Cornbread Dressing Recipe - Gluten Free - with Homemade Cornbread! (2024)

An easy gluten free stuffing, this Cornbread Dressing Recipe will surely impress! Full of italian sausage, homemade cornbread, cranberries, and more!

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  • General
  • Stuffing vs dressing
  • Ingredients
  • How to make
  • Get the recipe
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Can you stuff the turkey?
  • Variations
  • Pairing suggestions
  • Making ahead of time
  • How to store
  • Nutrition information

This is one of our family’s favorite holiday side dishes! We make it for Thanksgiving and then again for Christmas…and sometimes again in between the two since it’s justthatgood. 😉

It’s a little sweet, has a little kick from the sausage, is SO full of texture thanks to the celery and pecans, and, I’m gonna be honest, just totally addicting. 😉

What is the difference between stuffing and dressing?

There really is no significant different between the two. Traditionally, though, stuffing is stuffed inside the turkey and cooked whereas dressing is baked outside the turkey in a separate dish.

However, for food safety reasons, it is now recommended to avoid cooking stuffing/dressing inside the turkey entirely!

Ingredients

I especially love today’s cornbread recipe for two reasons: it’s gluten free AND it uses homemade cornbread.

If homemade cornbread isn’t your thing, you can use store-bought instead!

  • Cornbread – I use one batch of my homemade cornbread recipe.
  • Yellow Onion and Celery– the classic stuffing veggie combo. Adds texture and a slight crunch.
  • Rosemary, Thyme, Nutmeg, Sage, Salt, and Pepper– a simple but highly effective sweet and savory seasoning blend.
  • Dried Cranberries – adds a sweet flavor and chewy texture.
  • Pecans– gives a toasty, nutty crunch to each bite.
  • Egg– helps bind all the ingredients together.
  • Unsalted Butter and Chicken Broth– adds richness, moisture, and flavor.

Pro tip

Don’t want to make your own cornbread? Use your favorite boxed variety! Be sure you’re making enough to fill a 9×13 inch pan.

How to make

Because the cornbread needs a chance to dry out, this is a great make ahead recipe.

  1. Make one batch of cornbread then set aside to cool.
  2. In a large skillet, cook sausage, onion, celery, and spices until the sausage has cooked through and the veggies are tender. Remove from the heat and stir in cranberries and pecans.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together egg, melted butter, and chicken broth. Set aside.
  4. Place the sausage mixture and cornbread into a large bowl and pour in the egg mixture. Gently fold everything together.
  5. Transfer the mixture into a greased baking dish and bake for 20-30 minutes.
  6. Once heated, serve and enjoy!

Pro tip

I like making the cornbread and letting it sit out 24 hours in advance for best results. Feel free to also make the filling a day in advance!

Cornbread Dressing Recipe - Gluten Free - with Homemade Cornbread! (2)

Can you stuff the turkey?

Experts now advise against baking your stuffing/dressing inside the turkey for food safety reasons.

Cooking the stuffing to a safe temperature means your turkey will probably becomeovercooked. If you cook your turkey perfectly you’ll probably have undercooked stuffing prone to bacteria.

Basically, you’re better off just avoiding it altogether!

Cornbread Dressing Recipe - Gluten Free - with Homemade Cornbread! (3)

Cornbread Dressing Recipe - Gluten Free - with Homemade Cornbread! (4)

Variations

  • Make it semi-homemade.If you don’t want to make your own cornbread (although I highly recommend it), feel free to use a store-bought variety instead.
  • Swap the dried fruit. Not a cranberry fan? Try raisins!
  • Make it vegetarian.Swap the sausage for a vegetarian variety.
  • Make it without cornbread.If you’d rather go the traditional route, try my sausage stuffing or my crockpot vegetarian stuffing.

What to serve with cornbread dressing

This cornbread dressing is a classic for the holidays. Here are some of my other favorite holiday dishes!

  • Green bean casserole
  • Crockpot mashed potatoes
  • Slow cooker corn pudding
  • Easy strawberry pretzel salad

Cornbread Dressing Recipe - Gluten Free - with Homemade Cornbread! (5)

Can you make cornbread dressing ahead of time?

You sure can! If you’d like to make the cornbread dressing ahead of time, bake the cornbread and make the sausage filling 24 hours in advance, then assemble the recipe the day of!I don’t recommend assembling ahead of time or you may end up with soggy stuffing.

To make the cornbread ahead of time, bake according to directions, cool completely, cube, then leave uncovered at room temperature for 24 hours.

To make the filling ahead of time, cook the sausage, onion, celery, and spices together, stir in cranberries and pecans, cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for 24 hours.

You can also freeze it ahead ahead of time by following the recipe as directing but waiting to bake it. Instead, cover it with saran wrap and foil and freeze for up to a month.

When you’re ready to serve, thaw in the fridge and bake as directed!

How to store

Store leftover cornbread dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

To reheat: bake or microwave to warm!

– Jennifer

Cornbread Dressing Recipe - Gluten Free - with Homemade Cornbread! (6)

Cornbread Dressing Recipe

5 from 6 votes

An easy gluten free stuffing, this Cornbread Dressing Recipe will surely impress! Full of italian sausage, homemade cornbread, cranberries, and more!

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Yield: 12 people

Print Pin Rate Recipe

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

  • 1 recipe cornbread cubed into 1 in cubes
  • 1 (1 pound) package hot italian sausage links removed if applicable
  • 1/2 yellow onion diced
  • 2 stalks celery chopped
  • 2 teaspoons dried rosemary
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon dried ground sage
  • 1 teaspoon salt more or less to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup roughly chopped pecans or pecan pieces
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth

Instructions

  • Cornbread recipe is linked to above. Make sure you bake the cornbread in a 9x13 inch pan at least 24 hours in advance. Cube, then store uncovered.

  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Spread cornbread cubes onto an unlined 9x13 in rimmed baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, stirring gently halfway through.

  • Set aside to cool as you prepare the stuffing.

  • Turn oven up to 375 degrees F and grease a 9x13 in baking pan with cooking spray. Set aside.

  • Heat a large non stick pan over medium heat.

  • Cook sausage, onion, celery, and spices together until sausage has cooked through and vegetables are tender, breaking up the sausage as you go.

  • Remove from heat and stir in cranberries and pecans. Set aside.

  • In a small bowl, whisk together egg, melted butter, and chicken broth. Set aside.

  • Place the sausage mixture and toasted cornbread into a large bowl and pour the egg mixture over.

  • Gently fold everything together.

  • Be sure to not over mix. Some of the cornbread cubes will break apart, that's ok, but try to leave some of them whole as well.

  • Pour into prepared pan and bake at 375 degrees F for 20-30 minutes, or until warmed through.

  • Serve and enjoy!

  • Take 5 seconds to rate this recipe below. We greatly appreciate it!

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STORING

Room Temp:N/A

Refrigerator:3-4 Days

Freezer:1 Month

Reheat:If frozen, thaw in fridge then reheat in oven or microwave

*Storage times may vary based on temperature and conditions

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Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts

Cornbread Dressing Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 329 Calories from Fat 117

% Daily Value*

Fat 13g20%

Saturated Fat 5g31%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 1g

Cholesterol 28mg9%

Sodium 333mg14%

Potassium 56mg2%

Carbohydrates 37g12%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 10g11%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 60IU1%

Vitamin C 1.3mg2%

Calcium 12mg1%

Iron 0.4mg2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

*Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.

Keywords: cornbread, gluten free, thanksgiving side

Enjoy this recipe?

Tag @showmetheyummy on Instagram and hashtag it #showmetheyummy

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Author: Jennifer Debth

This post was originally published November 18, 2016 and has been updated to provide more detailed content.

Cornbread Dressing Recipe - Gluten Free - with Homemade Cornbread! (2024)

FAQs

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

The primary difference between stuffing and dressing is that stuffing is cooked inside a bird and dressing is made on the side.

Is gluten-free cornbread the same as regular cornbread? ›

Sometimes! If cornbread is made with only naturally gluten free ingredients, like with cornmeal alone, instead of with wheat flour as well, it may be naturally gluten free. Most conventional cornbread will contain some sort of wheat flour, though, and won't be gluten free.

Does cornbread stuffing contain gluten? ›

While corn IS gluten free, most cornbread recipes also include regular, all-purpose flour which makes them NOT gluten free. My cornbread recipe swaps all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend. Easy! That said, store-bought stuffing mixes like Stove Top Cornbread Stuffing can be deceiving.

What is homemade cornbread made of? ›

Ingredients
  1. 1 cup (120g) fine cornmeal.
  2. 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
  3. 1 teaspoon baking powder.
  4. 1/2 teaspoon baking soda.
  5. 1/8 teaspoon salt.
  6. 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled.
  7. 1/3 cup (67g) packed light or dark brown sugar.
  8. 2 Tablespoons (30ml) honey.
Oct 15, 2023

What is the difference between New York cornbread and Southern cornbread? ›

While both styles generally use the same ingredients -- cornmeal, flour, eggs, and baking powder -- the variance lies in the flavor and texture. Northern-style cornbread tends to be sweeter, moister, and cake-like compared to its Southern counterpart.

Why is my cornbread dressing wet? ›

If the stuffing came out too wet and soggy (aka bread soup!) try not to over mix it, otherwise it'll turn into mush. Curtis Stone says to pour it on a large sheet tray and spread it out. Bake it on high heat to crisp it up, but make sure it doesn't burn.

Why is cornmeal not gluten-free? ›

Cornmeal is also gluten-free. Cornmeal is a coarse flour made from maize, (i.e. corn). Just like cornflour, it's important to look for labeled gluten-free cornmeal whenever possible, as cross-contact can easily occur during manufacturing. Hominy is a product of corn and is gluten-free.

Does cornbread trigger IBS? ›

Even still, it is recommended to choose low FODMAP bread to prevent an IBS flare-up. Some examples of low FODMAP bread are sourdough bread, gluten-free/wheat-free bread, and cornbread.

Is sourdough bread gluten-free? ›

Sourdough is not gluten free, but we know that many people with IBS, gluten intolerance, or gluten sensitivity can tolerate sourdough bread. This is because the methods used to make sourdough break down some of the gluten in the flour so it is easier to digest. Think of sourdough as low-gluten rather than gluten-free.

What makes a dressing gluten-free? ›

Gluten-Free Salad Dressings. There are some key ingredients that you should look for when searching for a gluten-free salad dressing, such soybean oil. Soy is naturally gluten-free, but can be subject to cross contamination. 1 Read labels carefully and if you are unsure about a product, contact the manufacturer.

Is Pepperidge Farm cornbread dressing gluten-free? ›

Does Pepperidge Farm make gluten-free stuffing? No, Pepperidge Farm stuffing is not gluten-free. The Classic Cornbread Stuffing is made from wheat flour and malted barley flour, which both include gluten.

Which cornbread mixes are gluten-free? ›

GFF Faves: Cornbread Mixes
  • KRUSTEAZ GLUTEN FREE HONEY CORNBREAD MIX. Sweet from lots of sugar and good structure from whole-grain flours. ...
  • PAMELA'S CORNBREAD & MUFFIN MIX. ...
  • 1-2-3 GLUTEN FREE MICAH'S MOUTHWATERING CORN BREAD BAKING MIX. ...
  • HODGSON MILL GLUTEN FREE SWEET YELLOW CORNBREAD BAKING MIX.

Is it better to use oil or butter in cornbread? ›

Flour: I use all-purpose flour in this cornbread recipe, but this is a great time to substitute your favorite gluten-free all-purpose blend. Butter and oil: We use two fats in our cornmeal recipe. Butter adds flavor and color, while oil keeps the crumb tender and moist.

What is cornbread stuffing made of? ›

Combine the cooked onions and celery with the cornbread, egg, chicken broth, milk and 3/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a large bowl; mix well. Place in a buttered 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes; remove the foil and bake until golden brown, about 20 more minutes.

Why do Southerners not put sugar in cornbread? ›

The most common theory is a change in cornmeal itself. Until early in the 20th century, Southern cornmeal was made with sweeter white corn and it was water-ground. When industrial milling came along, that changed. The steel-roller mills used yellow corn that was harvested before it was ripe, so it had less sugar.

What is the difference between stuffing vs. dressing? ›

"Stuffing is cooked in the cavity of the turkey, so the juices soak into the ingredients, making it more flavorful. Dressing gets cooked on its own and needs extra liquid to make it flavorful." So stuffing is cooked inside the bird. Dressing is cooked outside the bird, usually in a casserole dish.

Do Southerners say stuffing or dressing? ›

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.

What is in Carrington cornbread stuffing? ›

From an old southern recipe handed down for over 100 years, cornbread and toasted white bread are blended with fresh celery, onions and diced hard boiled eggs. It is all bound together with savory vegetable oil and whole eggs. It is ready to be baked up to a golden brown and delicious stuffing.

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