Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and Americans are already preparing for elaborate dinners with family and friends.
Americans love Thanksgiving, and we show it by piling our plates high with turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, and other holiday staples. Theres a reason why its most Americans second favorite holiday, according to The Harris Poll, trailing only Christmas.
Here are seven unbelievable facts about what we eat on Thanksgiving to keep in mind as you go back for seconds.
Thanksgiving is undoubtedly the biggest food holiday in America. But just how much turkey do we really eat on this special day? The numbers are simply staggering.
As a food blogger who loves all things Thanksgiving, I decided to dig into the data and statistics to find out exactly how much turkey is consumed each year for Thanksgiving dinner. What I discovered blew my mind.
Nearly Half of All Whole Turkeys Sold Yearly are for Thanksgiving
According to the data, around 40-45 million whole turkeys are purchased and eaten for Thanksgiving dinner every year. This represents a whopping 50% of all whole turkeys sold annually in the United States.
The other half of whole turkeys are mainly bought for Christmas meals. Just to put things into perspective, Butterball (the famous turkey brand) sells one third of all whole turkeys bought for Thanksgiving alone.
So if you’re wondering why whole turkeys are so hard to find in stores after Thanksgiving, now you know why – we eat half of the entire yearly supply in one day!
Big Bird Equals Big Money
With nearly 50 million whole turkeys being bought and consumed it’s no surprise that Americans spend a lot of money on turkeys each Thanksgiving.
According to statistics, it’s estimated that around $1.2 billion is spent on whole turkeys every Thanksgiving. That’s billion with a B!
So when you sit down to Thanksgiving dinner this year, just remember that the average whole turkey costs around $25. That’s a lot of money spent on big birds.
We Love Our Stuffing Too
Turkey may take center stage at Thanksgiving, but a tasty stuffing is what turns an ordinary turkey into a delicious feast.
Americans spend around $96 million every Thanksgiving just on stuffing alone, That’s because about 40 million boxes of stuffing mixes are sold in November and December each year
Stove Top is by far the most popular brand, selling 40 million boxes during the holiday season. No Thanksgiving meal is complete without fluffy, herbed stuffing.
Don’t Forget the Sides!
While turkey and stuffing may be the stars of Thanksgiving dinner, the side dishes play a big supporting role. Here are some mind-blowing statistics on just how much we consume of classic Thanksgiving sides each year:
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Cranberry Sauce: 80 million pounds or 40 tons are eaten, accounting for 20% of all cranberries sold annually
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Rolls: 32.2 million dinner rolls are purchased
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Green Bean Casserole: 40% of Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup sales are for this dish, enjoyed by over 20 million households
As you can see, sides like cranberry sauce, rolls, and green bean casserole are Thanksgiving must-haves. So don’t skip the sides, they are just as important!
Pumpkin Pie Rules Thanksgiving Dessert
Once the turkey leftovers are cleared, it’s time for dessert. And at Thanksgiving, pumpkin pie is king.
About 35% of Americans say pumpkin pie is their favorite Thanksgiving dessert. Pecan, apple, and sweet potato pie come in second, third and fourth place at 16%, 11% and 10% respectively.
So if you want to make the most popular Thanksgiving dessert, pumpkin pie is hands-down the crowd favorite after a big turkey dinner.
Thanksgiving Baking from Scratch
Speaking of pies, 37% of Thanksgiving pie bakers claim to make them completely from scratch. Another third say they bake them from semi-homemade by using store-bought pie crusts or fillings for convenience.
However, 26% admit they take the easy route and buy their pies directly from the store without any homemade touches. So while some Thanksgiving bakers are pie purists, others don’t mind cutting corners when it comes to dessert.
The Origins of the TV Dinner
Here’s a fun turkey fact you may not know. The first TV dinners were created from Thanksgiving turkey leftovers!
In 1953, Swanson over-ordered turkeys and ended up with 260 tons of frozen Thanksgiving turkeys sitting in refrigerated train cars. To prevent the waste, they came up with the clever idea of TV turkey dinners.
The first TV dinners sold for 98 cents and consisted of turkey, corn, peas, and sweet potatoes. Over 10 million turkey TV dinners were sold that year. So we have Thanksgiving turkey to thank for the TV dinner!
Average Cost of Turkey Day Dinner
With food prices on the rise, Thanksgiving dinner is more expensive than ever this year. The average cost for a classic turkey day feast for 10 people is estimated to be around $54 in 2022.
That’s up from $46.90 in 2021 and the highest Thanksgiving dinner cost ever recorded. But don’t let the cost stop you from gathering around the table with loved ones to enjoy a hearty holiday meal.
Thanksgiving Travel is Bouncing Back
After the pandemic slump, Thanksgiving travel is seeing a major resurgence this year. The numbers show air travel is nearing pre-pandemic levels.
AAA predicts that travel for Thanksgiving 2022 will be up nearly 4% from last year and just 8% shy of 2019 travel. Nearly 55 million Americans are expected to travel for Thanksgiving this year.
The vast majority will travel by car while air travel and other modes will also see big jumps. So expect crowded airports and busy highways this Thanksgiving!
Black Friday Shopping Still Going Strong
The tradition of Black Friday shopping is alive and well. Despite rising online sales, nearly one-third of consumers say they will definitely hit the stores for Black Friday bargains this year.
Sales data shows that 186 million Americans shopped online or in stores over the long Thanksgiving weekend last year. And those numbers are expected to remain strong this year as well.
While Black Friday may look different than in years past, the thrill of scoring post-turkey day deals isn’t going away anytime soon.
Holiday Decor Comes Early for Many
Lots of eager Christmas decorators say they put up their tree well before Thanksgiving each year. The average American family puts up their Christmas tree about 4 to 5 weeks before Christmas Day.
According to one survey, nearly 40% of people feel judged if they decorate for the December holidays too early. But the trend of early holiday decor seems to be growing despite the judgement.
So don’t be surprised if you see Christmas lights and trees popping up even before the turkey is served this year!
Thanksgiving By the Numbers
To recap, here are some of the key statistics showing just how much food we consume on Thanksgiving:
- 45 million whole turkeys eaten
- $1.2 billion spent on whole turkeys
- 50% of all whole turkeys sold yearly are for Thanksgiving
- 40 million boxes of stuffing mix sold
- 80 million pounds of cranberries used
- 35% prefer pumpkin pie for dessert
As you can see, Thanksgiving is essentially a huge turkey-eating competition for Americans. The numbers really drive home just how much food is prepared and consumed for this beloved national holiday.
Gobble Till You Wobble
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it brings family and friends together to share a special meal. The staggering amount of turkey and side dishes eaten shows just how much we all look forward to tucking into this feast.
Sure, a post-turkey nap is pretty much mandatory after stuffing ourselves silly. But there’s nothing better than quality time with loved ones, even if our belts need to be loosened by the time dinner is done.
If the terrific turkey overload tells us anything, it’s that Americans absolutely love this food-focused holiday. So this Thanksgiving, don’t be afraid to gobble till you wobble at your holiday feast!
Campbell’s makes 40% of its total sales of cream of mushroom soup for the year leading up to Thanksgiving — and much of it goes into green bean casserole.
Super-charging sales of a staple canned good is simple — if you can engineer an iconic side dish for one of Americas major holidays.
The original green bean casserole recipe was designed by Dorcas Reilly in the Campbells test kitchen in Camden, New Jersey in 1955, according to Smithsonian Magazine. Its six simple ingredients and quick preparation — it can be assembled in just 25 minutes — made it an instant classic.
The dish drives a whopping 40% of the companys cream of mushroom soup sales for the entire year, according to the magazine.
Today, around 20 million Americans serve green bean casserole as a holiday side dish each year, according to the Washington Post. Its also the signature holiday dish of the Midwest, according to statistics blog FiveThirtyEight.
Around 46 million turkeys are eaten around Thanksgiving, according to the US Poultry and Egg Association. That’s around as many turkeys as the entire population of Spain.
American ate approximately 219 million turkeys in 2011, according to the association, so those 46 million turkeys represent around a fifth of all turkeys eaten for the entire year.
The average commercial turkey sold in grocery stores weighs just over 30 pounds, according to the Wall Street Journal. That means Americans are eating nearly 1.4 billion pounds of turkey during the holiday.
Why Do We Eat Turkey During the Holidays?
FAQ
How many turkeys are consumed on Thanksgiving Day?
Each year, an estimated 46 million turkeys are consumed on Thanksgiving alone, with production largely concentrated in a handful of states. As the holiday nears, these leading turkey-producing states work hard to support millions of Thanksgiving tables nationwide.
How much turkey is wasted during Thanksgiving?
About 200 million pounds of turkey are thrown out around Thanksgiving. Here’s how to reduce food waste.Nov 27, 2024
How much turkey does the average American consume in a year?
This statistic shows the per capita consumption of turkeys in the United States from 2015 to 2023, with a projection until 2034. The consumption of turkeys in the U.S. amounted to 14.8 pounds per capita in 2023.
Which US state consumes the most turkey on Thanksgiving?
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ConsumptionCalifornia consumes the most turkey per capita on Thanksgiving because it’s the most populated state in the U.S.
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ProductionMinnesota is the top turkey-producing state because it raises the largest number of turkeys overall. In 2023, Minnesota produced 38.5 million turkeys, which was 18% of the nation’s total.
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Other top turkey-producing statesNorth Carolina, Arkansas, Indiana, and Missouri are the top four turkey-producing states. These states alone produced over 60% of all turkeys in the country in 2023.
How much Turkey do Americans eat on Thanksgiving?
That means Americans are eating nearly 1.4 billion pounds of turkey during the holiday. Americans consume between 2,500 and 4,500 calories at the Thanksgiving table. That’s the equivalent of eating between four and eight Big Macs in a single sitting.
How much Turkey should a Thanksgiving party eat?
How Much Turkey Per Person. The general rule is to plan for 1 1/2 pounds of turkey per guest. If you’re buying boneless meat, assume about 8 ounces per guest. To buy the right size turkey for your party, simply tally up the turkey-eating guests. Which state consumes the most turkeys on Thanksgiving Day?
How many turkeys do we eat a year?
All that may sound like a lot, but as it turns out, we’re a turkey-loving nation the rest of the year, too. More than 226 million turkeys were consumed in the United States in 2010; the 46 million Thanksgiving birds represent just one-fifth of that total. We also ate 22 million at Christmas and 19 million at Easter.
How much does a Thanksgiving turkey weigh?
Americans gobble up 46 million turkeys at Thanksgiving. That works out to almost 3 pounds of poultry per person who partakes in the feast, according to statistics from the National Turkey Federation. At an average weight of 16 pounds apiece, last year’s Thanksgiving turkeys weighed 736 million pounds altogether.
Is Thanksgiving the biggest food holiday of the year?
Thanksgiving is arguably the biggest food holiday of the year. But did you know these statistics about how we actually celebrate on turkey day, and why?
How much does a Thanksgiving turkey cost?
At an average weight of 16 pounds apiece, last year’s Thanksgiving turkeys weighed 736 million pounds altogether. And at an average cost of $1.19 per pound, Americans spent $875 million buying those birds for the big day.