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How do you refer to the classic Thanksgiving side made from crusty bread, broth, and possibly some vegetables? The answer varies significantly across the United States.
Stuffing or dressing? It all boils down to regional preferences.
Using data from Google Trends, we explored how Thanksgiving traditions shape the terminology used across different states when it comes to their favorite bread-based side dish.
Key Insights
- Stuffing is nearly twice as popular as dressing in terms of overall search volume across the U.S.
- At the state level, 36 states show a preference for stuffing, while only 14 lean towards dressing.
- While boxed stuffing from well-known brands like Pepperidge Farm and Kraft is widely available, finding boxed dressing is a rare endeavor.
- However, the best dressing often comes from cherished family recipes passed down from generations.
- Mississippi ranks first for dressing, followed closely by Alabama and Louisiana.
- Southern states predominantly favor dressing, with some western states joining the trend.
- In the Northeast, the concept of dressing seems to be less familiar.
- Connecticut and Maine are notable for their love of stuffing.
- Filling, a less popular alternative to stuffing and dressing, is not favored by any state, though Maine shows the most inclination towards it.
Top 10 States Favoring Dressing
Top 10 States Favoring Stuffing
- Maine
- Connecticut
- Pennsylvania
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Montana
- Alaska
- Oregon
Continue scrolling to discover where your state stands on the stuffing versus dressing spectrum.
How We Determined This
By utilizing Google Trends, we analyzed the terminology used across states for the Thanksgiving bread side dish.
We also included the less common term “filling,” though it didn’t gain much traction compared to the more popular terms.
This analysis focused on search data collected in November 2023, reflecting the current preferences and cooking trends.
As expected, search volume for all terms peaks on Thanksgiving Day when people are searching for “how to make…” various dishes.
Hopefully, their shopping lists were prepared in advance to avoid any last-minute scrambles for ingredients.
To Stuff Or Not To Stuff
While stuffing clearly reigns supreme in popularity, dressing has its loyal followers.
In terms of recipes, stuffing and dressing are quite similar. As someone with a Southern granny, I can vouch for their deliciousness.
So, whether you call it stuffing, dressing, filling, or whatever else, just say yes if someone offers you any of these dishes—it’s sure to be a treat.
Thanksgiving remains a cherished day off for many, allowing families to come together and enjoy delightful meals, truly putting the “thanks” in Thanksgiving.
See Also: Food Holidays In November
Stuffing Vs. Dressing: From Most Stuffing To Least
| State | Stuffing Or Dressing? |
|---|---|
| Maine | Stuffing |
| Connecticut | Stuffing |
| Pennsylvania | Stuffing |
| Massachusetts | Stuffing |
| New Jersey | Stuffing |
| New Hampshire | Stuffing |
| Rhode Island | Stuffing |
| Montana | Stuffing |
| Alaska | Stuffing |
| Oregon | Stuffing |
| Colorado | Stuffing |
| Delaware | Stuffing |
| Maryland | Stuffing |
| Utah | Stuffing |
| New York | Stuffing |
| California | Stuffing |
| Vermont | Stuffing |
| North Dakota | Stuffing |
| Hawaii | Stuffing |
| Washington | Stuffing |
| Idaho | Stuffing |
| Arizona | Stuffing |
| Wisconsin | Stuffing |
| West Virginia | Stuffing |
| Virginia | Stuffing |
| Nevada | Stuffing |
| New Mexico | Stuffing |
| Illinois | Stuffing |
| Ohio | Stuffing |
| Minnesota | Stuffing |
| Wyoming | Stuffing |
| Michigan | Stuffing |
| Iowa | Stuffing |
| Florida | Stuffing |
| South Dakota | Stuffing |
| Nebraska | Stuffing |
| Kansas | Dressing |
| North Carolina | Dressing |
| Indiana | Dressing |
| Missouri | Dressing |
| Kentucky | Dressing |
| Oklahoma | Dressing |
| Texas | Dressing |
| South Carolina | Dressing |
| Tennessee | Dressing |
| Georgia | Dressing |
| Arkansas | Dressing |
| Louisiana | Dressing |
| Alabama | Dressing |
| Mississippi | Dressing |
Author
Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.
