Dressing, stuffing or filling? Regional differences are 'subtle but huge' on Thanksgiving (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between dressing and stuffing at Thanksgiving? ›

"Stuffing is cooked in the cavity of the turkey, so the juices soak into the ingredients, making it more flavorful. Dressing gets cooked on its own and needs extra liquid to make it flavorful." So stuffing is cooked inside the bird. Dressing is cooked outside the bird, usually in a casserole dish.

Although most people in America debate on whether the dish should be called stuffing or dressing the people of Pennsylvania call it filling. Essentially filling is the same as stuffing or dressing. The name suggests that it will fill something like stuffing does.

But for the Thanksgiving side dish in the South, the term dressing was adopted in place of stuffing, which was viewed as a crude term, during the Victorian era. Although dressing and stuffing are interchangeable terms, the signature ingredient of this Thanksgiving side dish in the South is cornbread.

The points of comparison used to compare dressing and stuffing include: preparation, taste, amount, and safety. When comparing preparation, dressing and stuffing are made differently. Dressing is cooked in a separate dish and does not contain any meat, while stuffing is cooked inside the turkey.

In the 1800s, the word dressing gained popularity in some areas of the US as a word for the dish cooked inside a bird. The rise of this preference is theorized to be based in part on Victorian-era prudishness and a resulting movement away from more “graphic” terms for food preparation.

Early 19th-century Thanksgiving menus proudly listed stuffed turkeys and hams as the main courses. This suggests that by the 1800s, stuffing had become a big deal at holiday gatherings. Fast forward to today, and no American holiday meal is complete without this classic side dish.

Nutrition Notes

Stuffing is essentially bread, salt, and butter, so it probably comes as no surprise that it isn't the healthiest food served on Thanksgiving.

Senior Member. It it's to be put inside an animal, it's stuffing. If it's to be put inside a whole vegetable, it also will be called stuffing, but may be called filling in some circ*mstances. If it's to be put inside anything else, it's filling.

In the South, it's called dressing. In the Northeast, it's called stuffing. MS: But I think you have to divide the country into thirds, because you're forgetting about filling, which is what they have in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, where the stuffing is supplemented by mashed potatoes.

Many in Texas will say they'd rather die on the dressing hill instead of call the bread and seasoning-based dish stuffing, according to The Texan, but the name people use might correspond with where they grew up.

Which regions of the US prefer stuffing? ›

Cornbread stuffing: This is a favorite in 15 states, including Maine, Texas and Oregon. As cornbread goes so well with BBQ, it's not surprising that Texans would appreciate the ingredient. Sausage stuffing: From Massachusetts to good old New York City, sausage seems the way to go.

Dressing: Dressing typically includes ingredients like cornbread, white bread, or biscuits, mixed with vegetables, herbs, spices, and sometimes sausage or other meats. It is often moistened with broth or stock and baked in a casserole dish until it forms a crust on top.

The primary difference between stuffing and dressing is that stuffing is cooked inside a bird and dressing is made on the side. As with many food traditions in the U.S., regional loyalties to stuffing vs dressing abound.

Both stuffing and filling have the same results, as the bird cooks, juices impart a deep, rich flavor to the bread mixture inside. On the other hand, dressing is the same bread mixture, but it's cooked in a separate vessel outside of the bird.

Part of it has to do with tradition and regional variations: baking the stuffing outside the bird is more common in the South, where it's often called "dressing" rather than stuffing. But there are also culinary and safety arguments behind each position.

Dressing is made with cornbread, and is baked in a pan instead of inside the bird. I view Stove Top stuffing as a totally distinct entity from this most beloved of holiday dishes. It is not the stuff of celebrations, but it is a perfectly suitable side dish the rest of the year.

Should I stuff my turkey? Stuffing cooked inside the turkey cavities is delicious, but it does slow down the cooking time and could be a potential health hazard if done incorrectly. For perfect no-worry results, opt for "dressing" instead – stuffing cooked alongside the bird instead of inside.

We would recommend not stuffing your Christmas turkey, this is because, with an addition of stuffing, it becomes much harder for the heat to be distributed evenly. Adding stuffing also increases the weight, and therefore, the cook time of the bird. Increasing its chances of becoming dry and less succulent.

Dressing: Dressing typically includes ingredients like cornbread, white bread, or biscuits, mixed with vegetables, herbs, spices, and sometimes sausage or other meats. It is often moistened with broth or stock and baked in a casserole dish until it forms a crust on top.