Southern style cornbread dressing is a delectable side dish that embodies the spirit of hearty comfort food. Originating from the African American culinary tradition, it's a staple at holiday gatherings, particularly Thanksgiving and Christmas. This versatile dish is made with a combination of cornbread, biscuits, and a flavorful broth, often enriched with aromatics like onions, celery, and herbs. Some variations may include the addition of cooked meat, such as sausage or ground beef, to enhance its savory profile. But the true magic lies in the perfect balance of moistness, achieved by carefully managing the ratio of liquid to bread, and a crispy, golden-brown crust. This Southern specialty is a testament to the resourceful blending of simple ingredients into a dish that captures the essence of Southern hospitality and warmth. Along with the main recipe for skillet cornbread dressing, you'll also find variations for classic cornbread dressing, a flavorful biscuit dressing, and a unique dressing made with both cornbread and biscuits. These recipes offer a range of options to suit different preferences and allow you to explore the nuances of this timeless Southern tradition.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
SKILLET DRESSING WITH CORNBREAD AND BISCUITS
Toss torn leftover biscuits with cubes of cornbread for a sage-scented holiday side featuring two of the South's best breads.
Provided by Joe Sevier
Categories Stuffing/Dressing Thanksgiving Cornmeal Egg Buttermilk Butter Onion Celery Biscuit Sage Stock Vinegar Side
Yield 10-12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- For the cornbread:
- Place a large cast-iron skillet in oven; preheat to 425°F. Whisk cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pepper in a large bowl to combine. Whisk egg, buttermilk, and oil in a medium bowl to combine. Create a well in dry ingredients. Pour buttermilk mixture into well and whisk until no dry spots remain.
- Remove cast-iron skillet from oven (be careful; pan will be very hot). Add butter to pan and swirl to coat. Pour batter into pan and spread evenly. Bake cornbread until edges are golden brown and top is golden, 20-25 minutes.
- Immediately turn cornbread out onto a wire rack so bottom stays crisp. Let cool slightly, then invert onto another wire rack and let cool completely.
- Do Ahead: Cornbread can be baked 5 days ahead. Store tightly wrapped at room temperature, or freeze up to 3 months.
- For the dressing:
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter a large cast-iron skillet; set aside. Melt remaining 2 Tbsp. butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened and just starting to take on some color, about 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, tear cornbread into roughly 1" pieces and transfer to a large bowl. Tear biscuits into slightly smaller pieces and add to same bowl.
- Scrape vegetable mixture into bowl with bread and add sage, pepper, and remaining 2 tsp. salt. Gently toss to combine. Whisk eggs, stock, and vinegar in a medium bowl to combine. Drizzle over cornbread mixture and gently toss again to incorporate. Spoon dressing into prepared pan and bake until set and browned and crisp across the top, 45-55 minutes.
- Do Ahead: Dressing can be baked 1 day ahead. Let cool, then cover with foil and chill. Reheat in a 350°F oven, covered, until warmed through, 25-30 minutes, before serving.
CORNMEAL BISCUIT SAUSAGE DRESSING
Provided by Trisha Yearwood
Categories side-dish
Time 1h30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- For the cornmeal biscuits: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Heat a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over low heat.
- Whisk together the cornmeal, flour, thyme, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Pour in 5 tablespoons butter and the buttermilk and stir until just combined. Pour the remaining tablespoon butter into the hot skillet. Turn off the heat and use a teaspoon scoop or a couple of spoons to form the dough into tiny drop biscuits into the skillet-they will be touching. Bake until golden, 12 to 15 minutes.
- For the dressing: Remove the skillet from the oven and transfer the biscuits to a plate. Wipe out the skillet and return it to the stove over medium-high heat. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in the skillet, then add the sausage and break it up with the back of a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer the sausage to a bowl with a slotted spoon, leaving any remaining fat in the skillet. Add the remaining tablespoon butter and let melt, then add the onion and celery to the skillet and cook until both have softened and started to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Return the sausage to the skillet and stir in the salt and pepper. Pour about 1 cup chicken broth into the skillet and scrape up any browned bits at the bottom. Add the mini biscuits and the saltines. Pour the remaining 2 1/2 to 3 cups broth into the skillet a little at a time, stirring to coat and distribute everything evenly; it should be moist, but not wet. Sprinkle the thyme leaves over the top and transfer the skillet to the oven. Bake until the top is golden brown and the liquid has evaporated, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serve hot or at room temperature.
CORNBREAD DRESSING
Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network
Categories side-dish
Time P1DT1h40m
Yield 10 to 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Spread the Skillet Cornbread and French bread cubes out on 2 baking sheets and let them dry for about 24 hours until totally crisp. Once dry, transfer the cubes to a large mixing bowl and toss to mix them up a bit.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Warm up a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat and add the butter. When it's melted, add the celery, carrots and onions, and cook for a few minutes until the onions are almost translucent, about 6 minutes. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and add the rosemary, thyme, sage and turmeric. Gradually ladle the broth mixture into the bread, tossing lightly as you go. Keep gradually adding the broth mixture, tasting as you go and adding more seasoning and herbs if needed. Add salt carefully. You don't want to over salt your stuffing. If the mixture is not quite moist enough, add a bit more chicken broth and stir. Stir in the fresh parsley.
- Place the dressing in a rectangular baking dish and bake until golden brown on top, 20 to 25 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of the shortening in a cast-iron skillet. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda. In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, milk and egg until fully combined. Slowly incorporate the wet ingredients into the dry, stirring until well combined. Melt the remaining 1/4 cup melted shortening and add to the batter, stirring constantly. Pour into the hot skillet, smoothing the surface with a spatula. Place in the oven and bake until golden brown on top, 20 to 25 minutes.
CORNBREAD-AND-BISCUIT DRESSING
Serve this dressing, stuffed with pecans, with our Salt-and-Pepper Grilled Turkey.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dinner Recipes Dinner Side Dishes
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter 2 rimmed baking sheets. Toss cornbread, biscuits, pecans, and sage in a large bowl.
- Melt 1 stick butter in a skillet over high heat. Add onion, celery, and chiles, and cook until softened, about 7 minutes. Add to cornbread-biscuit mixture, and stir in stock, milk, eggs, salt, and pepper (mixture will be liquidy).
- Divide among prepared baking sheets, and bake for 45 minutes. Brush dressing with melted butter, and bake until crusty, about 15 minutes more.
BISCUIT CORNBREAD DRESSING
"This mouthwatering and slightly sweet recipe was my mother's, so it has to be at least 65-70 years old," writes Karen Andrews from Arlington, Texas. "It's just not Christmas at our house without this favorite dressing...and it goes great with goose, too," Karen adds.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 1h45m
Yield 8-10 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Prepare cornbread according to package directions; cool on a wire rack. Crumble into a large bowl. Prepare biscuits according to package directions; cool on a wire rack. Crumble biscuits over cornbread; stir gently to combine., In a large skillet, saute onions and celery in butter. Stir in the salt, pepper, curry powder, basil and thyme. Add to cornbread mixture. Stir in broth and water (mixture should be the consistency of cornbread batter). Let stand for 1 hour. , Stir in egg substitute. Pour into a greased shallow 2-qt. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1 hour or until golden brown and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Nutrition Facts :
Tips:
- Use fresh ingredients: Fresh cornbread and biscuits make all the difference in this dish. If you can, make them yourself or buy them from a local bakery.
- Don't overcook the cornbread or biscuits: They should be slightly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
- Use a well-seasoned skillet: This will help prevent the dressing from sticking.
- Don't overcrowd the skillet: Cook the dressing in batches if necessary.
- Stir the dressing frequently: This will help to ensure that it cooks evenly.
- Season the dressing to taste: Add salt, pepper, and other seasonings as desired.
- Serve the dressing immediately: It's best when it's hot and fresh.
Conclusion:
Skillet dressing with cornbread and biscuits is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for any occasion. It's a great way to use up leftover cornbread and biscuits, and it's also a great side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. With its crispy crust and fluffy interior, this dressing is sure to be a hit with everyone at the table.
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