This Southern cornbread dressing is a classic holiday side dish made with crumbled cornbread, biscuits, toasted bread, onions, sage, butter, eggs, and chicken broth. Baked until golden on top and moist and flavorful inside, it’s the kind of comforting Southern side dish that belongs on the table for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

This is a tried-and-true family recipe that has been made and enjoyed for generations, and it continues to be one of our favorite dishes to serve during the holidays.

Serve this homemade cornbread dressing alongside turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, and your other favorite Southern holiday sides. Add homemade gravy on top for an extra helping of comfort food.

Why You’ll Love This Southern Cornbread Dressing

• Classic Southern comfort food: Cornbread, biscuits, sage, onions, and butter give this dressing plenty of traditional Southern flavor.
• Moist and flavorful: Chicken broth and eggs help keep the dressing moist while the top bakes until golden.
• Tried-and-true family recipe: This recipe has been made and enjoyed by our family for generations.
• Perfect for the holidays: Serve it as a Thanksgiving dressing or add it to your Christmas dinner menu.
• Made with simple ingredients: You don’t need anything fancy to make a flavorful homemade cornbread dressing.

Southern Cornbread Dressing Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this Southern cornbread dressing:

• 1 9×9 pan cornbread
• 8 slices toasted bread
• 1 (12-count/12-ounce) can small biscuits, baked
• 1 cup chopped green onions (about 3 stalks)
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 1/4 cups melted butter
• 3 tablespoons rubbed sage
• 2 eggs
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

The combination of cornbread, toasted bread, and biscuits creates the base for this traditional Southern dressing, while sage, onions, butter, and chicken broth give it plenty of savory flavor.

How to Make Southern Cornbread Dressing

1. Prepare the bread.
Bake the cornbread and biscuits according to the package or recipe directions. Toast the bread slices. Allow everything to cool enough to handle.

2. Crumble the bread mixture.
Crumble the cornbread, toasted bread, and biscuits into a large mixing bowl.

3. Add the onions and seasonings.
Add the chopped green onions, chopped onion, melted butter, rubbed sage, salt, and black pepper. Stir until well combined.

4. Add the eggs and broth.
Add the eggs and chicken broth to the bread mixture.

Stir everything together until evenly combined and the bread mixture is well moistened.

5. Transfer to a baking dish.
Spread the dressing mixture evenly into a greased baking dish.

6. Bake the dressing.
Bake at 375°F for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the dressing is cooked through and the top is lightly golden brown.

Allow the dressing to rest for a few minutes before serving.

Tips for the Best Southern Cornbread Dressing

• Don’t leave the dressing too dry. The bread mixture should be well moistened with the chicken broth before it goes into the oven. The bread will absorb more moisture as the dressing bakes.
• Crumble the breads well. Breaking the cornbread, biscuits, and toast into smaller pieces helps distribute the broth, butter, sage, and onions throughout the dressing.
• Use rubbed sage. Sage is an important part of the traditional flavor of this Southern cornbread dressing, so be sure to use the amount called for in the recipe.
• Mix everything thoroughly. Make sure the eggs, broth, melted butter, onions, and seasonings are evenly distributed throughout the bread mixture.
• Let it rest before serving. Give the dressing a few minutes to rest after removing it from the oven so it can set slightly before you serve it.

What to Serve With Southern Cornbread Dressing

Southern cornbread dressing is a classic side dish for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. Serve it warm alongside roasted turkey, baked ham, or your favorite holiday main dish.

Round out the meal with Southern favorites like mashed potatoes, green beans, baked macaroni and cheese, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, and homemade rolls or biscuits.

Don’t forget the gravy! A spoonful of warm gravy served over cornbread dressing makes an especially comforting addition to a Southern holiday plate.

Make Ahead, Storage, and Reheating

Make ahead: To save time on Thanksgiving or Christmas, you can prepare the cornbread, biscuits, and toasted bread ahead of time. Once cooled, keep them covered until you’re ready to assemble the dressing.

Storing leftovers: Allow leftover cornbread dressing to cool, then transfer it to an airtight container or cover the baking dish tightly. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.

Reheating: Reheat individual servings in the microwave or warm a larger portion in the oven until heated through. If the dressing seems a little dry after refrigeration, adding a small amount of chicken broth before reheating can help add moisture back to the dressing.

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Southern Cornbread Dressing FAQs

What is the difference between stuffing and dressing?

The terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but dressing is generally baked separately in a baking dish, while stuffing traditionally refers to a bread mixture cooked inside poultry. In the South, cornbread-based versions are commonly called dressing.

Why is my cornbread dressing dry?

Cornbread and the other breads absorb quite a bit of liquid as the dressing bakes. Make sure the mixture is well moistened with chicken broth before putting it in the oven. Overbaking can also cause dressing to become dry.

How do I know when cornbread dressing is done?

The dressing should be hot and cooked through with a lightly golden top. Because this recipe contains eggs, the center should reach 165°F when checked with a food thermometer.

Can I make the bread for cornbread dressing ahead of time?

Yes. The cornbread, biscuits, and toasted bread can be prepared ahead of time. Allow them to cool completely before storing them until you’re ready to assemble the dressing.

Is Southern cornbread dressing just for Thanksgiving?

Not at all. While cornbread dressing is especially popular for Thanksgiving, it also makes a great side dish for Christmas dinner and other family gatherings throughout the year.