What's York County's favorite holiday side dish? The choice is clear

If you're like me, you are probably finalizing your Thanksgiving menu as visions of cranberry sauce dance in your head. While the turkey may be the headliner of the Thanksgiving feast, let's take a moment to give a standing ovation to the unsung heroes of the holiday: the side dishes.

This year, I'll be making the traditional delights, such as mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, dressing (not stuffing, because I am from the South), and corn on the cob, among others.

Discussing side dishes with my friends and family in Pennsylvania is interesting because we often have very different ideas of traditional Thanksgiving foods, and we definitely have different ways of making them. This doesn't always mean one way is better than the others (although I still contend that dressing is better than stuffing), but people do get heated about their Thanksgiving foods.

According to a report by the food company Campbell's, the top eight Thanksgiving side dishes include salads (at number eight), breads, root vegetables (such as carrots and potatoes), green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, mac & cheese, stuffing or dressing and mashed potatoes (at number one).

Per that report, 67% of Americans prefer side dishes to the main entrée, and the average American family has five side dishes on their Thanksgiving table each year. This is certainly the case in my home, where we serve turkey, ham and roasted chicken with around eight sides.

The report also said that mashed potatoes is the favorite holiday side dish in the commonwealth.

I took to the Fixing York Facebook page to ask locals what their favorite sides are, and I got a lot of answers. These are the top five:

Stuffing: the great debate rages on

Coming in at number one for the favorite side dish was stuffing, but even though most people could agree that this is the favorite, not everyone was able to agree on its name. Filling? Stuffing? Dressing? Are they all the same?

Not even close, and I have had this discussion more times in the last three years than I can count. I have even written about it.

To sum it up, Merriam-Webster's defines stuffing as "a seasoned mixture (as of breadcrumbs, vegetables, and butter) that is typically placed inside the cavity of a turkey."

Dressing, however, is cooked in a dish separate from the turkey and is served as a side to the turkey. Most dressing recipes are made with cornbread, not breadcrumbs, and have shredded chicken or sausage added in.

Filling is basically stuffing that is mixed with mashed potatoes, although it doesn't have to be, I have been informed.

Mashed Potatoes: the unsung heroes

Speaking of mashed potatoes, this culinary delight came in as the second favorite amongst locals. Mashed potatoes have the magical ability to make even the driest turkey go down like a waterslide, turning every bite into a fluffy, buttery cloud.

If you want to make your mashed potatoes a little healthier than the traditional variety, you can swap out the sour cream for non-fat Greek yogurt. And if you don't even use sour cream in your potatoes, please start.

Green Bean Casserole: the underdog

Coming in third is green bean casserole, the dish that makes even the staunchest veggie haters take a second look. With its crispy fried onions and creamy mushroom soup, it's easy to see why it has such a pull.

But can you call it healthy? Maybe not, but it is full of flavor, and that's what really counts when ranking side dishes.

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Deviled eggs: the MVP

My second favorite side dish came it at number four in York County, and it's safe to say they're the MVP of most gatherings.

Deviled eggs have officially stolen the spotlight, if you go by social media memes, and people are serious about them. These little bundles of joy are always ready to take your taste buds on a secret mission of flavor. Sure, they may be small, but deviled eggs pack a punch that can turn even the most mundane gathering into a true party.

Mac & Cheese: edible happiness

Rounding out the top five favorite Thanksgiving side dishes in York County is mac and cheese, and do we really have to wonder why?

Mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food, the edible security blanket that wraps your taste buds in a warm, cheesy hug. It's pasta and cheese, rolled into one, and who doesn't love that?

And don't even get me started on the versatility. Want to spice things up? Add some jalapeños. Feeling fancy? Throw in some lobster. Mac & cheese can adapt to any situation and it stands strong on its own.

As we gather around the Thanksgiving table this year, let's not forget to give thanks to the side dishes that turn a meal into a feast and a family gathering into a foodie's paradise. So, raise your forks in salute to mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, deviled eggs and sweet potato casserole. May your plates be plentiful, your pants forgiving and your leftovers absolute perfection.

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This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: York County, Pa. has spoken: one Thanksgiving side dish reigns supreme