Cornbread Dressing with Sausage and Cranberries

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This post is kindly sponsored by Pacific Foods, but the recipe, photography, video, and opinions are 100% ours.

 

Cornbread Dressing with Sausage and Cranberries is truly something to be thankful for.

When you begin to plan your Thanksgiving day feast, one of the most important dishes you want to get right is the dressing. We’ve got you covered here with this recipe. Perfect alongside turkey, gravy, and candied yams. And it can easily be assembled a day in advance!

A square white dish holding cornbread dressing with sausage and cranberries

CORNBREAD DRESSING WITH SAUSAGE AND CRANBERRIES IS EASY TO MAKE

There are so many reasons we just love this dressing so very much.

The flavor components work so perfectly together. The combination of sweet and savory just can’t be beat.

Watch us show you how simple it is to prepare this incredible Cornbread Dressing with Sausage and Cranberries!

 

QUALITY INGREDIENTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating. Most recipes are only as good as the quality of ingredients that comprise the dish.

This dressing is no exception. We love making our cornbread from scratch. It’s so simple, and again, makes all the difference in the world.

Using a top notch broth or stock is critical, too. This is why we always use Pacific Foods. More on that in just a bit.

EXPERT TIP: Allowing the homemade cornbread to sit out for 24 hours before assembling is ideal for this dressing. The cornbread becomes a little dry, which makes it perfect for soaking up the delicious broth. This results in a moist-on-the-inside and crunchy-on-the-exterior dressing.

Two hands crumbling cornbread in a bowl next to a box of broth and a skillet of cornbread.

BREAKFAST SAUSAGE DEEPENS THE FLAVOR PROFILE

We just love the taste of cooked ground pork breakfast sausage. It has a combination of a little sweetness with a little savory.  That’s perfect for this dish.

We start with a healthy amount of chopped onion and celery. Sautéing them in a little butter until they become golden and almost caramelized also brings out a combination of sweet and savory.

Cornbread Dressing with Sausage and Cranberries has the quintessential flavors of Thanksgiving and the holidays.

A skillet on the left with sausage being cooked and a skillet on the right with sautéed onions and celery.

Assemble all the ingredients into a large bowl. The dried cranberries and fresh herbs round out this classic side dish.

The addition of two eggs will bind the dressing together perfectly.

EXPERT TIP: The dressing can be made to this point up to one day in advance. Simply cover with plastic wrap and keep in the refrigerator. On the day of the feast, remove from the fridge a couple hours before finishing up the recipe.

Two hands cracking an egg into a large glass bowl of cornbread dressing with sausage and cranberries.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT BROTH FOR CORNBREAD DRESSING

Once the dressing has been transferred to your serving dish, it’s time to add the liquid. We HIGHLY recommend using Pacific Foods’ Organic Low Sodium Chicken Broth.

We always use this broth because it’s the perfect combination of organic free-range chicken and just the right amount of seasonings that make the broth (and the dressing) so rich and full of flavor, without all the sodium.

EXPERT TIP: We recommend using what we call the “squish” test for knowing how much broth to add. You want enough liquid added to the dressing so when you press it with your hands, it feels a little “squishy.” The dressing shouldn’t be swimming in liquid, but still juicy. For this recipe, that’s usually about 3 cups of broth.

A person pouring chicken broth into a dish or cornbread dressing with a wooden spoon next to it.

PACIFIC FOODS IS COMMITTED TO QUALITY

 

An overhead view of a square dish of cornbread dressing with sausage and cranberries next to a box of chicken broth and a large spoon and herbs.

AN IDEAL DRESSING FOR THE HOLIDAYS

We just love everything about this Cornbread Dressing with Sausage and Cranberries.

It really is the perfect combination of sweet and savory.

Moist-on-the-inside and crunchy-on-the-top. Every bite is a celebration of deliciousness!

EXPERT TIP: We don’t usually stuff our turkey with the dressing for food safety reasons. If you do prefer to do this, be sure to ensure the internal temperature, throughout the turkey, especially near the cavity, has reached 165°F.

A spoon holding a portion of cornbread dressing over a dish of the dressing.

We know everyone has their favorite dressing during the holiday season.

On our table, we like to offer a couple different versions for the big feast. This Cornbread Dressing with Sausage and Cranberries is always a favorite.

It is the perfect accompaniment on your plate of turkey and all the fixings!

A plate full of roasted turkey, mashed potatoes and cornbread dressing with a box of broth next to it.

Ready to make one of the best dressings you’ll ever have? Go for it!

And don’t forget to take a picture, post it to Instagram, and tag @howtofeedaloon and @pacificfoods

A square dish filled with cornbread dressing with sausage and cranberries.

Cornbread Dressing with Sausage and Cranberries

The dressing is just wonderful. There is a subtle, but classic combination of sweet and savory. And it's as beautiful as it is delicious. The perfect holiday side dish.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cornbread dressing, Holiday side dish, Stuffing, Thanksgiving
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Time to make the corn bread: 1 hour
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 10 people
Calories: 491kcal

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter Plus a little more for greasing the dish
  • 8 cups cornbread day old is best
  • 1 lb breakfast sausage
  • 2 cups onion chopped
  • 1 ½ cups celery chopped
  • ¼ cup flat-leaf parsley fresh, chopped
  • 2 tbsp sage fesh, chopped
  • 1 tbsp rosemary fresh, chopped
  • 1 tbsp thyme fresh, chopped
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper freshly ground
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 cups Organic Low Sodium Chicken Broth

Instructions

  • Prepare the cornbread, preferably a day in advance. Crumble into a large bowl.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Cook sausage. Drain and then transfer to bowl with cornbread.
  • Heat butter in large skillet and then add onions and celery and cook until starting to turn golden, about 12 minutes. Add to cornbread/sausage mixture in bowl.
  • Gently fold in parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme and cranberries.
  • Add salt and pepper. Gently mix in the eggs.
  • Place dressing in a 9" x 13" (or 3 quart) baking dish that has been lightly greased with softened butter.
  • Pour enough stock over the stuffing so it’s a bit squishy to the touch, but not swimming, approximately 3 cups.
  • Bake for 50 minutes, or until lightly browned on top. Serve at once.

Video

Notes

Letting the cornbread sit out for a day will allow it to dry out somewhat, which means the broth will soak into it fully and produce a moist dressing.
You can substitute Italian sausage for the breakfast sausage for a much more savory dressing.
For food safety precautions, we don't recommend stuffing your whole turkey with the dressing. However, if you do, it is important to ensure the temperature of the interior of  the bird, as well as the dressing, has reached 165°F.  Remember, some of the juice from the turkey will seep into the dressing, which is good, but it is critical that it is fully cooked.
The dressing can be made up to 1 day in advance, prior to adding the broth.  
Add just enough of the broth to make the dressing 'squishy' when pressed, but not swimming.  
This dressing is amazing the next day, too. 

Nutrition

Calories: 491kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 139mg | Sodium: 958mg | Potassium: 305mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 834IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 109mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe? Take a Picture!Mention @HowToFeedALoon or tag #HowToFeedALoon!

 

4 Comments

  • 5 stars
    This is an excellent dressing and has become a traditional dish at my Thanksgiving meal. My family asks for me to make it each year. The homemade corn bread is a must and your recipe is so easy and delicious! I always make extra corn bread to have some left in 2 days for the dressing. LOL I have enjoyed your recipes and videos. Thank you so much. Happy Gobble Day!

    • Hi Diana! That is so so wonderful to hear and we are thrilled you and your family are enjoying this dressing! We love it, too! We truly hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful Thanksgiving!! All the very best, Kris & Wesley

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