Description
This Southern Cornbread Dressing recipe is a classic and comforting side dish perfect for holiday meals, especially when paired with roasted turkey. It features a savory blend of crumbled cornbread and wheat bread, aromatic onions and celery, creamy soups, and flavorful seasonings, all baked together beneath a succulent bone-in turkey breast for a rich, moist result. The dressing absorbs the savory juices from the turkey, creating a deeply satisfying and traditional Southern flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing Ingredients
- 3 (9-inch) pans cornbread, crumbled
- 3 pieces wheat bread, crumbled
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 (10.5-oz) can unsalted cream of chicken soup
- 1 (10.5-oz) can unsalted cream of mushroom soup
- 2 (15-oz) cans chicken stock
- 1 cup water
- 2 eggs
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 to 2 tsp sage, to taste
Turkey
- 1 (5-6 lb) bone-in turkey breast or turkey
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC) to prepare for baking the dressing and turkey.
- Prepare Vegetables and Bread: Use a food processor to chop the onion and celery finely. Crumble the cornbread and wheat bread into a large mixing bowl.
- Mix Dressing: Add the chopped onion and celery to the bowl with the crumbled breads. Then stir in the cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, chicken stock, water, eggs, salt, pepper, and sage. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined.
- Assemble in Roasting Pan: Transfer the dressing mixture to a turkey roasting pan. Smooth it out evenly. Place the bone-in turkey breast on top of the dressing, uncovered.
- Bake: Cover the dressing with foil, making sure to leave the turkey breast uncovered. Bake in the preheated oven until the turkey breast reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF, which should take about 2 hours.
- Serve: Once cooked through, remove the roasting pan from the oven. Let the turkey breast rest for a few minutes before slicing. Spoon the dressing alongside the turkey and enjoy your classic Southern meal.
Notes
- Use unsalted soups and chicken stock to control sodium levels and adjust seasoning accordingly.
- Check the internal temperature of the turkey breast with a meat thermometer to ensure food safety.
- Leftover dressing can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated with a splash of broth to keep it moist.
- Sage is a key seasoning that gives this dressing its distinctive flavor; adjust quantity to your preference.
- If you prefer, you can add cooked sausage or nuts for extra texture and flavor.
