Granddaddy’s Cornbread Dressing
A Timeless Southern Classic Passed Down by Heart and Hand
Granddaddy’s cornbread dressing isn’t just a side dish—it’s a story baked into a pan. It’s the kind of recipe that showed up every Thanksgiving and Sunday supper, filling the house with the warm, savory smell of cornbread, onions, and sage. Simple ingredients, no shortcuts, and a method learned by watching rather than measuring. This old-fashioned dressing is moist but never soggy, rich without being heavy, and deeply comforting in every bite.
What Makes Granddaddy’s Cornbread Dressing Special?
Unlike modern stuffing filled with fancy add-ins, this dressing stays true to its roots. It uses crumbled cornbread, aromatic vegetables, buttery broth, and classic Southern seasoning. Everything is baked slowly so the flavors blend together into something greater than the sum of its parts.
This recipe is about patience, tradition, and doing things the way they’ve always been done.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1 large skillet of homemade cornbread, fully cooled
- 1 cup crumbled day-old white bread or biscuits (optional but traditional)
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2–3 stalks celery, finely chopped
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 2½–3 cups chicken broth, warmed
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Salt, to taste
(Optional traditional additions: a pinch of poultry seasoning or a small amount of finely chopped boiled egg)
Step-by-Step Method
Step 1: Prepare the Cornbread
Start with good, homemade cornbread—nothing sweet. Let it cool completely, then crumble it into a large mixing bowl using your hands. The texture should be coarse, not powdery. If using white bread or biscuits, crumble them in now as well. This combination creates a tender but structured dressing.
Step 2: Cook the Aromatics
In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter slowly. Add the chopped onion and celery and cook until soft and translucent, not browned. This step is crucial—it brings out the sweetness of the vegetables and builds the flavor base of the dressing.
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