Homemade Southern Cornbread Dressing Recipe ~Soul Food Style~ (2024)

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posted by divas can cook on Nov 4, 2011 (updated Nov 14, 2022) 365 comments »

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4.61 from 331 ratings

You are viewing the original dressing recipe posted in 2009. I have since updated the recipe (photo below) and you can find it HERE. If you prefer this recipe then just keep reading. I decided to leave it up just in case.

Watch me make this southern cornbread dressing recipe from start to finish!

Original Post

If you’ve ever wondered how to make a flavorful, homemade Southern Cornbread dressing, then let me share with you my grandmother’s recipe. This dressing is usually the ONLY dressing I will eat. It is moist, full of that soul food flavor, and as southern as it gets! I’m talking Elberton, Georgia southern!!

Homemade Southern Cornbread Dressing Recipe ~Soul Food Style~ (2)

My grandmother has been making this dressing for EVERYBODY’S Thanksgiving since I was a baby. People put in their requests for her to make them a pan for their Thanksgiving dinner months ahead of time.

My Grandma’s Homemade Cornbread Dressing Before It Get’s Devoured On Thanksgiving!

When she gave me this recipe I was surprised to discover how easy it was. All this time I thought it was some complicated process. Now if you want this dressing to be darker then you can put in more seasonings. My grandmother puts in a crapload, but I find it tastes delish with just a teaspoon of each, especially if I’m going to be serving it with some flavorful gravy.

If you have a favorite southern cornbread recipe (not the sweet kind) then use that. If not I’ve listed a basic, easy one below.

Homemade Southern Cornbread Dressing Recipe ~Soul Food Style~ (4)

Get the Recipe: Homemade Southern Cornbread Dressing Recipe ~Soul Food Style~

4.61 from 331 ratings

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 45 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Servings: 10

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Ingredients

BASIC CORNBREAD RECIPE

  • 1 cup self-rising cornmeal
  • 1/2 cup self-rising flour
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

DRESSING RECIPE

  • Cornbread, 9x9 inch pan (my grandmother always uses day old cornbread)
  • 3 pieced of toast, crumbled (or stale bread)
  • 1 cup onions, diced (about half of a large onion)
  • 1 cup celery, diced (about 3 stalks)
  • 1 cup green bell peppers, diced, (about 1 medium green bell pepper. You could also add in some red bell pepper as well if you'd like)
  • 1 cooked chicken breast or cooked chicken thighs, shredded
  • 2 eggs
  • 3-4 cups chicken or turkey broth
  • 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon sage
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 F.

  • To make the cornbread, in a bowl,whisk together the cornmeal & flour.

  • Add in the buttermilk, eggs & oil.

  • Stir just until combined. Do not over work the batter.

  • Pour into a greased, 9 x9 baking dish.

  • Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until done.

  • Let cool.

  • Once cooled break up the cornbread and toast it in the oven to dry it out. *See note*

  • Set aside.

  • To make the dressing, add the dried cornbread and crumbled toast into a large bowl. Set aside.

  • In a saucepan, sauté onions, celery and green bell peppers in a little bit of butter or olive oil until tender.

  • Add the sautéed veggies into the cornbread mixture.

  • Add shredded chicken into the cornbread mixture.

  • Stir together to combine.

  • Add in the broth a little at a time. (Add in just enough to make everything thick & a little soupy.)

  • Stir in poultry seasoning, sage, and black pepper.

  • Give it a taste and add more seasonings if desired. It should taste exactly the way you want your dressing to taste like.

  • When you are content with the taste, go ahead and stir in the eggs.

  • Pour into a buttered 9 X 13 casserole pan.

  • Bake for 45 minutes or until set.

Video

Notes

Use day-old cornbread for the best result or toast the cornbread to dry it out.
Be sure to taste it before adding the eggs and adjust the seasonings to your liking. You can also use chicken thighs for more flavor.
My grandmother uses red bell pepper as well sometimes.

Author: Divas Can Cook

Tried this recipe?Mention @divascancook on Instagram or tag #divascancook.

Now all you need is some juicy turkey and home-style gravy!!

Bread Recipes Holiday Holiday Side Dishes Side Dish Soul Food Classics Southern Classics Thanksgiving

originally published on Nov 4, 2011 (last updated Nov 14, 2022)

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365 comments on “Homemade Southern Cornbread Dressing Recipe ~Soul Food Style~”

Leave a comment »

  1. Martina Reply

    I’ve been using this recipe for about three years and the best. It tastes exactly how it did when I was growing up and my grandmother made it for Sunday dinner. Will be using this recipe for years to come.

  2. Cindy Reply

    Hello can you tell me the amount of cornbread crumbs you get in cups per your cornbread recipe. Thank you very much for your recipe. Cindy

  3. Rochelle Reply

    I’ve always used your dressing recipe since I found it 2 or 3 years ago. Very moist, just amazing! Always a hit with my family. I’ve tried some of your other recipes and they are all amazing. My husband has been browsing your dessert recipes to see what I should try next lol. Thank you for sharing your recipes!

  4. Cindy Reply

    My favorite dressing recipe. I will sometimes throw some oysters in for hubby though.

  5. rose Reply

    Love this Homemade Southern Cornbread Dressing Recipe, super excited to try this delicious and unique recipe. Will definitely gonna try this recipe, thanks for sharing this one with us.

Leave a Reply

Homemade Southern Cornbread Dressing Recipe ~Soul Food Style~ (2024)

FAQs

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.

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 do you keep dressing from drying out? ›

Bolster it with warm broth

For every four cups of dressing, drizzle the dish evenly with ½ cup warm turkey or chicken broth. Toss to mix it in evenly, cover with foil, and allow the dressing to sit and rehydrate. Alternatively, to keep warm, return the dish to an oven at a low temperature.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Why is my cornbread dressing 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. Give it a good stir, then let it sit for a minute. The stuffing should be moist but not wet.

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.

How wet should dressing be before baking? ›

We recommend adding stock a little at a time--1/2 cup to 1 cup, depending on how much stuffing you're making--and waiting for the bread to absorb the liquid before adding more. Once the bread is moist but not sitting in a pool of stock, it's ready.

What is cornbread dressing made of? ›

Add sautéed onion and celery to the crumbled cornbread. Stir in chicken stock, eggs, sage, salt, and pepper until well combined. Pour dressing into the prepared baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven until dressing just starts to turn golden brown around the edges, about 30 minutes.

What is cornbread stuffing mix made of? ›

CORNBREAD CRUMBS (ENRICHED WHEAT AND SEMOLINA FLOUR, CORNMEAL, SUGAR, SALT, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL, YEAST, CALCIUM PROPIONATE (FOR FRESHNESS), DRIED NONFAT MILK); DRIED VEGETABLES (ONION, CELERY, PARSLEY); SALT; SUGAR; DRIED CHICKEN (FAT, MEAT); YEAST EXTRACT; SPICES; HYDROLYZED SOY/WHEAT PROTEIN; TURMERIC ...

What is the best dressing mix? ›

Our Top Store-Bought Stuffing Picks
  • Best Overall: Arnold Herb Seasoned Premium Cubed Stuffing.
  • Best Classic: Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Classic Stuffing.
  • Best Instant: Stove Top Turkey Stuffing Mix.
  • Best Gluten-Free: Williams-Sonoma Gluten-Free Stuffing Mix.
  • Best for Celiac: Trader Joe's Gluten Free Stuffing Mix.
Nov 13, 2023

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