Survey: More than half of consumers to order from restaurants for Thanksgiving
An increasing number of consumers plan to skip cooking at home this Thanksgiving.
More than half of U.S. consumers (53%) plan to order takeout or delivery from restaurants for Thanksgiving dinner, according to a new survey from restaurant software company Popmenu. This is a notable increase from 37% in 2024 and 32% in 2023.
Another 5% expect to dine in person at a restaurant on Thanksgiving, on par with last year and below a high of 17% in 2023 as more consumers opt for gathering at home with friends and family.
When asked why they were turning to restaurants for all or part of their Thanksgiving meal, 63% of consumers told Popmenu they want to enjoy the holiday and not worry about cooking, while 40% believe it's cheaper or costs about the same to buy all the ingredients and cook at home. More than a third (35%) of consumers said they don't want the hassle of buying the ingredients and cooking themselves, and 26% would rather have a professionally cooked meal.
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Overall, nearly six-in-10 (59%) consumers plan to reduce their spend on Thanksgiving dinner this year compared to 2024. On average, Popmenu says consumers plan to spend $165 on the holiday.
"What we hear from Thanksgiving hosts every year is a growing desire to spend more time visiting with guests and enjoying the holiday than sweating in the kitchen," said Brendan Sweeney, CEO and co-founder of Popmenu. "This year's study also shows elevated concern over household economics – causing consumers to cut back on some holiday favorites, hunt for special deals from restaurants and adopt other strategies to keep expenses in check."
According to the survey, consumers say they are decreasing their spending on Thanksgiving this year because groceries have become too expensive (69%), their household budget is tighter (58%) or they are being more conservative with finances due to inflation and concerns over the economy (31%).
To cut back, 39% of those surveyed plan to reduce the number of side dishes and desserts they serve, while 33% are celebrating the holiday with fewer people, and 31% are buying less expensive brands of food and beverages. Twenty-nine percent are asking guests to bring a dish, and 26% are choosing recipes with fewer or cheaper ingredients.
Unsurprisingly, turkey will be the most popular main dish choice this year, with 84% of consumers planning to serve it, followed by ham (46%) and chicken (19%). Other dishes guests can expect to see on some tables include lasagna or another pasta dish (15%). Nearly one-in-five (19%) consumers expect to have a fast food dish on the table this year.
Popmenu conducted an anonymous, nationwide study of 1,000 U.S. consumers, ages 18 and older, from Nov. 16-17, 2025.
