As Thanksgiving approaches, my mind frequently wanders to the dish I am most looking forward to preparing for the holiday: my great-grandmother’s cornbread dressing. Rich with double chicken stock, tons of butter, and handfuls of aromatics, it is in my opinion the best cornbread dressing in the world. But because that dressing involves a two-day process and tons of labor, I’ve also had an equally strong craving for a box of Stove Top stuffing.
To be clear, dressing and stuffing are not the same foods. Stuffing is made with stale white bread, perhaps studded with bits of sausage or plump oysters, and stuffed inside a turkey. 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. First introduced by General Foods in 1972, Stove Top stuffing has long been a staple for workaday dinners. It’s incredibly simple to prepare — you simply boil some water with a hunk of butter, dump in a bag of dry bread cubes and seasoning, and cover until everything’s perfectly tender — and serve alongside a roasted chicken thigh or stuff it inside a butterflied pork chop.
Like many convenience foods, Stove Top stuffing has gotten a bad rap in recent years, especially from people who have *opinions* about what is healthy to eat. It’s got too much sodium, there are weird ingredients that you can’t pronounce, and it’s just better to make your own stuffing. But “better” is subjective. Most of us aren’t going to go through the hassle of making our own stuffing on a weeknight, but that shouldn’t mean that we are depriving ourselves of stuffing. If the options are “Stove Top stuffing” or “no stuffing at all,” I’m going to go with that bright red box every single time.
I’m not sure what it is about that combination of powdered sage, chicken flavor, and MSG that makes it so appealing, but there’s no denying that Stove Top is pure nostalgic comfort food. It tastes like childhood, of dinners prepared by harried moms getting food on the table for their families after working all day. It’s affordable, too, which in this time of ever-increasing food prices, makes it easy to bulk up a meal.
I’m not arguing that Stove Top is any better than homemade stuffing. It’s probably not, unless you’re terrible at making stuffing in which case the consistency of the prepackaged stuff is an objectively better option. I’m also not suggesting that it has any real place on the Thanksgiving table. But as an easy dinner side? This is one of those situations in which you shouldn’t let perfect be the enemy of very good.
FAQs
Rich with double chicken stock, tons of butter, and handfuls of aromatics, it is in my opinion the best cornbread dressing in the world.
What are the health concerns with stove top stuffing? ›
Kraft's mix contains the chemicals BHA & BHT, which are both on EWG's Dirty Dozen Guide to Food Additives and may be linked to cancer. What's more, one serving of Kraft's Stove Top contains 29 percent of your recommended daily intake of sodium or salt, according to the U.S. Institute of Medicine.
Why is stuffing so good? ›
When made from scratch and seasoned right, it is rich, moist and savory, shot through with different textures and flavors that give cooks plenty of room to play. That basic amalgamation of starch, fat and aromatics is indisputably delicious.
What is the nutritional value of stove top stuffing? ›
KRAFT, STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix Chicken Flavor, 1 NLEA serving (makes 1/2 cup prepared)
| Protein (g) | 3.53 |
|---|
| Carbohydrate, by difference (g) | 20.47 |
| Energy (kcal) | 106.68 |
| Sugars, total (g) | 2.83 |
| Fiber, total dietary (g) | 0.7 |
14 more rowsThe EU requires warning labels on dyes, and countries like Austria, Finland, and Norway have banned Twinkies. Stove Top Stuffing: Contains a combination of beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), leading to its ban in countries like Japan, the UK, and several European nations.
What are some fun facts about stove top stuffing? ›
You've got a lot of stuff to catch up on.
- Stove Top stuffing was invented by a baker. ...
- The breadcrumbs are key. ...
- Stove Top was a revelation in the 70s. ...
- It wasn't meant to be served with turkey. ...
- It's designed to complement different meats. ...
- It eventually became a Thanksgiving staple. ...
- There used to be regional styles.
Stuffing is not strictly a healthy food, because it is typically high in calories, fat, sodium, and refined carbohydrates.
Does stove top dressing have MSG? ›
Stove Top Stuffing Mix For Chicken Box. This product has 1 ingredient with msg.
How long is it safe to eat stuffing? ›
Stuffing may be refrigerated for up to three or four days, or frozen for longer storage. The same timing applies for stuffing that is cooked separately, too. Be sure to reheat any leftover stuffing and use a food thermometer to make sure it reaches 165°F once again before eating it.
Why not eat stuffing from turkey? ›
At temperatures below 165°F you risk exposure to salmonella or E. coli, two very scary and gross bacteria. The problem with stuffing your roast turkey is that when the turkey's meat is safely cooked, the stuffing inside still is not.
This stuffing is made on the stove top with oven toasted bread cubes, onion, celery, dried seasonings, butter, and warm chicken broth. The best part is that it frees up oven space because it cooks on the stove top!
Is stuffing good for digestion? ›
Unfortunately for your digestive system, dense foods like stuffing or casseroles move at a snail's pace through your body. Eating vegetables makes for quicker and easier digestion.
Is Stove Top stuffing real? ›
Stove Top is a stuffing that was introduced by General Foods in 1972. It is a quick cooking ("instant") stuffing that is available in supermarkets. Unlike traditional stuffing, Stove Top can be prepared on the stove, in a pot, and can also be prepared in a microwave oven.
Why is Stove Top stuffing so salty? ›
Ingredients like seasoned bread, chicken broth, and sausage are all naturally salty. If you're too heavy-handed with them and you sprinkle more salt on top of that, you can count on your stuffing being salty. The best way around this is to use reduced or low-sodium broth, or simply cut back on the saltier mix-ins.
What's the difference between Stove Top stuffing and dressing? ›
Stove Top first began marketing its instant mix 40 years ago, and now sells roughly 60 million boxes for Thanksgiving alone. For those vexed by the difference between stuffing and dressing: stuffing technically refers to anything cooked in the cavity of an animal, whereas dressing is cooked on the side.
Why is stuffing better than 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.
What's the difference between stove top stuffing and dressing? ›
Stove Top first began marketing its instant mix 40 years ago, and now sells roughly 60 million boxes for Thanksgiving alone. For those vexed by the difference between stuffing and dressing: stuffing technically refers to anything cooked in the cavity of an animal, whereas dressing is cooked on the side.
Which Stove Top dressing is best? ›
I don't think you can go wrong with any of the Stove Top varieties (although their take on cornbread stuffing was a little lackluster), but if you want the best stuffing, it's worth seeking out Stove Top Traditional Sage.
