Southern Cornbread Dressing Recipe

Whenever I think about Thanksgiving the one dish that epitomizes the South is Southern cornbread dressing (or cornbread stuffing) served with Giblet Gravy, of course.  I never really knew that any other kind of stuffing existed….except that stuff in the box that no one I knew had ever purchased.

We never put the dressing in the actual turkey though I saw people do that on TV. It never bothered me though because I never really understood cooking inside a bird (later I learned to love white bread stuffing made in a turkey from my Mother in Law).

Oh, and cornbread dressing isn’t just for Thanksgiving. We also had it for Christmas and occasionally as an everyday main dish with chicken or ham chopped up in it.

Before you make cornbread dressing ….you have to make cornbread. My skillet cornbread recipe is perfect for making Southern cornbread dressing but you can also use your favourite cornbread recipe. The key is to make sure whatever recipe you use has NO SUGAR!  Stuffing is supposed to be savory, not sweet. You can use either yellow or white cornmeal to make your cornbread.

The key to cooking scrumptious cornbread is cooking it in a cast iron skillet.  Whatever oil the recipe calls for, pour it in the skillet and then put the skillet in the oven during preheating.  When the oven is heated, carefully take out the pan, pour the oil into the mix & quickly stir it.  Then pour the mix back in the pan and into the oven, it goes.  This ensures a brown & crispy crust. Yum!

This is what it should look like when you pour it into the skillet… Bubbles!

Here’s what it looks like after baking.

Now for the Cornbread Stuffing! You won’t regret adding it to your Thanksgiving or Christmas menu!

Looking for more great ideas? Try out our 39 Thanksgiving Dinner Side Dishes and make your turkey on the grill this year. And if you prefer white bread stuffing, try out my Cranberry Stuffing made in the Instant Pot. And last but not least, don’t forget the pumpkin pie!

Southern Cornbread Dressing Recipe:

What recipe really stands out when you remember holidays from your childhood?  Do you cook it for you and your family today?