Dressing or Stuffing: What is the Difference (2024)

Dressing or Stuffing: What is the Difference (1)

This chart by Butterball shows the states that generally serve dressing versus stuffing

TEXARKANA, Ark. –

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. Regardless of what part of the country you come from, you probably agree that it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without it.

Could the ingredients be the difference in what we call it? Traditionally Northern stuffing begins with sturdy white bread, while the most common Southern ingredient in dressing is cornbread. But that may not hold true either. While bread is the base for both dressing and stuffing, the rest may be as different as what you call it. You may find white bread mixed with saltine crackers, oysters in coastal communities, andouille sausage in Louisiana, or sourdough and mushrooms in California. Both likely have similar herbs such as sage and thyme, and vegetables, onions, and celery as a base.

Dressing or stuffing should not be prepared ahead of time. The dry and wet ingredients for stuffing can be prepared ahead of time and chilled separately; however, do not mix the wet and dry ingredients until just before spooning the mixture into the cavity of the bird, or into a casserole dish. The dressing should be moist, not dry, because heat destroys bacteria more rapidly in a moist environment.

The dressing should be placed immediately after preparation into an oven no lower than 325 degrees. A food thermometer should be used to ensure the stuffing reaches the safe internal minimum temperature of 165 degrees.

Regardless of whether you call it stuffing or dressing, chances are you look forward to this side dish all year long. Remember to keep the stuffing or dressing out of the “temperature danger zone” of 40 to 140 degrees. It is in this range that bacteria will grow most quickly.

For more information, contact the Miller County Extension Office, 870-779-3609 or visit us in room 215 at the Miller County Courthouse. We're online at chadley@uada.edu, on Facebook at UAEXMillerCountyFCS/CarlaHaleyHadley, on Twitter @MillerCountyFCS or on the web at uaex.uada.edu/Miller.

I love this crockpot dressing. It allows me to free up my oven of other foods and is always a favorite.

Crock Pot Dressing

9x13-inch pan of cornbread

4 eggs, beaten

1 medium onion, chopped

1/2 cup celery, diced

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons sage

1 teaspoon black pepper

2 cans cream of chicken soup

2 cans of 4 cups chicken/turkey broth

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

In saucepan, sauté onion and celery in ¼ cup chicken broth. Spray inside of crock pot with non-stick cooking spray, or use crockpot liner. Mix all ingredients well in large mixing bowl and pour in crock pot liner, no more than two thirds full. Dot butter/margarine on top of dressing mixture. Cover tightly with the lid and cook on high for 2 hours or low for 3 to 4 hours, or until thermometer inserted into the center of the dressing reaches 165 degrees. Note: Omit salt if you are using poultry seasoning.

By Carla Haley-Hadley
County Extension Agent - FCS
The Cooperative Extension Service
U of A System Division of Agriculture

Media Contact: Carla Haley-Hadley
County Extension Agent - FCS
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
400 Laurel Street, Suite 215 Texarkana AR 71854
(870) 779-3609
chadley@uada.edu

The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact your County Extension office (or other appropriate office) as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.

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Dressing or Stuffing: What is the Difference (2024)

FAQs

Dressing or Stuffing: What is the Difference? ›

"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.

Are stuffing and dressing the same thing? ›

"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 dressing or stuffing? ›

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.

Is stove top stuffing the same as 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.

Do Texans call it dressing or stuffing? ›

In Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma, “dressing" is preferred 52 percent to 47 percent (the other percent is unaccounted for. Perhaps they say tur-dress-stuff or something). Ingredients-wise, they are the same dish and many people use them interchangeably whether they are inside the bird or out.

When did stuffing become dressing? ›

Names for stuffing include "farce" (~1390), "stuffing" (1538), "forcemeat" (1688), and relatively more recently in the United States; "dressing" (1850).

What is the most popular food on Thanksgiving? ›

Top 10 Thanksgiving Dishes
  1. Turkey.
  2. Stuffing/Dressing.
  3. Pumpkin Pie.
  4. Sweet Potato Casserole.
  5. Mashed Potatoes.
  6. Ham.
  7. Green Bean Casserole.
  8. Cranberry Jelly.
Nov 22, 2023

Is stuffing the same as dressing for black people? ›

The stuffing mixture may be cooked separately and served as a side dish, in which case it may still be called 'stuffing', or in some regions, such as the Southern US, 'dressing'. This is from Wiki. Basically, everyone except a tiny percentage of Black people with family in Alabama calls it stuffing.

Why do old people call stuffing 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.

What do Northerners call stuffing? ›

Go south of the Mason-Dixon Line and in the Midwest and many call it dressing, regardless of if it is prepared in the bird or alongside in a casserole dish. Likewise, northern or northeastern states and the west coast typically lean toward stuffing.

Why is stove top stuffing banned in some countries? ›

Making stuffing with Kraft Stove Top Stuffing takes a mere five minutes. But the popular mix contains the preservatives BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), which have raised concerns due to suspicions of potential carcinogenic properties and their potential to hinder blood clotting.

Why does stuffing taste 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.

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.

Who calls it dressing vs stuffing? ›

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.

What do they call stuffing in Pennsylvania? ›

Despite cooking techniques, the name game usually splits along regional lines, with cooks from the Northeast and Pacific Northwest sticking to stuffing, while the South and Midwest prefer the more proper dressing (and, to make matters even more confusing, our Pennsylvania friends use the term "filling"—not to be ...

What is the biggest technical difference between stuffing and 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.

What is dressing for Thanksgiving made of? ›

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.

What is stuffing actually called? ›

Stuffing and dressing are commonly used as different names for the same thing—a dish consisting of bits of bread (or other starchy things) and various seasonings. The dish can be made by stuffing it (hence the name) inside a turkey or other bird that will be roasted, or by baking or cooking it separately.

Is dressing gravy or stuffing? ›

Some people stuff their. Others are dead set against stuffing the bird and opt for baking their stuffing in a baking dish, which means it's called dressing. Some do a combination of both. Some dressing is basic: a combination of dried bread, aromatics, and dried herbs.

Is stuffing only for Thanksgiving? ›

You absolutely can eat stuffing any time of year, but it might lose something if it became an everyday side dish. At least take extra care not to burn it on Thanksgiving.

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