Soul Food Cornbread Dressing Recipe (2024)

Learn how to make the very best Soul Food cornbread dressing entirely from scratch! This simple, savory holiday side dish is best served with hungry family gathered around the dinner table.

Hey, cousins! Today, I am sharing a recipe I know y’all will go crazy over. It’s a holiday season recipe. I know, I know – the holidays are done and gone! But this recipe is so good that it deserves to be shared whether the holidays are right around the corner or not even on our minds.

It’s the perfect time to share my Soul Food cornbread dressing recipe! I have many cornbread dressing recipes on my blog already. However, there was one in particular that most of my subscribers went crazy over when I posted the YouTube video years ago. I never posted the recipe here, so I’m finally posting the recipe for my savory homemade cornbread dressing!

What Is Cornbread Dressing?

When I was a little girl, I was not a fan of turkey. Around the holidays, I always looked forward to a good ol’ Southern-style cornbread dressing on the Thanksgiving table.

Cornbread dressing is a variation of traditional dressing (or stuffing, as some call it). Instead of bread, cornbread dressing uses (you guessed it) cornbread! The crumbled cornbread is combined with savory herbs, aromatic veggies, canned soup, and broth for moisture. Then, it’s baked to golden brown perfection.

What makes this Soul Food cornbread dressing recipe different?

You may wonder, aren’t all cornbread dressing recipes basically the same? No, they sure ain’t, cousins! Just about every Southern family has a tried, true, and trusted recipe (and usually, only one family member is allowed to make it!). So, what makes this Soul Food, Southern-style cornbread dressing different?

It’s Savory. I make this cornbread dressing with a mix of savory fresh herbs and vegetables.
It’s Flexible. You can add or leave out ingredients, depending on your tastes. Some ingredients can even be store-bought or homemade, and they won’t change the dressing’s deliciousness.
It’s Flavorful. Now, all of my cornbread dressing recipes are damn tasty, y’all. But this one? Knocks your socks right off!

What’s the difference between cornbread dressing and cornbread stuffing?

Traditionally, stuffing is cooked INSIDE the holiday bird, while dressing is prepared in a separate dish and baked on its own. However, these days, the two terms are pretty interchangeable.

If you’re in the South, you’re more likely to hear Southerners call it dressing. Why? Because many (many) years ago, it was thought to be too “crude” to call it stuffing. In the deep South, dressing is traditionally made with cornbread, like this recipe. From there, the variations are as far and wide as you can imagine.

Ingredients for Homemade Soul Food Cornbread Dressing

A lot of dressing recipes come with a looooong list of ingredients – lots of chopping and measuring to do! Making a traditional cornbread dressing is usually a labor of love, but the payoff is oh sooo good. Here’s a brief overview of the simple ingredients you’ll need for my Soul Food cornbread dressing! You can find the full recipe and measurements in the recipe card below.

Cornbread: the foundation of the dressing. In this recipe, you can either use store-bought or homemade cornbread (more on that in a bit).
Crackers: Ritz crackers or Saltine crackers are like a secret ingredient – they bind the dressing mixture, add a touch of saltiness, and help keep the dressing moist.
Eggs: another binder to help the dressing hold shape while it bakes.
Vegetables: for this dressing recipe, I use onions, garlic, and celery – a savory trifecta!
Seasonings: keep it simple with sage – the leading flavor, warm and savory – along with seasoning salt, black pepper, and thyme.
Chicken Broth and Cream of Chicken Soup: both ingredients add moisture, and the canned soup adds creaminess to the dressing.
Chicken: now, adding diced or shredded chicken to your dressing is completely optional, but well worth it if you want more flavor, texture, and body in your dressing.

Quick and Easy Cornbread Dressing Ingredient Swaps

Remember how I said this recipe was flexible? I meant it! I usually tell y’all to (say it with me) stick to the recipe for best results. However, cornbread dressing is one of those dishes that can be made one hundred ways. I might as well share some delicious swaps to make sure you’re still making the best dressing possible for your fam!

Make it vegetarian. Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. For the canned soup, cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup will also work. Finally, leave out the chicken.
You need three medium eggs, but if you only have large eggs, use two.
Adjust the seasonings. I keep mine simple, but more seasoning = more flavor. Poultry seasoning is a popular choice. I love a mixture of dried or fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, basil, oregano, and parsley.
You can make your own chicken (I bake or boil 2-3 chicken breasts) or use store-bought, like rotisserie chicken.
You can add different vegetables to your cornbread dressing. Red or green bell peppers are common, or even carrots. I only use onions and celery because I like this recipe more on the savory side.

If I don’t have day-old cornbread, can I use fresh cornbread?

Just like when making bread stuffing, using day-old cornbread is best because it’s had a chance to dry out. However, if you don’t have time to make a batch of cornbread ahead of time, it’s perfectly okay to use fresh cornbread. Here are some quick tips to make fresh cornbread usable in your dressing:

Bake it for 5-10 minutes longer than you normally would – this will dry it out more.
Allow the freshly baked cornbread to cool slightly, then crumble it while it’s still warm and spread it out on a baking sheet to further cool (and dry out). Let it sit for at least 1-2 hours.
Likewise, you can crumble the fresh cornbread on a baking sheet and pop it back in the oven for 5-10 minutes to dry out and crisp up.

If all else fails, pop on over to the grocery store and buy store-bought cornbread from the bakery. Grocery store cornbread is almost always a bit more crumbly and dry because it’s rarely made fresh – it’s the perfect texture for cornbread dressing in a pinch.

How to Make Soul Food Style Cornbread Dressing

Okay cousins, the time has come for me to tell y’all how to make this flavorful dish. If you’ve never served cornbread dressing at Thanksgiving dinner, you better start this year! Better yet, do a trial run for your next family gathering – it doesn’t have to be the holidays! Let’s walk through the step-by-step recipe together.

Making the Cornbread

Now, if you have time to make a homemade cornbread recipe a day or so ahead, I highly recommend it! For this recipe, I like to use my traditional Southern cornbread. It is by FAR my favorite – it’s savory and has the perfect texture. If you like a bit of sweetness in your cornbread, try my Southern Sweet cornbread!

If you have your own cornbread recipe, use that! If you want to use boxed cornbread mix, I won’t stop you… I will simply look away and pretend I do not see! 😉

Mixing the Dressing

Once you’ve got your cornbread ready to go, the rest is a breeze! The hardest part is chopping and preparing the ingredients, so let’s start there.

First, chop everything up: the onions, celery, garlic, and fresh sage. (I realize that some people may not have fresh sage on hand, so feel free to use ground sage if needed—it will work just fine!) Also, chop or shred the chicken at this time if you’re including it.

Next, sauté the onions, celery, and garlic until they’re nice and tender. You can do this with olive oil or salted butter, whatever you prefer. Add the chopped sage in the last few minutes, then toss everything into a large bowl.

Into that same bowl goes everything else – the crumbled cornbread, crushed up crackers, broth, cream of chicken soup, and eggs. Finally, add the seasonings. Mix until everything is well combined. Pour the mixture into a greased casserole dish, and she’s ready to bake!

Video Tutorial: From-Scratch Soul Food Cornbread Dressing

Want to watch me make this easy recipe? Below is a video tutorial that shows you exactly how I make this delicious Southern cornbread dressing recipe. Don’t forget to subscribe to I Heart Recipes on YouTube to catch all my easy-to-follow video tutorials!

Tips for Making Soul Food Cornbread Dressing

Make the cornbread ahead of time, if you can. I said it already, but I’ll say it again: day-old cornbread is the way to go! Especially homemade cornbread.
Watch the moisture level. My recipe calls for 4-6 cups of chicken broth because I like my cornbread dressing very moist. You can absolutely use less broth if you want a drier, more dense dressing.
If you’re using fresh cornbread instead of day-old, I highly recommend cutting down the broth. Fresh cornbread has more moisture, so you don’t need as much liquid.
Taste your dressing for seasoning! Before adding the raw eggs, take a little nibble to see if it needs more herbs, salt, pepper, etc.
This recipe makes enough for a 9 x 13 baking dish or two 8 x 8 baking dishes. I recommend making two batches instead of doubling the ingredients.
Bake the savory cornbread dressing uncovered for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Remember that some ovens vary in temperature, so look for a golden brown top and a moist but fluffy texture in the center.

More Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Menu

Now, I know I said I want y’all to make this classic dish any time of year instead of holding out for the holidays. But as cornbread dressing is a staple at most holiday tables, it’s only fitting that I share other holiday-inspired dishes to serve alongside it!

Main Dishes: The Ultimate Guide to Cooking Thanksgiving Turkey, Slow Cooker Whole Turkey, Baked Turkey Wings, Simple Roast Chicken, Slow Cooker Beef Brisket, Prime Rib Roast
Side Dishes: The Best Bacon Mac and Cheese, Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese Casserole, Baked Candied Yams, Green Bean Casserole, , Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
Holiday-Worthy Desserts: Salted Caramel Buttermilk Pie, Peach Cobbler Cheesecake, Easy Homemade Apple Pie, Soul Food Sweet Potato Pie, The Perfect Personal Size Pumpkin Pies

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Soul Food Cornbread Dressing Recipe

This savory cornbread dressing is the perfect side dish. A moist dressing packed with aromatic veggies, warm spices, chicken, and tasty Southern cornbread, its a must at any family gathering!

Watch VideoPrint RecipePin Recipe

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Southern/ Soul Food

Keyword Cornbread Dressing, holiday recipe, holiday side dish, soul food cornbread dressing

Ingredients

Cornbread enough to fill a 9×13
1 sleeve ritz or saltine crackers
3 medium eggs lightly beaten
1 large yellow onion diced
5 cloves garlic minced
3 stalks celery chopped
5 sage leaves OR 2 1/2 tsp ground sage
2 tbsp olive oil
4-6 cups chicken broth adjust based on preferred moisture level
14 oz cream of chicken soup
2 tsp seasoning salt
1 tsp coarse black pepper
1 tsp thyme leaves

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 F.
Start chopping and dicing all of the vegetables – the celery, onions, and garlic. Also chop up the fresh sage.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, then add the onions, celery, and garlic. Cook until nice and tender.
1 large yellow onion, 5 cloves garlic, 3 stalks celery, 2 tbsp olive oil
Now toss in the fresh sage. Continue to cook for 2 minutes. Turn the heat off.
5 sage leaves
Crumble the cornbread into a large mixing bowl, along with the crackers.
Cornbread, 1 sleeve ritz or saltine crackers
Add in the cooked vegetables. Fold the ingredients until everything is well combined.
Next, pour in the chicken broth and cream of chicken soup.
4-6 cups chicken broth, 14 oz cream of chicken soup
Add in the beaten eggs, then mix everything until well combined.
3 medium eggs
Sprinkle in the seasoning salt, thyme, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
2 tsp seasoning salt, 1 tsp coarse black pepper, 1 tsp thyme leaves
Lightly grease a 9×13 bake dish, then pour in the dressing mixture.
Bake the dressing uncovered for about 45 minutes.
Serve and enjoy!

Video

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Recipe by: I Heart Recipes