin; coconut milk, reserving some for garnish; and broth. Simmer 20 minutes then stir in vinegar.
5. Transfer to high-powered blender, working in batches if necessary, or use immersion blender and blend until smooth. If soup is too thick, gradually add up to 1 1/2 cups water until desired consistency is reached.
6. Pour into bowls and garnish with additional coconut milk, salt, pepper, dash of cayenne and pumpkin seeds, if desired.

Substitution: For convenience, use two cans (15 ounces each) of pumpkin puree instead of whole pumpkin.

 Photo courtesy of Unsplash

SOURCE:

Culinary.net

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Holiday baking season is getting a new countdown tradition. NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® has announced its first-ever 12 Days of NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Advent Calendar, a limited-edition set built to help families bake, share, and make memories in the kitchen—one surprise at a time.

Designed in the shape of a house inspired by the original Toll House Inn, the calendar is meant to sit on a countertop as part of the seasonal setup. It features 12 numbered doors that also double as festive holiday cards, with each day revealing a corresponding NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE product.

What’s inside the 12-day calendar

Instead of mini candies, this calendar leans into what the brand is known for: cookie dough and morsels. The lineup includes two new holiday innovations plus a mix of familiar favorites.

Two new holiday innovations

• NEW! NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Snowflake Morsels: Snowflake-shaped morsels designed to bake into holiday treats or sprinkle on top as a decorative finish for cookies, brownies, bark, and more.
• NEW! NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Snowflake Cookie Dough: Sugar cookie dough with snowflake-shaped morsels mixed in for a winter-ready twist.

Ten favorites and festive classics

• NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Santa’s Cookie Dough
• NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Peppermint Cocoa Cookie Dough
• NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
• NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Holiday Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
• NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Milk Chocolatey Flavored Football Morsels
• NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Butterscotch Artificially Flavored Morsels
• NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels (made with 100% real chocolate)
• NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Milk Chocolate Mini Morsels
• NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Dark Chocolate Morsels
• NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Chocolate Chip Remix Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Why this fits the season

For STM Daily News readers, the appeal is pretty straightforward: it’s a ready-made holiday baking starter kit that also functions as a festive countertop display. It’s positioned as a way to spark new traditions—whether that’s a nightly bake-and-watch routine, a weekend cookie swap prep session, or quick treats for school and office parties.

In the announcement, Melanie Knoke, Sr. Marketing Manager at NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE, said the calendar is meant to bring the brand’s long-running “bake, share and celebrate” spirit into a new format, combining seasonal newcomers with classic staples.

How to buy it (drop dates + price)

The 12 Days of NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Advent Calendar is priced at $29.99 and will be available exclusively at tollhouse.com/adventcalendar in three limited drops. Each drop goes live at 2 p.m. ET:

1. October 9
2. November 6
3. December 4 (National Cookie Day)

Quantities are limited, and the brand notes that fans should act quickly when each drop opens.

What to watch for

Advent calendars have been expanding beyond candy into “experience” categories—beauty, coffee, and now baking ingredients. This release is a good example of that shift: it’s not just a countdown, it’s a built-in reason to get into the kitchen multiple times during the season.

For more information, NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® directs fans to VeryBestBaking.com and its social channels, including @TollHouse on Facebook.

Source (press release):

• PRNewswire — NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Launches First-Ever Advent Calendar for the Holiday Season” (Oct. 5, 2026)

Related links:

• Advent calendar purchase page: https://tollhouse.com/adventcalendar
• Brand hub / baking resources: https://www.verybestbaking.com/toll-house/
• Nestlé USA company info: https://www.nestleusa.com