More Hosts Expecting Full Houses for the Holidays

Larger holiday celebrations are taking center stage again post-pandemic, and that includes Thanksgiving. This year, the average host expects nine people to be at the Thanksgiving table – up from only five in 2020, according to this year’s Butterball Togetherness Report. 

Overall, 89% of consumers surveyed said they planned to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, most looking forward to: 

1. Spending time with family
2. The food 
3. Relaxing 

And although hosting can be a challenge, many hosts maintain a positive outlook: 

• 36% try not to worry too much, because it always ends up being fun
• 33% feel confident and calm about hosting 
• 29% say family and friends help make it stress-free 

As the Thanksgiving crowds grow, so do the costs, and some hosts are taking measures to make the meal more affordable. Efforts include: 

• Asking guests to bring part of the meal (21%) 
• Changing side dishes (15%) 
• Changing non-food items like paper goods or décor (14%) 
• Changing dessert (12%) 

Still, 58% of consumers said they won’t make any changes. 

Unsurprisingly, turkey still takes the cake (or pie) as the most common Thanksgiving food on plates across the country, with 84% of hosts saying they plan on serving it (oven-roasted for 72%, but air-fried for a small 2%). Other holiday favorites include: 

• Stuffing (41%) 
• Pie (29%) 
• Sweet potatoes and potatoes (26%) 
• Macaroni and cheese (18%) 

Happy Thanksgiving!