Description
This Southern Cornbread Dressing is a savory and comforting dish, perfect for any holiday table or family meal. Made with cornbread, vegetables, and aromatic herbs, it has a rich flavor that complements turkey, chicken, or any roast. It’s a true Southern classic that’s flavorful, moist, and with a slight crunch on top.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 batch of homemade cornbread (about 4 cups crumbled)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried sage
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (optional for extra richness)
Instructions
- Prepare the Cornbread: Bake the cornbread according to your favorite recipe or use store-bought cornbread. Once it’s baked and cooled, crumble it into small pieces (about 4 cups).
- Sauté the Vegetables: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, celery, and garlic. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables are softened and fragrant.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the crumbled cornbread, sautéed vegetables, chicken broth, beaten eggs, salt, pepper, sage, thyme, poultry seasoning, and fresh parsley (if using). Mix well. If you want a richer dressing, stir in the heavy cream at this stage.
- Assemble the Dressing: Transfer the mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, pressing it down gently to pack it in.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the dressing uncovered for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and crispy.
- Serve & Enjoy: Let the dressing sit for a few minutes before serving. It pairs beautifully with turkey, roast chicken, or ham.
Notes
- You can make this dressing ahead of time by assembling it the day before and refrigerating it. Just allow extra time to bake if it’s chilled.
- If you prefer a more moist dressing, you can add more broth or cream.
- For added flavor, you can also stir in cooked sausage or bacon pieces before baking.
- If you don’t have fresh herbs, dried herbs work just fine.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Side Dish,
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern, American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of the casserole
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 55mg