Forget the Ham—This Is What Americans Actually Buy for Christmas Dinner, According to New Grocery Data
New grocery data shows Christmas dinner looks very different from what many people expect.
According to new Instacart data, the days leading up to Christmas bring a dramatic shift in grocery carts — one that favors premium meats, nostalgic baked goods, and a few famously divisive holiday staples.
From beef-heavy feasts to a regional eggnog split, here’s what shoppers across the U.S. stocked up on ahead of Christmas.
Christmas Dinner Goes Big on Beef
If Thanksgiving belongs to turkey, Christmas clearly belongs to beef. In the two days before Christmas, purchases of Ribeye Roasts jumped more than 2,200% above the yearly average, making it the single biggest holiday surge on Instacart. Prime Rib wasn’t far behind, climbing roughly 1,900%, while Tenderloin Roasts rose nearly 900%.
The data suggests many households are swapping out poultry for richer centerpieces (or adding a second main dish entirely) as Christmas meals lean more indulgent than practical.
Alongside the meat-heavy menus, shoppers also loaded up on classic holiday baking items. Gingerbread Cookies surged 790%, while Dried Anise, a staple in traditional European Christmas cookies, rose 438% in the final days before the holiday.
And yes, fruitcake made its annual appearance. Despite its reputation, purchases of the dense dessert climbed 986%, proving it still has a loyal (or at least obligated) audience.
Eggnog: A Holiday Favorite — Depending on Where You Live
Few seasonal foods divide opinion quite like eggnog. Creamy, spiced, and unapologetically rich, it’s either a holiday essential or something people avoid altogether.
Nationally, eggnog demand leaves little doubt about its seasonal appeal. Orders surged 1,244% on Christmas Eve, far outpacing its average presence throughout the year. Regionally, however, enthusiasm varies widely.
New England leads the country in eggnog ordering. New Hampshire tops the list at +100% above the national average, followed by Vermont (+91%) and Maine (+76%). Wyoming and Oregon also showed strong interest, tying at +67%.
At the opposite end of the spectrum sits Florida, where eggnog orders came in 62% below the national average — a reminder that not every holiday tradition translates equally across climates.
“Eggnog is one of those foods that instantly signals the holidays, even though people feel very strongly about it one way or the other,” said Alex Orellana, Instacart’s Trends Analyst. “The regional differences show how food traditions can be just as local as they are seasonal.”
The Day After: A Telling Trend
Holiday indulgence doesn’t end when leftovers do. According to Instacart, purchases of antacids rose 16% on December 26 compared to the yearly average — a telling sign that Christmas meals tend to push limits.
Consider it the aftermath of a season built around rich food, second helpings, and one too many desserts.
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