Description
Southern comfort shines through this classic cornbread dressing, blending crumbled cornbread with aromatic herbs and savory seasonings. Hearty, soul-warming flavors deliver a traditional side dish that connects generations around family dinner tables.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups crumbled cornbread
- 2 cups bread cubes
- 23 cups chicken or turkey broth
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- ½ cup unsalted butter
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Cornbread Base Ingredients:
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar (optional)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Craft a perfectly textured cornbread base by crumbling freshly baked or store-purchased cornbread into delicate, uniform pieces, carefully removing any tough exterior crust to ensure a smooth, consistent texture.
- Elevate the flavor profile by gently sautéing aromatic onions and crisp celery in golden, melted butter, allowing the vegetables to release their natural essence and develop a rich, caramelized undertone.
- Merge the cornbread fragments with the fragrant vegetable medley in a spacious mixing vessel, introducing herbs and seasonings that will harmonize the dish’s complex flavor dimensions.
- Gradually incorporate warm broth into the mixture, stirring methodically to achieve a luxurious, moist consistency that binds the ingredients without becoming waterlogged, then gently fold in whisked eggs to provide structural integrity.
- Carefully transfer the culinary composition into a well-greased baking receptacle, ensuring an even distribution that promotes uniform cooking and optimal texture development.
- Roast the dressing in a preheated oven until the surface transforms into a golden, crisp landscape while maintaining a tender, succulent interior, signaling its readiness to grace your festive table.
- Allow the dressing to rest momentarily after emerging from the oven, permitting its flavors to settle and intensify before presenting this quintessential accompaniment alongside your main course.
Notes
- Toast cornbread crumbs lightly in the oven before mixing to enhance its crispy texture and deepen the nutty flavor profile.
- Replace traditional broth with vegetable stock for a vegetarian-friendly version that maintains rich, savory taste.
- Mix in fresh herbs like sage, thyme, or rosemary to elevate the dressing’s aromatic complexity and add bright, earthy notes.
- Experiment with additional mix-ins like chopped pecans, diced apples, or dried cranberries to create unique flavor variations and unexpected textural elements.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 298
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 76 mg