Side Dishes
Southern Cornbread Dressing with Chicken
Crumbled cornbread and shredded chicken with celery, onion and poultry seasoning, baked until the edges crisp and the center stays spoon-soft. On many Black Southern holiday tables, the dressing pan is the dish everyone checks for first.
Prep time
30 min
Cook time
45 min
Total time
1 hr 15 min
Servings
12 · One 9x13-inch dish
Ingredients
- 8 cups crumbled prepared cornbread
- 4 cups torn day-old white bread
- 3 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup finely chopped onion
- 1 cup finely chopped celery
- 4 to 5 cups chicken broth, as needed
- 1 can (10.5 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup
- 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- 2
Combine crumbled cornbread and torn bread in a large bowl.
- 3
Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat.
- 4
Add onion and celery and cook until tender, approximately 6–8 minutes.
- 5
Add vegetables and shredded chicken to the bread mixture.
- 6
Stir in cream of chicken soup, poultry seasoning, pepper and garlic powder.
- 7
Add 4 cups chicken broth and mix well.
- 8
Add eggs and stir until evenly incorporated.
- 9
The mixture should be very moist but not watery. Add additional broth a little at a time if needed.
- 10
Transfer to prepared baking dish.
- 11
Bake approximately 40–45 minutes, until set in the center and lightly golden across the top.
- 12
Rest 10 minutes before serving.
Heritage Kitchen Tips
- Dressing should look noticeably moist before it goes into the oven. Starting too dry is one of the easiest ways to end up with dry dressing.
Variations
- For meatless dressing, omit the chicken and use vegetable broth with cream of mushroom or celery soup.
Storage and reheating
Refrigerate promptly and use within 3–4 days.
Round out the meal
Helpful kitchen tool
Soul Food Serving Calculator
Know exactly how much fried chicken, greens, and mac to make — no guessing, no leftovers gone to waste.
Open calculatorRelated guide
How to Plan a Soul Food Dinner for a Crowd
A menu framework, a cooking timeline and the oven math nobody warns you about.
Read the guideRelated recipes
Side Dishes
Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Creamy, cheesy and baked until bubbling — the pan that disappears first at Sunday dinner.
Side Dishes
Collard Greens with Smoked Turkey
Tender greens simmered with smoked turkey until the pot likker is worth sipping.
Side Dishes
Southern Candied Yams
Sweet potatoes braised in butter, brown sugar and vanilla until the syrup thickens and clings to every slice.
Main Dishes
Southern Fried Chicken
A golden, well-seasoned crust and a juicy center — the plate everyone comes for.