Cornbread Stuffing Recipe: A Thanksgiving Must-Have
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with a warm, comforting bowl of delicious cornbread stuffing? This recipe is sure to be a hit at your Thanksgiving table, and it's surprisingly easy to make!
Ingredients You'll Need:
This recipe makes enough stuffing for a 12-14 pound turkey. Feel free to adjust the quantities depending on your needs.
-
For the Cornbread:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup yellow cornmeal
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ¼ cups buttermilk
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
-
For the Stuffing:
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried sage
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
- 1 cup crumbled cornbread, from recipe above, cooled completely.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Making the Cornbread:
- Preheat & Prep: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
- Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, oil, and egg.
- Combine: Gently pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Do not overmix.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely before crumbling.
Assembling the Stuffing:
- Sauté Vegetables: Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and carrots and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook until tender, about 5 more minutes.
- Add Seasoning: Stir in thyme, sage, and pepper.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the sautéed vegetables, crumbled cornbread, and chicken broth. Mix gently until well combined, but be careful not to overmix; you want some texture.
- Stuff the Bird (Optional): Loosely fill the cavity of your turkey with the stuffing. Important Note: Do not overstuff the turkey. This can prevent it from cooking evenly. You can also bake the stuffing separately in a greased casserole dish at 350°F (175°C) for 30-40 minutes, or until heated through.
Tips for the Best Cornbread Stuffing:
- Don't Overmix: Overmixing the cornbread batter will result in a tough cornbread.
- Cool Completely: Make sure your cornbread is completely cool before crumbling it for the stuffing. Warm cornbread will make the stuffing soggy.
- Adjust Seasoning: Feel free to adjust the herbs and spices to your liking. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little heat!
- Add-ins: Get creative! Consider adding sausage, cranberries, pecans, or apples to your stuffing for extra flavor and texture.
Serving Suggestions:
Serve your delicious cornbread stuffing hot, alongside your Thanksgiving turkey and all the fixings. Enjoy!
This recipe is optimized for search engines by using relevant keywords like "cornbread stuffing," "Thanksgiving stuffing," "cornbread recipe," and "stuffing recipe" throughout the text. The use of headings and subheadings further improves readability and SEO. The inclusion of tips and serving suggestions adds value for readers and enhances the overall user experience.