Every Thanksgiving table has a plate of stuffing or cornbread dressing with Roast Turkey, Gravy and ALL the food! Made with optional sage sausages, onions, celery, homemade cornbread and delicious fresh herbs.
With Thanksgiving is just around the corner, the emails coming in asking for sides and recipes are very real right now! Our dressing is so incredible, we usually stand at the oven eating it straight out of the pan before it hits the table. Even though there are many different ways to make cornbread dressing, this recipe is our family favourite. What makes this recipe stand out? The addition of sage sausages, mushrooms and green bell peppers add even more texture and flavour to our dressing!
HOW DO YOU MAKE CORNBREAD DRESSING?
First, you need to use a good cornbread recipe. We have two on our site that we love to use:
Buttermilk cornbread: a slightly sweetened cornbread with honey and sugar perfect for those who love a delicious balance of sweet and savoury. Classic cornbread: for our readers who prefer savoury.
Out of time or need to simplify your holidays? Make the cornbread ahead of time or use store bought cornbread. We prepare and bake our cornbread the day before cooking. Day old (or even two-day old) provides the BEST texture and flavour! Another option is to bake it earlier, (up to a month in advance) and freeze it until you’re ready to cook! Just remember to thaw it out completely before cooking.
Regular white bread (or dinner rolls) are mixed through with the cornbread to help create the best base for this dressing. Both breads soak in the incredible flavours released from the herbs, butter and aromatics. It all comes together in the oven, baked until a golden crust forms over the top while staying deliciously moist on the inside!
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STUFFING AND DRESSING?
Up until recent years, stuffing has been cooked inside a roast turkey in many households, while dressing is normally cooked separately outside of the bird. But in the South, cooks call it dressing no matter how it’s prepared or what the ingredients. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, you can safely cook stuffing inside of your turkey. However, stuffing generally adds more cooking time to your turkey which will dry out the meat. Both are now generally cooked separately in baking dishes. We love to serve both to provide a variety at the table and keep everyone happy!
CAN DRESSING BE PREPARED AHEAD OF TIME?
Absolutely! All of the ingredients can be mixed together — poured into your baking dish and covered with foil. Refrigerate until you are ready to bake. We prepare ours the day before cooking — sometimes the morning of — depending on where we are celebrating and how much we cooking we have to do on the day. Take it out of the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before cooking to take the chill out. Then continue on with the recipe.
EASY ADD INS FOR CORNBREAD DRESSING
Dried fruit: cranberries, apricots, dates, raisins, cherries (about 1 cup). Toasted nuts: almonds, walnuts, pecans (about ½ cup). Fresh fruit: chopped apples, pears (1 fruit, seeded and chopped). Other herb options: rosemary, chives, mint, cilantro. Looking for more Thanksgiving sides? Try these! Honey Garlic Roasted Carrots Roast potatoes Creamy Mashed Potatoes Sweet potato Casserole Roasted Sweet Potatoes Cranberry Sauce Brussels Sprouts Gravy … Read More
