The Great Stuffing Debate!
By: Melissa Peterman
Published: November 18, 2009

First of all, is it called stuffing or dressing?  And do most people actually prefer it cooked in the bird?
Growing up, I've always known it as stuffing and traditionally it was made outside the bird and by one of my aunts and more often than not, it was heavy on the celery. For awhile, I thought stuffing was just okay, not great but good. Then, I tried oyster stuffing and realized I really hadn't been eating what I now consider stuffing. I'm talking about rich, fatty, flavorful stuffing that could be eaten as a main course be itself. call me crazy, but I simply love a good oyster stuffing.
Traditionally what kind of stuffing, or "dressing" do you eat? I'm curious to find out what the norm is?

Other kinds of stuffing I absolutely adore:
Shiitake Mushroom Stuffing- Recipe Girl
Southern Cornbread Dressing by Deep South Dish
Gluten Free Thanksgiving stuffing by Off the Wheaten Path
Not Stuffed Yet? Quick Links to More Stuffing!




Above Photo by Maggie Hoffman

Comments:
Carmel
November 18, 2009

I love stuffing and I've never had it in the bird. My fear would be it would dry out the turkey. Anyway, I used to always just enjoy my mom's simple stuffing and grandma's butter-laden bread stuffing (YUM), but recently I've discovered the joys of cornbread stuffing. I'm not a big cornbread fan, but in stuffing, it can be quite delightful. I had a special at Roux years ago--andouille cornbread stuffing in rabbit--and fell in love. I made a similar stuffing (only spicier!) a few years ago and continue to make variations still.
Lindsay

There is also a version called filling.  My family has been making it for as long as I can remember.  Its made with mostly potatoes as well as bread, onions, celery, and spices.  I believe its a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition (since that is where my family is from).  So my vote is for filling!!
Melissa Peterman

Hi Carmel, 
I've had cornbread stuffing only once and I LOVED it! Thanks again for reminding me about adding sausage too- how could I have forgotten that!?
Tammy

I'm putting kimchi in my stuffing this year. Yum!
Cindy V. Hamilton

So funny!  I just saw the commercial on NBC that mentions this debate.  My family has its own debate--to sage or not to sage!  My grandmother, now in heaven, made the best dressing ever!  As a kid, I did not partake, but when I became an adult, I tried it and mourned the years I had  passed it over at Thanksgiving.  My sister and I have taken up the dressing mantle.  We have gotten close, though not yet cracked Grannie's code.  My vote, by the way, is not to sage!  (Part of the secret is in drowning the ingredients in natural broth before cooking, and cornbread!)
Penny

Stuffing part mine and part my mom.  Bread stuffing with sausage. Dried cranberries, carrot onions and celery, chicken broth and my mom's secret ...cashews!   So good!  Cooked outside the bird
Susan

Being a southern lady,it's cornbread dressing, made with onion, celery, fresh sage and thyme. Homemade chicken or turkey broth cooked in a casserole. Yum
Nancy

I make 5 different stuffings for Thanksgiving. My family looks forward to their favorite one. There's rice,potato,bread,cornbread, and cracker. All are yummy. Can't put them all in the turkey,so I put on my favorite in the bird. Rice....dressing stuffing it's all the same.
MIKEE

TO BEGIN WITH IT IS DRESSING NOT STUFFING. YOU NEVER PUT IT INSIDE THE BIRD.
YOUR DRESSING IS MADE WITH CORNBREAD MADE FROM JIFFY CORNBREAD MIX. THE DRESSING  ALSO CONTAINS ONION, CELERLY, CHOPED UP WATERCHESTNUTS, JIMMY DEEN SAGE RECIPE SAUSAGE AND HOMEMADE TURKEY BROTH.
Erin

We prefer to Stuff the bird After the bird is cooked,
I like a mixed dish, we have a Large family what i do is
4cups Sour dough bread crumbs,4Cups corn bread that has sat a day to dry out, celery onion cooked sausage,parsley, walnuts and raisins and herbs and seasonings for flavor always use chicken broth not water with 3 eggs beaten into it, baked in a dish with a little bit of EVOO This is one of the best Dressing/stuffings ever,been passed down generation to generation