Southern Cornbread Dressing Recipe (2024)

· 26 Comments

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

A traditional Southern Cornbread Dressing recipe perfectly seasoned with onions, celery, and sage. Makes a delicious addition to every holiday table.

Southern Cornbread Dressing Recipe (1)

Southern Cornbread Dressing

Southern cornbread dressing is easy to make, but so delicious and makes the perfect addition to the holiday table.

In my Midwestern family, we almost always make my grandma's stuffing for the holidays. But lately I've been embracing my husband's southern roots, so I wanted to give this Southern classic a try. (You can read more about the difference between stuffing and dressing here, if you're curious.)

I have to say, this may be my new favorite holiday dish. (Don't tell my family!) I'm definitely bringing it to my hubby's family Thanksgiving.

Southern cornbread dressing is moist, more like a casserole than the stuff you get it in a box. It's also savory and perfectly seasoned with onions, celery, and sage.

What Kind of Cornbread Do You Use for Southern Cornbread Dressing?

The right cornbread makes all the difference in southern cornbread dressing.

Good cornbread = good dressing.

So it's really important that you use the right cornbread for your dressing.

Good southern cornbread means a salty savory cornbread. Not sweet. Closer to sandwich bread in it's flavor than to the boxed mix cornbread. Plus, slightly crispy edges are a must to give it a little extra color and flavor.

This Southern Skillet Cornbread recipe is what I always use, and it's just perfect for this dressing. Make it, and cut it into 8 slices about two days before you plan to make the dressing.

Southern Cornbread Dressing Recipe (2)

Can Southern Cornbread Dressing be Made Ahead of Time?

Yes, you can! Southern Cornbread Dressing is a great make ahead dish!

To make ahead, prepare dressing according to recipe instructions. Don't bake. Instead, cover and refrigerate for up to 2-3 days.

Then just bake on the big day. You may need to add 5-10 minutes to the usual baking time, due to starting with a cold dish.

Alternately, you can prepare the recipe without baking up to 3 months in advance, and cover and freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator the night before, then bake.

More Holiday Recipes You'll Love

  • Southern Corn Pudding - one of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving and something we make every year!
  • Southern Pecan Pie - family favorite! Super easy recipe for a sweet classic.
  • Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce - simple recipe for classic cranberry sauce with a sweet maple twist.
  • Sweet Potato Casserole - a side dish so delicious, you'll think it's dessert!
  • Creamy Fried Confetti Corn - creamy corn fried with bacon, onions, and pepper makes a rich side that everyone loves.
  • See All Thanksgiving Recipes and Ideas

Southern Cornbread Dressing Video

Southern Cornbread Dressing Recipe (3)

Southern Cornbread Dressing

A traditional Southern Cornbread Dressing recipe perfectly seasoned with onions, celery, and sage. Makes a delicious addition to every holiday table.

5 from 24 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Cornbread Dressing, Southern Cornbread Dressing

Prep Time: 45 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 310kcal

Author: Michelle

Ingredients

  • 1 batch Southern cornbread crumbled
  • 8 tablespoons butter
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 4 celery ribs chopped
  • teaspoons dried sage
  • 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 bread slices toasted and crumbled
  • ½ cup milk
  • 3 eggs lightly beaten
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons butter

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9"x13" baking dish, and set aside.

  • In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt 8 tablespoons butter.

  • Add onions and celery to skillet and sautee until tender.

  • Stir in poultry seasoning, sage, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat, and set aside.

  • In a large mixing bowl, add cornbread crumbles and toast crumbles. Stir in chicken broth.

  • Add onion mixture to cornbread mixture, and stir to combine. Test seasoning now and adjust as necessary.

  • In a separate bowl, whisk together milk and eggs. Pour into dressing mixture and stir to combine.

  • Transfer dressing mixture to prepared baking dish, and spread gently and evenly.

  • Cut the remaining 2 tablespoons butter into small slivers and scatter on top of the dressing.

  • Bake for about 30-40 minutes, or until browned on the top.

Notes

Nutrition facts include cornbread from the recipe linked.

  • Make the cornbread at least one day before (or up to 3 days). Let the cornbread sit out, uncovered to get a little stale. Then crumble before adding it to the recipe.
  • Use this recipe to make your cornbread. And DO NOT add sugar or honey. Regardless of your feelings on sweetened cornbread, it should not be sweetened for dressing.
  • Add all of the seasoning before you add the eggs. This way you can test the seasoning and more of anything you need to.
  • Dressing mixture should be very moist, but not soupy. If your dressing mixture is not wet all the way through after adding all ingredients, add an additional ½ cup of broth.
  • Make Ahead Instructions: Prepare dressing as instructed in the recipe, without baking. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days before baking.
  • Freezer Instructions: prepare without baking. Then cover, label, and freeze for up 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking.
  • Storage: Store baked dressing covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 310kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 112mg | Sodium: 711mg | Potassium: 300mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 627IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 109mg | Iron: 2mg

Did you make this recipe?I love seeing your creations. Snap a quick photo and mention @TheGraciousWife or tag #thegraciouswife on Instagram! Leave a STAR rating below!

Never Miss a Thing!

Join our newsletter to get new recipes, tips, tricks, and tutorials every week!

Southern Cornbread Dressing Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep cornbread dressing from getting gummy? ›

Stir occasionally to ensure even drying. And if your dressing is still too mushy after baking, you can add more crumbled cornbread, dry bread, or even dry breadcrumbs or croutons to absorb excess moisture. Mix it in gently, so you don't compress the dressing too much.

How to make Paula Deen cornbread dressing? ›

In a large bowl, whisk together broth, soup, eggs, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper; stir in vegetable mixture. Crumble cornbread into broth mixture and stir until well combined. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Bake until center is set, 45 to 55 minutes.

Why is my cornbread dressing mushy? ›

If your cornbread dressing is mushy, be sure you baked it in a wide enough pan. Plenty of surface area will help the top crisp and the bottom bake completely. Also, be sure you measured your ingredients properly and didn't add too much liquid.

Is it OK to make cornbread dressing ahead of time? ›

You can refrigerate the cornbread dressing in an airtight container if you want to use it within the next three to four days. Before refrigerating, make sure to let it cool to room temperature.

Is it better to use broth or stock for dressing? ›

You can use either stock or broth for keeping dressing moist or as a basis for gravy, but a strong flavor will give you better results.

What is the difference between cornbread and Southern cornbread? ›

She notes that Northern cornbread is sweeter, lighter, and more cake-like than Southern cornbread. Not surprisingly, it includes sugar (or molasses, in the earlier centuries), unlike traditional Southern cornbread.

How wet should dressing be before baking? ›

You want your stuffing moist but not soggy and certainly not dry. The bread in the stuffing absorbs moisture, but if it's dry (as it should be, see above), it takes some time for the liquid to settle in. I suggest adding a little at a time, say 1 cup of broth for every 4 cups of dry mix.

Why is my cornbread dressing bland? ›

Avoid bland dressing by making sure to include plenty of onions, celery, and herbs in your recipe. Now is not the time to go easy with the sage, thyme, and pepper. The dressing should taste different from your cornbread.

Why put egg in dressing? ›

Eggs add richness to the stuffing, and makes it cohere better. I'd use two eggs per pound of bread. I'm a no egg person - and I still stuff the bird (but also do a batch out of the bird). me, too, Chem - I make a boatload of dressing (we never stuff the bird) specifically so I have leftovers to eat with gravy.

Should you put an egg in stuffing? ›

Eggs: Two lightly beaten eggs help hold the dressing together and add moisture. Water: You can add a few tablespoons of water, if you'd like, to achieve your desired consistency. Seasonings: This turkey dressing recipe is seasoned with salt, pepper, rubbed sage, and garlic powder.

What is the difference between cornbread stuffing and cornbread dressing? ›

So stuffing is cooked inside the bird. Dressing is cooked outside the bird, usually in a casserole dish.

How many days is cornbread dressing good for? ›

Stuffing/dressing: If stored properly in the fridge, stuffing or dressing is good to eat up to three to four days after you cooked it. But it'll last about a month in the freezer.

What is the best way to dry out cornbread for stuffing? ›

I got you! Bake in cubes at 350 for 15 minutes, toss and bake again for 10-15 minutes. And you have stuffing bread.

How do you reheat cornbread dressing without drying it out? ›

The Fastest Way: Microwave

Be sure to add a little broth or butter to your stuffing before reheating to prevent drying out. Transfer stuffing to a microwave-safe dish and cover with a piece of parchment paper. Microwave for two to three minutes, stirring after each minute to make sure the stuffing heats evenly.

Why is my stuffing gummy? ›

If the stuffing came out too wet and soggy (aka bread soup!) try not to over mix it, otherwise it'll turn into mush. Curtis Stone says to pour it on a large sheet tray and spread it out. Bake it on high heat to crisp it up, but make sure it doesn't burn.

Why is my dressing gummy in the oven? ›

If your dressing doesn't turn out right, don't fret. You can usually fix it. If you find your stuffing is too dry, add additional warmed broth to it, stir well, and return to the oven, checking periodically. If the stuffing is overly wet and too gummy, cook it uncovered for a bit longer, checking periodically.

Why is my cornbread gummy? ›

Flour is sometimes added to round out the batter, but always in smaller amounts than cornmeal itself. Flip the ratio, using more flour than cornmeal, and you'll end up with corn-flavored cakey stuff (such as those gummy “Yankee-style” muffins of my youth).

Why is my cornbread gummy in the middle? ›

Overmixing the batter

In your zeal to thoroughly combine wet and dry ingredients, the extra agitation develops the gluten in any flour you use, creating a tough, dense, chewy bread. It might also end up being gummy or crumbly, depending on how long you bake it.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Corie Satterfield

Last Updated:

Views: 5987

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (62 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Corie Satterfield

Birthday: 1992-08-19

Address: 850 Benjamin Bridge, Dickinsonchester, CO 68572-0542

Phone: +26813599986666

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Table tennis, Soapmaking, Flower arranging, amateur radio, Rock climbing, scrapbook, Horseback riding

Introduction: My name is Corie Satterfield, I am a fancy, perfect, spotless, quaint, fantastic, funny, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.