Description
Southern comfort shines through this classic cornbread dressing, blending crumbled cornbread with herbs and aromatic vegetables. Savory seasonings and rich chicken broth unite to create a holiday side dish that feels like home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 23 cups chicken or turkey broth
- 4 cups crumbled cornbread
- 2 cups bread cubes
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
- 2 tsps poultry seasoning
- 1 tsp dried sage
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp sugar (optional)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Cornbread Preparation: Meticulously crumble cornbread into delicate, uniform pieces, discarding any tough crusts to create a smooth, consistent base for the dressing.
- Vegetable Sauté: Gently caramelize onions and celery in butter, coaxing out their aromatic essence and developing a rich, golden flavor foundation.
- Ingredient Fusion: Combine crumbled cornbread with sautéed vegetables, introducing sage, thyme, salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning to create a harmonious flavor profile.
- Moisture Integration: Gradually blend warm chicken broth into the mixture, ensuring a luxurious, moist texture while carefully folding in beaten eggs to provide structural stability and binding.
- Baking Preparation: Transfer the mixture to a buttered baking dish, spreading evenly to promote uniform cooking and optimal texture development at 350°F.
- Final Roasting: Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes until the top achieves a crisp, golden-brown crust while maintaining a tender, moist interior, creating a perfectly balanced dressing that captures the essence of traditional Southern cuisine.
Notes
- Remove tough crusts completely to ensure a delicate, uniform texture that melts in your mouth and prevents chunky, uneven bites.
- Add broth gradually and mix slowly to maintain perfect consistency – too little makes dry dressing, while too much creates soggy results.
- Experiment with fresh sage, thyme, or rosemary to elevate flavor profiles and adapt the recipe to personal taste preferences or regional cooking styles.
- Assemble dressing a day before baking to allow ingredients to meld, intensifying overall taste and reducing day-of cooking stress during holiday meal preparation.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg