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    Home » Amish Recipes

    Pennsylvania Dutch Potato Filling Recipe

    11/08/2021 by Anna 5 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Potato Filling

    Pennsylvania Dutch potato filling is a side dish that is made with a combination of mashed potatoes and bread stuffing.

    It's a traditional PA Dutch holiday dish and seems to be Pennsylvania's most-searched-for Thanksgiving side dish recipe.

    PA Dutch potato filling

    Growing up in PA, potato bread filling was a common side dish. Although honestly, we usually served mashed potatoes with our holiday meals. And truth be told, mashed potatoes were the number one side dish served with most of our meals.

    We grew enough potatoes to last all year. So it was a very cheap and easy dish to make, and they are loved by all. Click on this link for my Creamy Mashed Potatoes Recipe.

    But sometimes it is nice to switch things up a little. And this Amish potato filling is a great side to serve with your ham or turkey for a holiday meal.

    It can easily be made a day or even two days in advance. And that helps to take off some of the pressure of getting your holiday meal to the table.

    Stuffing, Dressing, Filling, or Mashed Potato Filling - What's the Difference?

    Recently I noticed several posts within my different Facebook groups questioning the difference between filling, stuffing, or dressing.

    I believe that stuffing and dressing are the same things. Both of these are usually bread-based dishes with roughly the same ingredients. And some people also call it filling.

    Of course, the recipes vary a lot, depending on what your family likes or what part of the country you are from.

    And stuffing is typically referred to as the dressing that gets stuffed inside the turkey. While dressing may be served in a casserole dish.

    Lancaster County Amish Stuffing

    The Amish in Lancaster County serve the turkey and dressing together as one dish. Find my Amish Chicken Roast recipe here. And one turkey can feed a large group of people because they serve it mixed with lots of stuffing.

    My Amish mom used to make a giant bowl full of dressing, and she stuffed the turkey with some of it. When it was done baking, she removed the meat from the bones. Then the turkey, the stuffing, and the remaining dressing all got mixed together.

    So, I think it's safe to say that dressing and stuffing are technically the same things. And we used the words stuffing, filling, and dressing interchangeably for this bread-based side dish.

    However, potato filling is a completely different dish, in my opinion.

    While Pennsylvania Dutch mashed potato filling is also made with bread stuffing and has a lot of the same ingredients, it is a potato side dish.

    Potato filling is a potato-based dish instead of a bread-based dish.

    stuffing ingredients for potato filling
    stuffing ingredients

    How to make Potato Filling, PA Dutch Recipe

    To make homemade potato filling, start by cutting your bread slices into little cubes (about the size of croutons). You can let them sit out to dry overnight. Or toast them in the oven until they are slightly browned.

    Peel, cut, and boil the potatoes until soft.

    Meanwhile, melt the butter and cook it over medium-low heat until it is slightly browned.

    Finely chop the onion and celery (I use my Ninja chopper to do this). Add the onion and celery to the brown butter and cook the vegetables for 10-15 minutes. Allow this to cool slightly. Add the eggs, seasonings, and milk and stir to combine.

    Mash the potatoes until no chunks are remaining. Add the butter/vegetable mixture and the bread cubes. And if it seems too dry, add more milk to create the desired consistency.

    Mix well. Then place it into a buttered casserole dish and bake.

    Serve with turkey, ham, pork roast, or anything else you think would go well with Pennsylvania Dutch potato filling. And I like to drizzle gravy over the top as well.

    This PA Dutch potato filling recipe is a great side dish to serve for your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

    a plate with Pennsylvania potato filling,ham,and green beans

    More Thanksgiving Recipes to try...

    The Best Cranberry Salad Recipe

    Amish Pumpkin Custard Pie Recipe

    Creamy Amish Pecan Pie Recipe

    Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

    Coleslaw Dressing Recipe

    Food chopper...

    As you probably know by now, I use my Ninja chopper all the time! It's one of my most-used kitchen gadgets. So I'm adding a link where you can buy yourself one, in case you don't have any.

    AMAZON DISCLOSURE: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. So if you click on the link to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you.

    If you enjoy this potato stuffing/filling dish, leave me a star rating and comment below. I love to hear from you.

    Pennsylvania potato filling

    Pennsylvania Dutch Potato Filling Recipe

    PA Dutch Potato filling is a delicious side dish made of mashed potatoes and bread stuffing. A popular Thanksgiving side dish in Pennsylvania.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 35 mins
    Cook Time 40 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 15 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Amish
    Servings 10 people
    Calories 297 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 7 - 8 slices bread, cut into small cubes (about 1 quart)
    • 6 medium/large potatoes (4 - 5 c. mashed)
    • 6 Tbs. butter, browned
    • 5 celery ribs
    • 1 medium onion
    • 2 large eggs, beaten
    • 1/2 c. milk
    • 3/4 tsp. seasoned salt
    • 3/4 tsp. salt
    • 3/4 tsp. pepper
    • garlic powder, parsely, and sage to taste, optional

    Instructions
     

    • Cut bread slices into small cubes and let sit out to dry overnight. Or toast them in the oven until lightly browned.
      7 - 8 slices bread, cut into small cubes (about 1 quart)
    • Peel, cut, and boil potatoes in water until soft. Drain the water and mash with a mixer until smooth.
      6 medium/large potatoes (4 - 5 c. mashed)
    • In a saucepan, melt the butter and continue cooking until lightly browned. (It will be caramel in color and have a wonderful nutty aroma.)
      6 Tbs. butter, browned
    • Finely chop the onion and celery (I use my Ninja chopper). Add them to the browned butter and cook for 10 - 15 minutes.
      5 celery ribs, 1 medium onion
    • Add the beaten eggs, milk, and seasonings to the slightly cooled butter mixture.
      2 large eggs, beaten, 1/2 c. milk, 3/4 tsp. seasoned salt, 3/4 tsp. salt, 3/4 tsp. pepper, garlic powder, parsely, and sage to taste, optional
    • Add the egg/butter mixture to the mashed potatoes. Mix well. Then stir in the bread cubes.
    • Grease a casserole dish with butter and fill it with the potato filling. You can bake this immediately or cool and refrigerate for the next day.
    • Bake, covered, at 350° for 30 minutes. Uncover, and continue baking for another 10 minutes.
    • Drizzle with additional brown butter, or serve with gravy.
    • Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container and reheat them to serve. Leftover potato filling should be good for up to five days.

    Notes

    If you prefer a very moist filling, you can add extra milk or broth to get the consistency that you desire.
    This is a great holiday side dish to serve with turkey or ham and gravy.
    And honestly, you can mix these ingredients together in whatever order you want. Sometimes I mix my stuffing the day before, than just mix it in with the mashed potatoes before baking.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servingCalories: 297kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 9gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 52mgSodium: 592mgPotassium: 670mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 291IUVitamin C: 26mgCalcium: 99mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword Amish potato filling, Pennsylvania Dutch Potato Filling Recipe, Thanksgiving side dish
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Check out my YouTube channel at My Amish Heritage

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lynn Pernezny

      November 22, 2022 at 4:35 pm

      5 stars
      This is essentially the same recipe I learned from my mother and grandmother, except with actual quantities 😄 My mom and dad would always have a big discussion about eggs/no eggs—they would include eggs in the end, and I always do. No other stuffing compares.

      Reply
    2. EA Mullinax

      November 21, 2022 at 7:46 pm

      5 stars
      This is basically the same recipe that’s been handed down for generations except a few things. No eggs, sautéed onions in butter with parsley, finely diced raw celery went into mashed potatoes, and used evaporated milk.

      Reply
    3. Todd

      November 19, 2022 at 2:43 pm

      That is close to PA Dutch Filling but the process and cooking is not even close..

      Reply
      • Anna

        November 25, 2022 at 1:25 pm

        Can you explain?

        Reply
    4. Susan Smith

      November 13, 2021 at 2:43 pm

      We prefer it without the celery, but other than that, I have been making this as long as I can remember (and I am old haha)

      Reply

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    Hi, I’m Anna. I grew up Amish in the Lancaster County, Pa. area (the heart of Amish country). I currently live in a small rural town in Missouri and am a homeschool mom to 4 great kids. Some of my favorite things to do are spending time in the kitchen, (baking and preparing meals from scratch), gardening, and spending time with my lovely family.

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