Updated: Jan. 30, 2024
Making last-minute adjustments to your Christmas menu? Find out which holiday dishes will make spirits bright!
We love giving and receiving gifts during the Christmas season; but let’s be honest—we’re here for the food. From juicy prime rib to grandma’s Christmas fudge, everyone has their favorite traditional holiday dish. But have you ever wondered if your family’s go-to recipes are popular in kitchens across America?
A YouGov poll asked 1,140 people to choose the better of two Christmas foods in a series of head-to-head matchups. The holiday dish that won the most matchups might surprise you. It wasn’t turkey—or even ham.
Remember, Americans love their carbs!
The Most Popular Christmas Dishes
The #1 pick is roast potatoes, with a win percentage of 76%. Mashed potatoes came in second (75%), and turkey was third (73%)—the only protein in the top five.
Here’s the full list:
Courtesy YouGov
Check out this top-rated recipe for roasted potatoes. You want potatoes that are crunchy on the outside, and tender and fluffy on the inside!
The Least Popular Christmas Dishes
The least popular food is a bit more predictable. Apparently not many Americans are hoping for tofu on their plate during Christmas; it had a win percentage of only 11%. (Although we think tofu can be delicious!) Plantains and turnips were the second and third least popular menu items.
- Tofu: 11%
- Plantains: 24%
- Turnips/Turnip greens: 27%
- Goose: 28%
- Cabbage: 29%
- Collard Greens: 32%
- Duck: 33%
- Coleslaw: 34%
- Black eyed peas: 36%
- Empanadas: 37%
We don’t know about you, but this list makes us want to make empanadas for Christmas!
