Amazing Bacon Cornbread Stuffing Recipe (2024)

This bacon cornbread stuffing recipe is the perfect side dish for any Thanksgiving dinner.

Amazing Bacon Cornbread Stuffing Recipe (1)

Cornbread Bacon Stuffing Recipe

I am very picky when it comes to stuffing/dressing. The stuff from the box? I just can’t do it – I think it is mostly a texture thing for me. Anyway, I have not been very interested in stuffing in the past, but this cornbread stuffing with bacon is a game changer for me! Everyone that has tried this recipe has loved it!Maybe it’s the bacon. 😉

Amazing Bacon Cornbread Stuffing Recipe (2)

Homemade vs Store-Bought Cornbread

Feel free to purchase cornbread for the stuffing, but I have to warn you…homemade is better! That’s why I have included an easy cornbread recipe for you (find it below).

Also, the cornbread can be made up to 2 days in advance. So really, just go for the homemade one if at all possible! It will make yourbacon cornbread stuffing taste so much better.

Amazing Bacon Cornbread Stuffing Recipe (3)

Cornbread Tips:

You can do all cornbread if you want to skip the white bread. Just double the cornbread recipe and bake it in a 9×13 pan for the same amount of time. Voila.

P.S. Avoid using a sweet, cake-like cornbread for this stuffing recipe – it will taste a little off with the other savory flavors. The cornbread recipe you’ll find below works wonderfully.

Amazing Bacon Cornbread Stuffing Recipe (4)

Easy Bacon Infused Vegetables:

That’s right, just throw the onion, celery, and garlic right in there with the bacon and its grease. A little bacon magic happening there.

Amazing Bacon Cornbread Stuffing Recipe (5)

Why This Bacon Cornbread Stuffing Is the Best

A few of the reasons why I like this stuffing recipe so much are the flavor and the texture.The flavor is on point with the sage, fresh parsley, and bacon, and by cooking the veggies in the bacon grease, the bacon flavor is infused throughout the entire dish. It’s delicious but not too overpowering.

Quick tip:I use dried/rubbed sage for convenience, but keep the parsley fresh.

Another thing I like about this recipe is that I don’t feel like there’s much of a soggy bread texture to this stuffing, which I really like. It isn’t too dry either though. It’s pretty much perfect! 🙂

Plus, it is fun to impress people by saying you made the delicious stuffing from scratch. 😉

Amazing Bacon Cornbread Stuffing Recipe (6)

Final Tips

You can try slow cooking this bacon cornbread stuffing recipe, but you may lose some of that great texture that you get from baking it in the oven. If you want to give it a try anyway, follow the recipe directions, but cook the stuffing on lowin the slow cooker for 4-5 hours.

One more note: You can reserve 4 1/2 cups of the stuffing for the stuffing of the turkey, then spoon the remaining stuffing into a 9×9 baking dish and bake that in the oven. I prefer to bake all of the stuffing in a 9×13 and serve it on the side, which I guess makes it actually “dressing” and not “stuffing.” 😉

Either way, I hope you try it out because it is worth it! So good!

Amazing Bacon Cornbread Stuffing Recipe (7)

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Amazing Bacon Cornbread Stuffing Recipe (8)

Amazing Bacon Cornbread Stuffing Recipe (9)

Amazing Bacon Cornbread Stuffing Recipe

This bacon cornbread stuffing recipe is the perfect side dish for any Thanksgiving dinner.

4.73 / 5 ( 33 Reviews )

Print Rate

Prep Time: 40 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes

Serves: 12

Adjust Servings: 12

Equipment

  • 8x8 inch pan

  • Large skillet

Ingredients

Cornbread Recipe

Cornbread Dressing/Stuffing

  • 8x8 pan cornbread from above, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 8 slices white sandwich bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 6 slices bacon chopped
  • 2 stalks celery finely diced
  • 1 small yellow onion finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage leaves or 1 teaspoon dried
  • 2 eggs lightly beaten
  • 2 ¾ cups reduced sodium chicken broth
  • ½ cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F/190°C.

  • For the cornbread: Grease an 8x8 baking dish or pan for the cornbread. Whisk milk, oil, and eggs in a medium bowl. Combine cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Add milk mixture, whisking until smooth. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake until golden and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool in pan on wire rack. (Cornbread can be made up to 2 days in advance.)

  • For the dressing/stuffing: Spread cubed cornbread and bread onto two baking sheets and bake until dry and golden, about 15 minutes.

  • Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until fat is rendered and bacon is crisp, about 5 minutes. Add onion, celery, and garlic and cook until translucent, about 4 minutes. Stir in sage and transfer mixture to a large bowl.

  • Add cornbread, bread, lightly beaten eggs, broth, parsley, salt, and pepper to the bowl and toss until combined. Let sit 5 minutes, then toss again.

  • If serving as a side dish/dressing and not stuffing the turkey, spoon mixture into a 9x13 baking dish and bake until top is toasted golden brown, about 30 minutes. Serve warm.

  • For stuffing: Reserve 4 1/2 cups for turkey, then spoon remaining stuffing into a 9x9 baking dish. Bake until top is golden brown, about 25-30 minutes.

Recipe Notes

The baked cornbread can be left in its pan at room temperature overnight or up to 2 days before making the stuffing, instead of oven drying (in step 3). You can skip the white bread and do all cornbread if you want, just double the cornbread recipe and bake it in a 9x13 for the same amount of time.

Nutrition

Calories: 271kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 13g | Sodium: 665mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g

Amazing Bacon Cornbread Stuffing Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does adding egg to stuffing do? ›

Eggs: Two lightly beaten eggs help hold the dressing together and add moisture.

How soggy should stuffing be before baking? ›

The stuffing should be moist but not wet. If there is a puddle of broth at the bottom of the bowl, you've added too much. Add more bread to soak up the excess moisture. If the mix is still dry and crumbly, add more liquid and toss gently until it starts to clump together.

What is the difference between cornbread stuffing and cornbread dressing? ›

So stuffing is cooked inside the bird. Dressing is cooked outside the bird, usually in a casserole dish.

What is the best way to dry out cornbread for stuffing? ›

I got you! Bake in cubes at 350 for 15 minutes, toss and bake again for 10-15 minutes. And you have stuffing bread.

What can you use as a binder instead of eggs in stuffing? ›

16 egg substitutes
  1. Mashed banana. Mashed banana can act as a binding agent when baking or making pancake batter. ...
  2. Applesauce. Applesauce can also act as a binding agent. ...
  3. Fruit puree. Fruit puree will help bind a recipe in a similar way to applesauce. ...
  4. Avocado. ...
  5. Gelatin. ...
  6. Xanthan gum. ...
  7. Vegetable oil and baking powder. ...
  8. Margarine.
Mar 30, 2021

What can I substitute for eggs in stuffing? ›

Best Egg Substitutes
  • Flaxseed Meal. Flaxseeds have an earthy, nutty flavor and are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. ...
  • Chia Seeds. ...
  • Mashed Banana. ...
  • Applesauce. ...
  • Silken Tofu. ...
  • Aquafaba. ...
  • Starches. ...
  • Vinegar + Baking Powder.

Can you mess up stuffing? ›

Your Bread Is Too Fresh

There's nothing better than soft, fresh bread—except for when it comes to stuffing. If you want your stuffing to hold up and not end up a soupy, soggy mess, make sure your bread is dried out or staled for a few days.

Is it better to make stuffing the day before? ›

The short answer to whether you can making stuffing ahead of time is yes. "Making stuffing ahead saves time, allows stove and oven space for other things, and making it ahead gives time for the flavor to fully develop," Chef David Tiner, Director at Louisiana Culinary Institute in Baton Rouge, tells Southern Living.

How do you make Paula Deen's cornbread dressing? ›

In a large bowl, whisk together broth, soup, eggs, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper; stir in vegetable mixture. Crumble cornbread into broth mixture and stir until well combined. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Bake until center is set, 45 to 55 minutes.

What is stuffing called in the South? ›

But for the Thanksgiving side dish in the South, the term dressing was adopted in place of stuffing, which was viewed as a crude term, during the Victorian era. Although dressing and stuffing are interchangeable terms, the signature ingredient of this Thanksgiving side dish in the South is cornbread.

What kind of bread is good for stuffing? ›

The best bread for stuffing is a sturdy loaf with a tight crumb. Bakery French bread, Italian bread, Challah, and Sourdough are all good choices. When you cut up a 1-pound loaf into cubes, it should fit in an even layer on a single half-size rimmed baking sheet.

How to keep cornbread dressing from being gummy? ›

Stir occasionally to ensure even drying. And if your dressing is still too mushy after baking, you can add more crumbled cornbread, dry bread, or even dry breadcrumbs or croutons to absorb excess moisture. Mix it in gently, so you don't compress the dressing too much.

Can you leave cornbread out overnight for dressing? ›

Be sure to leave enough time — the cornbread needs to sit out overnight to harden slightly before you make the dressing.

Can you leave cornbread out overnight? ›

Cornbread can be stored at room temperature as long as it's kept in a dark and dry place, like a cupboard. Make sure the cornbread has fully cooled down before you store it. Wrap the loaf in aluminum foil or plastic wrap two times, and then place it in a zip-tight plastic bag.

Does stuffing mix have eggs? ›

Most commercial stuffing brands use animal products like milk, egg whites, butter, and chicken broth to bind the stuffing together. Some brands also use cornbread, which uses egg in the mixture. Homemade is the way to go if you want to incorporate only plant-based ingredients in your vegan stuffing mix.

What makes stuffing unhealthy? ›

Stuffing is not strictly a healthy food, because it is typically high in calories, fat, sodium, and refined carbohydrates. 1 But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it, All foods can fit into a healthy diet in moderation.

Why do people add eggs to everything? ›

Not only do eggs add an element of creamy indulgence, there's even some science behind their joy. “Eggs are a perfect emulsifier and binder so work really well to make many dishes cohesive,” she continues.

What is the importance of egg yolk in preparing salad dressing? ›

Mayonnaise is an emulsion of oil in water, but egg yolk is the key emulsifier. Egg yolks contain long molecules called phospholipids that are able to interact with both the oil layer and the water.

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