For some, dinner is a ritual. For others, an obligation. But for all of us, it’s part of the daily routine, a moment we return to at the end of the day. This year, HelloFresh conducted its annual State of the Dinner Table, finding that people are rediscovering the joy of home-cooked meals, shared recipes, and time spent together at the table.
The national survey, conducted by Talker Research on behalf of HelloFresh, reflects a cultural shift: 62% of respondents say 2026 will be the year of the kitchen, with many planning to cook at home more often than before. And not simply because they have to, but because they want to.
From Obligation to Relief
Cooking, once another task on an already crowded list, is being reframed as something restorative.
In a LinkedIn article reflecting on the findings, HelloFresh leader Adam Kalikow describes the kitchen as a place to step away from the noise of the day, writing that home cooking offers “rhythmic, sensory engagement that helps quiet the noise of a long day.”
The survey echoes that sentiment. Eighty-three percent of respondents say they feel better after eating a home-cooked meal, and many report that home is where they feel most comfortable eating.
Americans spend an average of 67 minutes per day cooking, more than 400 hours each year. Time that once felt like pressure is increasingly being experienced as moments of presence in our busy days.
The Pull of Shared Meals
The findings also suggest that cooking isn’t just about what happens before the plate hits the table, but about what happens after.
On our own landing page, we highlight the growing desire to prioritize “shared meals with loved ones,” pointing to a renewed focus on togetherness.
Kalikow notes that 59% of people report feeling better when eating with others. And yet, modern life has its interruptions. Only one in five dinners is completely undistracted.
That tension, between intention and reality, may be exactly what’s pulling people back to the table with greater care.
Pride, Memory, and What We Carry Forward
Food has always carried memory, and the survey suggests people are thinking more deliberately about what they preserve and what they pass on.
69% of respondents say they feel proud preparing traditional recipes, while 53% actively document or record them.
There’s pride, too, in place. When asked to rank food culture by state, respondents named California, New York, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida at the top, a reminder that food remains a powerful expression of identity.
Want to see what flavor defines your state? Take a look at our interactive map to discover the dish that captures your region best.
Every state has a dish that tells its story.
A Subtle Cultural Shift
Taken together, the data points show that dinner is being reclaimed as a pause, a moment of enjoyment and presence. As Kalikow writes, home cooking offers a way to “move from chaos to calm,” restoring the table as a place of grounding and connection.
The shift toward dining together, eating together, and being together feels increasingly significant. In a world shaped by constant notifications and divided attention, the table remains one of the few places where presence still matters.
“Food has always been about more than just sustenance — it’s how we connect, share stories and pass down traditions,” said Michelle Doll Olson, Senior Manager, Culinary Development at HelloFresh. “From California shrimp tacos and Minnesota Juicy Lucy, to Louisiana gumbo and New York bagels, the dishes that define each state carry generations of family memories and cultural pride.
How are meals unfolding in your own home and your own region? Have you noticed small changes like phones set aside, recipes revisited, and traditions revived?
We’d love to hear your stories. Reach out to @abigail.dreher@hellofresh.com for a chance to be featured on our blog and share how you’re reclaiming time around the table.
