Cornbread Dressing Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

Cornbread Dressing Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Laurel Perry

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This old-fashioned, Southern-style Cornbread Dressing recipe is filled with fresh herbs, garlic, celery, and cubes of buttery cornbread. This savory cornbread stuffing is easy to make with quick prep, and it comes out of the oven mouthwateringly delicious. It’s the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving and beyond!

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Table of Contents

Why We Love This Cornbread Dressing Recipe

Buttery, sweet cornbread mixes with savory aromatics and a touch of sweet brown sugar to create a dressing that’s the perfect complement to savory Thanksgiving favorites!

Variations on Cornbread Stuffing

This homemade cornbread dressing is so easy to modify to your liking. For a more savory take, simply omit the brown sugar. For a bit more visual and textural interest, try adding chopped nuts or dried cranberries.

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Cornbread Dressing Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (4)

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How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover cornbread dressing tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven covered with foil for about 30 minutes.

How to Freeze

You can freeze this cornbread stuffing casserole both before and after baking. Simply wrap tightly in 2 layers of plastic wrap and 1 layer of aluminum foil and store for up to 3 months. Bake directly from frozen in a 350°F oven for 55-60 minutes, or allow the baked dressing to thaw completely in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this tasty easy cornbread dressing with other Thanksgiving classics, like turkey, turkey gravy, mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, creamed corn, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, and other Thanksgiving side dishes.

What is the difference between cornbread stuffing and cornbread dressing?

While they’re basically the same thing, there is a technical difference: stuffing is cooked inside the bird (stuffed), and dressing is cooked on its own. So this recipe is a dressing, though I might call it stuffing sometimes.

What is cornbread dressing made of?

This dressing is made from cornbread, onions, celery, garlic, fresh herbs, eggs, broth, milk, and a little bit of sugar.

Can you leave cornbread out overnight for dressing?

Yes! While this dressing can be made with fresh cornbread, letting the cubes sit out overnight will help dry them out a bit to ensure the dressing doesn’t turn out gummy.

Is it better to use broth or stock for dressing?

Both work perfectly well!

How moist should dressing be before baking?

You want your stuffing mixture to be moist but not wet. If there is a puddle of broth at the bottom, you’ve added too much liquid. You can fix this by adding a bit more cornbread.

How do you know when dressing is done?

The top of the dressing should be lightly browned. You can tell if it’s cooked through by gently shaking the casserole dish. If the center wiggles, it needs a bit more time!

Why is my cornbread dressing crumbly?

If your dressing is crumbly, it’s likely that it is too dry. Try drizzling a bit more warm broth over top before serving.

Why is my cornbread dressing gummy?

If your dressing is gummy, it is likely both undercooked and too moist. Try cooking it uncovered for 10-15 minutes more to dry it out a bit.

Why is my cornbread dressing bland?

If your dressing turned out bland, try adding more herbs, salt, and pepper. Measure with your heart!

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More Stuffing Recipes To Try

  • Homemade Turkey Stuffing
  • Vegetarian Stuffing
  • Wild Rice Sausage Stuffing
  • Butternut Squash Stuffing
  • Sausage Stuffing

Recipe

Cornbread Dressing Recipe

4.84 from 6 votes

Author: Laurel Perry

Prep: 15 minutes minutes

Cook: 1 hour hour

Total: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

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Serves10

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Buttery, herb-y. and garlic-y, this old-fashioned cornbread dressing is quick to prep, and comes out of the oven incredibly tasty!

Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.

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Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter plus more for greasing the pan
  • 2 onions finely diced
  • 3 ribs celery finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh sage
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
  • 1 tablespoons minced fresh thyme
  • 9 cups cubed cornbread
  • 1 large egg lightly beaten
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • ¾ cup whole milk
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Recommended Equipment

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with butter.

  • In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add in the onion and celery. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add in the garlic, sage, parsley, and thyme. Cook until fragrant, 1-2 minutes.

    3 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 onions, 3 ribs celery, 2 cloves garlic, 2 tablespoons minced fresh sage, 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley, 1 tablespoons minced fresh thyme

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  • Remove from the heat and pour into a large bowl.

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  • To the vegetables, add the cornbread, egg, chicken broth, milk, brown sugar, salt and pepper. Gently stir until combined.

    9 cups cubed cornbread, 1 large egg, 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth, ¾ cup whole milk, ¼ cup brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon kosher salt

    Cornbread Dressing Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (10)

  • Spoon the mixture into your prepared pan. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 20 minutes or until the top is golden.

    Cornbread Dressing Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (11)

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Becky’s tips

  • You can use 2 teaspoons of dried rubbed sage in place of fresh and 1 teaspoon dried thyme in place of fresh.
  • You can use vegetable broth for a vegetarian cornbread stuffing.
  • You can freeze the whole casserole before baking, then bake directly from frozen at 350°F for 55-60 minutes.

Storage:Store cornbread dressing tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 793kcal (40%) Carbohydrates: 126g (42%) Protein: 16g (32%) Fat: 25g (38%) Saturated Fat: 11g (69%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g Monounsaturated Fat: 9g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 151mg (50%) Sodium: 1543mg (67%) Potassium: 437mg (12%) Fiber: 6g (25%) Sugar: 42g (47%) Vitamin A: 694IU (14%) Vitamin C: 5mg (6%) Calcium: 343mg (34%) Iron: 5mg (28%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

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Cornbread Dressing Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (13)

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How to Make Cornbread Dressing Step by Step

Cook the Veggies: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with butter and set aside. In a large skillet, melt 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter over medium heat. Add in 2 finely diced onions and 3 finely diced ribs of celery. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add in 2 cloves of minced garlic, 2 tablespoons of minced fresh sage, 2 tablespoons of minced fresh parsley, and 1 tablespoon of minced fresh thyme. Cook until fragrant, 1-2 minutes.

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Add to a Bowl: Remove from the heat and pour into a large bowl.

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Add the Cornbread: To the vegetables, add 9 cups of cubed cornbread, 1 large egg, 1 cup of low-sodium chicken broth, ¾ cup of whole milk, ¼ cup of brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, and ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper. Gently stir until combined.

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Cover and Bake: Spoon the mixture into your prepared pan. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 20 minutes or until the top is golden.

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Cornbread Dressing Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (18)

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Cornbread Dressing Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

How long will cornbread dressing last in the refrigerator? ›

A great make-ahead recipe: You can make this Thanksgiving side dish up to a day in advance, and keep it in the fridge until you're ready to bake it. The leftovers are good for up to 4 days so you can enjoy leftover cornbread dressing with your turkey leftovers the next day.

How do you keep cornbread dressing from getting gummy? ›

If your dressing doesn't turn out right, don't fret. You can usually fix it. If you find your stuffing is too dry, add additional warmed broth to it, stir well, and return to the oven, checking periodically. If the stuffing is overly wet and too gummy, cook it uncovered for a bit longer, checking periodically.

Why is my cornbread dressing still wet in middle? ›

The stuffing should be moist but not wet. If there is a puddle of broth at the bottom of the bowl, you've added too much.

Why is my cornbread dressing too dry? ›

"A dry stuffing or dressing is usually dry after baking simply because the recipe lacked enough moisture or fat," confirms Bridget Lancaster, executive editorial director at America's Test Kitchen.

Does cornbread dressing go bad? ›

Stuffing/dressing: If stored properly in the fridge, stuffing or dressing is good to eat up to three to four days after you cooked it. But it'll last about a month in the freezer.

Can I freeze my cornbread dressing? ›

Yes, you can freeze dressing in advance of the Thanksgiving feast. There are two ways to go about it: You can prepare the recipe up until the point of baking, then freeze. Or bake the dressing according to the recipe, allow it to cool completely, and freeze.

Is it better to use broth or stock for dressing? ›

You can use either stock or broth for keeping dressing moist or as a basis for gravy, but a strong flavor will give you better results.

Why does my dressing taste gummy? ›

One potential reason for gummy cornbread dressing could be using cornbread that is too moist. It's best to use cornbread that has been left out overnight or is slightly stale to ensure a drier texture.

Can you leave cornbread out overnight for dressing? ›

Be sure to leave enough time — the cornbread needs to sit out overnight to harden slightly before you make the dressing.

Should you put an egg in stuffing? ›

The most important ingredient of stuffing may be the binder, which keeps all the other elements in place. For a fluffy texture, use eggs. Stock is the most-used binder. Less conventional possibilities include fruit juice (such as apple or orange) and alcohol (wine or liqueur).

How do you know when the dressing is done? ›

Pour dressing into two 9×13 baking dishes and bake until lightly browned, about 30 – 45 minutes. To test doneness, shake casserole dish lightly. If the center of the dressing moves, then the dressing is not cooked through in the center.

Why put egg in dressing? ›

Eggs add richness to the stuffing, and makes it cohere better. I'd use two eggs per pound of bread. I'm a no egg person - and I still stuff the bird (but also do a batch out of the bird). me, too, Chem - I make a boatload of dressing (we never stuff the bird) specifically so I have leftovers to eat with gravy.

How do you keep dressing from drying out? ›

Use enough liquid: The key to keeping stuffing moist is to use enough liquid. You can use chicken or vegetable broth, melted butter, or a combination of both. The amount of liquid you need will depend on the recipe, but a good rule of thumb is to use about 1/2 to 1 cup of liquid for every 4 cups of bread cubes.

How long can homemade dressing last in fridge? ›

Homemade vinaigrettes that include fresh or cooked vegetables (like garlic), herbs and fresh citrus juices will last around three days, according to Ziata. Preservative-free vinaigrettes you'll typically find in the refrigerated section of the grocery store will last a little longer, three to five days.

Does dressing go bad in the fridge? ›

Unopened jars of mayonnaise and salad dressing may be stored in the pantry. After opening, keep refrigerated up to 2 months. For more information, you may call the Food and Drug Administration's toll-free at 1-888-723-3366 or go to FDA's website. To search a database for storage times, go to the FoodKeeper app.

Is stuffing still good after 5 days? ›

If stuffing is prepared ahead of time, it must be either frozen or cooked immediately. To use cooked stuffing later, cool in shallow containers and refrigerate it within 2 hours. Use it within 3 to 4 days.

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