Description
Hearty Southern cornbread dressing brings classic comfort straight from grandmother’s kitchen to your holiday table. Savory herbs, crumbled cornbread, and rich chicken broth blend together to create a soul-warming side dish you’ll treasure at family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 6 cups cornbread
- 6 cups Italian bread
- 2–3 cups fat-free chicken stock
- 1 stick (0.5 cups / 113 grams) unsalted butter
- 2 large eggs
Vegetables and Herbs:
- 1 large onion
- 4 stalks celery
- 3 cloves garlic
- 0.25 cups fresh parsley
Seasonings:
- 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon ground sage
- 1 teaspoon ground thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Additional:
- Non-stick cooking spray
Instructions
- Transform cornbread and Italian bread into small, uniform cubes using a sharp knife.
- Dry the bread cubes using either air-drying overnight or quick-baking method at 350°F for 10 minutes until crisp and lightly hardened.
- Heat a large sauté pan over medium temperature, melt butter until it becomes golden and fragrant.
- Sauté diced celery and onion for approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until vegetables become translucent and tender.
- Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 2 minutes, releasing aromatic flavors. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Combine dried bread cubes in a spacious mixing bowl, creating a textural base for the dressing.
- Incorporate sautéed vegetables, chicken stock, fresh herbs, and seasonings into the bread mixture.
- Evaluate the mixture’s moisture level, gradually adding more chicken stock if the consistency appears dry.
- Gently fold beaten eggs into the dressing, ensuring thorough and even distribution.
- Preheat oven to 400°F and prepare a 9×13-inch casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Transfer the cornbread dressing into the prepared dish, spreading evenly with a spatula.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes, creating a moist interior.
- Uncover the dish and continue baking for an additional 20 minutes until the surface turns golden brown and develops a crispy texture.
- Allow the dressing to rest for several minutes after removing from the oven, which helps set the structure.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm as a delectable Southern side dish.
Notes
- Use day-old or slightly stale bread for the best texture and absorption of flavors in your dressing.
- Toast bread cubes to enhance their flavor and create a crispy exterior while maintaining a soft interior.
- Experiment with different herbs like rosemary or thyme to customize the taste profile of your cornbread dressing.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute regular bread with gluten-free cornbread and breadcrumbs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 245 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg