Top 10 Thanksgiving Side Dishes in the US

 

Steven Johnson the Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® was wondering who eats what for Thanksgiving Dinner.  So, after a bit of research here is just what he found.

Thanksgiving is a meal steeped in tradition, and side dishes are often the stars of the table. Here’s a countdown of the most beloved side dishes across American households, along with recipes for the top three. We’ll also take a quick look at other Thanksgiving main dish options for those considering an alternative to turkey.

1. Mashed Potatoes

Creamy mashed potatoes, often topped with gravy, are an American classic. They pair well with nearly any main dish and can be adjusted to fit all tastes.

Recipe: Classic Mashed Potatoes

·         Ingredients: 3 pounds of Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cubed; 1/2 cup butter; 1 cup milk; salt and pepper to taste.

·         Instructions: Boil potatoes until tender (about 15 minutes). Drain, then mash with butter and milk. Season with salt and pepper.

2. Stuffing

Thanksgiving stuffing, traditionally made with bread, herbs, and aromatics, is a must-have side with many regional variations.

Recipe: Herb and Sausage Stuffing

·         Ingredients: 10 cups cubed stale bread; 1 pound sausage, crumbled; 1 onion, diced; 2 celery stalks, diced; 1/4 cup chopped parsley; 1 tsp sage; 1 tsp thyme; 2 cups chicken broth; salt and pepper.

·         Instructions: Preheat oven to 350°F. Sauté sausage, onion, and celery. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, then bake in a greased dish for 30-40 minutes.

3. Sweet Potato Casserole

This dish balances sweet and savory, often with marshmallow or pecan toppings for a rich and satisfying addition to the Thanksgiving table.

Recipe: Pecan-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole

·         Ingredients: 4 large sweet potatoes, boiled and mashed; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 1/4 cup butter; 1 tsp vanilla; 1/2 cup chopped pecans.

·         Instructions: Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix sweet potatoes, brown sugar, butter, and vanilla. Top with pecans and bake for 25-30 minutes.

 

Other Popular Thanksgiving Sides

4.       Green Bean Casserole – This creamy, crunchy casserole topped with fried onions has become an American staple since its creation in the 1950s.

5.       Cranberry Sauce – Whether jellied or homemade with fresh cranberries, this tangy side adds a burst of flavor that balances richer dishes.

6.       Roasted Brussels Sprouts – Popular for their hearty flavor and caramelized edges, Brussels sprouts are now a trendy addition to Thanksgiving spreads.

7.       Macaroni and Cheese – For households with Southern roots, mac ‘n’ cheese is often a go-to comfort dish, with extra cheese making it a creamy favorite.

8.       Cornbread – Cornbread’s sweet and savory flavor complements many Thanksgiving dishes, especially in the South.

9.       Glazed Carrots – With a light sweetness and colorful appeal, glazed carrots are a simple yet festive addition.

10.   Roasted Root Vegetables – Featuring earthy flavors and seasonal ingredients like carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes, roasted root vegetables make for a healthy, rustic side.

 

Alternatives to Turkey

While turkey is traditional, some households opt for other main dishes. Alternatives include:

·         Ham: Ham has grown in popularity as a Thanksgiving choice, especially for those who prefer a milder, saltier flavor over turkey’s rich profile.

·         Prime Rib or Roast Beef: For a heartier, more luxurious option, roast beef or prime rib are favorites for those wanting a break from poultry.

·         Salmon: For a lighter, health-conscious alternative, salmon brings a fresh, mild taste and aligns with growing consumer demand for seafood at holiday meals.

Foodservice Solutions® team is here to help you drive top line sales and bottom-line profits. Are you looking a customer ahead? Visit GrocerantGuru.com for more information or contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us Remember success does leave clues and we just may the clue you need to propel your continued success.

Planning Thanksgiving Dinner Let Urban Plates do all the Work

 

Don’t spoil the time you have to spend with the family, friends, and neighbors go to waste over the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday cooking day and night worrying if anyone will like it.   

According to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®, you should take the just a minute to visit a restaurant site the ilk of Urban Plates and simply let them plan and cook your meal. 

Eat, drink, and be thankful with Urban Plates this Thanksgiving. Urban Plates culinary team has been perfecting recipes for holiday classics and will do the cooking, so you don’t have to. From a show-stopping turkey dinner with all the trimmings to sweet treats to end the meal, choose from heat-at-home and ready-to-eat, it's everything you want to eat at a memorable family meal.

Chef Joe Noonan, Culinary Director of Urban Plates, stated, “Due to the ongoing turkey shortage, we have developed a special menu in advance for people to pre-order their dishes to get ahead of the game,” ... The menu features Urban Plates’ most popular dishes and traditional Thanksgiving eats made with wholesome ingredients and Urban Plates’ made-from-scratch mindset.”

Johnson believes that Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food is perfect for holiday meals.  The Urban Plates, Thanksgiving Turkey Family Feast is one of the premiere heat-at-home option for families.  Serving 6-8 people, the menu includes antibiotic and hormone-free herb-roasted cage-free turkey breast, mushroom stuffing, gravy, cranberry relish, artisan bread, choice of two sides.

So here is how it works, Your meal will be provided fully cooked and chilled, with heating instructions. Two sides will be included with every feast, like the new seasonal Creamed Spinach, along with, Mushroom Stuffing, Rainbow Carrots & Golden Beets, Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Turkey Bacon, and new Fall menu items such as the Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Peppers & Onions. Prices start at $169.95 for the complete meal; additional feast sides are $29.95 each.

All Turkey Family Feasts must be pre-ordered by November 20 and picked up on November 22 - 23.

Yes, they have grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat meals as well: Urban Plates is also offering hot ready-to-eat options such as their Turkey Family Meal ($99.95), which serves four people and includes Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast, Stuffing, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Cranberry Relish, and Rustic Bread, a perfect option for the friend or family member who doesn’t enjoy cooking but wants to bring something tasty to the family function.

Turkey plate meals ($23.95) are also offered to dine-in or take out along with single-family sides; this is ideal for a couple's date night or singles dinner available at all locations November 22 - 24.  Whole desserts are also available for pick-up including the seasonal Apple Pie (available 11/22-11/24) and year-round favorites such as the famous Mango Tart, Chocolate Vanilla Layer Cake, Flourless Chocolate Cake, and Hummingbird Cake, all ranging from $23.95 - $59.  Now you are ready for the holidays.

Foodservice Solutions® specializes in outsourced business development. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities or a new menu product segment and brand and menu integration strategy.  Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche visit us on our social media sites by clicking one of the following links: Facebook,  LinkedIn, or Twitter

Can’t Wait for Thanksgiving Order Popeyes Cajun-Style Turkey

 

Cooking at home is the number one hobby in the United States.  Now that said, it is a hobby not what everyone wants to do every day. Cooking, doing dishes, buying all of the spices you need to a ‘special’ meal.  No that is not what everyone wants to do.

There is a better way to get through the Holiday season according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.  That way is to buy a grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared meal.

Now consider this according to a recent survey conducted by Popeyes of over 500 people, more than 50% of respondents feel stressed to host Thanksgiving dinner at their own home and think that the turkey is the hardest dish to cook as part of the meal.

Thanksgiving just got a lot easier this year, thanks to a “Cajun Fix” from Popeyes. 

Once again, this year Popeyes is bringing back its fan-favorite Thanksgiving dinner staple, the Cajun-Style Turkey. Marinated with our signature blend of Louisiana-style seasonings, the Cajun-Style Turkey is slow-roasted and then flash-fried to help guarantee a crispy, flavorful coating. Popeyes Cajun-Style Turkey is a “Cajun Fix” for any stressed-out Thanksgiving host as it’s a high-quality option, pre-cooked and only needs to be thawed, heated, and served. 

The best part? You can order your Turkey right now and you will have the choice to preorder Popeyes signature turkey from their local restaurant for pickup by calling or visiting in person while supplies last, or online at thecajunfix.popeyes.com for delivery direct to their doorstep. Delivery will begin on October 24 with the turkey arriving one to three business days after the order is shipped.

Popeyes is the one-stop-shop for your Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving celebration with family meals and traditional southern sides such as mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, biscuits and more.

Foodservice Solutions® team is here to help you drive top line sales and bottom-line profits. Are you looking a customer ahead? Does your messaging look more like yesterday that tomorrow?  Visit GrocerantGuru.com for more information or contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us Remember success does leave clues and we just may the clue you need to propel your continued success.

 

The Grocerant Guru Talking Turkey for Thanksgiving

 

There is a reason too talk turkey for Thanksgiving early this year.  It will be different with more restaurants and business scheduled to be closed for the holiday more Americans will be home, unwilling to travel, and or not invited to an extended family members home.  Many people will be home ‘alone’ or in couples celebrating than ever before resulting in new smaller meals and meal solution will be needed.

NCSolutions, a New York- based media firm that helps CPG companies improve their advertising conducted a survey and found that: Eighty-three percent of Americans surveyed said that they view Thanksgiving 2020 as equally or more important than last year, The survey also asked consumers to weigh in on their favorite Thanksgiving dish a full 70% rated turkey No. 1,and more than half (56%) said that they’ll celebrate at home.

Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® believes that close to 68.4% of Americans will celebrate at home this year.  However, Johnson noted: “When asked if they wanted to cook dinner from scratch or assemble dinner from fresh meal components 91.1 % of Gen Z chose assemble from Fresh Prepared Meal Components and Millennials 83.6 chose meal components.”

While NCSolutions survey found that 59% or respondents in the October 2020 survey said that are planning for the same number of guests at their table. While 31% of Americans indicating that they’ll have somewhat fewer or many fewer people at the meal this year.

With the ‘second / third wave’ of the pandemic seeming picking speed things could change and change fast. After all most Thanksgiving celebrations will largely take place indoors, as 90% of Americans said that they plan to eat inside in the NCSolutions. In addition, 61% of people said that they’ll give thanks this year with people who don’t live in their household again in the NCSolutions survey. Let’s see other key findings:

1.       More than half (56%) indicated that they would celebrate at home,

2.       25% said that they would celebrate at a relative’s home,

3.       12% had no celebration plans this year.

4.        “Historically, our data shows a 7% increase in household grocery spending in the weeks prior to Thanksgiving.

5.       We are currently observing household spending on groceries to be up 24% compared to the same time last year

6.       While the majority of consumers (80%) said that they plan to buy Thanksgiving goods in-store,

7.       19% indicated that they would purchase those goods online for delivery,

8.       15% said that they plan to use curbside pickup (survey respondents were able to select multiple responses).

Restaurants, Grocery stores, Convenience stores, Service Deli’s all have an opportunity to sell grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared meals, meal components, and incremental branded items to consumers this year as more will be at home and as we know they don’t all want to cook from scratch.

Note: Jacqui Lyons, divisional merchandise manager, seafood and seasonal meat for Walmart found that

“This year has brought rapid and constant change in every facet of our daily lives, and we know Thanksgiving celebrations will be no exception,” says Jacqui Lyons, divisional merchandise manager, seafood and seasonal meat for Walmart, pointing to data from Butterball, which found that the number of consumers who plan to host extended family and friends for Thanksgiving has dropped from 30% during a typical year to 26% this year.

Additionally, the number of people who plan to celebrate with immediate family only has risen from 21% in a typical year, to 31%. Thus, Lyons Walmart will have plenty of whole turkeys this year, it has also increased its assortment of bone-in and boneless turkey breasts by 20%-30% in stores across the country.

Our Grocerant Guru® has three success clues for all retailers this year selling Grocerant Niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food for Thanks Giving:

1.       Focus on Mix & Match Meal Compoents

2.       Advertise early, take online orders, and offer pick-up, delivery, and curbside service.

3.       Offer complete meal options for two, four, and six people.

Yes, empower choice, Thanksgiving meal bundles to accommodate a variety of gathering sizes but don’t limit the meal and meal options to food only.  The battle for share of stomach this Thanksgiving is underway and Restaurants, Grocery Stores, Convenience stores, and Dollar stores all have a shot at the same customer for all or part of the meal. 

Don’t over reach. Do what you do best and reinforce that with consumers and you will be able to win. However remember what Johnson noted: “When asked if they wanted to cook dinner from scratch or assemble dinner from fresh meal components 91.1 % of Gen Z chose assemble from Fresh Prepared Meal Components and Millennials 83.6 chose meal components.”  Give consumers what they want and you win.

Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing ideations look more like yesterday than tomorrow? Interested in learning how Foodservice Solutions® can edify your retail food brand while creating a platform for consumer convenient meal participation, differentiation and individualization?  Email us at: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us or visit us on our social media sites by clicking the following links: Facebook,  LinkedIn, or Twitter

Battle for Share of Stomach

Enjoy A Happy Holiday Feast with Blue Apron

Staying home for the holidays, and worried you holiday meal will not be a feast like the one you usually get at a restaurant with your family?  Don’t worry stay home and stay safe.  This year for the first time Blue Apron is offering its first-ever Thanksgiving “feast”, featuring chef-designed recipes, as a meal-kit.

If success leaves clues and it does cooking a gourmet meal at home has never been made easier.  If it’s you first Thanksgiving meal, or your fist Thanksgiving with the in-laws over don’t worry Blue Apron has you covered according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.  

Blue Apron's Thanksgiving-inspired, southern-style menu will give options to suit every holiday table for parties up to eight people. Complete with a step-by-step guide on how to organize, prepare and cook a Thanksgiving meal, Blue Apron will also support its home cooks by sharing tips on its social channels to help make the holiday as fun as possible.

John Adler, vice president of culinary at Blue Apron stated "Thanksgiving is going to be different for many families this year, and we're happy to join them in the kitchen by creating a one-stop shop to make their entire holiday feast a little easier," "Building upon positive reactions to our dessert offering last year, we wanted to give our home cooks more Thanksgiving options, especially as some people may find themselves playing different roles, either as a first-time host or just cooking for themselves."

So, satisfy yourself, cook at home, with the help of Blue Apron.  Yes, you get the satisfaction and assurance you need to cook a meal that will be full flavored, complete, and simple. Customers can select a complete Thanksgiving feast with a boneless and easy-to-carve turkey breast, side dishes and dessert; or add Thanksgiving recipes to the Signature Menu, including a holiday pork roast, dessert or side dishes.

So, you want the one stop online experience you can get that as well. Blue Apron will also offer a Holiday Feast Favorites wine bundle, featuring its chefs' selections of four red and two white wines chosen to complement its new Thanksgiving dishes. Don’t stress out over your holiday meal, Blue Apron takes out the stress, you simply add the smiles.

Don’t over reach. Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing ideations look more like yesterday than tomorrow? Interested in learning how Foodservice Solutions® can edify your retail food brand while creating a platform for consumer convenient meal participation, differentiation and individualization?  Email us at: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us or visit us on our social media sites by clicking the following links: Facebook,  LinkedIn, or Twitter