Chicken rules the roost among proteins in Grubhub's 2024 year-end report

Chicken was the top protein of 2024, espresso orders spiked in the summer and hot honey was a popular pick at the grocery store this year, the report noted. 

The new report "highlighted the undeniable influence of social media and pop culture on the foods we crave and order," Grubhub spokesperson Christoppher Krautler told Fox News Digital. 

Protein was popular in 2024 - and chicken led the way.

Chicken was included in nearly 40% of all Grubhub restaurant orders, and poultry was part of Grubhub grocery store orders almost three times as often as beef.

Extra protein was also a welcome addition to Chipotle restaurant orders. 

Chipotle's burrito bowls spiked by 27% among corporate orders, according to Grubhub.

That equates to about 2,000 pounds of curd.

"The months with the highest volume of cottage cheese orders were July (17%), August (21%), September (20%) and October (16%)," Krautler said. 

"Together, these four months accounted for nearly 75% of all cottage cheese orders for the year."

June was the first month with a noticeable spike in demand, Krautler said - around the time that people started baking cottage cheese in the oven as part of a social media trend.

Customers in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Boston ordered the most cottage cheese this year.

Americans appeared to have plenty of love for espresso this year.

"Espresso" cracked the top three on Billboard's Hot 100 that same week and eventually surged to No. 1 on the pop charts.

Grubhub said customers were thirstier for espresso shots this year compared to 2023.

Grubhub also saw a 53% increase in corporate coffee orders this year.

Pace University in New York, West Chester University in Pennsylvania, Syracuse University, the University of Rochester and Rowan University in New Jersey were the college campuses with the most Grubhub orders for coffee in 2024.

When it came to decaffeinated coffee orders, Fordham University in New York led all college campuses.

Rounding out the top five were California State University Fullerton, the University of Massachusetts Lowell, the University of Illinois Chicago and Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

The most popular convenience store orders from Grubhub this year were hot dogs, bananas and sodas, the report revealed.

Dr. Pepper was the "clear" soft drink leader, Krautler said.

Hot honey purchases at grocery stores surged by 30% this year among Grubhub orders, the research revealed.

It's indicative of the sweet-and-spicy food trend that swept the nation this year. Nearly 10% of restaurant menus have sweet-and-spicy offerings in 2024, according to market research firm Datassential.

The New Jersey-based Food Institute said this past summer was the season of "swicy" - a portmanteau of sweet and spicy.

"We notice that Grubhub customers are always craving and experimenting with unique flavor combinations that excite and surprise their taste buds," Krautler told Fox News Digital. 

"This year, swicy - a fusion of sweet and heat - emerged as a standout trend, gaining popularity for its multidimensional appeal."

Adult beverages were also popular orders for Grubhub customers at hotels this year.

Virginia Beach, Virginia, was the city with the most alcohol orders to hotels, from a six-pack of seltzers to champagne for breakfast.

Chicago, New York City and Washington, D.C., were also popular travel destinations for Grubhub customers who opted to bring the booze to their hotel rooms.