When the holidays roll around and everyone starts making their menus, stuffing and dressing always make the list. This leads to an annual debate in many homes: stuffing vs. dressing—what’s the big diff?
To get to the bottom of this hotly contested topic, I chatted with our team of food editors here at Taste of Home.
Are Stuffing and Dressing Different Dishes?
In the case of stuffing vs. dressing, Food Editor Rashanda Cobbins says that these are the same dish—a sentiment echoed by fellow foodies James Schend and Peggy Woodward.
“Generally speaking they both use the same ingredients: some type of bread, herbs and spices, liquid, maybe an egg and occasionally meat—like ground sausage—and sometimes fruit like apples or dried cranberries,” Rashanda says.
For example, these Slow-Cooker Dressing and Stuffing from the Slow Cooker recipes both use similar ingredients and cooking methods. Without the recipe title, you’d be apt to call them whichever term you’re accustomed to.
Stuffing vs. Dressing: Why Different Terms?
While stuffing and dressing may be the same dish, there’s no getting around the fact that this carb-tastic creation has two names. Why is that? Well, Rashanda says it’s mostly regional and familial.
“I am in the diehard dressing camp,” says Rashanda. “This is what it was always called growing up in Alabama.” However, for someone like myself who grew up in Wisconsin, my family was stuffing all the way.
The one exception to this is when these ingredients are cooked inside a turkey or chicken; that’s when this is more likely to be called stuffing, though some folks might still call it dressing!
What About the Ingredients?
As Rashanda said, dressing and stuffing both use the same basic ingredients: bread, broth, aromatics and herbs. However, you’ll often run into recipes that incorporate a few extra ingredients—perhaps dried fruit, various proteins or even nuts. Once again, Rashanda says this is all regional.
Want proof? This Badger State Stuffing recipe, for example, includes dried cranberries, beer and even a bit of sauerkraut—all popular ingredients produced in Wisconsin. Meanwhile, this recipe for Bacon & Oyster Stuffing hails from an East Coast cook. And many of our Southern readers have sent us recipes for cornbread-based dressings.
So in the end, this stuffing vs. dressing debate is very much a potato pa-tah-to situation. Whatever you call these recipes, they’re always a delicious addition your holiday feast.
Try Our Favorite Stuffing and Dressing Recipes
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Badger State Stuffing
Your family will love the contrasting sweet, savory and slightly tart flavors in this spin on a Thanksgiving classic. Feel free to use your favorite beer or dried fruit to make the dish your own. —Andrea Fetting, Franklin, Wisconsin
Sausage Bread Dressing
My husband and father go crazy for this dressing. Leftovers are rare but they freeze quite well. To save time, chop the veggies and prepare (but don't bake) the dressing up to two days ahead of time and refrigerate. Add a little baking time since it will be cold. —Bette Votral, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Pecan-Cornbread Dressing
Plenty of pecans and bacon give this stuffing a unique flavor, while using a packaged mix cuts down on the preparation time. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Savory Zucchini Bread Pudding
I have been serving this dish for years and always receive compliments on it. If you don't have day-old bread in your pantry, simply slice fresh bread and bake it at 300° for 10 minutes. —Mary Ann Dell, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Hearty Rice Dressing
This satisfying dressing has always been received well at church socials and family reunions. The recipe feeds a crowd—I cut back if I'm serving a smaller group. —Ruth Hayward, Lake Charles, Louisiana
Oyster Stuffing
My mother made this stuffing every Thanksgiving for my, father who loves it! And now I make it.—Amy Voights, Brodhead, Wisconsin
Smoked Sausage & Potato Dressing
I tried this recipe for Thanksgiving. My husband is a picky eater, but he ate more of the stuffing than the turkey! If you have leftovers, top some with an over-easy egg for breakfast. —Adriana Torres, El Paso, Texas
Slow Cooker Bacon-Mushroom Dressing
My favorite stuffing uses a slow cooker, which helps when your oven's busy. It goes with everything from turkey to game hens. —Hope Wasylenki, Gahanna, Ohio
Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potato Stuffing
Every family seems to have a favorite stuffing recipe. My family and I have been making this one for many years. It’s so delicious that no gravy is required! —Sandra Dombek, Camillus, New York
Traditional Holiday Stuffing
Sausage and sage add a gourmet taste to this stuffing. It's perfect for large family gatherings, but you can also save some for later. —Lorraine Brauckhoff, Zolfo Springs, Florida
Special Herb Dressing
Here's a fabulously satisfying dressing with all the great tastes people crave: meat, fish herbs, earthy mushrooms, crunchy apples and water chestnuts, and a zesty burst of tart cranberries. —Trudy Williams, Shannonville, Ontario
Moist Poultry Dressing
Tasty mushrooms and onions complement the big herb flavor in this amazing stuffing. This dressing stays so moist because it’s made in the slow cooker. —Ruth Ann Stelfox, Raymond, Alberta
Cranberry Pecan Stuffing
While I love stuffing, my family wasn't that fond of it—that is, until I found this recipe. I added a few touches of my own and now they gobble it up. Cranberries and pork really make it something special. —Robin Lang, Muskegon, Michigan
Wild Rice Stuffing
Since trying this stuffing recipe from my sister, I haven't made any other kind. It's so moist and tasty. When a big bowlful starts circulating around the table, happy holiday smiles get even bigger! —Connie Olson, Green River, Wyoming
Slow Cooker Mushroom Stuffing
My grandmother created this recipe after my grandfather left the well-drilling business and invested all their money in a mushroom farm. The farm was a success and saw the family through the Great Depression. —Eric Cooper, Durham, North Carolina
Southern Cornbread Dressing
This recipe, one of my favorite holiday side dishes, makes a lot. It's perfect for company, even though it started as a way to stretch the food we had for our large family. —Margaret E. Kendall, McConnelsville, Ohio
"Everything" Stuffing
My family goes crazy for this stuffing that I make in the slow cooker. It freezes well so we can enjoy it long after Thanksgiving has passed. —Bette Votral, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Grandma's Cornbread Dressing
Growing up, we didn’t have turkey. We had chicken, chopped and baked in my grandmother’s dressing. Now we leave out the chicken and keep the cornbread dressing. —Suzanne Mohme, Bastrop, Texas
Stuffing from the Slow Cooker
If you're hosting a big Thanksgiving dinner this year, add this simple slow-cooked stuffing to your menu to ease entertaining. The recipe comes in handy when you run out of oven space at large family gatherings. I use this Crock Pot dressing recipe often. —Donald Seiler, Macon, Mississippihref="https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/stuffing-from-the-slow-cooker/" data-name="get recipe" data-module="content recirculation" data-position="embedded listicles" data-adobe-analytics="true">Go to Recipe
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Amber's Sourdough Stuffing
All my kids and grandkids absolutely love this sourdough stuffing, but especially my daughter-in-law, Amber. I usually make a big batch at Thanksgiving so I will have leftovers for my husband. But this recipe is perfect for two. —Kathy Katz, Ocala, FloridaRice Dressing
This yummy rice mixture is a delightful change from our traditional corn bread dressing. To make it a meal in itself, I sometimes add finely chopped cooked chicken and a little more broth. —Linda Emery, Bearden, ArkansasCranberry Cornmeal Dressing
This moist dressing is perfect when paired with poultry or even pork. The sweet-tart flavor of the dried cranberries really complements the dish's turkey sausage. —Corinne Portteus, Albuquerque, New MexicoSausage and Cornbread Dressing
At our house, we add sausage and a little steak sauce to this cornbread dressing for a meal that warms our cold winter nights. —Mandy Nall, Montgomery, AlabamaRaisin-Studded Apple Stuffing
This is the only stuffing my family will permit on our holiday table. With Italian sausage and a blend of so many great flavors, it's almost a meal in itself. No wonder it won first prize in a local recipe contest! —Teri Lindquist, Gurnee, IllinoisApple-Cranberry Stuffing
I leave out the giblets my mom used in her stuffing and bump up the fruit and wild rice instead. The result is this delicious apple cranberry stuffing. —Miranda Allison, Simpsonville, South CarolinaGrandma's Poultry Dressing
Every family seems to have their own favorite dressing recipe that becomes a tradition, and this is ours. It came from Grandma, who passed it down to my mother. Now our children have carried it into their kitchens. This is truly a good old-fashioned recipe. —Norma Howland, Joliet, IllinoisCornbread Dressing with Oysters
My father's dressing bakes separately from the turkey and is simply delicious. The secret is to prepare the corn bread first, let it cool and then crumble it to form the base for the rest of the ingredients. My father always added oysters to give the dressing a special flavor. —Nell Bass, Macon, GeorgiaCornbread Stuffing
At least 10 of us women made this old-fashioned dressing to feed over 1,500 people at our church's fall festival. Everyone thought it was wonderful. It's the best dressing I've ever made. —Patty Kierce, Weir, TexasFruit & Nut Andouille Stuffing
This special stuffing recipe has been a Thanksgiving tradition with our family for many years. It reminds us of home, family, and all the things that make the holiday season so special. —Kathleen Specht, Clinton, MontanaBacon & Sausage Stuffing
This was inspired by my mother's stuffing recipe. It smells like heaven while you're making it, and people can never seem to get enough. —Stephan-Scott Rugh, Portland, OregonDried Cherry & Sausage Dressing
Apples and dried cherries add a sweet-tart flavor to my homemade stuffing. It makes a holiday dinner memorable. —Connie Boll, Chilton, WisconsinSlow-Cooker Dressing
Here’s an easy dressing that’s perfect for Thanksgiving get-togethers. Once it’s in the slow cooker, you’re free to turn your attention to the other dishes. —Rita Nodland, Bismarck, North DakotaHerbed Apple-Cranberry Bread Dressing
Not all stuffings are created equal. My version of the classic side dish features apples for a sweet crunch and cranberries for a little tartness. —Aysha Schurman, Ammon, IdahoSavory Sausage Stuffing
I used to make the same old dressing every year for Thanksgiving. About 10 years ago, I decided to jazz up my recipe by adding pork sausage. Now everyone requests this dish for all our holiday meals. —Ursula Hernandez, Waltham, MinnesotaSkillet Sausage Stuffing
To make this sausage stuffing, I dressed up a package of stuffing mix with pork sausage, mushrooms, celery and onion. It impressed my in-laws at a family gathering and has since become a popular side dish with my husband and children. —Jennifer Lynn Cullen, Taylor, MichiganSweet Potato Stuffing
Mom likes to make sure there will be enough stuffing to satisfy our large family. For our holiday gatherings, she slow-cooks this tasty sweet potato dressing in addition to the traditional stuffing cooked inside the turkey. —Kelly Pollock, London, OntarioSausage-Herb Dressing
To make time for last-minute Thanksgiving essentials, I prep the sausage part of this recipe a day or two ahead of time, then finish the dressing in my slow cooker on the big day. It has stood the test two years running! —Judy Batson, Tampa, FloridaMake-Ahead Cornbread Dressing
Being from California, my family has always been big veggie eaters. I wanted to share a little taste of home with my in-laws so I created this dish for Thanksgiving. You don't have to let it sit overnight, but it's a nice make ahead Thanksgiving option and the flavors mesh more that way. —Patricia Broussard, Lafayette, LouisianaApple & Apricot Stuffing
I found my stuffing recipe in a magazine years ago and made a few tweaks. I took out the pork sausage, and everyone likes the simpler version that features fruit and veggies. —Jeanne Horn, Duluth, MinnesotaThe post Stuffing vs. Dressing: What’s the Difference? appeared first on Taste of Home.
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