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Southern Cornbread Dressing Recipe

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Southern Cornbread Dressing is a classic, holiday recipe! Comforting and moist, this side dish is a holiday staple for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Made with an old-fashioned cornbread recipe, and deliciously seasoned with sage, celery and onion, this is the soul food you need this holiday season!

Traditional stuffing side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas in a baking pan

The holidays are crazy for every family and the more you can simplify your holiday meal preparations, the less stressed you will be on the big day. I’ve got a lot of tips and tricks to simplify your holiday preparations, like an easy Turkey recipe that is stress-free and (almost) foolproof.

In this article:
  • What is the difference between cornbread dressing and stuffing?
  • What is Thanksgiving dressing made of?
  • Variations
  • Can you make cornbread dressing ahead of time and refrigerate?
  • How do you make Southern cornbread dressing from scratch?
  • Tips
  • Recipe
  • Other Holiday Recipes:

It may seem easier to grab a bag of stuffing from the store, but after you make this recipe, you’ll never consider making dressing any other way! 

Baking pan of cornbread dressing

What is the difference between cornbread dressing and stuffing?

Cornbread Dressing is a right of passage in the South, and we are serious about the way it is made. While recipes may be similar in some respects, dressing is served on the outside of the bird – in a casserole dish – and stuffing is served from inside of the bird.

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What is Thanksgiving dressing made of?

There are many versions of Thanksgiving dressing recipes. But this version includes a combination of cornbread, vegetables, seasonings, and chicken broth.

They all work together to create a super tender casserole-style side dish.

Variations

Depending on the region the cook is from they may add or substitute certain ingredients. I’m a dressing purist so I stick to my basic recipe! I can’t vouch for how these turn out, but here are some ideas I’ve heard of.

Here are a few other variations:

  • Hard-Boiled Eggs
  • Chicken
  • Sausage
  • Oysters
  • Apples and Cranberries
  • Pecans or walnuts

If you choose to add a variation, stick to about 1-2 cups of the extra ingredient. 

Can you make cornbread dressing ahead of time and refrigerate?

Yes! And I would encourage you to plan ahead and do so. In fact, this recipe recommends you make the dressing, then let it sit for at least 8 hours in the fridge for all of the flavors to marry. I prefer overnight. 

Another make ahead side dish is my Kentucky Bourbon Cranberry Sauce. It’s tangy and pairs well with all the savory dishes. Make my sauteed green beans with almonds for another tasty side.

How do you make Southern cornbread dressing from scratch?

Step 1: Make a pan of cornbread & dry breadcrumbs.

To keep it simple, I follow my Martha White cornbread recipe and instructions. Make sure you do this at least 24 hours before the remaining steps. 

After you bake your cornbread, allow it to cool in the pan. Then, transfer it to a large mixing bowl and break up the cornbread. 

To the same bowl, add in three cups of soft bread crumbs. 

For the soft breadcrumbs: There is a great debate as to what kind of “soft” bread crumbs you should use: biscuits, loaf bread, sourdough – the list goes on!

Frankly, I’ve never noticed a difference. Just tear or grate, and place in the bowl with your cornbread for one day.

Ideas for soft bread crumbs:

  • stale hot dog buns
  • ciabatta bread
  • loaf bread

Allow the breads to sit out overnight to dry out.

Step 2: Sauté Vegetables

Melt the butter in a large skillet and sauté the onion and celery until softened, about 10-12 minutes. Add in the sage. Then, transfer to the bowl of stale bread crumbs.

Step 3: Mix remaining ingredients.

To the bowl of bread crumbs and vegetables, add in the 8 cups of chicken broth and stir until well-combined. I like to use homemade broth but store bought is just fine.

Then, add in the 4 whisked eggs.

Step 4: Allow it to rest overnight.

Cover and place the container in the fridge overnight. You can also make this weeks ahead of time and freeze.

Step 5: Bake.

Pour the mixture into one 9×13 and one 8×8 casserole dish and bake at 375 for about 1-2 hours. The smaller casserole dish may finish before the 9×13. 

The casserole is done when the top is firm and bread-like.

Tips

  • When adding eggs to the bowl, make sure your bread mixture has cooled so the eggs do not scramble when added to the bowl. Using refrigerated chicken broth will help, too.
  • I like to mix my dressing in the same container I freeze and store my dressing in. I use a 4 liter Tupperware container. 
  • Begin “collecting” random ends of bread before November. I drop heals of sandwich bread, burger buns, etc. into a freezer bag all year round. Then, use them for “soft” bread crumbs.
  • Make the dressing several weeks in advance and freeze. Give yourself 2-3 days to thaw before baking.

Recipe

Traditional stuffing side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas in a baking pan

Southern Cornbread Dressing

Anna Kate
Southern Cornbread Dressing is a holiday classic! Comforting and moist, this side dish is a holiday staple for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Made with an old-fashioned cornbread recipe, and deliciously seasoned with sage, celery and onion, this is the soul food you need this holiday season!
5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 2 hrs
Additional Time 8 hrs
Total Time 10 hrs 30 mins
Course Holiday Recipes
Cuisine American
Calories 471 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • Stale cornbread
  • 3 cups soft stale breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 2 medium onions diced (2 cups)
  • 1 bunch celery diced (3 cups)
  • 1 tbsp dried, rubbed sage
  • 4 eggs lightly beaten
  • 8 cups cans of chicken broth (64 ounces or 6 10.5 ounce cans)
  • 1 tbsp black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Make cornbread according to cornmeal package. Crumble and set aside with stale breadcrumbs for 1 day.
  • Melt 1/2 cup of butter in large skillet over medium heat; add onions, celery and saute until tender.
  • Stir in sage and sauté for one more minute.
  • In a large storage container, stir in vegetables, remaining 4 eggs, chicken broth and pepper into cornbread mixture.
  • Allow mixture to "set" in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours or overnight.
  • Pour mixture into one lightly greased 9×13 casserole dish and one 8×8 casserole dish.
  • Bake the uncovered, thawed mixture at 375F degrees for about 2 hours or until golden brown.

Notes

**Please see table of contents and tips section in the above article for the full explanation of this recipe.
Keyword Cornbread Dressing, Holiday, Side Dish

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tawnie says

    November 1, 2018 at 5:15 pm

    5 stars
    Mmmm I cant wait to make this for the holidays!

    Reply
  2. Susie says

    November 2, 2018 at 1:44 am

    5 stars
    This sounds amazing! I usually make traditional bread stuffing, but I might need to try corn bread dressing this year

    Reply
  3. Emily Bruno says

    November 3, 2018 at 2:03 am

    5 stars
    My grandmother’s cornbread dressing is one of the things I look forward to the most every holiday. Love this!!

    Reply
  4. Jamie says

    October 19, 2019 at 1:57 am

    The recipe looks good but just curious why you use stock photos on all your recipes. Why not use your original photos to match your recipe?

    Reply
    • Anna Kate says

      October 19, 2019 at 9:55 am

      Hi Jamie!! When I first published this post, I was working full time and didn’t have the time (or skills) to take photos. Also, this recipe isn’t the easiest to shoot. BUT, that is a big goal for me in 2020 to go back through and shoot all of these recipes.

      That being said, this recipe is delicious and has been in my family for so long! Tried and true for sure. Let me know if you have any other questions. Enjoy the recipe!!!

      Reply
    • Annette Farkas says

      December 1, 2019 at 9:19 am

      I accidentally deleted your original recipe I had saved, which gave directions for baking the cornbread from scratch, buttermilk and all. Because of the original date being too old the computer immediately deleted it. Could you would you send me the original recipe from start to finish? We love it and the fact that the original recipe was for 16-18 made it all that more perfect!! I have spent the last five days (today is Dec 1)searching for the recipe on line in the hopes that I could find it and I am thrilled that I did. Even just part of it.

      Reply
      • Anna Kate says

        December 2, 2019 at 8:29 am

        Hi Annette,

        Here is the link to the cornbread recipe. After you make the cornbread, allow it to go stale by sitting on the counter, then follow the dressing recipe above. Let me know if you have any questions!

        Reply
  5. Christian says

    November 17, 2020 at 8:15 pm

    Hi, how many servings & do you have a homemade chuck broth recipe?

    Reply

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