Southern Cornbread Dressing

Contents… What Is It? Recipe Ingredients How to Make It Recipe Variations Tips and Tricks Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions FAQs What to Serve More Fabulous Holiday Add-On Recipes Conclusion Watch How To Make It

What Is Southern Cornbread Dressing?

Cornbread dressing is a classic Thanksgiving side dish in the Southern U.S. It’s also a personal thing, as every grandma has their own recipe for creating this soul-satisfying side dish.

Crumbled pieces of day-old bread and cornbread (the drier, the better) flavored with celery, sausage, sage, herbs and spices, milk, and a good stock make a spectacular holiday or any-day recipe. Savory, moist, and DELICIOUS!

Recipe Ingredients

1. Breakfast Sausage – Browning it in a hot pan and sauteing it with other savory ingredients is fantastic. 
2. Veggies – Add nutrition and flavor with onions, celery, and garlic to make every savory recipe better.😉
3. Herbs – Italian seasoning, sage, and thyme give this amazing casserole its definitive flavor.
4. Breads – Day-old bread and cornbread make the base. If you must use fresh bread, cut it into cubes and toast it in the oven on really low with the door cracked open for about half an hour.
5. Half-and-Half – Richness from the cream makes this cornbread dressing exceptionally moist and delicious. You can use heavy cream for extra richness or milk if you want to reduce fat intake.
6. Eggs – The perfect binder to keep your cornbread dressing together.
7. Chicken Broth – This savory liquid moistens and adds flavor to your dressing. The ideal amount gives you a moist, not soggy, dish. You can use vegetable stock if you prefer.

Prep Your Ingredients

• Prepare Casserole. Spray or generously butter a 9×13 baking or oven-proof dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
• Brown the Sausage. Heat a large skillet over medium, and let it heat up. Then add breakfast sausage, and break it into chunks with a wooden spoon. Let it cook while stirring for 3 -5 minutes. (Photo 1)
• Saute the Veggies. Add about a tablespoon of butter to the pan with the sausage, followed by onions, celery, garlic, Italian herbs, sage, and thyme. Then cook until onions are soft or wilted, 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat. (Photo 2-3)

Assembly

• Mix the Breads. In a large bowl, combine day-old cornbread and bread cubes. (Photo 4)
• Add the Dairy. In a medium bowl, mix together half-and-half and eggs. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the cornbread mixture. (Photo 5 -6)
• Combine. Carefully add the sausage and veggie mix with all its juice to the dairy and bread mixture. Gently fold it into the cornbread mixture so it’s well combined without mashing the cornbread. (Photo 7)
• Add Chicken Stock. Add chicken stock and continue folding until your dressing is moistened. Taste test and season with salt if needed. (Photo 8)

Bake the Cornbread Dressing

• Final Stretch. Transfer your casserole mixture to the greased baking dish. Cut butter into tiny slivers and scatter on top of the dressing. (Photo 9)
• Bake. Put your casserole in a 350℉ oven until it is hot all the way through and crusty on top, 35-40 minutes. Start checking for doneness at around 30 minutes. (Photo 10)

Recipe Variations

1. Dairy-Free. Replace the butter with olive oil and the half-and-half with soy milk (or your favorite neutral-flavored plant-based milk).
2. Herb Swap. If you don’t have fresh herbs, then dried ones work fine. Use a third of what the recipe asks for when replacing fresh herbs with dried ones.
3. Poultry Seasoning. Italian seasoning is terrific, but so is homemade poultry seasoning for a flavor makeover.

Tips and Tricks

1. Day-old bread makes the best dressing because it’s dry enough to soak up more flavor. Waste not, want not.😉
2. If you want extra smokey, savory flavor, use a tablespoon of bacon fat instead of butter.
3. If you only have fresh bread, cut it into cubes and bake it in the oven at 350℉/177℃ for about 20 minutes.

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

You can assemble this Southern cornbread dressing recipe a day or two ahead, cover it, and store it in the fridge. Bake it when you’re ready.

Or you can assemble it and freeze it a month ahead. Thaw it overnight in the fridge and bake it the next day.

Refrigerate your leftover cornbread dressing in an airtight container for up to four days. Then reheat it in the microwave or 350℉/177℃ oven until heated through, 10-20 minutes.

FAQs

What to Serve With Southern Cornbread Dressing

1. Pan Seared Oven-Roasted Steak
2. Spiced Roast Turkey
3. Easy Meatloaf
4. Collard Greens with Smoked Turkey
5. Homemade Brown Gravy

More Fabulous Holiday Add-On Recipes

1. Scalloped Potatoes
2. Corn Pudding
3. Cranberry Sauce
4. Cheesy Potatoes au Gratin
5. Stovetop Mac and Cheese

Conclusion

Easy, stress-free Southern cornbread dressing for a memorable holiday is here. Would you like more fabulicious holiday recipes? Then sign up for my newsletter, and stay up to date.

Watch How To Make It

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This blog post was originally published in November 2018 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.