We Know Where You’re From Based On How You Make Your Thanksgiving Stuffing
Updated: Nov. 22, 2023
Whether you call it stuffing, dressing or filling, it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without a hearty helping of warm bread, butter and herbs. Take a trip around the country with these Thanksgiving stuffing recipes.
New England: Oyster Stuffing
While it may sound odd to the rest of the country, it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving in New England without this oyster stuffing recipe. Oyster stuffing is popular all along the Atlantic coast where the seafood is fresh and delicious. If you’d like to spice up your usual oyster stuffing, mussels are another popular addition.
Georgia: Pecan Dressing
If you’re from the South, there is no stuffing to be found on your Thanksgiving table, but you better believe there will be some delicious dressing! This pecan cornbread dressing is quick and easy to prepare, making it the perfect recipe for a big crowd. It’s popular in Georgia where pecan farms are abundant.
South: Cornbread Dressing
If you’re from the South, you probably insist on cornbread dressing every year. This apple cornbread stuffing brings a salty-sweet flavor to your Thanksgiving table. Other delicious additions to your cornbread dressing include sausage, cranberries and herbs.
New York: Cranberry Stuffing
This cranberry pecan stuffing combines all the best tastes of the holidays into one perfect side dish. New Englanders add a twist to traditional stuffing with fresh or dried cranberries. The cranberries add a tang perfect for turkey with just the right amount of sweetness.
Minnesota: Wild Rice Stuffing
Who says you need stale bread to make a great stuffing? This wild rice stuffing recipe is moist, tasty, and will have everyone coming back for seconds. Rice is abundant around the Great Lakes, making it the perfect stuffing base in Minnesota and other Midwestern states.
Don’t forget to fix a hotdish or two when you’re prepping for the holidays.
Louisiana: Andouille Sausage Stuffing
This fruit and nut andouille stuffing will surprise and delight your Thanksgiving guests this year. Take a trip down south with this spicy side dish. Louisiana knows how to seriously up their stuffing flavor with andouille sausage and shellfish.
Pennsylvania: Potato Filling
If you are hosting Thanksgiving this year, go for a simple stuffing perfect for a hungry crowd. This potato stuffing, also known as “potato filling” is the perfect addition to any Thanksgiving table. This stuffing is popular in Pennsylvania Dutch country and combines all your favorite Thanksgiving flavors into one satisfying dish.
Wisconsin: Badger State Stuffing
This Badger state stuffing is the perfect way to spice up an old favorite. Drawing from their German roots, Wisconsinites add some tang to their stuffing with sauerkraut and sourdough bread. Oh, and don’t forget the bacon!
California: Sourdough Stuffing
Californians forgo the typical white bread stuffing for a hearty sourdough instead. Over the years, home chefs from the West took inspiration from traditional stuffings and made their own tangy version perfect for turkey. San Franciscans are especially famous for their savory sourdough stuffing.
New Jersey: Italian Sausage Stuffing
Who doesn’t love sitting around the table with family and delicious Italian dishes? If you’re lucky enough to come from a big Italian family, your stuffing usually includes rich spices and Italian sausage. Made popular in New York and New Jersey, this Italian sausage stuffing will keep your guests coming back year and year.
North Carolina: Chestnut Stuffing
This chestnut stuffing used to be a popular Thanksgiving dish along the East coast until a fungus wiped out the entire crop of chestnut trees. It’s primed for a comeback, and for now, farmers in North Carolina are growing their own chestnut trees that are resistant to that sneaky little fungus.
Originally Published: October 18, 2018
