Classic Cornbread Dressing

A great Southern-style dressing starts with cornbread that’s baked in a skillet for a crisp, golden crust. Our simple recipe can be made up to a month ahead if stored in the freezer. For best results, prepare the cornbread up to two days in advance so it can dry out completely.

Ingredients

CORNBREAD

• 2 cups self-rising white cornmeal mix
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar (optional)
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups whole buttermilk
• 3 tablespoons salted butter

DRESSING

• 1/2 cup salted butter
• 3 cups chopped sweet onion (from 2 large onions)
• 2 cups chopped celery (from 6 stalks)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• 6 large eggs
• 1 (14-oz.) pkg. herb-seasoned stuffing mix (such as Pepperidge Farm)
• 10 cups chicken broth
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Step 1Prepare the Cornbread: Preheat oven to 425°F. Combine self-rising cornmeal mix and, if desired, sugar in a large bowl. Stir together eggs and buttermilk in a medium bowl; add to cornmeal mixture, stirring just until moistened.
Step 2
Heat salted butter in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet in preheated oven 5 minutes. Stir melted butter into batter. Pour batter into hot skillet.
Step 3
Bake in preheated oven until Cornbread is golden, about 25 minutes; cool in skillet 20 minutes. Remove from skillet to a wire rack, and cool completely, 20 to 30 more minutes. Crumble Cornbread. Freeze in a large heavy-duty ziplock plastic bag up to 1 month, if desired. Thaw in refrigerator.
Step 4Prepare the Dressing: Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high; add onion and celery, and cook, stirring often, until tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Add sage and thyme, and cook, stirring often, 1 minute.
Step 5
Stir together eggs in a very large bowl; stir in crumbled Cornbread, onion mixture, stuffing mix, chicken broth, black pepper, and kosher salt until blended.
Step 6
Spoon mixture into 2 lightly greased 13- x 9-inch (3-quart) baking dishes. Cover and freeze up to 3 months, if desired; thaw in refrigerator 24 hours. (Uncover and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before baking.)
Step 7
Bake, uncovered, in preheated oven until lightly browned and cooked through, 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes.