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Looking to bring a little southern flavor to your Thanksgiving? It’s time to give this sage and cornbread stuffing a try. It’s a delicious mix of herbs, sweetened cornbread, bread, and veggies that cooks up perfectly every single time!
My favorite part of Thanksgiving will always be stuffing.
When I was a kid I would pile up my plate with all the stuffing, all the cheesy potatoes, and a sliver of turkey. It was a dream meal.
This sage and cornbread stuffing was the stuffing my stepmom made every. single. Thanksgiving.
It’s packed full of sage flavor, sweetened cornbread, white bread, celery, and onion. It’s very simple to make and is sure to make any stuffing lover happy.
Plus, I like to take a shortcut and just make a box of Jiffy the night before and use that as the cornbread. However, you could use any cornbread recipe that you love for this recipe.
What is the difference between stuffing and dressing?
Technically speaking stuffing is a bread-based mixture used to stuff and cook inside the turkey while roasting.
Dressing is made and cooked outside the bird.
However, nowadays it’s used pretty interchangeably.
I almost always use the term stuffing and have never stuffed a bird.
I’m a rebel like that.
In this recipe, I made a fairly simple classic Southern stuffing made with a mix of cornbread, regular bread, herbs, celery, and onions.
What cornbread do I use for stuffing?
Years ago I made Pumpkin Cornbread Chicken Sausage Stuffing which was a specialty cornbread stuffing made with homemade Pumpkin Sage Cornbread.
However, this stuffing I went with an even easier route – boxed cornbread.
I know, but listen, sometimes taking a quick shortcut can make cooking a big holiday meal just a little more enjoyable and doable. The food is still made with love and that’s all that matters.
My family always used Jiffy cornbread mix but you can pretty much use any cornbread mix that you like. In fact, the only time I like sweetened cornbread is when using it in this stuffing mix.
If you have a family favorite cornbread recipe feel free to use that in place of a box mix.
You can also simply buy already prepared cornbread that you can find in your store’s bakery section.
I like to buy or make the cornbread the night before and let it sit out uncovered overnight. This helps dry it out slightly.
Can I make changes to this recipe?
Of course! Feel free to add more vegetables (carrots and mushrooms are a great addition!), a few fresh herbs, or even ground sausage.
You likely won’t have to add more liquid but just adjust accordingly.
How do I store leftover sage and cornbread stuffing?
You can store leftover stuffing covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Love this sage and cornbread stuffing?
Why not try a few of my other delicious holiday stuffing recipes?
- Feeling a little fancy? Try my Pancetta Apple Fennel Brioche Stuffing.
- Love all things bacon and corn? Try my Bacon Corn Sourdough Stuffing.
- Craving a little garlic bread as a stuffing base? Try my Texas Toast Stuffing.
- Is soft potato bread your favorite? Try my Potato Bread Sausage Cranberry Stuffing.
- Want something a little different? Try my Sourdough Kale Sausage Bacon Stuffing.
- Need more spice in your life? Try my Chorizo Sheet Pan Stuffing.
- Are you a fan of all the flavors of stuffing but in dip form? Try my Thanksgiving Stuffing Topped Hummus.
Sage and Cornbread Stuffing
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups small diced celery
- 2 cups small diced yellow onion
- 4 cups small diced toasted white bread, about 1/2 inch squares
- 4 cups crumbled cornbread
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh sage
- 2 teaspoons dried poultry seasoning
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons milk
- Turkey or chicken stock
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. and spray a 9×13 pan with non-stick spray.
- In a 12-inch skillet add butter and set over medium-high heat.
- When the butter is melted add the celery and onion and stir to combine.
- Cook for the vegetables for about 10 minutes or until the onion and celery are starting to soften and turn translucent.
- Remove from the heat and add the vegetables and any remaining butter to a large mixing bowl.
- To the mixing bowl add diced toasted bread, crumbled cornbread, fresh sage, poultry seasoning, kosher salt, and black pepper and stir to combine.
- In a small mixing bowl whisk together 2 eggs and 2 tablespoons of milk.
- Pour over the bread mixture and stir to combine.
- Drizzle in turkey or chicken stock just until the bread is wet and moistened but not soggy.
- Put the stuffing mixture into the prepared baking dish and add to the preheated oven.
- Bake for 40-50 minutes or until the top of the stuffing is lightly browned but the inside is still moist.
Notes
- In our family, we use Jiffy cornbread that we make the night before and let sit out to use the next day. This is a sweet cornbread but you can use unsweet if you desire.
- The amount of turkey stock will depend greatly on how dry your bread is. That is why there is not a precise amount.
- You can use 1-2 teaspoons of dried sage in place of fresh sage.
- You can use vegetable stock instead of meat stock if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Stuffing is the best!!! And I love cornbread, so this would definitely be something I’d like to try… too bad I’m in a bit of a hurry so I don’t have time to bake my own bread… so I’ll have to use regular bread I guess. Well, I’m bookmarking it for next year!
I’m smiling ’cause I think stuffing is the best part of a turkey dinner too! Believe it or not, I’ve never made a cornbread stuffing, we always make chestnut stuffing. This recipe sounds wonderful…maybe next year?
Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Stuffing rocks. I only have it once a year too….we should treat ourselves more often. I’ve never had a version made with cornbread- I bet its out of this world.
Cornbread stuffing is very popular, especially in the south where I live.
Yum… Corn bread stuffing is my favorite! Now I’m totally craving it!
all thanksgiving stuffings and dressings should be made with cornbread–i feel pretty strongly about that!
I haven’t had stuffing..hmmnn I’m missing out..
Just wanted to wish you and your family a really fabulous Thanksgiving. May you always have much to be thankful for. You don’t mind if I take a spoon full of this delicious stuffing on my way out do u?
*kisses* HH
I can’t wait until Thanksgiving now! I love stuffing and this looks and sounds so delicious!
Cornbread stuffing is my favorite too! Mmmm, I can hardly wait until Thanksgiving! 😉