Description
Paula Deen’s southern cornbread dressing melds traditional Southern flavors with rich, comforting ingredients. Southern kitchens cherish this classic holiday side dish that brings warmth and nostalgia to family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 7 eggs (5 for dressing, 2 for cornbread)
- 7 cups chicken stock
- 8 tbsps butter (melted)
- 1 cup self-rising cornmeal
- ½ cup self-rising flour
- 7 slices oven-dried white bread
- 2 cups celery (chopped)
- 1 large onion (chopped)
- 1 sleeve saltine crackers (crushed)
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- 2 tbsps vegetable oil
- 1 tsp salt (to taste)
- 1 tsp sage (optional)
- 1 tbsp poultry seasoning (optional)
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Cornbread Creation: Combine self-rising cornmeal, self-rising flour, buttermilk, eggs, and vegetable oil into a smooth batter. Pour into a well-greased shallow baking pan and bake until golden brown, about 20-25 minutes.
- Bread Preparation: Once cornbread cools completely, crumble it into a large mixing bowl. Add crumbled white bread slices and crushed saltine crackers to create a textured base.
- Vegetable Sauté: In a skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Sauté finely chopped celery and onion until translucent and fragrant, approximately 5-10 minutes.
- Flavor Infusion: Pour sautéed vegetables over the cornbread mixture. Add chicken stock and season with salt, pepper, sage, and poultry seasoning, mixing thoroughly to distribute flavors evenly.
- Binding and Assembly: Whisk eggs and fold into the dressing mixture, creating a cohesive texture. Transfer to a greased baking dish, smoothing the surface for uniform cooking.
- Final Baking: Place in a preheated oven at 350°F and bake for 45-60 minutes, allowing the dressing to set and develop a golden, crispy top that captures the essence of Southern comfort food.
Notes
- Master Cornbread Base: Create a crisp, golden cornbread using precise measurements of self-rising cornmeal and flour for authentic Southern texture.
- Vegetable Sauté Secret: Cook celery and onions slowly to release deep, rich flavors that infuse the entire dressing with aromatic warmth.
- Seasoning Balance: Blend sage, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper carefully to achieve a harmonious flavor profile that represents traditional Southern cooking.
- Binding Technique: Whisk eggs thoroughly and fold gently into the mixture to ensure a creamy, cohesive dressing without over-mixing or creating dense pockets.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg