Washington, November 4, 2025 — Leads & Copy —
Thanksgiving traditions are thriving, with turkey remaining a holiday centerpiece, according to a new poll from the National Turkey Federation (NTF). 94% of Americans plan to celebrate Thanksgiving this year. The NTF estimates that nearly 30 million turkeys will be enjoyed across the U.S.
The poll indicates 87% of celebrants include turkey in their holiday meal most years, and 74% plan to serve a whole bird. Most gatherings include three to ten guests (71%), with 59% planning to host. Tradition also rules the kitchen, with 65% of Americans roasting their turkey in the oven, while others prefer to smoke (10%), fry (7%), grill (7%) or air fry (7%). After the big meal, 84% of hosts send guests home with leftovers, and more than half favor a classic turkey sandwich the next day.
NTF’s Thanksgiving 101 resource hub on EatTurkey.org provides step-by-step guidance for a stress-free holiday meal, offering a defrosting calculator, cooking time charts, recipes, carving tutorials and leftover inspiration. Consumer insights were derived from an online survey conducted in August 2025 among a nationally representative sample of 1,000 consumers.
Alex Davidson National Turkey Federation adavidson@turkeyfed.org
Source: National Turkey Federation
