Description
Old Fashion Cornbread Dressing is a classic Southern comfort side dish featuring moist, flavorful cornbread blended with savory herbs, sautéed aromatics, and homemade chicken broth. Perfectly balanced with fluffy texture and crisp edges, it complements holiday meals like turkey and ham, and can be customized with meats, veggies, or spices for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Cornbread Base
- 6 cups crumbled day-old cornbread
Aromatics
- 1 cup diced onions
- 1 cup diced celery
- 4 tbsp butter
Herbs and Seasonings
- 1 tsp chopped fresh sage
- 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Binding and Moisture
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 to 2 1/2 cups warm chicken broth
Instructions
- Prepare the Cornbread: Bake your cornbread a day ahead and let it dry slightly to ensure it absorbs broth well without becoming mushy.
- Sauté Aromatics: In a skillet, melt butter and cook diced onions and celery over medium heat until soft and fragrant.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, crumble the cornbread and mix in the sautéed onions and celery, fresh sage, thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper. Add beaten eggs and warm chicken broth, stirring until evenly combined.
- Transfer and Bake: Place the mixture into a buttered baking dish and cover with foil. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes to develop a golden, slightly crisp top.
- Rest and Serve: Let the dressing rest for a few minutes after baking to set up, then serve warm alongside your holiday mains.
Notes
- Use day-old cornbread for best texture and broth absorption.
- Choose homemade or low-sodium chicken broth to control saltiness.
- Fresh herbs such as sage and thyme elevate the flavor significantly.
- Cover with foil during baking to retain moisture; uncover at the end for a crisp top.
- Let the dressing rest after baking to meld flavors and firm up the texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: southern, cornbread dressing, holiday side, comfort food, stuffing, gluten-free