Classic Cornbread Dressing

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 12/7/21
Cornbread Dressing

Jonelle Weaver / Photolibrary / Getty Images

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 50 mins
Servings: 10 to 12 servings

This Southern-style cornbread dressing recipe is made the classic, old-fashioned way with fresh cornbread crumbs and diced chicken (if desired). The dressing is baked in a large baking pan, which is the recommended method, but if you choose to cook the stuffing in a turkey, make sure you follow the steps to stuff the bird safely.

This recipe calls for cornbread along with soft white breadcrumbs, eggs, and a variety of dried herbs. If adding chicken, stew a fresh cut-up chicken and use the broth and meat for this stuffing for the best flavor. The dressing can be made one day ahead of time, cooled completely, covered, and stored in the refrigerator.

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Ingredients

  • 6 cups crumbled cornbread

  • 3 cups soft breadcrumbs

  • 4 ounces unsalted butter

  • 2 cups chopped onion

  • 2 cups finely chopped celery

  • 3 to 4 cups chicken broth

  • 2 cups diced chicken, optional

  • 1 heaping tablespoon dried sage, crumbled

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme, crumbled

  • 1 teaspoon dried marjoram, crumbled

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, chopped

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Heat oven to 375 F. Grease a large, shallow baking pan or roasting pan.

  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cornbread and white breadcrumbs.

  4. In a deep skillet or medium saucepan over medium heat, sauté the onion and celery in the butter until tender. Do not brown.

  5. Combine the sautéed vegetables and butter with the cornbread and breadcrumb mixture. Stir in chicken broth, using enough to moisten. Stir in the diced chicken, if using, and the seasonings. Before adding the eggs, taste and adjust seasonings. Add the beaten eggs and mix until well blended.

  6. Spread the mixture in the prepared baking or roasting pan. Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover the pan and cook for about 20 to 25 minutes longer.

Tips

  • How to Stew a Chicken: Place 3 to 4 pounds of chicken pieces in a large stockpot or Dutch oven. Cover with water and add 2 teaspoons of salt, 2 bay leaves, 1 cup of chopped onion, and 1 clove of garlic, minced. Add fresh or dried herbs, as desired. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce the heat; cook for about 1 1/2 hours, or until the meat is falling off the bone. Remove the chicken from the bones and chop. Strain the broth and skim off fat. You can also brown the chicken pieces first for the extra flavor, and feel free to add carrots, celery, peppercorns, and a small amount of lemon juice or a cup of dry white wine. 
  • Use 2 tablespoons of a good-quality poultry seasoning blend and omit the sage, thyme, marjoram, and rosemary.

What's the difference between dressing and stuffing?

Technically, stuffing is a mixture that is placed inside some other food (most often whole poultry) and then cooked, whereas dressing is baked in a pan on its own. However, the terms "stuffing" and "dressing" are used interchangeably throughout the country, no matter how it is cooked. In the South, this mixture of bread cubes, aromatics, and herbs is most often called "dressing" while up North "stuffing" is the favored term.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
515 Calories
18g Fat
74g Carbs
14g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 10 to 12
Amount per serving
Calories 515
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g 23%
Saturated Fat 7g 36%
Cholesterol 98mg 33%
Sodium 1394mg 61%
Total Carbohydrate 74g 27%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 14g
Vitamin C 4mg 20%
Calcium 368mg 28%
Iron 5mg 27%
Potassium 387mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)