You might not get the iPhone you wanted, but on Christmas, you should at least be guaranteed a stellar dinner.
And Jeffbet made that a bit easier by investigating which Christmas dinner side dishes are most popular with Americans.
They did this by looking at 63 different side dishes and finding the combined number of searches over the past 12 months for 14 different search term variations — such as “[side dish] recipe,” “how to make [side dish]” and “the best [side dish].”
The average number of monthly searches was then calculated for each side dish, to rank them from most to least popular.
“This study gives a real insight into which dishes Americans are most interested in making this holiday, with some of the least traditional ones coming out on top,” said JeffBet in a release.
Here’s what they found.
1. Deviled eggs
With 460,213 average monthly searches, deviled eggs — especially a popular dish in the south — are the most popular Christmas side dish in the U.S.
They’re made by boiling, deshelling and cutting eggs in half, and then blending the yolks with mayonnaise, mustard and seasonings before piping the mixture back into the egg halves.
2. Macaroni and cheese
A crowd favorite no matter the time of year, macaroni and cheese is the second most popular Christmas side dish with 424,713 monthly searches.
To make it, home cooks combine macaroni noodles with milk, butter and cheddar cheese before baking. Bacon, butternut squash or broccoli can also be added for additional flavor, color and texture.
3. Mashed potatoes
Tradition reared its head with No. 3, as mashed potatoes are the third most popular Christmas side dish with 409,537 average monthly searches.
Traditionally made by mashing potatoes with butter, milk, salt and pepper, the dish can be upgraded for celebrations by adding cheese and bacon.
4. Potato salad
Whether it’s served at a summer barbecue or Christmas dinner, it’s clear that potato salad remains popular. The dish has 298,964 average monthly searches.
It’s made by combining boiled potatoes, chopped boiled eggs, mayonnaise, scallions, celery, Dijon mustard, pickle relish and fresh parsley before seasoning with salt and pepper.
5. Coleslaw
Another summer favorite made it onto the Christmas table with No. 5. Coleslaw has 293,420 average monthly searches.
It can be upgraded with a seasonal twist by adding cranberries and almonds.
6. Green bean casserole
There’s no surprise on No. 6, as green bean casserole, which has 269,348 average monthly searches. It’s one of the most traditional Christmas side dishes, made popular in the 1960s by Campbell’s when they included the recipe on their soup cans.
The dish is typically made by adding green beans to a casserole dish with cream of mushroom soup before being baked and topped with crispy fried onions.
7. Biscuits
Biscuits can be upgraded with cheese.
Gluten sensitivities or not, this crowd pleaser has 257,408 average monthly searches.
Biscuits can also be made with cheese and herbs to give them a more seasonal taste.
8. Cornbread
With links to fare made by indigenous people and popular in the south, cornbread is another comfort eat for the Christmas table, with 241,485 average monthly searches.
It’s simply made by combining butter, buttermilk, cornmeal, eggs, flour, salt, baking soda and sugar before baking in a skillet.
9. Scalloped potatoes
For those looking for a twist on mashed potatoes, there are always scalloped potatoes, which have 156,063 average monthly searches.
These creamy potatoes are made by layering sliced potatoes and pouring over a mixture of butter, flour, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper, and topping with onions and cheese.
10. Garlic bread
Especially popular on Jersey Italian tables, garlic bread finished out the findings with 149,703 average monthly searches.
It can be a more flavorful alternative to biscuits, easily made by mixing butter with minced garlic and spreading onto a baguette.
Staff Reporter Jenna Intersimone: JIntersimone@MyCentralJersey.com
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: What’s the most popular Christmas side dish? You may be surprised