***UPDATED SOUTHERN CORNBREAD DRESSING RECIPE #1***
I created this post in 2009 but updated it with a video. I’ve also updated the recipe and you can find that here.
Watch me make this southern cornbread dressing recipe from start to finish!
If you’ve ever wondered how to make a flavorful, homemade Southern Cornbread dressing, then let me share with you my grandmother’s recipe. This dressing is usually the ONLY dressing I will eat. It is moist, full of that soul food flavor and as southern as it gets! I’m talking Elberton, Georgia southern!! (lol sorry fam I just had to put that in there)
My grandmother has been making this dressing for EVERYBODY’S Thanksgiving since I was a baby. People put in their requests for her to make them a pan for their Thanksgiving dinner months ahead of time.
My Grandma’s Homemade Cornbread Dressing Before It Get’s Devoured On Thanksgiving!
When she gave me this recipe I was surprised to discover how easy it was. All this time I thought it was some complicated process. Now if you want this dressing to be darker then you can put in more seasonings. My grandmother puts in a crapload, but I find it tastes delish with just a teaspoon of each, especially if I’m going to be serving it with some flavorful gravy.
If you have a favorite southern cornbread recipe (not the sweet kind) then use that. If not I’ve listed a basic, easy one below.
Homemade Southern Cornbread Dressing Recipe ~Soul Food Style~
Ingredients
- BASIC CORNBREAD RECIPE
- 1 cup self-rising cornmeal
- 1/2 cup self-rising flour
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- SOUTHERN DRESSING RECIPE
- Cornbread 9x9 inch pan (my grandmother always uses day old cornbread)
- 3 pieces of toast crumbled (or stale bread)
- 1 cup onions diced (about half of a large onion)
- 1 cup of celery diced (about 3 stalks)
- 1 cup of green bell peppers diced about 1 medium green bell pepper. You could also add in some red bell pepper as well if you'd like
- 1 cooked chicken breast or cooked chicken thighs shredded
- 2 eggs
- 3-4 cups of chicken or turkey broth
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon sage
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- To make the cornbread, in a bowl,whisk together the cornmeal & flour.
- Add in the buttermilk, eggs & oil.
- Stir just until combined. Do not over work the batter.
- Pour into a greased, 9 x9 baking dish.
- Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until done.
- Let cool.
- Once cooled break up the cornbread and toast it in the oven to dry it out. *See note*
- Set aside.
- To make the dressing, add the dried cornbread and crumbled toast into a large bowl. Set aside.
- In a saucepan, sauté onions, celery and green bell peppers in a little bit of butter or olive oil until tender.
- Add the sautéed veggies into the cornbread mixture.
- Add shredded chicken into the cornbread mixture.
- Stir together to combine.
- Add in the broth a little at a time. (Add in just enough to make everything thick & a little soupy.)
- Stir in poultry seasoning, sage, and black pepper.
- Give it a taste and add more seasonings if desired.. It should taste exactly the way you want your dressing to taste like.
- When you are content with the taste, go ahead and stir in the eggs.
- Pour into a buttered 9 X 13 casserole pan.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until set.
Video
Notes
Be sure to taste it before adding the eggs and adjust the seasonings to your liking. You can also use chicken thighs for more flavor.
My grandmother uses red bell pepper as well sometimes.
Been using this recipe since 2014 ! Thank you so much for sharing. My family and I are eternally grateful
Can you freeze this dressing uncooked.
How do u dry out you cornbread in the oven like won’t it keep cooking
Toasting it in the oven works great.
Can you freeze the chicken and dressing recipe?
Yes. I’ve put leftovers in the freezer for future use and it’s just as good. My husband loves this recipe!
I discovered your dressing recipe in 2017 and I am so glad that I did !!!! My wife and kids LOVE IT !!!! I have even made it a couple times throughout the year but this is definitely my one and only dressing recipe for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
I have used this recipe for 2 years and I’m using today and it has turned out soo good. My family loves this recipe♡♡♡♡♡Thank you Divas so much for sharing this recipe!