Homemade Cornbread Dressing Recipe - Self Proclaimed Foodie (2024)

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Cornbread Dressing, made with homemade cornbread, is one of the best Thanksgiving side dishes you can make! Pure old fashioned soul food.

Homemade Cornbread Dressing Recipe - Self Proclaimed Foodie (1)

This recipe started with some homemade cornbread and has all of your favorite savory stuffing ingredients mixed in.

I’ve always been a fan of traditional dressing made with a loaf of bread, but this year I decided to mix things up a bit and go with dressing made from cornbread.

It definitely is worth it to start out with a really good homemade cornbread.

From there, you’ll mix in the traditional stuffing ingredients along with a fair amount of butter to create this mouthwatering side dish!

How to make the cornbread:

Of course you can buy pre-made cornbread or make cornbread from a mix, but it’s actually super easy to make cornbread from scratch.

  1. First step is to get your cast iron skillet screaming hot. You can do this on the stove top or in the oven.
  2. I use a stand mixer to cream butter and sugar together. From there, I alternate mixing in the dry and wet ingredients, always taking care to avoid over mixing.
  3. You’ll drop a couple tablespoons of butter in your hot skillet (photo 1) and then add the cornbread batter (photo 2).
  4. The batter is relatively thick, so spread it out to cover the base of the pan (photo 3).
  5. Finally, bake until golden brown and crispy around the edges. Once it’s cool enough to handle, you can transfer it to a cutting board where you will cut it into cubes for the dressing (photo 4).
Homemade Cornbread Dressing Recipe - Self Proclaimed Foodie (2)

How to make the dressing:

If you’ve ever made dressing or stuffing, the process is pretty standard.

  1. You’ll start by cooking onion, celery, and a bunch of herbs in a lot of butter. Once cooked, you’ll add in the chicken, or turkey, stock. (photo 1).
  2. Let that mixture cool off a bit. You’ll toss the cornbread cubes with egg and parsley, then add in the onion mixture (photo 2). Transfer that to a greased baking dish (photo 3).
  3. Again, spread it out to evenly cover the dish (photo 4) and top with more butter (photo 5).
  4. Bake your stuffing covered for half an hour, then uncovered for another half hour to get it nice and crispy (photo 6).
Homemade Cornbread Dressing Recipe - Self Proclaimed Foodie (3)

Make ahead directions:

I firmly believe that the best Thanksgiving dinners are completely prepped the day before and then cooked on the day of.

That will give you the cleanest kitchen on Turkey Day as well as more time to drink wine and enjoy your company.

  • To make this recipe ahead of time, just follow all of the recipe steps all the way up to the part where you put it in the oven. Instead, cover and refrigerate.
  • Then, about an hour before you’re ready to bake the stuffing, set in on the counter so that it can come up to room temperature.
  • Then, all you need to do is bake it per the instructions.
Homemade Cornbread Dressing Recipe - Self Proclaimed Foodie (4)

How to make it extra crispy:

First, I must say that I have never made dressing or stuffing that goes inside the bird. There are too many health concerns and I absolutely hate mushy dressing.

If you’re like me and want dressing that is nice and crispy, there are a few things you can do:

  • First thing is to let your cornbread dry out. You basically want it to get a little stale. This would mean that you’d make your cornbread the day before and allow it to sit out, uncovered or loosely covered, overnight.
  • The second thing you can do is to cook your dressing in a larger pan. The thinner the layer, the crispier it will be. You will most likely have to reduce your cooking time if you use a larger pan.
  • The third think you can do is add even more butter when you put little pieces on top before you bake it. I’m always a fan of more butter.

This Thanksgiving, serve this alongside someFresh Cranberry Sauce and some turkey gravy made from scratch.

Cornbread Dressing

Prep30 minutes mins

Cook1 hour hr 35 minutes mins

Total2 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Servings 12 servings

Author Krissy Allori

Homemade Cornbread Dressing Recipe - Self Proclaimed Foodie (5)

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Cornbread Dressing, made with homemade cornbread, is one of the best Thanksgiving side dishes you can make! Pure old fashioned soul food.

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Ingredients

Cornbread:

  • 1/3 cup butter softened
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup medium grind corn meal
  • 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 2/3 cup whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons butter for greasing skillet

Dressing

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 2 cups yellow onion (1 large) diced
  • 2 cups celery (about 8 small stalks) diced
  • 4 tablespoons fresh minced herbs sage, rosemary, thyme
  • 3 cups chicken stock or turkey stock if you have it
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 1/4 cup parsley minced
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Instructions

To make the cornbread:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F with a 12 inch cast iron skillet in the oven.

  • Using a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar together on medium high speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Scrape sides.

  • In a medium sized bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, combine eggs and milk. Alternate adding small amounts of the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients to the butter mixture, each time mixing just until combined.

  • Pull hot cast iron skillet out of the oven and melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the skillet, spreading around the bottom and up the sides. Pour batter into skillet and cook for 20 minutes in 400 degree F oven.

  • Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly before removing from skillet to fully cool.

Dressing:

  • Cut cornbread into 1 inch cubes.

  • Melt 1/2 cup butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add onion, celery, and minced herbs (not the parsley). Stir to coat in the melted butter and then saute until they start to turn golden brown, about 15 minutes.

  • Add stock and salt to skillet and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and set aside. Allow to cool enough that mixture is cool to the touch. You must allow this mixture to cool because you'll be mixing it with egg and do not want it to scramble.

  • Meanwhile, beat egg with 1/4 cup chopped parsley in a large bowl; add cubed cornbread and gently toss to coat. Pour the cooled vegetable and broth mixture over the bread and toss. Transfer to a buttered baking dish and dot with remaining two tablespoons of butter.

  • Cover and bake 30 minutes at 375 degrees F; uncover and bake until golden, 30 more minutes.

Notes

If you like crispy dressing, there are a few things you can do:

  • You can heat some olive oil in a saute pan and sear the cubes of cornbread prior to mixing with remaining stuffing ingredients.
  • You can bake the dressing in a larger baking dish so that there is more surface area to make it crispy. The deeper and smaller the dish, the mushier the dressing will be.

Nutrition

Calories: 298kcal, Carbohydrates: 25g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 20g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Cholesterol: 88mg, Sodium: 477mg, Potassium: 296mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 668IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 70mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave me acomment below

Side Dish Thanksgiving

Homemade Cornbread Dressing Recipe - Self Proclaimed Foodie (6)

Hi! I’m Krissy.

I love to create the BEST versions of your favorite recipes. If you love to cook, love to eat, or just have a deep appreciation for good food, you're in the right place! Stick around... I have hundreds of recipes for you to make.

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Homemade Cornbread Dressing Recipe - Self Proclaimed Foodie (2024)

FAQs

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. Additionally, dressing, especially in the American South, is often made with cornbread instead of pieces of a baguette or plain ol' white bread.

What causes cornbread dressing to be gummy? ›

There could be a few reasons why your cornbread dressing turned gummy. One reason might be that you used too much chicken stock, which made the bread absorb too much moisture and caused it to become soggy. Another possibility is that you didn't bake the cornbread long enough, resulting in a dense final product.

How moist should dressing be before baking? ›

The stuffing should be moist but not wet. If there is a puddle of broth at the bottom of the bowl, you've added too much.

Why is my cornbread dressing mushy? ›

One potential reason for gummy cornbread dressing could be using cornbread that is too moist. It's best to use cornbread that has been left out overnight or is slightly stale to ensure a drier texture.

What is the difference between Yankee cornbread and Southern cornbread? ›

The thing that distinguishes Southern cornbread from, say Yankee cornbread, or any other cornbread one is likely to eat outside of the southern states, is that it is savory, not sweet, and it is made mostly with cornmeal.

How long can uncooked cornbread dressing stay in fridge? ›

A great make-ahead recipe: You can make this Thanksgiving side dish up to a day in advance, and keep it in the fridge until you're ready to bake it. The leftovers are good for up to 4 days so you can enjoy leftover cornbread dressing with your turkey leftovers the next day.

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.

Is stuffing better with or without eggs? ›

Eggs add richness to the stuffing, and makes it cohere better. I'd use two eggs per pound of bread.

Can you mix up your dressing the night before? ›

Yes! You can absolutely make stuffing ahead of time. It's a great way to get a jumpstart on Thanksgiving cooking and it frees up much-needed oven space.

What temperature should dressing be cooked at? ›

Cook until the center of the dressing reaches 165 degrees. When checked with a food thermometer. Never place frozen dressing or other frozen food in a slow cooker, it will not reach proper safe temperature fast enough.

Why add eggs to stuffing? ›

Broth: Chicken broth keeps the stuffing moist without making it soggy. 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.

How do you know when your dressing is done? ›

Pour dressing into two 9×13 baking dishes and bake until lightly browned, about 30 – 45 minutes. To test doneness, shake casserole dish lightly. If the center of the dressing moves, then the dressing is not cooked through in the center.

Why is my homemade cornbread so dry? ›

Cornbread is known for being dry, and that's because it's not properly hydrated. This can lead to unpleasant. hard bits that get stuck in your teeth, making the final product taste even drier. Start by soaking your cornmeal and buttermilk overnight. or up to 24 hours.

Is dressing and stuffing the same? ›

The primary difference between stuffing and dressing is that stuffing is cooked inside a bird and dressing is made on the side. As with many food traditions in the U.S., regional loyalties to stuffing vs dressing abound.

Do southern people say dressing or stuffing? ›

Some people insist that it should be called dressing when it hasn't actually been stuffed inside a bird. But many people insist on one term or the other regardless of how it's prepared or what's in it. The term dressing is most commonly used in the South, but it's popular in pockets throughout the US.

What is cornbread stuffing made of? ›

Combine the cooked onions and celery with the cornbread, egg, chicken broth, milk and 3/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a large bowl; mix well. Place in a buttered 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes; remove the foil and bake until golden brown, about 20 more minutes.

What are the points of comparison used to compare dressing and stuffing? ›

The points of comparison used to compare dressing and stuffing include: preparation, taste, amount, and safety. When comparing preparation, dressing and stuffing are made differently. Dressing is cooked in a separate dish and does not contain any meat, while stuffing is cooked inside the turkey.

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