Best Southern Dressing Recipes

SOUTHERN CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Place the chicken breast halves in a large saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil. Cook 1 hour, or until the meat is tender and easily shredded. Shred chicken and set aside. Reserve 4 to 6 cups of the remaining broth.
• Prepare an 8x8 inch pan of cornbread according to package directions. Crumble the corn bread into a large bowl. Mix in the white bread.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the margarine and stir in the onions and celery. Slowly cook, stirring occasionally, until tender.
• Stir the onions and celery into the bread mixture. Mix in the chicken, 4 cups reserved broth, cream of chicken soup, garlic powder, poultry seasoning, pepper and eggs. Blend with a potato masher until the mixture is the consistency of gelatin. Use more of the reserved broth as necessary to attain desired consistency. Transfer to a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven 30 minutes, or until golden brown.

SOUTHERN BUTTERMILK SALAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Combine everything but the buttermilk and seasoning and mix well. Whisk in the buttermilk until the dressing is smooth. Season to taste.

MAMA'S SOUTHERN CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 9x13-inch baking dishes.
• Combine cornbread and stale bread cubes in a large bowl. Set aside.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and celery and cook until transparent, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Pour onion mixture over the cornbread mixture. Add turkey broth, chopped turkey, soup, giblets, hard-cooked eggs, and flour. Mix so that all the cornbread is wet. Mix in parsley, sage, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Add beaten eggs. Mixture should be "soupy." Pour mixture evenly into the prepared pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cooked through and set, 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes.

OLD FASHIONED SOUTHERN CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Put chicken in a dutch oven. Cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook over medium heat. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes or until the chicken is tender. Remove chicken from heat, reserving the broth. Let cool and debone the chicken. Cut chicken into bite size pieces. Discard sking and bones.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat on stovetop. Add onion and celery and cook about 6 minutes until veggies are tender.
• Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease a 13-x-9-x-2-inch baking dish; set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine chicken, onion-and-celery mixture, cornbread, and remaining ingredients. Spoon mixture into prepared baking dish.
• Bake, uncovered, for 1 hour, or until set.

SOUTHERN CORNBREAD OYSTER DRESSING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter one 4 quart casserole dish.
• Chop the oysters. Saute red onion, green onion, celery and oysters in 2 tablespoons of the butter until soft.
• In a large bowl, combine cooked onion and oyster mixture with cornbread, bread cubes, parsley, eggs and 1/2 cup reserved oyster liquid. Gently toss to mix, add salt and pepper to taste.
• Place dressing in casserole dish and dot with remaining butter. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes or until top is golden brown.

SOUTHERN CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, combine first 10 ingredients. In another bowl, whisk eggs and broth. Add to bread mixture; stir until moistened., Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, 40-45 minutes or until lightly browned and a thermometer inserted in the center reads 160°.

SOUTHERN CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Make the cornbread: Heat oven to 450 degrees. Put butter in an 11-inch skillet. Cast-iron is best here, but any ovenproof skillet will do. Heat butter in oven for about 5 to 7 minutes, or until butter has melted and is just starting to brown.
• While butter melts, whisk together cornmeal, salt and baking powder. In another small bowl, lightly beat eggs, then add buttermilk and stir until mixture is combined. Pour egg mixture into dry ingredients and stir well.
• Remove hot pan from oven, pour butter into batter and stir until batter looks uniform. Pour batter back into the pan and bake for 20 minutes or until the top has begun to just brown.
• Remove cornbread and let it cool on a rack. Tear or cut it into large pieces and place in a large bowl. Let it sit out overnight to dry out slightly.
• Prepare the dressing: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cornbread and white bread in a large bowl, tossing to mix, and breaking cornbread into smaller pieces.
• Melt butter in a large skillet, and add onions, celery and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Sauté until vegetables have softened, about 6 minutes.
• Add vegetables to bread mixture and combine. Lightly beat eggs and add to bowl. Sprinkle in herbs, remaining 1 teaspoon salt and the pepper and toss together.
• Add 4 cups broth and stir well. Using your hands, work the mixture to get a very lumpy, thick, batterlike consistency. Add another cup of stock if needed. The mixture should be very wet and pourable but without standing liquid.
• Butter an 8-by-11-inch baking dish. (Any other ovenproof dish that can hold about 2 quarts will work. A deeper vessel could take longer to bake; a more shallow dish less time.) Pour the mixture into the baking dish and bake until dressing puffs slightly and has browned well around the edges, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. If you have drippings from a roasted turkey, spoon some over the top about 30 minutes into the baking time.

GRANNY'S SOUTHERN CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees .
• Make cornbread by mixing cornmeal, flour, oil, eggs, buttermilk and milk.
• Stir until well blended. Stir in celery and onion.
• If the batter is too thick, add more milk. (should be pourable).
• Pour into greased hot iron skillet (if you have one, if not get one, they aren't expensive and you can get them at Wal Mart. I have one I use just for cornbread!).
• Bake for 30 minutes or until top is light brown.
• When done and cooled down a bit. Crumble into a large bowl.
• Add bread pieces, butter and seasonings. Mix well.
• Start adding chicken or turkey broth, stirring and adding more broth as needed. (important: add broth until you think it is just right, then add more. It will soak up and dry out in the oven).
• Adjust seasoning to taste. (appoint someone special).
• Pour into a grease 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish or pan.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with gravy.
• Note: Broth made from boiling a hen will be best but canned will work.

CORNBREAD DRESSING (SOUTHERN W/SAGE, AKA HOLY GRAIL DRESSING)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350º.
• Melt margarine in skillet & saute onion & celery.
• Add salt, pepper, sage, thyme, & poultry seasoning to the cooked onions & celery--I usually will mix the spices together in a separate container before adding to the vegetables.
• In large bowl (I use the largest stainless steel bowl I own) combine bread crumbs, cornbread.
• In smaller bowl, blend soup, water, eggs, & vinegar.
• Add celery & onions to bread mixture, toss lightly, then add liquid mixture & blend thoroughly.
• Turn into 9x13 baking dish and bake @ 350º for an hour. (Can also be used as a stuffing.).
• If desired, dressing may be prepared ahead of time, baked 30 minutes, cooled and frozen, then baked about 45 minutes when ready to serve.
• NOTE: Mama also stuffed the bird with hers--it was wonderful--but my dressing needs are fully satisfied baking it separately.

MAMA'S SOUTHERN STYLE CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Prepare cornbread as package directs. I use a Mexican Cornbread mix. Don't use one that contains sugar.
• When your cornbread has cooled, break it and the toast into a large bowl.
• Sauté onions, celery, and green bell pepper, optional red bell pepper, and garlic in butter until onions are transparent.
• Add the shredded chicken and the sautéed veggies into the cornbread mixture. Use your hands to really mix it up.
• Add poultry seasoning and cayenne pepper, mixing well.
• Add in the broth a little at a time. Add in just enough to make it thick and somewhat soupy. Mix, well.
• Give it a taste. It should taste exactly the way you want your dressing to taste. If it needs more spices add them here.
• When you are content with the taste, stir in the eggs.
• Pour into a buttered 9 X 13 casserole dish.
• Bake for 45 minutes or until set.

SOUTHERN DRESSING

Steps:

• Cut the cornbread and French bread into 1-inch cubes, place on a baking sheet and leave out until completely dried out, several hours or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Add the bacon to a skillet and saute over medium heat until cooked and almost crisp, about 7 minutes. Remove to a plate and wipe out any grease. Melt the butter in the skillet, throw in the celery, red peppers and onions and cook, stirring, until very soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the jalapenos and garlic and continue to saute for 2 minutes. Pour in the chicken broth, add the parsley, rosemary and some salt and pepper and stir. Cook for a couple of minutes, then turn off the heat.
• Add the bread and bacon to a large bowl and spoon in some of the broth mixture. Keep adding the broth, tossing as you go, until it is all mixed in. Add more salt and pepper if needed and toss it around, then check the seasoning. If you like your dressing extra moist, add a little more broth.
• Pile the dressing into a 3-quart (9-by-13-inch) casserole pan and bake, uncovered, until golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve piping hot.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Add the cornmeal to a large bowl along with the flour, baking powder, salt, basil, sage and thyme and stir together.
• Measure the buttermilk in a measuring cup, add the whole milk and egg and stir together with a fork. Add the baking soda and stir. Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients and stir with a fork until just combined. Do not overmix.
• In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons shortening in the microwave and slowly add to the batter, stirring constantly until combined.
• In a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over high heat, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter and shortening. Pour the batter into the hot skillet, spread to even out the surface and cook over high heat for 1 minute. Then get it into the oven straightaway and bake until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. The edges should be crispy.

OLD FASHIONED SOUTHERN CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Saute the onion and celery in the canola oil until soft, melt margarine in same pan.
• Mix with remaining ingredients except broth in large bowl.
• Moisten with broth to your taste (I like mine pretty wet, I usually get closer to the 3 cups).
• Place in a casserole dish or aluminum pan.
• Bake at 400°F for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a nice crust develops on the top.
• **May use to stuff a 10 to 14 pound turkey. If stuffing a turkey, add very little broth. It will absorb additional moisture in the turkey. Pack loosely.

SOUTHERN CHICKEN CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• 1. Make your Cornbread first. Preheat oven to 425. Put shortening in a cast iron skillet, heat on stove top until melted. In large bowl, mix one egg, 2 cups cornmeal, 1 1/4 cup milk, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, mix and place carefully in skillet. Cook 25-30 minutes until toothpick in center comes out clean.
• 2. Boil chicken until completely cooked. Peel chicken off bone after it cools, keep the left over juice.
• 3. In a large pan, crumble your cornbread. Add in finely chopped onions, sage, salt and pepper (to taste), 6 eggs, and peeled chicken. Slowly begin adding in leftover broth mixing and adding more broth until you can press your hand on top of mixture and it feels moist, but not overly soupy. (hint I keep a box of stove top on hand in case I overly fill with broth to bring back texture).
• 4. Place in oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

SOUTHERN CORNBREAD DRESSING IN ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• In a skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter on medium heat and cook onion and celery for 3 to 4 minutes until tender, stirring occasionally.
• Add chicken broth, sage, thyme and pepper to taste and cook over medium heat for 1 minute.
• In a large bowl, combine bread cubes and cornbread. Pour broth/vegetable mixture over all and stir to combine. If the mixture is dry or crumbly looking, add broth until it will hold together.
• Stir in the eggs. (Stirring in the eggs last prevents the hot broth from scrambling them.).
• Cut acorn squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Cut a small slice off the sides, so the squash will lay flat in the baking dish.
• Generously brush insides of squash with melted butter.
• Spoon a heaping 1/2 cup of the stuffing mixture in each squash half and place in a large shallow baking dish. Drizzle on any remaining melted butter.
• Cover tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour or until squash is tender and dressing is warmed through. If desired, remove foil during the last 10 minutes to brown up the top.

SOUTHERN BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD CHICKEN & DRESSING

Steps:

• Obviously, cook the cornbread and biscuits first, then crumble. Add chicken and remaining ingredients. I usually mix this in a huge gumbo pot, then pour it into the pan, simply because it's easier to mix and the largest bowl I have isn't big enough to hold it. Bake it at 400 degrees for about 45 minutes to an hour. Don't let it get to brown around the edges or too dry in the center.

SUPER MOIST SOUTHERN CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 400.
• 2. For the cornbread - melt the butter in a heavy skillet, mix dry ingredients together, mix wet ingredients together, then combine them and stir in the melted butter.
• 3. Pour into the hot skillet and bake at 400 degree for 30 minutes.
• 4. In a large bowl, add crumbled cornbread, celery, onion, salt, pepper, sage, and poultry seasoning. Add the broth. Sometimes I use a little less than 4 cups but don't be scared for it to be very wet. Taste for seasoning. We like lots of sage.
• 5. Spoon into greased casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes until lightly browned. If you baked you cornbread ahead and it's not still warm, you may need to cook it a little longer. Check for an internal temp of 160 degrees. I often bake the cornbread the night before and wrap it in foil.

OVERNIGHT SOUTHERN CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Combine cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar in a large bowl. Stir together buttermilk and 2 eggs in a separate bowl; add to dry ingredients and stir until just moistened.
• Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a cast iron skillet over medium heat until hot. Pour cornbread batter into the skillet.
• Place skillet into the oven and bake until cornbread is golden brown, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool, 20 to 30 minutes. Turn oven off.
• Melt 1/2 cup butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add green onions and celery; saute until tender, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Crumble cooled cornbread into a large roasting pan. Add onion-celery mixture, 1 can chicken broth, croutons, hard-boiled eggs, pepper, and sage. Cover and place in the refrigerator, 8 hours or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Remove dressing from the refrigerator. Stir in remaining 4 eggs and 3 1/2 cans chicken broth.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 1 1/2 hours.

TURKEY PINTO BEAN SALAD WITH SOUTHERN MOLASSES DRESSING

Steps:

• Drain tomatoes, reserving 2 tablespoons oil. Place garlic and tomatoes in a food processor; cover and process until chopped. Add the molasses, vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper and reserved oil. Cover and process until smooth., In a large bowl, combine the turkey, beans, green pepper, celery, onion and parsley. Add dressing and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. If desired, serve with lettuce leaves.

CHARLOTTE'S SOUTHERN CORNBREAD DRESSING

Steps:

• Make two recipes of cornbread according to the mix directions (amounts listed are for 2 recipes).
• Crumble cornbread into the roasting pan used for a turkey with turkey crust left in the pan (or large, shallow casserole baking dish).
• Fry the onions and celery in 3/4 stick of butter until tender.
• Add to cornbread and mix well.
• Add sage, dripping, cream of chicken soup, evaportated milk, eggs and broth.
• Taste and adjust seasonings like salt and pepper and sage.
• Mix well and wet the surface using extra broth and the back of a spoon to smooth.
• Bake at 350 F until thick and browned on top. Dressing should be moist.
• Serve with giblet gravy.

PEACH AND TOMATO SALAD WITH SWEET SOUTHERN DRESSING, PECANS AND FARMER'S CHEESE

Steps:

• Put the oil, vinegar, honey, mustard, celery salt and salt and pepper to taste in a mason jar and shake well to combine.
• Put the small tomatoes, peaches, large tomatoes, red onions and watercress in a bowl and toss together. Drizzle the vinaigrette down the side of the bowl and gently fold together to combine. Add the cheese and pecans and toss again.