Midwest Cornbread Dressing: Traditional Family Recipe

Discover the heartwarming tradition of Midwest holiday cooking with this treasured family cornbread dressing recipe that has been passed down through generations of home cooks who understand that true comfort food comes from simple ingredients prepared with love and tradition. This authentic Midwest dressing combines the rustic texture of homemade cornbread with the refined flavors of fresh herbs, aromatic vegetables, and rich broth to create a side dish that transforms any meal into a memorable feast.

Why This Recipe Works

The secret to exceptional cornbread dressing lies in the careful balance of textures and flavors that create complexity from simple ingredients. The combination of crumbled cornbread and light bread provides the ideal foundation with varying textures, while the aromatic vegetables add moisture and depth. The blend of poultry seasoning, sage, and thyme creates the signature flavor profile that defines authentic Midwest dressing, while the hard-boiled eggs add richness and traditional binding properties.

What Makes This Dressing Special

This family recipe represents generations of Midwest cooking wisdom, combining time-tested techniques with the perfect seasoning blend that creates comfort food at its finest. The sautéed vegetable base ensures even flavor distribution, while the generous use of herbs creates the complex, savory profile that makes this dressing irresistible. Hard-boiled eggs are a traditional touch that adds protein and helps bind the ingredients while contributing to a rich, satisfying texture.

Ingredients

Bread Base:

• Crumbled cornbread – Provides the signature texture and slightly sweet foundation
• Crumbled light bread – Adds structure and helps bind the mixture together

Aromatic Vegetables:

• Celery – Contributes essential crunch and fresh, clean flavor
• Bell pepper – Adds sweet pepper notes and colorful visual appeal
• Chopped onion – Provides savory depth and aromatic foundation

Seasoning Blend:

• Poultry seasoning – Creates the classic herb profile for traditional flavor
• Salt – Enhances all other flavors and balances the dish
• Sage – Adds the signature earthy, slightly bitter notes
• Black pepper – Provides subtle heat and aromatic complexity
• Celery salt – Intensifies the celery flavor and adds mineral notes
• Thyme – Contributes floral, earthy undertones

Enriching Elements:

• Hard-boiled eggs – Adds protein, richness, and traditional binding properties
• Chicken or turkey broth – Provides moisture and deep, savory flavor
• Butter – Essential for sautéing vegetables and adding richness

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare the Foundation:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a large roasting pan or casserole dish thoroughly.
2. Prepare the bread base by combining crumbled cornbread and light bread in a large mixing bowl.
3. Chop vegetables uniformly by dicing celery, bell pepper, and onion into small, even pieces for consistent cooking.

Build the Flavor Base:

4. Sauté the aromatics by cooking onion, bell pepper, and celery in 2 tablespoons butter until softened and fragrant.
5. Cool slightly before adding to bread mixture to prevent cooking the eggs prematurely.
6. Combine dry seasonings by mixing poultry seasoning, salt, sage, pepper, celery salt, and thyme in small bowl.

Assemble the Dressing:

7. Add vegetables by incorporating the sautéed vegetable mixture into the bread base.
8. Season generously by sprinkling the seasoning blend over the mixture and tossing to distribute evenly.
9. Fold in eggs by gently incorporating chopped hard-boiled eggs throughout the mixture.
10. Add moisture gradually by pouring chicken or turkey broth over the mixture, stirring gently until well moistened but not soggy.

Bake to Perfection:

11. Transfer to pan by spreading the mixture evenly in the prepared roasting pan.
12. Bake until golden for 45 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the center is set.
13. Test for doneness by checking that the center is firm and the top has achieved a beautiful golden color.
14. Rest before serving for 5-10 minutes to allow the dressing to set properly.

Storage & Reheating Instructions

• Refrigerator Storage: Store covered dressing for up to 4 days in the refrigerator after completely cooling.
• Freezing: Freeze baked dressing for up to 3 months when wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and foil.
• Reheating Method: Reheat covered in 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes until heated through, adding splash of broth if needed to restore moisture.

Make-Ahead Strategies

Prepare cornbread up to 2 days in advance and let it dry out for better texture. Chop vegetables and hard-boil eggs the day before serving. Assemble completely and refrigerate overnight, then bring to room temperature before baking. This advanced preparation improves flavor development.

Midwest Cornbread Dressing

Classic Midwest cornbread dressing made with homemade cornbread, herbs, vegetables, and rich broth. Perfect traditional holiday side dish!

5 from 3 votes

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Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Cornbread Dressing

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes minutes

Servings: 10

Calories: 183kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

• 6 cups crumbled cornbread
• 4 cups crumbled light bread
• 1 cup celery
• 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sage
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 1/2 cup bell pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 3 hard boiled eggs chopped
• 2 1/2 cups chicken broth or turkey

Instructions

• Saute onion, bell pepper, and celery in 2 Tbsp. butter while preparing the ingredients. Them mix all ingredients and pour broth of chicken or turkey giblets and add cooked meat pieces that have been boiled. Stuff turkey or place in a greased roaster pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until done. 12 servings

Nutrition

Calories: 183kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 864mg | Potassium: 187mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 420IU | Vitamin C: 14.7mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 1.5mg