diff --git a/pandas/core/methods/to_dict.py b/pandas/core/methods/to_dict.py
index 71f96b6c8204d..db448574b8fb3 100644
--- a/pandas/core/methods/to_dict.py
+++ b/pandas/core/methods/to_dict.py
@@ -259,7 +259,16 @@ def to_dict(
         columns = df.columns.tolist()
         if are_all_object_dtype_cols:
             return into_c(
-                (t[0], dict(zip(df.columns, map(maybe_box_native, t[1:]), strict=True)))
+                (
+                    t[0],
+                    into_c(
+                        zip(
+                            df.columns,
+                            map(maybe_box_native, t[1:]),
+                            strict=True,
+                        )
+                    ),
+                )
                 for t in df.itertuples(name=None)
             )
         elif box_native_indices:
@@ -267,20 +276,23 @@ def to_dict(
             return into_c(
                 (
                     t[0],
-                    {
-                        column: maybe_box_native(v)
-                        if i in object_dtype_indices_as_set
-                        else v
+                    into_c(
+                        (
+                            column,
+                            maybe_box_native(v)
+                            if i in object_dtype_indices_as_set
+                            else v,
+                        )
                         for i, (column, v) in enumerate(
                             zip(columns, t[1:], strict=True)
                         )
-                    },
+                    ),
                 )
                 for t in df.itertuples(name=None)
             )
         else:
             return into_c(
-                (t[0], dict(zip(columns, t[1:], strict=True)))
+                (t[0], into_c(zip(columns, t[1:], strict=True)))
                 for t in df.itertuples(name=None)
             )
 
diff --git a/pandas/tests/frame/methods/test_to_dict.py b/pandas/tests/frame/methods/test_to_dict.py
index a0a01cc76e47c..c60c9ec916a62 100644
--- a/pandas/tests/frame/methods/test_to_dict.py
+++ b/pandas/tests/frame/methods/test_to_dict.py
@@ -529,6 +529,38 @@ def test_to_dict_tight_no_warning_with_duplicate_column(self):
         }
         assert result == expected
 
+    def test_to_dict_index_into_nested(self):
+        # GH#65778
+        df = DataFrame({"A": [1, 2], "B": ["x", "y"]})
+
+        result = df.to_dict(orient="index", into=OrderedDict)
+        assert isinstance(result, OrderedDict)
+        assert all(isinstance(v, OrderedDict) for v in result.values())
+
+        result = df.to_dict(orient="index", into=defaultdict(dict))
+        assert isinstance(result, defaultdict)
+        assert all(isinstance(v, defaultdict) for v in result.values())
+
+    def test_to_dict_index_into_nested_mixed_dtypes(self):
+        # GH#65778
+        df = DataFrame({"A": [1, 2], "B": ["x", "y"], "C": [1.0, 2.0]})
+
+        result = df.to_dict(orient="index", into=OrderedDict)
+        assert isinstance(result, OrderedDict)
+        assert all(isinstance(v, OrderedDict) for v in result.values())
+        assert result[0] == OrderedDict([("A", 1), ("B", "x"), ("C", 1.0)])
+        assert result[1] == OrderedDict([("A", 2), ("B", "y"), ("C", 2.0)])
+
+    def test_to_dict_index_into_nested_all_object(self):
+        # GH#65778
+        df = DataFrame({"A": ["a", "b"], "B": ["x", "y"]})
+
+        result = df.to_dict(orient="index", into=OrderedDict)
+        assert isinstance(result, OrderedDict)
+        assert all(isinstance(v, OrderedDict) for v in result.values())
+        assert result[0] == OrderedDict([("A", "a"), ("B", "x")])
+        assert result[1] == OrderedDict([("A", "b"), ("B", "y")])
+
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "val", [Timestamp(2020, 1, 1), Timedelta(1), Period("2020"), Interval(1, 2)]