How Do Marylanders Really Feel About Green Bean Casserole at Thanksgiving?

By Beth Dalbey (Patch Staff)

These days, there’s an index measuring everything, including a holiday favorite–depending on where you live.

If you’re like 64 percent of Marylanders, you probably plan to have some green-bean casserole in your Thanksgiving spread.

Maryland ranked No. 15 on the index of states where residents “really like or love” the classic side dish.

Here’s the Del Monte Green Bean Index, compiled after the, ahem, bean counters at Del Monte surveyed 1,500 Americans on their fondness for the classic combination of green beans and cream of mushroom soup topped with french-fried onions:

No. 1: Kentucky (78 percent)

No. 2: Wisconsin (77 percent)

No. 3: Missouri (76 percent)

No. 4: Iowa (75 percent)

No. 5: Maine (74 percent)

No. 6: New Hampshire (73 percent)

No. 7: Florida (72 percent)

No. 8: Colorado (71 percent )

No. 9: California (69 percent)

No. 10: Mississippi (68 percent)

No. 11: Oklahoma (67 percent)

No 12: Utah (66 percent)

No. 13: Kansas (66 percent)

No. 14: Texas (65 percent)

No. 15: Maryland (64 percent)

No. 16: Ohio (63 percent)

No. 17: Massachusetts (62 percent)

No. 18: Illinois (61 percent)

No. 19: Michigan (60 percent)

No. 20: New York (60 percent)

Del Monte says the casserole will be on about 30,000 American dinner tables this Thanksgiving. Survey respondents were asked to share their top five secret ingredients–a single, creative item that can be added to make it unique and different. The results:

• Bacon (37 percent)
• Cheese (19 percent)
• Mushrooms (15 percent)
• Bread crumbs, croutons or crushed crackers (12 percent)
• Almonds (8 percent)

Do you love green bean casserole or wish for something else? Tell us in the comments!

Photo courtesy of Del Monte