Description
Paula Deen’s cornbread dressing combines Southern comfort with rich, savory flavors. Herbs, crumbled cornbread, and aromatic seasonings blend together for a classic holiday side dish that brings warmth to family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 7 cups (1.66 L) chicken stock
- 7 beaten eggs (2 for cornbread, 5 for dressing)
- 1 cup (240 ml) self-rising cornmeal
- 7 slices oven-dried white bread
- 1 sleeve saltine crackers
- 1 large chopped onion
- 2 cups chopped celery
- 8 tbsps (½ cup or 113 g) butter
- ¾ cup (180 ml) buttermilk
- ½ cup self-rising flour
- 2 tbsps vegetable oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sage (optional)
- 1 tbsp poultry seasoning (optional)
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cornbread Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F. Blend cornmeal, flour, buttermilk, eggs, and vegetable oil until smooth. Pour batter into a greased 9-inch baking dish and bake for 22-27 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cooling and Crumbling: Allow cornbread to cool completely, then crumble into large pieces in a spacious mixing bowl. Add crumbled white bread and saltine crackers to create a diverse textural foundation.
- Vegetable Sauté: Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté celery and onions for 6-8 minutes until translucent and aromatic. Pour the vegetable mixture over the cornbread crumbs and fold gently to distribute evenly.
- Seasoning and Binding: Introduce chicken stock, kosher salt, black pepper, dried sage, and poultry seasoning. Whisk eggs separately, then fold into the dressing mixture, ensuring thorough incorporation and uniform consistency.
- Final Baking: Transfer the mixture to a generously greased 9×13-inch baking pan. Bake at 350°F for 50-55 minutes until the top achieves a golden-brown hue and the center sets when lightly touched.
Notes
- Bread Selection Matters: Choose day-old white bread and saltine crackers for optimal texture and authentic Southern flavor, preventing sogginess.
- Vegetable Sautéing Technique: Carefully sauté celery and onions until translucent to release maximum flavor and enhance the dressing’s aromatic profile.
- Egg Whisking Importance: Separately whisk eggs before adding to ensure smooth integration and prevent potential lumpy texture in the final dish.
- Moisture Balance Critical: Add chicken stock gradually and mix thoroughly to achieve perfect consistency – not too dry or overly wet, which ensures a tender, flavorful dressing.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 160mg