The Great Thanksgiving Debate about one of America’s favorite holiday side dishes.
My aunt Gwen(middle), me(right), and my little sister(left) in May 2021
The time for thankfulness has come. But most importantly the time to stuff our faces with savory and delicious foods.
According to Delish, Pennsylvania’s favorite thanksgiving food is Turkey. However, that is not true for every resident of Pennsylvania.
Personally, my favorite Thanksgiving food is dressing.
Yes, I said dressing.
A dish made with love, consideration, blood, sweat, and tears. Locally, a more popular name for it is stuffing, however, in my family we call it dressing.
A dish that no one can make better than my Aunt Gwen with arecipe passed down from generation to generation.
We traditionally eat it once a year for Thanksgiving, but sometimes my aunt will make it and save some for my sister and I.
In Pennsylvania, some people even call it filling.
What people may not understand is that there is a difference between all three.
Dressing is a Southern term for stuffing however it is not used to stuff a turkey.
Unlike stuffing, dressing is made with cornbread and baked in a casserole dish.
Stuffing is usually made with white bread or a baguette.
Although there are differences both stuffing and dressing are made with the majority of the same ingredients: spices, an assortment of vegetables, a type of starch,and herbs.
When stuffing is cooked the idea is it will gain more flavor from the juices of the turkey.
This poll has ended.
What Do You Call This Side Dish?
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But when dressing is cooked it needs an extra component in order for it to taste just as good or even better than stuffing.
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.
Dallastown science teacher Lori Riddle says otherwise.
“It is definitely filling in my house. We do not “stuff” it into the turkey, so it is filling”.
The Dallastown staff had many varying opinions on what it should be called.
To me dressing is the correct way to say it when it is not being used to stuff or fill something.
A big reason my family calls it dressing is because contrary to many American families we do not eat a big turkey
We prefer to eat turkey wings, often bought separately.
There’s nothing like soft, tasty, hot and just a little salty dressing drizzled in gravy.
Whether you call Dressing, Stuffing, or Filling everyone should enjoy the delicious baked dish this Thanksgiving!
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FAQs
In Pennsylvania, some people even call it filling. What people may not understand is that there is a difference between all three. Dressing is a Southern term for stuffing however it is not used to stuff a turkey. Unlike stuffing, dressing is made with cornbread and baked in a casserole dish.
What is the difference between stuffing filling 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 southern people say dressing or 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.
Why do people say dressing instead of stuffing? ›
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 say stuffing or dressing? ›
While most New Englanders and the majority of West Coasters referred to the dish as “stuffing,” about half of Texans and the majority of Southerners call it “dressing.” Likewise, while most other parts of the country use a base of dried bread, many Texans instead opt for cornbread or dried biscuits.
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.
Is stove top stuffing or dressing? ›
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.
What do British people call stuffing? ›
In England, a stuffing is sometimes made of minced pork shoulder seasoned with various ingredients, such as sage, onion, bread, chestnuts, dried apricots, and dried cranberries. The stuffing mixture may be cooked separately and served as a side dish. This may still be called stuffing or it may be called dressing.
What is stuffing called in the south? ›
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.
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.
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.
How do Texans say welcome? ›
“Howdy” is typically muttered as a polite greeting as opposed to a garish welcome, and its use as a friendly salutation is one of many cultural traditions taught at Texas A&M University.
What are words that only Texans say? ›
Here's a glossary of 10 words and phrases commonly used by Texans:
- “co*ke” is any carbonated beverage, not specifically coca-cola. ...
- “Bless your heart” is an expression used to show pity. ...
- “Fixin' to” means about to. ...
- “Git-R-Done” means get it done. ...
- “Gonna” means going to. ...
- “Howdy” means hello. ...
- “Reckon” means think.
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.
What is the difference between stuffed and filling? ›
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. This is all style based, though - "stuffed ravioli" is a common idiocy.
Why is stuffing not stuffed? ›
It was traditionally stuffed inside a bird to cook. These days, many Americans do not do that anymore at it can often absorb salmonella. It's called “stuffing” by many (not all) Americans, because it's traditionally stuffed into the turkey, and cooked inside it to absorb the flavor of the meat.
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.
