This is the recipe my family has used forever. 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.
And because getting the consistency right before you bake it is really important for the texture of the finished product, I even included the cornbread recipe we use to make the dressing. It’s really no fail using these two recipes.
A couple things to keep in mind…
The mixture should seem pretty soupy when your 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.
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.
And 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!
Southern Cornbread Dressing
Ingredients
- 7 cups crumbled cornbread (use recipe below)
- 1 (10 1/2-ounce) can cream of celery soup
- 1 (10 1/2-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 minutes or until golden brown.
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.
Julia Dawn Mason says
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,
Stacey says
Sounds great, Julia! 🙂
Mary Penton says
Perfect!! (Yes – no boxed stuffing!!!)
Stacey says
You know we have to have our dressing! 🙂
Priscilla Penton says
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 says
My granny was a penton , her daddy was Robert penton from jay Florida
Judy Felts Ray says
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!
Stacey says
Thanks, Judy! Yes, I prefer making my cornbread the day before.
Winnie Mom says
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 V says
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.
Stacey says
I just recently heard of that too. Personally, I think it’s genius!
Cheryl says
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!
Stacey says
Thanks so much, Cheryl! And happy early birthday!!
Virginia says
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)
Stacey says
Yes! We often use turkey broth depending on the cooking method.
Amy Meyer says
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.
Sharon says
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 !!
Stacey says
Hi Sharon! That sounds great! Welcome, welcome! I hope you’ll find lots here you enjoy!
Tanya says
How many pans of cornbread do I need to make to have the 7 cups for the dressing recipe?
Stacey says
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 says
Ok thanks. I am using your recipe.
Lisa Allen-Shields says
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.
Stacey says
Sounds great!!!
Teresa says
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.
Stacey says
That word just snuck in there. There’s no sugar in it. 🙂
Joy says
I make my Stuffing with sage and either oysters or Sausage. I do stuff the turkey. Like it moist when it comes out.
Stacey says
🙂
Lawanda Jackson says
This looks amazing! I’m a vegetarian though…is there anything I can sub the cream of chicken with?
Stacey says
You could use cream of onion, perhaps.
Pam Elkin says
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!
Stacey says
So sweet, Pam! Thanks for your kind words! I sure hope you’ll enjoy this one!
Tina says
This looks delicious. Can the cornbread be made in the oven? I don’t have a cast iron pan. Thanks
Stacey says
Absolutely! A similarly sized baking pan will work just fine.
Sherry says
My Tennessee grandma has some competition Stacey ! Absolutely delicious !
Stacey says
Oh no! 🙂 So glad you enjoyed it!!
Michelle says
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!
Stacey says
I haven’t but I’ve had two requests this year, so I’ve added it to my list. 🙂
Ann says
great website love the receipes
Stacey says
Thanks so much!!
Carona says
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
Stacey says
Hope y’all enjoy!!
Victoria Long says
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!
Stacey says
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.
Nakia McLaurin says
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?
Stacey says
I don’t see why not. 🙂
SHIRLEY says
Try adding pecans.
Stacey says
Sounds like an interesting addition!!
Lisa says
Hi Stacey, where can I find the gravy recipe you used in the picture? Can’t wait to try this recipe.
Stacey says
I don’t have it posted, but will certainly get it up there soon.
Deidre says
I cook my celery and onions IN my cornbread.
Stacey says
I LOVE this idea!
Deborah says
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!
Stacey says
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 says
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.
Stacey says
Ha! Thanks, Sandra!
Diane says
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 says
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?
Stacey says
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 says
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.
Stacey says
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.
Jim says
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.
Stacey says
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 says
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!
Bertha Parrish says
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.
Stacey says
Thank YOU, Bertha!
Ramona Davis says
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.
Stacey says
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/