• by Sara Guaglione , November 30, 2020

Allrecipes experienced 59.6 million visits during Thanksgiving week from November 20-26, up 18.4% year-over-year.

The Meredith Corp. brand began online but extended to a print magazine in 2013; it now claims a 1.4 million rate base.

It had its largest-ever number of site visits on both Thanksgiving eve (12.8 million, up 14.9% year over year) and Thanksgiving Day (14.3 million, up 26.7% year over year).

"Even with the challenges caused by the pandemic, people were determined to celebrate this Thanksgiving holiday. They may have altered their plans and changed their traditions, but they made the most of it nonetheless," stated Catherine Levene, president of Meredith Digital.

Views of recipes for turkey breast were up 96% year-over-year, likely due to smaller Thanksgiving groups amid the pandemic.

Households prepared whole chickens (recipe views up 150% YOY), prime rib (up 67% YOY) and salmon (up 61% YOY). 

“Although people tried new things and made adjustments to their meals, they also sought comforting dishes that were reminiscent of years’ past,” Levene added.

Views of recipes that included the word “basic” in their title were up 41% YOY — those with “beginner” were up 83% YOY.

Views that include “Grandma” in their recipe title grew by 27% YOY, and included Grandma’s Corn Bread Stuffing, Apple Pie by Grandma Ople and Grandma’s Corn Pudding.

Mulled-wine recipe views were up 10% YOY, so did other hot spiked drinks, a sign that more gatherings were being held outdoors.

Content with “Christmas” in the title surged 101% YOY.

Separately, Nina Elder, former executive food editor at Rachael Ray In Season, has moved to TheKitchn.com this month. She is now executive food director at the food-focused site.

Before she was at the Rachael Ray magazine, Elder worked at Bon Appétit and Better Homes & Gardens.

ApartmentTherapy.com and TheKitchn.com serve a total of over 74 million pageviews a month.