This Is the Most-Searched Thanksgiving Stuffing In Every State
Updated: Jan. 29, 2024
The most searched for Thanksgiving stuffing in your state may be surprising.
Thanksgiving dinner is the highlight of the year for a foodie, but there’s a whole lot that goes into planning the menu. From how to cook the turkey to what sides to offer, to serving the perfect Thanksgiving dessert, there are many different directions to go in when planning your feast.
But regardless of where you are and how you celebrate Thanksgiving, stuffing is likely one of the stars of the meal. There are many stuffing recipes out there to choose from—and in some cases, you might be searching for the best dressing recipe instead. Whether you call it stuffing or dressing largely depends on what part of the country you’re from. And as it turns out, there are regional trends for how we like to prepare our stuffing, too.
The Most-Searched Stuffing Recipes
Google Trends recently shared a map of 2022’s most uniquely searched Thanksgiving stuffing variation by state. There are some undeniable trends, as meat-based stuffings are more popular in 17 states, while cornbread dressing reigns supreme in 15 states.
Which Stuffing Recipes Stood Out?
So, what kinds of recipes do each state search for when cooking this classic Thanksgiving accompaniment?
- Cornbread stuffing: This is a favorite in 15 states, including Maine, Texas and Oregon. As cornbread goes so well with BBQ, it’s not surprising that Texans would appreciate the ingredient.
- Sausage stuffing: From Massachusetts to good old New York City, sausage seems the way to go. We like ours with pork sausage, celery, sage and fresh mushrooms.
- Italian stuffing: There’s probably a Sopranos reference in this, but in New Jersey, Italian stuffing is the most popular. It’s also very popular in the midwest. Italian sausage is the main star of this Thanksgiving dish.
- Oyster stuffing: This old-fashioned seafood side dish is popular in many states, including South Carolina, Missouri and Kansas.
- Jell-O stuffing: This is bizarre and something we’ve never heard of, but apparently Oklahoma is rather into it.We’re guessing home cooks are actually searching for a strawberry Jell-O dessert.
- Turkey fruit stuffing: Is Connecticut used to mixing sweet with savory? Seems so, as they search for turkey fruit stuffing. We love this recipe for Fruit & Nut Andouille Stuffing which is chock full of dried fruit and sausage links.
- Keto cauliflower stuffing: Apparently, North Dakota is on something of a health kick! If you’re looking for a healthy alternative this holiday, check out these low-carb Thanksgiving recipes.
Here’s the full list of uniquely searched stuffings from each state:
- Alabama: Cornbread dressing
- Alaska: Sausage stuffing
- Arizona: Turkey stuffing
- Arkansas: Cornbread dressing
- California: Turkey stuffing
- Colorado: Sausage cornbread stuffing
- Connecticut: Turkey fruit stuffing
- Delaware: Ground sausage stuffing
- Florida: Cornbread stuffing
- Georgia: Cornbread dressing
- Hawaii: Jalapeno cheese stuffing
- Idaho: Italian sausage stuffing
- Illinois: Sage dressing
- Indiana: Cranberry stuffing
- Iowa: Cornbread stuffing
- Kansas: Oyster stuffing
- Kentucky: Soul food stuffing
- Louisiana: Cornbread dressing
- Maine: Cornbread stuffing
- Maryland: Turkey stuffing
- Massachusetts: Sausage stuffing
- Michigan: Cornbread dressing
- Minnesota: Cornmeal dressing
- Mississippi: Cornbread dressing
- Missouri: Oyster dressing
- Montana: Herb andouille sausage sage stuffing
- Nebraska: Italian stuffing
- Nevada: Stuffing wrapped in bacon
- New Hampshire: Turkey stuffing
- New Jersey: Italian dressing
- New Mexico: Cornbread dressing
- New York: Sausage stuffing
- North Carolina: Sausage dressing
- North Dakota: Keto cauliflower stuffing
- Ohio: Cornbread stuffing
- Oklahoma: Red Jell-O stuffing
- Oregon: Cornbread dressing
- Pennsylvania: Stuffing with raisins
- Rhode Island: French dressing
- South Carolina: Oyster dressing
- South Dakota: Sausage stuffing
- Tennessee: Cornbread dressing
- Texas: Cornbread dressing
- Utah: Stuffing with Greek yogurt
- Vermont: Sage dressing
- Virginia: Sausage stuffing
- Washington: Stuffing with apples
- Washington D.C.: Country bread stuffing
- West Virginia: Cornbread dressing
- Wisconsin: Turkey stuffing
- Wyoming: Savory herb stuffing
Whether you are a traditionalist or like to go a bit edgier, Thanksgiving stuffing seems to be on a lot of plates. Here’s what you need to add to your Thanksgiving shopping list.
Stuffing Recipes to Try
Badger State StuffingThe contrasting sweet, savory and slightly tart flavors in this Thanksgiving classic are what make it so special. Bacon, fruit and sauerkraut give the stuffing a strong and memorable taste.
Pecan-Cornbread DressingUsing cornbread stuffing mix cuts down on the time it takes to prep this smoky stuffing. Bacon and pecans give it a savory and sweet mix that'll perfectly complement your other Thanksgiving dishes.
Savory Zucchini Bread PuddingThis stuffing hits all the best flavor notes; savory, sweet and cheesy. Canned pumpkin and cinnamon work to make an aromatic and colorful dish.
Hearty Rice DressingThe creamy beef and pork dish packs just the right amount of heat. With 50 servings, you're going to want to invite everyone you know to dinner. Or cut the recipe in half!
Oyster StuffingBeef and pork stuffings are tried and true, but if you're looking to switch things up a bit this year, this is the recipe for you. Oyster lovers can leave them whole instead of chopping them up.
Slow Cooker Bacon-Mushroom DressingThis stuffing cooks in the slow cooker while the turkey's in the oven. It uses two types of prepackaged mix: cornbread and seasoned cubes.
Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potato StuffingNo gravy is required for this creamy mashed potato stuffing. This dressing is the combination of the two best Thanksgiving side dishes with some great add-ons like bacon and mushrooms.
Traditional Holiday StuffingYou can't beat the classics. Sausage and sage add a gourmet taste to this classic stuffing.
Wild Rice StuffingUse up your giblets in this buttery rice stuffing. It soaks up all the best flavors of your turkey and only bakes for 30 minutes.
Slow Cooker Mushroom StuffingPut your slow cooker to work! This herby mushroom stuffing is vegetarian for any guests that require it.
“Everything” StuffingThis stuffing really does have it all. From the earthiness of the mushrooms to the sweetness of the apples, you get every flavor profile without overshadowing any of them.
Grandma’s Cornbread DressingThis creamy chicken-flavored dressing is pillow-soft. You can chop up your Thanksgiving meat of choice into the dish.
Amber’s Sourdough StuffingSourdough is a nice change of pace from your usual prepackaged stuffing mixes. The natural tang blends nicely with the mushrooms and celery. This stuffing is great for a small night in, or you can double it for a larger crowd.
Cranberry Cornmeal DressingThis sweet and tart dressing is perfect when paired with poultry or even pork. The dried cranberries really complement the dish's turkey sausage.
Raisin-Studded Apple StuffingRaisins and tart apples adorn this satisfying sausage stuffing. With the soft bread and crisp apples, you'll forget about the other side dishes entirely.
Apple-Cranberry StuffingFruit and wild rice make this sweet and tart dressing just a bit earthy. You can use any type of apple, but Granny Smith yields great results.
Cornbread Dressing with OystersThis hard-boiled egg and oyster dressing is not short on flavor. It cooks separately from the turkey, since cooking stuffing inside the turkey can be dangerous.
Cornbread StuffingIf you're from the South, you might get the appeal of a hard-boiled egg stuffing. While other dressings have sausage, and even oysters, this one has chicken for a nice classic taste.
Fruit & Nut Andouille StuffingThis six-ingredient stuffing utilizes seasoned cubes. With mixed fruit and pork sausage, everything's thrown together really easily for a big flavor payout.
Slow-Cooker DressingThis very simple dressing is made with ingredients you probably already have on hand. Use unseasoned cubes so you can season them to your liking. Once it’s in the slow cooker, you’re free to turn your attention to the other sides.
Herbed Apple-Cranberry Bread DressingApples give a nice crunch to this stuffing while applesauce and orange juice pack on the sweetness. This breadcrumb dressing is soft and takes in a lot of flavor.
Skillet Sausage StuffingThere's nothing easier than a skillet stuffing. The savory dish comes together in under a half hour which gives you more time to focus on your day. To make this sausage stuffing, you dress up a package of stuffing mix with pork sausage, mushrooms, celery and onion.
Sweet Potato StuffingSweet potatoes find their way to most Thanksgiving tables. This slow cooker dressing breathes new life into the starch. It's versatile and able to withstand adding your family's favorite ingredients to the mix.
Mushroom StuffingA hearty cornbread mix combines with mushrooms and bacon for a spectacular result. This dressing is creamy and soft.
Apple & Apricot StuffingThis fruit and veggie stuffing is both sweet and tart. The apricots give it a nice orange coloring that will brighten your Thanksgiving table.
Originally Published: November 21, 2022
