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Southern Cornbread Dressing Recipe: Easy Homemade Thanksgiving Side

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This classic Southern cornbread dressing is a nostalgic, comforting side dish featuring homemade cornbread, sautéed vegetables, savory herbs, and a rich custard. Perfect for Thanksgiving or any holiday gathering, it’s moist, flavorful, and easy to customize for your family’s tastes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups homemade cornbread, crumbled (slightly dry works best for texture)
  • 2 cups white sandwich bread, torn into bite-size pieces (day-old is perfect)
  • 1 cup yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1 cup celery, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup green bell pepper, diced (optional)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh sage, minced (or 1 teaspoon dried)
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup whole milk (or buttermilk)
  • Optional: 1/2 cup cooked sausage, crumbled
  • Optional: 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • Optional: 1/2 cup diced apples
  • Optional: 1/4 cup dried cranberries

Instructions

  1. Crumb the cornbread and tear the white bread into small pieces. Let them sit uncovered for 30 minutes to dry out.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  3. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions, celery, and bell pepper. Sauté until soft and fragrant, about 8-10 minutes. If using sausage, cook separately and add now.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine cornbread, bread pieces, sautéed veggies, parsley, sage, thyme, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix gently.
  5. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, chicken broth, and milk (or buttermilk). Pour over bread-veggie mixture and stir gently until evenly moistened.
  6. If mixture seems dry, add up to 1/2 cup more broth. Mixture should be damp but not soupy.
  7. Fold in optional add-ins (nuts, fruits, sausage) if desired.
  8. Transfer mixture to baking dish and spread evenly. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 35 minutes.
  9. Remove foil and bake another 15-20 minutes until top is golden and slightly crisp. Center should feel set but soft.
  10. Let dressing sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

For gluten-free, use GF bread. For dairy-free, substitute olive oil for butter and non-dairy milk. Drying the bread and cornbread prevents sogginess. Add extra broth if mixture seems dry before baking. Customize with sausage, apples, pecans, or cranberries for festive variations. Leftovers taste even better the next day and freeze well.

Nutrition

Keywords: cornbread dressing, Thanksgiving side, Southern recipe, holiday, comfort food, easy, homemade, stuffing, casserole

Find it online: https://bitematrix.com/southern-cornbread-dressing-recipe-easy-homemade-thanksgiving-side/