Easy Cornbread Dressing Recipe

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Easy Cornbread Dressing is moist and deliciously seasoned with onions, celery, broth, and savory herbs. Looking for the perfect cornbread stuffing recipe for your holiday meal? This classic is served on our Thanksgiving & Christmas tables every year.

This recipe is a simple semi-homemade dressing recipe using easy staple ingredients along with a few fresh ingredients. It's just as delicious as the homemade cornbread version with a little less work.

A pan full of a simple cornbread dressing garnished with parsley.

Why We Love This Recipe!

EASY RECIPE: This Turkey Dressing Recipe is so easy and foolproof. It is full of delicious flavors and it’s sure to please.
SIMPLE INGREDIENTS: A few simple ingredients and you have an amazing southern cornbread dressing on the holiday table.

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I realized I had not yet shared my mom's easy dressing recipe with you all. It really has all the flavors of a southern cornbread dressing without having to break out the skillet a make a cornbread recipe.

This recipe has been used for as long as I can remember and is a tried and true recipe- a family tradition. We just can't have turkey without this Thanksgiving dressing recipe.

My mom started a tradition of cooking with the grandkids every year a day or two before Thanksgiving. All the grandkids over the years have picked the favorites they each make. My daughter always made the dressing and actually is the one now that prepares it now for the holidays.

This stuffing will make you think of home and feel the comfort of years gone by, plus it perfectly compliments the other holiday side dishes - and is so easy to boot.

Key Ingredient Notes

labeled ingredients needed for easy cornbread dressing recipe.

Pepperidge Farms Herbed Classic Stuffing (Blue bag): I always use this blend - it is an important component of the recipe. It really adds the texture of the dressing and adds the correct amount of herbs and flavor. If you use another bag you may have different results. This replaces the process of making bread crumbs or the need to dry out white bread for the recipe and cut them into small pieces.
Cornbread Stuffing Mix: I usually use the Stovetop brand in the red box, but there are other brands available. This adds the cornbread taste to the stuffing.
Chicken Broth or Stock: A good quality stock or broth works well. You can use homemade chicken broth you have stored or one from the store. I use the regular salted broth, but adjust this to your taste and use what you typically use in recipes as it will be what you enjoy the most.

Variations and Substitutions

This recipe is delicious as is, but please feel free to customize flavors to your liking.

Feel free to add in some protein if you like. Adding in some chicken or turkey will make this a meal in itself. Many people like crumbled sausage or even oysters in their dressing.
Vegetable add-ins: Stir in sauteed veggies like mushrooms, carrots, green bell peppers, or even butternut squash.
Fruits: Add in dried cranberries, apples, figs, cherries, or apricots for sweet additions.
Boiled Eggs: If you love boiled eggs in your dressing go ahead and add them in.
Herbs: The mixes have lots of seasoning built right in, but if you want a flavor you feel is missing go ahead and add it in. Some people like it loaded with sage for instance or some extra poultry seasoning.

How To Make Easy Cornbread Dressing Recipe

✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and instructions!

Step 1 | Preheat Oven and Prep Dish

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter or spray a 9x13-inch casserole dish.

Step 2 | Saute Fresh Veggies and Prep Wet Ingredients

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add celery and onion. Cook over medium-low heat until tender. These don't need to be browned just tender.

In a measuring cup add milk and egg and beat until combined (set aside).

Six step-by-step images showing how to make easy cornbread dressing.

Step 3 | Make the Cornbread Mixture

In a large mixing bowl combine cornbread stuffing mix, herbed stuffing mix, saltine crackers, and celery and onion mixture. Stir to combine.

Next, in a separate dish or measuring cup, add the milk and egg mixture(the binding agent), salt & pepper to your taste.

Then slowly pour the broth/stock over the stuffing mixture and stir until completely mixed. You want the dressing mixture to be thick and very moist. A lot of this moisture will bake out as it cooks.

I usually use all 6 cups of broth, but you can start with 4 cups and add to desired consistency.

Step 4 | Bake and Enjoy

Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.

Bake covered for 35 minutes, remove foil, and bake uncovered for another 10 to 20 minutes until golden brown and set. Oven temperatures vary. Bake for a total of 45 minutes to 1 hour.

I hope this recipe will fill your home and heart and will become a tradition in your home as it is in ours.

A white baking pan of stuffing on a wooden board with a red tea towel underneath and cut parsley in a bowl to the side.

Tips

The mixture will seem pretty soupy when it goes into the dish. It should be very moist- otherwise, your dressing will be dry when baked.
If you do not like onions you can omit them or use some onion powder to replace them. You can also grate the onion with a box grater if it is a textural thing for your family.
When it comes to salt and pepper adjustment, you can beat the eggs (set them aside) and stir them in after you add the broth if you want to taste without the risk of consuming raw eggs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between dressing and stuffing?

I use these terms interchangeably. I think it often is a regional difference (depending on where you live) as to what you call it. I'm a Southerner so I digress and it's southern cornbread dressing here! Mom always said- dressing is baked mostly outside of Turkey while stuffing is often baked inside. But you can hear it both ways regardless of whether it is cooked inside or outside of the bird.

How do you fix dry dressing?

The best way is to prevent it from becoming dry in the first place. You want to top of the dressing to be crispy and golden brown while the center is soft. So keep an eye on the cornbread stuffing and it starts covered and finishes uncovered, but if you see it getting too brown place the foil back on.
If you find you overcooked it, you can a couple of tablespoons of melted butter and/or drizzle ¼ to ⅓ cup of warm broth poured over the dressing. Allow it to soak in and give it a taste.

A spoon full of thanksgiving dressing removed from the baking dish.

What to Serve with Southern Cornbread Dressing

I may have mentioned this before but it really isn't Thanksgiving dinner without Southern Cornbread Dressing. And your Thanksgiving menu (or Christmas) isn't complete without this perfect side dish.

If your family is like ours, everyone contributes their favorite family recipe. We have to have delicious side recipes like creamy mashed potatoes (making them in the crock pot frees up the stovetop) with our Thanksgiving Turkey. A homemade cranberry sauce and southern collard greens (you can even make them Au Gratin Style) are must-haves as well!

We always end the meal with pumpkin pie or banana pudding, but there are so many delicious desserts you can choose from to make on Thanksgiving Day.

Whatever your day looks like this holiday season I hope it is filled with wonderful memories surrounded by those you love. And a full belly of course!

Make Ahead and Storage

Make Ahead: You can make this up to a month in advance and freeze it. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and bake as directed. It may need a few extra minutes if it starts out cold.

You can also make it ahead and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before baking.

Storage: Let cook completely. Cover with foil or plastic wrap or place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Freeze: You can also place it in a freezer-safe container to store in the freezer. Wrap with freezer-safe wrap and then with foil. Take it out after 1 month to make sure it doesn’t get freezer burn.

Reheat: To reheat individual servings, place desired amount on a microwave-safe dish and reheat. Heat in 30-second intervals until heated to your liking.

Other Holiday Recipes

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Easy Cornbread Dressing Recipe

Why We Love This Recipe!

Key Ingredient Notes

Variations and Substitutions