This easy Southern Cornbread Dressing is a staple side dish in the South during the holidays. It’s delicious, filling, and easy to make.
A while back, I posted a question on Facebook to ask what the Southern Bite followers’ must-have Thanksgiving sides were. I mentioned that mine was Cornbread Dressing. Several folks asked for my family recipe. I jumped over to the blog to grab my recipe to realize I had actually never shared my recipe. What!?!?
I had a delicious recipe for Bacon Mushroom Cornbread Dressing, but had never posted the simple and easy recipe my family has used year after year. So, here it is… my southern cornbread dressing recipe! It’s simple, easy, calls for just a few ingredients, and in keeping with my family’s particular tradition, doesn’t include any sage. Now, if you just HAVE to have sage in there, just add it. NO biggie.
What is the difference between stuffing and cornbread dressing?
Stuffing and cornbread dressing are not the same thing. Louder for the people in the back… they are absolutely not the same thing! Here are the three main reasons why those two side dishes are very different:
- They feature different ingredients. Cornbread dressing mainly features, you probably guessed it, cornbread. However, stuffing can feature cornbread but also is commonly known to feature cubed bread as well. Cornbread and regular bread are very different and so are their consistencies.
- They are cooked differently. Cornbread dressing is cooked in a casserole dish while stuffing is usually cooked inside the turkey. This results in very different flavors because stuffing absorbs the turkey juices, while dressing does not.
- They are popular in different regions of the United States. Cornbread dressing is most commonly found in the South. I don’t think I’ve ever had a holiday in the South that featured stuffing on the menu mainly because it’s more common in the North. My theory for this is that cornbread is more popular in the South.
How to make cornbread for cornbread dressing:
Because getting the consistency right before you bake the dressing is really important, I recommend using the following cornbread recipe. It is the exact recipe my family uses to make this dressing. It’s really a no-fail end result when you use these two recipes together.
Tips for making the perfect cornbread dressing:
- Make sure your mixture is soupy before you bake it! The mixture should seem pretty soupy when you pour it into the baking dish. If it’s not, it’s going to end up dry. Add more broth if you think you need it.
- Onions are optional! Don’t like onions? Feel free to leave them out. Want the flavor of onion without the crunch? Just run them through the food chopper or blender before adding them.
- Salt and pepper to taste! When it comes to the salt and pepper, feel free to taste it and add it to your liking. Since there are no eggs in the recipe, there’s no harm in grabbing a taste. It’s actually one of my favorite things to do at Thanksgiving. I just love to grab a spoonful right before it goes into the oven. Y’all enjoy!
If you tried this Easy Southern Cornbread Dressing Recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it turned out in the comments below.
Recipe Card
Easy Southern Cornbread Dressing
Ingredients
- 7 cups crumbled cornbread (use recipe below)
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can cream of celery soup
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can cream of chicken soup
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 small onion (finely chopped)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Lightly spray a 13X9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl combine the cornbread, cream of celery soup, cream of chicken soup, broth, onions, salt, and pepper. Pour the mixture into the baking dish. Cook uncovered for 30 to 45 minutes or until golden brown.
Video
Nutrition
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
Recipe Card
Easy Cornbread
Ingredients
- 2 cups self-rising cornmeal mix
- 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil (plus more for coating skillet)
Instructions
- Lightly coat a 9-inch cast-iron skillet with vegetable oil. Place the skillet in the oven and preheat the oven to 450°F.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the cornmeal mix, buttermilk, egg, and 1/4 cup vegetable oil. Stir until smooth.
- Once the oven has preheated, carefully remove the skillet and pour the batter into the skillet. Return to the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Nutrition
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
Anitra Love
Only thing mixing is the eggs and bits of chicken or turkey and it’s just like my grandma’s. So this go around in gonna add that to this. Thank you so much for posting this.
You’re so welcome! That sounds exactly like the way a lot of grandmas did it. I’m so glad this one reminds you of hers, and I hope it turns out perfect for you this time, too!
PATRICIA S WILEY
Easy and delicious
Thanks!
Kate
AMAZING!! First time ever making dressing and it tasted just like the one I grew up eating! Thank you so much!
Thanks, Kate! That makes me so happy to hear!
Patsy
Great 👍
Thanks!
Montana
How long should I let my cornbread sit out before using it?
It’s best to make it a day ahead, but you can use it once it’s cool.
John Hardin
The dressing is in the oven as I write this question. Do I need to store it in the refrigerator overnight or can I leave it on the kitchen counter covered until tomorrow?
It will need to be refrigerated overnight. Enjoy!
Missy
I went over to find your Easy Cornbread recipe to go in this recipe. Will I need to double the recipe to get the 7 cups of crumbled cornbread? Or will the 1 9″ skillet of cornbread work?
The one recipe should give you enough for 7 cups.
Lisa
Hi Stacy excited to make this
Trying to cut down on my stress level. Can I make this on Wednesday and put it in the Refrigerator in a bowl and then bake it on Thursday in the morning in the pan?
Yep! You can even go ahead and put it in the casserole dish before refrigerating. Enjoy!
Cindy
Hi Stacey. I’m going to use this recipe for Thanksgiving. My husband did the shopping and he got self rising white buttermilk cornmeal. Is this going to work?
As long as it’s the cornmeal mix, it will work just fine in this recipe.
Sharon
Hey Stacey, I’m a Southern farm wife of 59 years. So many of the dishes that you feature are near and dear. Cornbread dressing is made year round only difference is a generous roux with butter, celery and onion. This can be stuffed with chicken or add orange peel wood duck, turkey, dove breast or guinea hen. A favorite winter supper is sausage gravy, dressing and greens. I really get a kick out of some of the reviews coming from the novice cooks. There are many of we old ladies that would gladly help them out. You do a great job. Wish you all a blessed Holiday Season
Thank you so much, Sharon! I just love hearing from folks who’ve been cooking Southern food their whole lives. You’re speaking my language with that dressing and gravy supper—it doesn’t get much better than that. I appreciate the kind words and the encouragement. Wishing you and your family a blessed holiday season too!
Becca
Any idea how many corn muffins it would take to make this? That is usually how I make cornbread in muffin tins. Thanks!
I can’t say for sure, but I’d guess between 8 and 10 muffins.
Melissa
How can you add chicken to this wonderful dressing to make it a chicken and dressing casserole?
You can certainly stir in a cup or two of shredded cooked chicken. I’ve done that plenty of times. Enjoy!
Phoebe
It’s a (almost) perfect recipe. Perfect because our families leave out egg for a moist dressing. Almost because I can’t imagine dressing without poultry seasoning or sage. I plan to try it this year with a few small tweaks. Happy Holidays
Hope y’all will enjoy it!
Vicki Martin
Can you make the southern cornbread dressing ahead of time and freeze it? If so, how? Par-bake it?
You sure can! I usually mix it all up, pour it into the baking dish, and freeze it unbaked. Then I let it thaw in the fridge overnight and bake it fresh. You can also bake it first, cool it completely, and freeze—just reheat it covered so it doesn’t dry out.
Claire Coleman
Stacey, will an 8 inch cast iron work? I only have this and a very large one. I like your recipe because it doesn’t have sage and/or poultry seasoning. I’m not a fan of either one of those seasonings.
If you mean to make the cornbread, it will probably work, but it might be very full. I might put it on a rimmed baking sheet in case it overflows.
Lisa Williams
Easy recipe
Thanks, Lisa!-
Judy Hayles
Perfect dressing.
Thanks, Judy!
Wendy
Hello Stacey thank you for your easy southern cornbread recipe yes it’s great for the Holliday’s but it’s also great with soup chili just to name a couple thank you Wendy Huntsville AL
Hey Wendy! I’m so glad you liked the recipe! It really is perfect with soups and chili—such a versatile dish.
Kayla Brown
This dressing is just like the dressing my grandmother used to make! I am from Prattville 🙂 and she lived across the state, so I never got the chance to learn how to make it. She has since passed and so has my mom, so I want to thank you for this recipe and everything else you have shared with us all. You have helped me smile at Christmas (and other holidays, lol) knowing that I have a little taste of home again. Oh, and if I forgot to mention it, this dressing is AMAZING! I made it for Thanksgiving two years in a row, and I’m making it for Christmas this year! Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas!!
Thank you so much for your sweet message—it truly means the world to me. I’m so glad this recipe brings back such special memories and a little taste of home for you. It’s an honor to know it’s become a part of your holiday table.
Fay
Stacy, I learned from my mother that if you want more eggs in your dressing, cook them into the bread rather than in the raw dressing, in order to prevent the danger of salmonella from staying out too long during an extended holiday meal. Also, for anybody who uses sage or poultry seasoning, add it into the water you cook the chicken in, rather than directly into the dressing. I also a few slices of white bread which have been soaked in chicken broth. Merry Christmas and Blessings to All
What wonderful tips—thank you so much for sharing! Cooking the eggs into the bread is such a smart way to avoid any concerns, and adding the seasonings to the chicken broth must really deepen the flavor. I love the idea of soaking white bread in broth for extra moisture too. Merry Christmas and blessings to you and your family as well!
Caylin Snow
I made the cornbread and the dressing this past Thanksgiving and everyone loves it so much. We are making it for Christmas too.
I’m so glad to hear that, and what a compliment that it’s making a second appearance for Christmas! It makes my heart so happy to know that my recipes were a part of your Thanksgiving celebration and are becoming a holiday tradition. I hope your family enjoys it just as much this time around!
Caylin Snow
I made this cornbread for the dressing recipe this past Thanksgiving. It was my first time hosting Thanksgiving and it was a HUGE hit with everyone who had some. I have been tasked with making some everything Thanksgiving and Christmas for now on. We absolutely love it. My dad loved it and if he loves it, everyone loves it.
Marcy
Very delicious! I will be making this every year!
Happy to hear it, Marcy!
Wendy Youngblood
Stacey,
OMG! This is how I learned to make dressing from my Aunt Bert. But your cornbread recipe is way better than how she taught me ( don’t dare tell her ). I usually make cornbread by eyeballing the ingredients and haven’t ever added oil to the batter, just the skillet. It was so good I ate most of it and had to make another batch for my dressing. Thank you for all of your recipes and comments. Keep up the good work. My husband loves every one of your recipes I have tried.
Awww! Thank you!!
Nina
This is exactly the dressing I was raised on and the recipe passed on to me by my mother. I love that there’s no sage. It freezes well to bake for future meals. I love all your recipes. Thanks for sharing!
Oh, I just love hearing that! It’s so special when a recipe brings back those memories of home and family. I’m with you on the no sage—sometimes simple is best. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipes and that this one’s a keeper for you. Thank you for your sweet words—they mean so much!
Marian
I see that the cornbread can be made ahead of time and be frozen. I’m wondering if the entire recipe can be made ahead and frozen. If so, cook ahead or cook after thawing? Any suggestions appreciated. Thank you.
Great question! Yes, you can absolutely make the entire dressing ahead and freeze it. I recommend assembling it but waiting to bake until after it’s thawed. Just thaw it in the fridge overnight, then bake as directed. That way, it’ll taste fresh and delicious! Let me know how it works out for you!
Amy
Hi Stacey! Do you think it would work to make the cornbread ahead of time and freeze it until closer to the day you make the dressing? Thanks!
Absolutely! Smart move! Just wrap it tightly in a layer of aluminum foil and then put it in a gallon zip-top bag for freezing.
Sharon
this cornbread brought a wonderful memory of my grandmother from 50 years ago. thank you.
That warms my heart more than you know. I’m so glad this dressing brought back such a special memory of your grandmother. Thank you for sharing that with me—it means so much!
Mary Harroun
Thank you for your recipes. I love reading them and have tried several different ones. I make a white bread dressing that I use as a base then divide it and add different things to each pan. My husband thinks it has to have oysters but I like extra onion and sage in mine. We now live in MI but love the southern recipes.
You’re so welcome, Mary!
JimmieLee
This is the exact recipe I have used for 30 plus years! It can’t be beat!
I agree! Thanks, JimmieLee!
Pamela
I follow your recipe for the cornbread exactly as written. I don’t know what went wrong but I wound up with mountain high cornbread in the middle. I think maybe the temp was too high?
Hey, Pam! Did the cornbread taste bad? Was it just cosmetic? I guess the 1 star rating is throwing me off. With it being tall in the middle like that it could be that the oven was a little too hot or that the batter was uneven the skillet.
Jeri
Hi Stacey, Thank you for sharing your recipe I can’t wait to try it. My cornbread dressing is always stiff the next day and I like to keep it soft. I noticed you didn’t add eggs to your dressing and I do. Could it be the eggs that’s making my dressing stiff?
I can’t say for sure, but the extra protein in the eggs certainly might be what’s making it firm up.
Rebecca
Do you use white or yellow cornmeal in your cornbread recipe?
Either works just fine, but I typically use white.
Amanda Joslin
How many skillets of cornbread do you have to make to get 7 cups? I made one pan but it doesn’t look like enough.
It depends on the size of the recipe. If you’re using the recipe on this post for cornbread, one batch should give you enough for the dressing recipe.
Ellen
Sorry, but this was absolutely horrible cornbread.
Horrible cornbread or horrible dressing? There are two different recipes in this post, so I’m just curious. Also, can you tell me a little more about why you classify it as “horrible?” These type of comments are frustrating because there’s nothing to go on…
Ellen
The comment was for the basic cornbread recipe. I realize southern cornbread isn’t supposed to be sweet, but this had absolutely no flavor.
It’s cornbread for dressing. It’s basic. Try this one: https://southernbite.com/elmers-cornbread/ Or maybe try a different cornmeal next time.
Julie Miller
Not sure if this was already addressed in your comments and if it was I apologize for asking again; it would be helpful if I could make this the day before, so wouldn’t it be better to make the cornbread in advance then put everything else together the day of or does it matter?? Thanks again!
Yes, you can certainly make the cornbread in advance. My preference would be to assemble it right before baking, but you can put it all together, cover, and refrigerate, and then bake it day-of if you’d like.
Rebecca
This is the best dressing recipe I’ve ever tried! Have you ever made this and frozen it or would you recommend only refrigerating the night before baking. With so many dishes to get ready at once on Thanksgiving I’m just trying to figure out what can be made ahead of time and not sacrifice taste! Thanks for all your great advice and wonderful recipes!
Thanks, Rebecca! Yes, you can totally freeze this, but prepping it the night before will work as well. It’s pretty versatile.
Brenda Wortz
Made your cornbread and dressing today. Very easy and very good! Thanks Stacy!
So happy to hear you enjoyed it!
Ree
As a Southern woman I think this pan dressing recipe is to easy because there is a lot of skipping going own and for me it bland the flavor. In my dressing that my grandmother passed on to me. She was “The Help” for a family growing up and if you seen the movie you know what that entails. I learned to put parboiled fresh cut celery and onion boiled in chicken broth (boiled hen broth) and a stick of butter in my dressing, I cool the hen and pull the meat from the bone and set aside to fold into the dressing once I put it together. Even if we have turkey we do a pan of chicken and dressing. So you can have turkey on the side or eat it without turkey. We also add tsp of sage, poultry season, powder chicken bullion or kosher salt if you don’t have any, black pepper. If it’s a huge pan of dressing change to a tbs instead. I’m the one who deviated from my granny’s recipe and started adding a box of Stovetop stuffing mix in place of light bread or biscuit pieces. Pour stuffing mix into broth mix to soak, then pour it all on top of the crumbled cornbread. Also 4 beaten eggs, can of pet milk, can of cream of chicken, can of cream of celery, pour in the broth/celery/onion mix it will soften everything and get those freshly washed plastic cover hands in there and mix and squeeze between the fingers until you have saturated mush. fold in boneless hen meat and proceed to mix again. Spray and butter your pan or stoneware pan (best to get that dark brown bottom you want). Pour mix into pan and bake for 45min until brown. Can broil and watch it get a little browner on the top if you want your topping crust more of a crunch before hitting all that moist goodness.
Thanks for sharing your variation, Ree! I know your grandmother’s recipe is AMAZING!
Ree
You’re welcome!
Virginia
Stacey, writing about the onions and celery ingredients: A quick way to chop these ingredients is to chunk them, and put them in a mini food processor or one of those little ‘choppers’ for a few pulses and then add it to the cornbread dressing. Also, what I like to do is to add some minced water chestnuts to the mixture too for a little ‘crunch’ to the dressing. Your recipe is good anytime of the year with baked or rotisserie chicken from the deli and also chicken ‘tenders’. A jar of prepared gravy is nice on the cornbread dressing, if desired, or one of those packages of mixed up dried gravy mixes works well too. I don’t save this recipe just for Thanksgiving; I consider it to be a year round recipe.
Agreed! Thanks, Virginia!
Jackie Jones
You have a lot of wonderful recipes. This sounds amazing and I love cornbread dressing. I just have a question. Is there no sage in this?
My family has never used sage. I talk about it in the blog post and the video. You can certainly add it, though.
Jackie Jones
I’m at work right now so I will check out the video later. Thank you Stacey for all the wonderful recipes.
You bet! I’m always happy to help!
Ellie Wright
Your cornbread recipe is perfect!! This dressing is close to what my mom passed onto me. I’ve tweaked it over the years, but never tried adding Cream of Chicken soup. I may try that this year. I use chopped celery and I boil a whole chicken to use the broth. Then shred the chicken into the mixture. My family loves sage, so we go a little overboard with it. Boiling the chicken adds a lot of prep time so I mainly just make it at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Sounds perfect!!
Johna Weeks
So delicious. For a weeknight meal, I add rotisserie chicken to make it a relatively quick main course. I can’t wait for the holidays to have it, I make it at least once a month!😁
We love doing this, too! I need dressing more than once a year!
Doris
Love the simplicity of this recipe…. a keeper for sure. In the future I plan to tweak it some by added red and green peppers for my chicken and dressing. Thanks Stacey!
Sounds great! Enjoy!
Kim
Love this recipe. It is so simple and easy, everytime I’ve made it everyone loves it. I do add some boiled eggs.
Thanks, Kim!
Dot
Please read Stacey’s request that KINDNESS IS REQUIRED. You seem to be very angry. Just because YOUR grandmother made it a certain way, doesn’t mean that everyone else has it wrong.
Dot
My last comment was to Linda Ellis.
Jessie
This is a wonderful recipe!!! My go to for sure!!
Thanks, Jessie!
Jessie
So easy and delicious!!!!! My go to now!!
DIANE W CHAMBERS
my mama made cornbread like this….I know she showed me countless times how to make it….I could never get the proportions right….she’s been gone a year now…..I was ecstatic when I found this recipe…..all the other recipes had flour and sugar….I’ve made this at least once a week since finding it….love it!!!
Wow! Thanks, Diane! I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed it!
Shirley Tyler
Made it and turn out good.I prefer cutting my own celery instead of cram of cele rd y soup.
Chrystina Foxdale
I cut the recipe in half, since I’m usually a “party of 1”. Used half a can of each soup, and a soupcan of water with chicken base. 8×8 pan. Added about ½ tsp of poultry seasoning.
It’s probably going to be a long time until I make it again, though…
Was SO freakin’ *delicious* that I ate half the pan in one sitting
Ha! So glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Kris Hendershot
I made this for Thanksgiving and everyone loved it. Even my 13 year old grandaughter, and she’s a picky eater. Thank you for this easy receipe.
Wonderful! I’m so glad to hear everyone enjoyed it, Kris!
Sharon
Every year I try a different dressing recipe, trying to find THE one. Everyone at the table agreed that this dressing is IT. It’s surprising how easy and simple it is. So glad to have found your site and this wonderful dressing recipe.
Thank you so much, Sharon!!
Melony
Turned out great!
Glad to hear it!
Lee Reed
This is the best way to eat cornbread I’ve ever tried. Before this, I’d pretty much given up on cornbread because of it’s dryness. This is fantastic. My step son is a vegetarian so I had to tweek the recipe some. Instead of cream of chicken soup I just added another can of cream of celery and substituted the chicken broth with water. It is a big hit with my family.
So glad to hear y’all enjoyed it!!
Crystal
You can use vegetables broth as well.
Tammy
Can you use a packaged cornbread mix or already made cornbread for this recipe?
Absolutely! I’d just avoid sweet cornbread.
Jae
If I use condensed soup, do I still need to add water to the soup?
No, just use the soup straight out of the can.
Gwendolyn Gates
Very good
Thanks!!
Cheap580
I Was Looking For A Recipe For Southern CornBread Dressing (A Boy From Georgia) Without Celery And This Is It Thanks
Sure hope you’ll enjoy it!
Lynn Davis
Hello, I make this often and will be making it for the big Thanksgiving gathering this year at my friend Chip Hudson’s home. I use chopped celery instead of the soup but I love the cream of chicken soup addition. This is some awesome comfort food to me. There will be many folks gathered and I can’t wait to share. Happy Thanksgiving to y’all.
Happy Thanksgiving, Lynn! Enjoy!
Kathy
Can you make the night before and just bake the next day????
Absolutely!
Linda Ellis
This is not southern cornbread dressing. It’s canned soup dressing not southern dressing. I make homemade cornbread dressing recipe from great grand parents. REAL CORNBREAD DRESSING WANT RECIPE I CAN GIVE U BUT NO MEASURES U LEARN HOW TO MAKE AS A CHILD FROM UR GRANDMOTHER
DONT MEAN TO B RUDE BUT THIS ISNT SOUTHERN DRESSING SORRY.
Hey, Linda! I understand that it might not have been your intention, but this did come off a quite rude, to be honest. Let’s keep in mind that just because it’s different than your version, it doesn’t mean it’s bad. We can agree on one thing, our grandmothers did it best… and this is the way my grandmother has always made it.
Gloria D Shealy
Love the way you responded to this!
Thanks, Gloria! I try my best to offer the same grace that I’d hope someone would offer me if I were having a bad day. 🙂
Joyce
This is just like my mother’s homemade dressing and adding the chicken soup just makes it moist. My mother did this also and she was never wrong. So you did great with your homemade cornbread dressing!!
Thank you so very much, Joyce!
Pat
It’s ok Linda if you dont make it that way. We probably all do it a little different. Does not make it right or wrong either way. Just differences in taste and preferences. To each their own they say. All he is doing is offering an easy tasty alternative for maybe someone who maybe does not know how to make it or maybe try a different way. We all just need to be kind and respectful to everyone.
Doris
Gee, Linda… why so angry? Maybe no coffee this morning perhaps. We all have our own style and favorite ways of doing things. Have a happy day!
Rachel Hollis
My family loved this recipe!
I’m so glad to hear it, Rachel! Thanks for letting me know!
Claudia Conrad
I have used several of your recipes and all have been great. I plan on using your family Cornbread Dressing recipe for Thanksgiving except I will have to add Sage since my family has grown up on sage in our dressing. Thank you for caring enough to share your recipes.
Thanks you, Claudia! yes, the sage works perfectly in this recipe. Sure hope it turns out great for you!
TUCO CARRERA
Stacey, Always great Recipes, But on this one you FORGOT the SAGE Bro ! Also, with my Dressing , I always added about 6 Eggs Boiled and chopped up ! Jus Saying. Luv Ya, Great Job
Ha! No sage for this fam, but I don’t hate on it. In fact, I include the info so others can add it if they want.
Terri Jones
Is this recipe gluten free?
As it is written, no. The cornmeal mix to make the cornbread contains gluten. That being said, plain cornmeal is gluten free so if you used plain cornmeal for the cornbread, that would work. The other issue would be the “cream of” soups, but I’ve recently seen a few gluten free options for those as well. It’s really about ensuring your ingredient are gluten free.
Angela K. Marvin
Hmm, we’d actually probably need to make TWO pans of the cornbread to get 7 cups’ worth, right?
No, one batch of cornbread should yield about 7 cups.
Betty P
I’ll admit it. I’m a Yankee! Born and raised Italian in Chicago. My Thanksgiving stuffing recipe usually has some Italian sausage, maybe chestnuts, mushrooms, walnuts, apples. The list is endless. Year after year, my Southern husband from Tennessee asked for cornbread dressing. I had no clue what that meant! Now I do! I have my misgivings. Canned soup? Do people actually still use that stuff? I am making this for Thanksgiving. I trust you, Stacy. You haven’t guided me wrong so far. I’m sure it will be delish!! Thank you.
Ha! Thanks for the trust. Hope you’ll enjoy it!
Nina Jackson
Great recipes!!
Thanks, Nina!
Sydney
2 questions. What if you don’t have a cast iron skillet. I mean I do..but It never turns out right.
And will it make a difference to make the cornbread the night before the dressing?
You can certainly use a 9-inch baking pan for the cornbread. And making the cornbread the night before is perfect.
Catherine in Alabama
My granddaughter is allergic to eggs, so I was hopeful when I found this recipe.
BUT…you make your cornbread with 2 eggs!
So this is NOT an egg-free cornbread dressing.
I guess I’m confused. Did someone claim this was an egg-free dressing?
Debra bacchus
Thank you for sharing
Thank you Debra!
Frannie
Catherine, our family always makes Hot Water Cornbread. Ingredients are only plain medium ground cornmeal, self rising flour, salt, oil and hot water, bake in cast iron skillet. We never add eggs, milk or buttermilk.
That’s certainly an idea!
Linda
Thanks 👍 I will definitely be trying this 😊
Hope you’ll enjoy it!
Linda
How much sage would you use for this recipe? TIA
1 to 2 teaspoons is common in other recipes like this.
Billie
Stacey, I love your recipes and I also enjoy watching you on ‘Everything Southern’. Long live the southern recipes.
Thank you! And thanks for watching!!
Lydia
Stacey,
This is very close to the dressing recipe I make that was my grandmother’s recipe. She used cream of mushroom soup and finely chopped celery which adds an additional little crunch along with the onions. Her recipe says to make the cornbread a couple of days ahead and let it dry out a little. She also added milk in addition to the chicken broth and her instructions said to “mix with hands and add milk until sloppy.” Can’t have dry dressing!!!!
Glad to know we aren’t the only ones who enjoy a good cornbread dressing!
Thanks for all you do!
Love this! Thanks, Lydia!
Janet
I’m a born and raised Southerner and so is my cooking. I cook just like my mom did. The great thing about Southern cooking is tweaking the recipes to make them so the family loves what you’re making. It’s the little things we change though, nothing major. There are very few recipes that I don’t change just a little. I’m sure most people do that. That doesn’t mean that I’m not a Southern cook! Stacey will tell you he tweaks a lot and he’s as Southern as they come! I love your recipes Stacey. Most of them are so familiar to me and I love the changes you usually make in your recipes. And for those of you that don’t like a recipe, so what! Just move on and keep your comments to yourself. Life is hard and sour enough without you ruining everybody’s day!
Thank you so much for these kind words, Janet!! Happy Thanksgiving!
Bethann Pritchard
Hi Stacey! Thank you for the recipe! Our southern family recipe includes bacon. The bacon is sliced in 1-2” slices (easiest to do when slightly frozen and cut across whole slab of bacon) and then fried until crisp in a large, deep fry pan. Into it, is added chopped green onions, chopped onions and chopped celery and cooked for a few minutes until tender crisp. That is poured into a large bowl that contains the cornbread (made the day before). Chicken broth is added and mixed until mixture is soupy. Chopped boiled eggs are stirred in, then poured into baking pan. Pats of butter randomly placed on top, then baked until top is nicely browned. Like you, this is the one I have to have at Thanksgiving. That and my cranberry sauce which is very similar to yours, except I add a bit of cinnamon, a smidgen of allspice and a pinch of nutmeg. 😉
Thanks for sharing your recipes! Excited for you, your success and for your Chinaberry House! I look forward to purchasing your book! Abundant blessings to you and your family! Happy Thanksgiving!! 😊
Thanks so so much, Bethann! And thanks for sharing you time-honored family recipe with us! It sounds absolutely amazing! Happy Thanksgiving!
Bethann Pritchard
Thanks Stacey! I do plan to try adding the cream of chicken soup this year. I think it may make it even better! I won’t know until I try, right? 😉
I also will be trying your recipe for when I just want dressing, without the bacon, both as you make it and also trying it with the veggies that I’m accustomed to. That’s the beauty of southern cooking, any cooking for that matter – adding in or taking out what you want or don’t want. I love to experiment with my cooking.
Love your kindness and big heart! Your recipes too!! 😊
That’s so true! The beauty of being able to cook your own food is you get to make it just how you like it! Hope it turns out great for you! Thank you so much!
Donna
I’ll stick to Granma Yancey’s recipe. 2 days before, I lay out 3-4 slices of bread and cover with a flour sack. 1 day before I bake 2 9×13 pans of cornbread. I also finely chop 2 ribs of celery and chop a medium onion and put them in ziplock bags in the fridge. I boil eggs while I’m chopping, some for the dressing and some for deviled eggs. Thursday morning I get out my big pan and butter it. Then get out my biggest mixing bowl and start crumbling the cornbread. I make crumbs from the white bread and add to the bowl. Add onion, celery, 6 chopped boiled eggs,1T poultry seasoning, 1t rubbed sage, 1t salt, and 1/2t pepper. I mix it and start adding chicken stock. Taste and adjust all seasonings. Then I break 4 eggs into it and mix well. Then I pour it into the buttered pan and dot the top with bits of butter. I bake in a 350° oven for approximately 45minutes to an hour. This recipe has been in my family for 100 years. Granma said her M-I-L taught her. This would have been about 1918. She never changed anything about the recipe. The only thing I changed was doubling the recipe and baking it all at once. Been making it this way for over 50+ years.
Thanks for sharing your version, Donna! It sounds amazing!
Tee
Donna, your recipe is exactly how my mother made dressing. I love it!
PATSY
Are you sure that the oven temperature is set at 450 degrees?
For the cornbread, yes. For the dressing, it’s 350.
Kim Cathey
Hi! I live in California and I can’t find “self-rising cornmeal mix” for the cornbread recipe anywhere out here. What can I do or use as a substitute? And do you have an update on more copies of your cookbook being available to buy? Thank-you! I just loooooove your recipes!! Happy Thanksgiving!! 🙂
This should help… For every 1 cup of self-rising cornmeal: Start with 1 cup of finely ground plain corn meal in a bowl. Remove 1 tablespoon of the cornmeal and return it to the bag. To the bowl add 1 tablespoon baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix together.
Unfortunately, no news yet on the book front. The wheels of publishing turn incredibly slowly.
Francis and Melba
This sounds exactly like how I make my dressing, I also add the cream of chicken soup and onions. I use leftover biscuits and the corn bread. I add the giblets cut up to the gravy and boiled eggs. D-lish.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Christi
Way to go Stacey on your reply to the Wicked Witch of the West. I don’t use soup in my dressing either, but I would have to try it before I would criticize a recipe. Please continue with your wonderful recipes. God Bless ????
Thanks so much, Christi! We do get a few bad apples, but most of the folks that hang around these parts are thoughtful and kind like you. Enjoy!
Carol
Hello! I was reading your post about tasting the dressing before it was cooked and was reminded of a friend telling me the secret to his grandmother’s squash casserole. She puts a ladle full of uncooked dressing into the squash. We have tried it and it is very yummy!
I hope you and yours are staying safe and well and that you have a very happy holiday season.
Sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing her tip! And thanks for the kind words! I hope the same for your family, Carol!
Bj law
1 where are the eggs in your dressing. My momma taught me for every cup of cornbread put in one beaten egg. Also crumbled sleeve of saltine crackers (won’t need to add salt) and a torn up piece of sandwich bread for every two cups of cornbread. The texture is thick enough to cut squares to serve but super rich and moist.
Also always put a couple teaspoons of poultry seasoning if you dont have homemade broth because boxed isn’t chickeny enough, though i can see that chicken soup would solve that. I may try that this year.
Lastly the cornbread. Do you create your own cornbread mix? Cause bought ones are more flour than cornmeal and a good southern cornbread is more cornmeal. I buy 10 lbs self rising corn meal, 5 lbs of self rising four (White Lily of course) and mix together and store in the freezer so it doesn’t spoil. Two cups mix, 2 large eggs, 1/4 cup neutral flavor oil, and between 1 and 1-1/3 cups milk (varies by which cornmeal you use and how humid the day is) 400 degrees fot 20 minutes and you’ve got a great base for dressing.
There aren’t any eggs because my family has never used eggs in dressing. We like it a bit softer than you’re describing. Isn’t it fun how families can make the same dish so differently.
Ramona Davis
Do you have the recipe for the gravy that you put on your cornmeal dressing? I’ve been looking for the yellow cafeteria gravy recipe. I see yours is not yellow. But, it looks good.
Hi Ramona! So here’s what I do to make that classic yellow cafeteria style gravy: Use the attached recipe method and use boxed chicken broth along with a tablespoon of chicken flavored “Better Than Bouillon.” Just ignore the optional ingredients in the recipe. You only need butter, flour, broth, and the bouillon – maybe a little salt and some pepper. To me, it tastes just like it! https://southernbite.com/quick-and-easy-turkey-gravy/
Bertha Parrish
I’m so glad you commented to the rude person that was so ugly. No one is made to read the recipes. I enjoy them so thanks and keep posting.
Thank YOU, Bertha!
Deborah
This isn’t “Southern “ dressing … it sounds like cornbread soup … Where’s the SAGE ? Consult with true Southerners before making such comments please …
This is one recipe I won’t be trying anytime soon, if ever!
I’m not sure who appointed you the “Southern” police, but they sadly made a mistake. My family has been in the South for generations and this is the recipe they’ve always used. Using a particular ingredient doesn’t make a dish Southern or not. My family doesn’t like it so we don’t use it. And since it’s my blog, I can share recipes how I like them. If you don’t like it, just move right along. There’s no need for the nastiness. I should remind you that my recipes are 100% free to my readers and you certainly are showing your lack of manners. Now, be gone before someone drops a house on you, too!
Sandra
Stacy—You are absolutely right! No one needs to be nasty about these wonderful recipes. I will add sage to my dressing because my family likes it. I always use all the other ingredients you listed. But mine is often”hit or miss” because I didn’t always use the right proportions of each. I’m so glad to have the recipes for both the cornbread AND the dressing. The only time I would say you aren’t being southern, is if you don’t drink sweet tea! ???? Keep up the good work.
Ha! Thanks, Sandra!
Diane
You are so right! I’ve never understood why people feel so free to express such rude comments! Like you said, just move along lol. Thank you for sharing your great recipes with us. I’ll be trying this one! Happy holidays!
ginger
Way to go! I can’t believe she was so rude about something found on YOUR post.
I can’t find cornmeal that says self-rising. Are they all self-rising? What to do?
Some folks just don’t have manners. So, all cornmeal are not self rising. But this should help…
For every 1 cup of self-rising cornmeal: Start with 1 cup of finely ground plain corn meal in a bowl. Remove 1 tablespoon of the cornmeal and return it to the bag. To the bowl add 1 tablespoon baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix together.
Teresa Pittman
Love love love your response to this snotty nasty, rude and as many more discriptive words as I can think of hmm lady. What a nerve she has after you take the time and effort to share this and might I add for free. Thank you for being a great southerner. Your manners with her are certainly better than mine would have been! Thanks for the great southern recipes as well.
Thanks, Teresa. You’re so sweet to say that. I try to be as gracious as possible but it’s super frustrating to see folks complaining about something that I share for free.
Beth Jones
Stacey I just read your comments to that mean lady! Haha my family is from the south and we have been here for many generations!! LOL sage in dressing never in my life!!! Two variations you might like though…just for fun add browned sausage and yes I know that sausage has sage! It is a fun addition. I also make oyster dressing for the few of us that loves oysters!! To each his own and be nice people! Drop a house on her made me LOL!! Asked for your book for Christmas this year!
Both of those versions sound amazing! I sure hope that you’ve been good this year! 🙂
Beverly Hafernik
Just loved your response to that person especially the last sentence about ( before someone drops a house on you) lol. I will have to remember that. My mom made cornbread dressing also but she never used the soups just chicken broth and she also added a touch of powdered chili pepper. The soups sound delicious. I think it’s all in where you were bought up in the south and your family recipes. I think it’s all about what you want to put in your own dressing if you have a good base recipe. Try new things, if you don’t like it don’t do it again.???? By the way I love your recipes because they are so similar to my moms.????
Thanks so much, Beverly! Comments like these are exactly why I do what I do. Thanks for your kind words!
SINTHIA WHISNANT
Well said Stacey so many negative folks in this world today. Southern’s make different recipes just because it is different does not make his not southern. That was mean and all I can do is pray for folks like negative Nancy up there. You keep doing what you are doing Stacey.
It sure would be a boring world if we all did things the exact same way. Not sure why folks have to get so up in arms over cornbread dressing, but we’re just going to keep on keeping on. No time for that kind of negativity, for sure!
Janie
Good for you Stacey!
Jim
I’m glad I stumbled upon your recipe page in my email. This is the recipe I’ve been using for years, the only difference is I usually don’t boil my egg before adding it. And yes, it must be very soupy before baking or it will be so dry it will be virtually inedible without a whole log of gravy. I don’t care for sage but some of my family does, so I frequently bake two batches, one without and one with. I usually butter my baking dish well before I pour the dressing mixture in. We like [ baking hen rather than turkey. I use a gravy recipe very similar to yours and I usually chop the hen drumstick meat and add to the gravy.
Sounds great! It’s funny, my grandmother always cooks a hen too because she says it makes the best broth. Thanks for the kindness!
jim
Deborah, I was born in Alabama 84 years ago. I’ve been eating and making this dressing recipe all my life. My great grandmother, used it, my grandmother used it, my mother used it. IT IS ABSOLUTELY SOUTHERN!
Deidre
I cook my celery and onions IN my cornbread.
I LOVE this idea!
Lisa
Hi Stacey, where can I find the gravy recipe you used in the picture? Can’t wait to try this recipe.
I don’t have it posted, but will certainly get it up there soon.
SHIRLEY
Try adding pecans.
Sounds like an interesting addition!!
Nakia McLaurin
If I forget to add the can of soup and bake thw dressing it and it’s not really moist, can I break it up and add the soup and rebake it?
I don’t see why not. 🙂
Victoria Long
Is it possible to make the dressing the day before and heat it up right before dinner? Is there anything you’d change to make it best for doing that? I am having a hard time figuring out how to manage my oven space/time. I wish I had a second oven just once a year!
Yes, you can absolutely do that! Cover it tightly with foil and reheat then remove the foil and bake for an additional 20 minute or so.
Carona
I am enjoying reading your recipes I am going to pick and try some of them with my dressing will let you know how it comes out
Hope y’all enjoy!!
Ann
great website love the receipes
Thanks so much!!
Michelle
Hi, I absolutely love all of your recipes. They are simple and delicious. Have you ever posted a simple gravy for dressing as shown in the picture? I never have giblets as we like ham rather than turkey for Thanksgiving.
Thank you so much!
I haven’t but I’ve had two requests this year, so I’ve added it to my list. 🙂
Sherry
My Tennessee grandma has some competition Stacey ! Absolutely delicious !
Oh no! 🙂 So glad you enjoyed it!!
Tina
This looks delicious. Can the cornbread be made in the oven? I don’t have a cast iron pan. Thanks
Absolutely! A similarly sized baking pan will work just fine.
Pam Elkin
Thank you so much! I just found my recipe for Thanksgiving! My Mother has made the dressing for as long as I can remember. She is in her 80s now and has had some health issues. Standing and chopping the celery and onions is hard on her. ( I bought her a chopper for that years ago, like I use. She would not use it!???? ) She asked me last night if I would make the dressing this year! I just read your recipe and have already added it to my grocery list for Thanksgiving. It is the one for me! I never tire of reading, trying, and pinning your recipes. I love your stories that you share, too. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I just got a new cast iron skillet. This is going to be my new cornbread recipe, too. I grew up eating my Papaw’s homemade cornbread. I know that this will be just as good!
So sweet, Pam! Thanks for your kind words! I sure hope you’ll enjoy this one!
Joy
I make my Stuffing with sage and either oysters or Sausage. I do stuff the turkey. Like it moist when it comes out.
🙂
Lawanda Jackson
This looks amazing! I’m a vegetarian though…is there anything I can sub the cream of chicken with?
You could use cream of onion, perhaps.
Sandie
Cream of mushroom soup could be a vegetarian replacement.
Sure could! Great idea!
Teresa
I’m confused. On Instagram you called it sweet cornbread dressing. Almost didn’t look. I don’t care for sweet cornbread anything. This looks delicious. Glad I peeked, will have to try.
That word just snuck in there. There’s no sugar in it. 🙂
Lisa Allen-Shields
When I make my dressing, I start with cornbread, cooled and crumbled. Then I add chopped scallions (only the greens), cream of celery soup, Lawry’s seasoned salt, sage, poultry seasoning, black pepper and the seasoned broth from the boiled turkey (or chicken) necks, giblets, and livers (basically, just the innards that are in the bag inside of the turkey). I ONLY mix with my hands to make sure the “love” is in it.
Sounds great!!!
Tanya
How many pans of cornbread do I need to make to have the 7 cups for the dressing recipe?
It honestly depends on your cornbread recipe. I have some that yield about 6.5 cups and other that yield 8. The cornbread recipe here on this page will give you the perfect amount.
Tanya
Ok thanks. I am using your recipe.
Sharon
Dressing sounds great. I use my MIL’s recipe which is similar to yours “except” she used Saltine Crackers (to a 1/2 recipe of cornbread, add 1/2 sleeve crackers). She also used the cream soups, gr. onions and celery. Also, she added a couple of raw eggs and a couple of cooked eggs. Very good – I still use it today !!
By the way, I just found your site and am finding some great recipes. Thanks for sharing with us !!
Hi Sharon! That sounds great! Welcome, welcome! I hope you’ll find lots here you enjoy!
Virginia
My mother cooked the cornbread a day ahead of preparation. She used onions, celery, dried sage to taste, salt and pepper, beaten eggs. She used chicken broth; in those days or some turkey broth. it was unheard of to use any kind of cream of soup in the mixture. She felt that cooking the cornbread the day before helped it to dry out some. On occasion, she would use some stale bread if there was a shortage of the cornbread. I do recall that when she poured it into the baking dish, it was a little soupy, but then congealed when it was cooked. We referred to it as ‘dressing’ because it was not ‘stuffed’ into the turkey. (This would have been in the 1950’s)
Yes! We often use turkey broth depending on the cooking method.
Amy Meyer
Very much like my Gma’s. She used to complain about not getting “good” sage anymore! She would also freeze any leftover biscuits (if any) and the heels of bread. No boiled eggs or cream of anything soup. She wanted the juices from the Turkey.
Judy V
I recently read a recipe that added celery and onions to the cornbread batter before cooking it. I have not tried it, but sounds like it would add extra flavor.
I just recently heard of that too. Personally, I think it’s genius!
Cheryl
We always had Italian Dressing, that is until I tasted some incredible cornbread dressing at my boyfriends house and spent many years trying to make it, she wouldn’t share her recipe, so practice makes perfect. Now we make both and we have always made the cornbread the day before and precooked in butter the celery and onions and then just added butter and veges to cornbread. I love your recipes and asked for your cookbook for my birthday next month. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much, Cheryl! And happy early birthday!!
Winnie Mom
Your recipe is much like mine. I do add the celery precooked with the onion. I do add about 1/3 cup melted butter in with my broth for a touch of added flavor. Sometimes I will add some finely shredded chicken to my dressing when I cook it to get homemade broth. Don’t forget the gravy and cranberry sauce to go with it.
Judy Felts Ray
Camden folks think alike! Ours is basically the same recipe with a few differences. A bit though that travel from a friend’s mom is to let the cornbread cool completely before mixing or the dressing is “gummy”! I’m enjoying your recipes a lot!
Thanks, Judy! Yes, I prefer making my cornbread the day before.
Mary Penton
Perfect!! (Yes – no boxed stuffing!!!)
You know we have to have our dressing! 🙂
Priscilla Penton
Hi Mary Penton Happy Thanksgiving! Penton is not a common name and I always looking for relatives because I’m a Penton too.
Paul nettles
My granny was a penton , her daddy was Robert penton from jay Florida
Julia Dawn Mason
Hi Stacey,
My dressing is like my mothers,,a half cornbread and half bread cubes, I use chopped onion ,green pepper chopped and a few tender ribs of celery sauteed in butter just until soft. Then they go in to the pan of cornbread and bread cubes. A boiled egg is chopped up and it goes into it also. The the seasoning of poultry seasoning is sprinkled in until the taste is right and then the chicken broth goes in and every thing is stirred to blend. Then it is baked until the edges and top are slightly toasted and crunchy,
Sounds great, Julia! 🙂
Roz Pack
That’s my families as well, except we add more boiled eggs, usually 3 or 4, and we add 3-4 beaten raw eggs for both richness, and to help it hold together. We add both sage AND poultry seasoning to taste. (About 2x as much poultry seasoning as sage.) But, I love dressing so I sure as heck wouldn’t turn down either yours or Stacey’s dressing. For sure!!
Cynthia Schottie
I have a recipe box full of your wonderful recipes and love them all. The cornbread dressing sounds so good with the two soups instead of chicken broth, which is what I usually use. I add poultry and sage to my recipe, but only because we like it. Can’t wait to try this new recipe with the soups.
Hope it turns out great for you!