If you’re from the North, it’s called stuffing. But to you Southerners, it’s dressing. Are these two holiday foods the same thing?
The Short Answer:
Yes, Stuffing and Dressing are the same thing.
The Long Answer:
A quick word to all my fellow Northern natives out there, this is not an article comparing stuffing to salad dressing. Apparently in the South, what we all grew up knowing as stuffing is actually referred to as dressing.
Who knew? Not me.
But a lot of you apparently did, because this is one of the most hotly debated Thanksgiving topics among families that straddle the Mason Dixon Line.
I’ve heard tale that if this dish is cooked inside of a roast or some kind of poultry it’s called stuffing, because it is literally stuffed inside of something. Meanwhile the name dressing would be reserved for the same food but cooked in a tin or pan outside of anything else.
To me, this feels like someone trying to make sense of something nonsensical. People in the South say dressing, people in the North say stuffing. That’s really the tall and short of it. I’ve heard some southerners decry the name stuffing, saying that the word itself is unpleasant. I’ve never had a personal issue with it, but I can see where that point of view comes from. To make this even more confusing, it’s called “filling” in Pennsylvania Dutch County.
This reminds me a lot of the debate that rages over soda and pop. Soft drinks are called different things based on where in the world you are. Up in New England, you’d hear people refer to it as pop. But go a little further South and you’ll hear people calling it soda. (For the record, I’m soda for life.)
Everyone does stuffing differently, and everyone believes that their stuffing is the best. (Mine is!) But while the recipe varies based on who is making it, stuffing is always bread based. Some use plain white bread while others prefer a corn bread stuffing (or dressing). Usually some aromatics and other fillings are added in, along with onions, celery, and some other veggies if that’s what you prefer. The dish is then doused in some kind of broth and stuffed inside the cavity of a turkey or chicken.
Do you call this side dish stuffing or dressing? Do you cook it inside your Thanksgiving turkey, or outside of it? What is the special ingredient that makes your stuffing/dressing/filling the best out there? Sound off below and let us know!
FAQs
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.
What is the difference between stuffing and dressing? ›
"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.
Do Southerners say stuffing or dressing? ›
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.
Why do some people call it stuffing and others dressing? ›
The term dressing, per the History Channel, originated around the 1850s, when the Victorians deemed stuffing too crude for the dish to be named. This happened around the same time that the term “dark meat” began to refer to chicken legs and thighs.
Do Texans call it dressing or stuffing? ›
One funny thing about “stuffing” is that, in Texas, some people say “stuffing” and some people say “dressing.” Traditionally, it was called stuffing, because you stuffed the turkey with it. Other families don't like to stuff the turkey at all – and prepare it in a pan, calling it dressing.
What is stuffing actually called? ›
Stuffing, filling, or dressing is an edible mixture, often composed of herbs and a starch such as bread, used to fill a cavity in the preparation of another food item. Many foods may be stuffed, including poultry, seafood, and vegetables.
What is the culinary term for stuffing? ›
Although the French word "farce" can be translated to the verb "stuff", the English term farce can be traced back to 14th century England. Interchangeable with the term forcemeat, the description refers to food that people would consider a stuffing.
What do British people call stuffing? ›
In Theodora Fitzgibbon's massive The Food of the Western World, stuffing is “The name given in England to combinations of a variety of foods which are inserted into meats, poultry, fish, eggs, or vegetables. In the United States, stuffing is also called dressing . . .” Onward.
Is stove top stuffing or dressing? ›
When Stove Top was introduced in 1972 it was the first stuffing mix containing all the ingredients needed to typical dressing in one box. The mixture of vegetables, seasonings, herbs, spices, and baked stuffing crumbs came together in 15 minutes.
Do Americans call stuffing dressing? ›
Some people insist that it should be called dressing when it hasn't actually been stuffed inside a bird. But many people insist on one term or the other regardless of how it's prepared or what's in it. The term dressing is most commonly used in the South, but it's popular in pockets throughout the US.
Both dressing and stuffing are side dishes served at most Thanksgiving tables. It depends on the part of the country you are from as to what you call it. Those in the south use the term dressing interchangeably; whereas those in the northern states generally refer to the dish as stuffing.
Is stuffing better in or out of turkey? ›
Some people feel that stuffing has a better taste and is moister when prepared in the turkey. If the turkey is stuffed, the stuffing should also reach the minimum internal temperature of 165 F in the center of the stuffing.
Why is stuffing not stuffed? ›
Why do Americans call a dish 'stuffing' if it is not stuffed? Stuffing was originally made, and often still is, by stuffing it into the cavity of the turkey, and letting it cook inside the turkey, absorbing its flavors while adding some of its own to the turkey.
Which is correct stuffing or dressing? ›
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.
Do Southerners eat stuffing or dressing? ›
This is down to a science: A 2015 survey conducted on behalf of the poultry company Butterball revealed that, regardless of how the dish was cooked, most of the country—including 100 percent of New Englanders—refers to the side as stuffing, while Southerners are devoted dressing fans.
What do they call stuffing in Pennsylvania? ›
Here in the PA Dutch and Coal Region area, we (especially us “Dutchies”) refer to “stuffing” as “filling”. There is no real debate about whether it's “stuffing” if it is made/baked one way versus “filling” another way in MY kitchen.
What is dressing made of? ›
Some dressing is basic: a combination of dried bread, aromatics, and dried herbs. Other loaded versions can contain oysters, mushrooms, and even dried fruit and nuts.
Why is salad dressing called dressing? ›
The term salad dressing comes from a definition of dressing that dates from about 1500: "sauce used in preparing a dish for the table." When you want to serve a well-prepared and delicious salad, you need add salad dressing.
What is Thanksgiving stuffing made of? ›
The BEST traditional Thanksgiving Stuffing recipe is easy to make dried bread cubes, sausage, diced vegetables, and chicken broth. It's a great side dish to make ahead of time and it definitely tastes best homemade! Pair this easy homemade stuffing with our popular turkey recipe, homemade rolls, and Thanksgiving pie.
