This African American cornbread dressing recipe is a standout addition to your soul food Thanksgiving menu and a true Southern comfort that’s as rich in tradition as it is in taste! It’s made with a blend of moist cornbread and a medley of aromatic veggies like celery, onion, bell peppers, and green onions.
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Our cornbread dressing recipe is a tried and true family favorite! The star of the dish is the tender, moist, and, subtly sweet yellow cornbread, which infuses the dish with its distinct flavor and texture. Soul food spices and a blend of herbs like sage and thyme contribute a delicious, savory essence.
We used cream of mushroom and cream of celery soup, which binds everything together and provides a velvety texture and quality. This African American cornbread dressing recipe also calls for chicken broth, ensuring the dressing is neither too dry nor too soggy. Finally, green onions bring a touch of freshness and a oniony flavor.
This cornbread dressing recipe is not just a side dish; it’s a labor of love, a testament to our Thanksgiving tradition, and the embodiment of flavors of the South. And the best part? It pairs nicely with several of our other soul food Thanksgiving recipes you can find right here on our website.
From collard greens and candied yams to mac and cheese and sweet potato pie, our collection of Southern-inspired dishes is bound to take your Thanksgiving spread to a whole new level of deliciousness!
What is African American cornbread dressing?
Dressing is a traditional side dish often served on Thanksgiving. It’s typically made from a mixture of cubed or crumbled bread, seasonings, and other ingredients, which is then baked until it forms a flavorful, moist, and slightly crispy dish.
Cornbread dressing is a variation of Thanksgiving dressing that specifically uses cornbread as its primary ingredient.
“Dressing” and “stuffing” are very similar dishes and are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference between the two. Dressing is typically cooked outside of the turkey in a casserole dish or a separate pan. Stuffing, on the other hand, is cooked inside the turkey or other poultry.
Also, the choice of whether to call it “dressing” or “stuffing” often depends on regional and family traditions. For example, in the South, “dressing” is a more common term, while in other regions, “stuffing” is the preferred term, even when it’s not actually cooked inside the bird.
Ingredient notes
- Nonstick cooking spray: For greasing the casserole dish. Use vegetable oil or butter instead.
- Onion, bell pepper, and celery: Also known as the Creole and Cajun holy trinity.
- Bacon grease, large, or neutral oil: For sautéing the vegetables.
- Cream of Mushroom and Cream of Chicken Soup: For flavor and texture.
- Seasonings: Cracked black pepper, dried ground sage, poultry seasoning.
- Cornbread: Use our Southern cornbread recipe or two boxes of Jiffy cornbread recipe.
- Chicken broth: For flavor and moistening the cornbread dressing mixture.
Special equipment and tools
- Large Mixing Bowl: For combining the ingredients.
- Baking Dish: A standard 9×13-inch baking dish works perfectly for baking the cornbread dressing.
- Skillet: To sauté the vegetables, you’ll need a large skillet. A non-stick skillet or a cast-iron skillet works well.
How to make African American dressing
- Step 1: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F. Then, take a moment to spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with some cooking spray to prevent your cornbread dressing from sticking. Set the dish aside for now.
- Step 2: In a large skillet, preferably heavy-bottomed, put bacon grease or lard over medium-high heat. It’s going to add a nice smoky touch. Add in your finely chopped onion, bell pepper, and celery. Now, sauté them, stirring occasionally, until they turn soft. This should take about 5-6 minutes. Once they’re done, remove the skillet from the heat.
- Step 3: In a spacious mixing bowl, combine the cream of mushroom and celery soups. Sprinkle in some pepper, sage, and poultry seasoning – these spices will give your cornbread dressing an aromatic boost. Stir in the sautéed vegetables to marry all the flavors.
- Step 4: Now, grab your cornbread and coarsely crumble it into the bowl. We’re talking pieces around ½ to ¾ inches – this will add an amazing texture to your cornbread dressing. To reach that perfect level of moisture, slowly add chicken broth to your mixture. Keep adding it a bit at a time until your dressing is nicely moistened. If you prefer it extra moist, don’t hesitate to add a touch more broth. Once it’s all mixed up, spread the cornbread dressing mixture evenly in your prepared baking dish.
- Step 5: Now, pop your cornbread dressing into the preheated oven. Let it bake until it turns a beautiful light brown color, which should take roughly 50-55 minutes. Once it’s done, take the dressing out and allow it to cool slightly before serving.
What to serve with cornbread dressing
- Collard Greens: Slow-cooked collard greens seasoned with smoked meat (often ham hocks or turkey wings) for a rich, smoky flavor.
- Candied Yams: Sweet potatoes or yams baked with a sweet syrup, brown sugar, and sometimes topped with marshmallows for a delightful, sweet side dish.
- Southern Green Beans: A soulful side dish where tender green beans and creamy potatoes are simmered to perfection in a flavorful broth.
- Sweet Potato Pie: A Southern twist on the classic pumpkin pie, made with sweet potatoes, spices, and sweetened with brown sugar.
- Fried Chicken: Crispy and seasoned fried chicken is a Southern staple and a crowd-pleaser.
- Red Beans and Rice: A hearty dish made with red beans, spices, and often served with rice, a Creole classic.
- Honey-Glazed Ham: A sweet and savory glazed ham, a popular choice for holiday meals.
- Fried Catfish: Lightly breaded and crispy fried catfish, a beloved Southern delicacy.
- Peach Cobbler: A warm, fruity dessert with a buttery crust, often served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Pecan Pie: A sweet and nutty pie with a rich, gooey filling, a perfect ending to the meal.
- Sweet Potato Pie: A Southern twist on the classic pumpkin pie, made with sweet potatoes, spices, and sweetened with brown sugar.
Cornbread Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- Nonstick cooking spray or vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons bacon grease lard, or neutral oil
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 1 medium green bell pepper diced
- 2 celery stalks diced
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can cream of celery soup
- 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried ground sage
- 1 1/2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
- 1 batch cornbread baked and cooled
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth plus up to ½ cup more if needed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set it aside.
- Melt bacon grease in a large pan on medium-high heat.
- Add onions, bell peppers, and celery; stirring until the veggies become soft, about 5-6 minutes. Then, remove the pan from the heat.
- Mix together cream of mushroom and celery soups in a large bowl, along with pepper, sage, and poultry seasoning.
- Stir in cooked vegetables and crumble cornbread into the bowl, making pieces about ½ to ¾ inches in size.
- Slowly add chicken broth until mixture is moist but not overly wet. Add a bit more if you like it really moist. Spread this mixture in the prepared baking dish.
- Bake the dressing in oven until it turns lightly brown, about 50-55 minutes.
- Allow it to cool a bit before serving.
PERFECT, taste just like my Great-mothers.