Sides

Southern Cornbread Dressing

... from Aunt Sandy's Kitchen

• Serves: 8 people
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cooking: 45-60 minutes

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Paula Deen's Southern Cornbread Dressing is a robust and flavorful side dish, designed to be the perfect companion to holiday roasted meats and rich gravy. Its distinct, multi-dimensional texture comes from a clever combination of tender cornbread, light toasted white bread, and crunchy saltine crackers. This simple, traditional recipe focuses on wholesome, time-honored flavor, allowing optional additions like warm sage and savory poultry seasoning to enhance its classic Southern charm.

Cornbread Ingredients

• 1 cup self rising cornmeal
• 1/2 cup self rising flour
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 tablespoons Vegetable oil

Dressing Ingredients

• 1 sleeve saltine crackers, crushed
• 7 slices oven-dried white bread
• Square Pan of cornbread (recipe above)
• 2 cups chopped celery
• 1 large chopped onion
• 8 tablespoons Butter
• 7 cups chicken stock
• 5 eggs, beaten
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Ground black pepper (to taste)
• 1 teaspoon sage (optional)
• 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning (optional)

Cornbread Instructions

1. Preheat oven 350°F (177°C).
2. Grease 8 x 8 -inch baking dish with cooking spray.
3. Combine cornmeal, flour, buttermilk, eggs, and oil, Mix well.
4. Pour mixture into greased pan.
5. Bake at 350ºF for 30 minutes until light golden on top, and a cake tester (sharp knife or toothpick) inserted in center comes out clean.
6. Remove from oven and let cool.

Dressing Instructions

1. Preheat oven 350°F (177°C).
2. Grease 13 x 9 -inch baking dish with cooking spray.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine crumbled cornbread (recipe above), dried white bread slices and crackers; set aside.
4. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Sauté celery & onion until transparent, (approximately 5 - 10 minutes).
5. Add to the cornbread mixture, the stock and butter. Mix well.
6. Pour the vegetable mixture over cornbread mixture. Mix well.
7. Season with sage and poultry seasoning - taste. Add salt and pepper to taste.
8. Add 5 beaten eggs and mix well.
9. Pour mixture into a greased pan.
10. Bake until dressing is cooked through, about 45 to 60 minutes.

Enjoy!