Do you stuff or dress your turkey? I prefer to dress.
What better way to dress your turkey than using a southern cornbread dressing recipe!
Every Thanksgiving, we prepare Granny Moore's Dressing, a southern cornbread dressing recipe, at our family gathering.
It is a timeless, southern traditional recipe that has been handed down through the generations of the Moore Clan.
It is moist and creamy. It has the "soul food" kind of flavor that made you feel all good inside.
This Southern cornbread dressing is personally one of my most favorite dishes I look forward to having on Thanksgiving Day.
I was recently asked by City View Magazine, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, to write their holiday food feature on dressing recipes.
There was no way I could not include my grandmother-in-law's recipe in the article.
It has been in my husband's family for many years and they always, always, always have Granny's Dressing on Thanksgiving.
You can read the full article "To Stuff or to Dress."
When I married my husband, I received Granny's handmade recipe book, which included this southern cornbread dressing recipe.
As you can see, she didn't use exact measurements. She tasted and adjusted her dishes until they were to her liking.
Therefore, trying to replicate her exact dressing wasn't an easy task.
I called a couple of her daughters and sons to see how they made it and their answers varied also…
Tips
Here are the tips and tricks from Granny on how to make Southern Cornbread Dressing:
- Ballard Cornbread Mix is no longer available. Martha White claims to use the Ballard Recipe, but some family members just use Jiffy. Either cornbread mix will work.
- For sure, she ALWAYS used Herbed Seasoned Pepperidge Farm Stuffing Mix. (If you want to make yours from scratch, try this recipe.)
- The dressing will appear and feel soupy when you mix it, and that is how it is supposed to be! (See image above.)
- Granny sliced butter for it to melt evenly on the dish when baking (pats of butter). This gives it an amazing buttery topping.(See image above.)
How to make it
- Prepare and cook cornbread mix according to directions.
- After cornbread is cooked, crumble cornbread into a large mixing bowl.
- Add in the finely chopped onion, milk, crumbled crackers, Pepperidge Farms Mix, and Broth. Mix well. It should be soupy.
- Place dressing mix in a large 13x9 in baking dish.
- Slice butter into several small pieces and evenly arrange slices of butter on top of dressing. (This keeps the top from drying out and creates a nice buttery taste.)
- Bake uncovered at 350 for about 40 minutes. You do not want it to dry out.
- Allow it to set for 10 minutes before serving.
Granny Moore is no longer here with us, but her traditions of family gathering and preparation of her southern cornbread dressing recipe still carry on.
The family was of the MOST important to Granny.
She always had time, love, hugs, and kisses for all her family members. We spent many, many Sunday afternoons visiting with her.
My kids had countless days of endless playtime in her living room. They were spoiled rotten by her.
And she always ended our visits with hugs, kisses, and "I love you" in her southern drawl.
We miss her dearly. Creating her treasured dressing recipe every year reminds us of the happy memories and special times we shared with her.
I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
If you are cooking your turkey for the first time, check out: How to Cook the Perfect Turkey- 5 Tips for a Juicy Turkey!
Try these other recipes for your Thanksgiving meal!
- Southern Sweet Potato Casserole
- Cranberry Apple Casserole
- Field Peas
- Mixed Berry Pie with Oatmeal Crumble Topping
- Southern Collard Greens
- Slow Cooker Crockpot Green Beans and Potatoes
- Tomato Grits Casserole
- Jalapeno Cheese Grits
Please leave me a comment below if you make this Southern cornbread dressing and tell me what you thought about it. I would love to hear back, and so would my readers.
Also post your picture of your dressing on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!
Southern Cornbread Dressing Recipe - Granny Moore's Dressing
Ingredients
- 7.5 oz Martha White Cornbread Mix
- 1 large onion or 2 small onions finely chopped
- 15 oz can evaporated milk or 3 (5oz) small cans
- 1 sleeve package of saltine crackers crumbled
- 1 package Pepperidge Farms Stuffing Mix
- 32 ounces turkey or chicken broth
- 1 stick of butter thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Prepare and cook cornbread mix according to directions.
- After cornbread is cooked, crumble cornbread into a large mixing bowl.
- Add in the finely chopped onion, milk, crumbled crackers, Pepperidge Farms Mix, and Broth. Mix well. It should be soupy.
- Place dressing mix in a large 13x9 in baking dish.
- Slice butter into several small pieces and evenly arrange slices of butter on top of dressing. (This keeps the top from drying out and creates a nice buttery taste.)
- Bake uncovered at 350 for about 40 minutes. You do not want it to dry out.
- Allow it to set for 10 minutes before serving.
Rebecca
Today will be my second time making this delicious recipe. We love it. It's fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing a piece of your Granny Moore! Sadly this is my first time since I became a Momma in 1995 that I will not have a huge Easter dinner gathering. I am cooking still and have all of the decor out, however I'll be dropping off plates on the porch this year.
Immaculate Ruému
I’ve never tried a cornbread dressing before, you’ve just inspired me! Looks delicious and will be trying this recipe.
Katie
Thank you Loyola! I haven't tried it... so I am guessing...but I think an unsweetened almond milk or cashew milk will give it the same taste. The nut milks are more watery than evaporated milk, so I would reduce the broth amount. You would still want it kind of soupy like in the picture, so maybe reduce 8oz of broth if you substitute the nut milk. xoxo
Loyola
Congrats on your article Katie!!! I would love to try your dressing but my daughter is allergic to dairy..do you know what I could use instead of evaporated milk?
Nikole
This dressing sound perfect! I especially love that it was your Granny's. What a great tribute to a beloved family member!
Patty
Congratulation on your article Katie! Granny Moore sounds so dear and her dressing looks so good, I understand why the whole family treasures it, it's the dressing I'll go to for our Thanksgiving's meal this year, thank you for sharing!
Beth
I just love cornbread dressing! What a sweet story about your Granny Moore! I love the way foods can bring us back to a different time and remind us of loved ones!