One of the most controversial Thanksgiving dishes is stuffing. People seem to either love it, hate it, or defend it as the perfect holiday side. CivicScience data collected over the last few years show that 19% of Americans say stuffing is ‘over-rated,’ 29% insist it’s ‘under-rated,’ and 45% believe it’s properly rated. These numbers have remained relatively stable, revealing that Americans hold firm, long-standing opinions about this classic side dish.

Younger Americans aged 18-29 have the strongest opinions – they over-index in both saying it’s overrated and under-rated, whereas a near majority of those 45-64 and two-thirds of those 65+ say it’s properly rated. Other demographic data show that men and women are nearly equally likely to have the same thoughts on stuffing; low-income households are most likely to say it’s overrated, and city dwellers also lead in saying it’s over- or underrated. Additionally, those who reside in the Western U.S. are most likely to think it’s overrated.  

But demographics aren’t the only thing shaping Americans’ feelings about stuffing – here’s what sets them apart:

Hosting Thanksgiving: Those who say stuffing is underrated are noticeably more likely to take on hosting duties this year. About 34% plan to host Thanksgiving, compared to 28% of those who believe stuffing is overrated, suggesting that fans of the dish may also embrace a bigger role in holiday traditions.

Favorite Season: Seasonal preferences also reveal a divide. Americans who call stuffing overrated are the most likely to say summer is their favorite season, leaning toward warmer weather and outdoor months. Meanwhile, those who say stuffing is underrated are far more likely to choose fall as their favorite – perhaps a sign of stronger connections to autumn flavors and holiday foods.

Turkey Eating: Interestingly, people who think stuffing is overrated tend to eat turkey more frequently throughout the year. Over one-third of this group reports eating turkey at least weekly, compared to those who say stuffing is underrated, who are less likely to consume it as often. This suggests that stuffing opinions don’t necessarily align with general holiday food habits.

Thinking About the Holidays: Holiday enthusiasm differs as well. Thirty-five percent of those who feel stuffing is overrated say they’re looking forward to the holidays “a lot” right now, compared to just 21% of those who consider stuffing underrated. It’s a surprising split that shows stuffing sentiment doesn’t always match overall holiday excitement..