How Long Does Cornbread Dressing Last In The Refrigerator?

I know, I know, Thanksgiving is done and dusted, but, I still have a few things to share about it! Such as, how long does cornbread dressing last in the refrigerator exactly?

This was my very first time even attempting to make dressing this year. So this was a very new process for me! And don’t worry, I will share the recipe on how we made it below too.

I mentioned in my southern Thanksgiving side dishes post a few weeks ago that I wanted to attempt to make the dressing this year. However, I wasn’t too sure if I would have the time to get into it.

Happy to report that I did and it turned out to be delicious! But, I also wanted to get into the food prep, storage, and shelf life of dressing as well.

That way we will be covering all the bases here and you can fully be prepare at your next Thanksgiving meal to make your own southern cornbread dressing too! It’s a southern staple when it comes to a great Thanksgiving meal.

I was always a little intimidated to try it, but it really isn’t so bad. Once you make it one time, you will figure it out and go from there.

This cornbread dressing recipe I am sharing below is a combination between my family’s and my husband’s family recipe. And I think it turned out so good! So I am happy to share it with y’all today as well! 

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What Is The Difference Between Cornbread Stuffing and Dressing?

Sometimes, I accidentally say “Stuffing” instead of “Dressing” when referring to this dish. However, that is technically not correct, seeing as how that is a totally different recipe.

Stuffing is when you cook the ingredients inside the turkey. Whereas dressing is when you cook the ingredients in a separate casserole dish.

Also, a lot of people from the south refer to it as dressing whereas people from the northeast call it stuffing. Regardless of what you call it, dressing makes for the perfect side dish when it comes to a good ol Thanksgiving meal! 

So How Long Does Cornbread Dressing Last In The Refrigerator?

Now the important answer to the question, how long does cornbread dressing last in the refrigerator? Typically, it will last 3-4 days when stored properly in an airtight container.

Obviously, dispose of the dressing if it starts to smell weird and/or mold. But if you store it this way it should be just fine. We even stored some of the batter in an airtight container to bake more later and it was totally fine.

And we did that 3 days after Thanksgiving as well. So as long as you store it properly, you will be just fine. 

Can I Make Cornbread Dressing Ahead Of Time?

If you’re like me and love to prep, you may be asking this question as well. And the good news is yes you can!

You can go ahead and bake it and store it in the fridge as we talked about above for up to 4 days. But, if you really want to be ahead of the game and make it months in advance, you can do that too. You can freeze cornbread dressing for up to 3 months!

If you want to freeze unbaked cornbread dressing, just make sure you pour the batter into a freezer-safe container. If you want to freeze it after baking, bake the dressing according to the recipe, allow it to cool completely, and then freeze it!

So easy and simple. This recipe is a lot of work so it is nice to plan ahead and try to prep as much as you can. I didn’t have time to freeze the whole dressing recipe per se, but I did freeze a few things leading up to is.

Such as I made some buttermilk biscuits and some homemade cornbread beforehand and then placed them in heavy-duty freezer bags. Be sure to let them cool completely before placing them in the bag to prevent freezer burn.

But biscuits and cornbread freezes quite nicely so it’s a good thing to make ahead if you have time! The freezing process is quite easy and all you have to do to thaw them out is lay them out in the refrigerator overnight before you need to use them.

What Ingredients Do I Need For Cornbread Dressing?

4 cups crumbled biscuits 

4 cups crumbled dry cornbread

Pepperidge Farm corn bread classic stuffing (I used about half of a 12 oz bag)

1 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp poultry seasoning

1/2 tsp ground sage 

3 cups chicken broth, vegetable broth, or turkey broth (this is the best option if you are cooking the bird too!)

1/2 cup butter

1/3 cup milk 

How To Make Cornbread Dressing 

In a large bowl, crumble up the biscuits and the cornbread. Alternatively, you can use a food processor to really grind up the biscuits and leftover cornbread.

I don’t have a food processor, but I do have a Ninja Blender which has a pulse option just like a food processor. So I used that instead and it worked like a dream.

Then, add in your classic stuffing cornbread mix, onion, celery, and seasonings. Mix well and add in your hot turkey broth (or chicken broth). The final step is to add in the butter and the milk.

The dressing mixture should be very soft. You may need to add in some more broth, depending on the moisture content of the mixture. We even added in some small pieces of the cooked turkey into the dressing mixture as well. 

Baking Cornbread Dressing

Now, I am going to share with you all 2 different ways you can cook this cornbread dressing. One way is how my mama always makes it and the other is how my husband’s family always makes it.

So I’ll share the different recipes and then you can decide which one you want to try! The way my mom makes it is that she uses a baking dish (9×13 size) and pours the mixture all in it.

Then, bakes the unbaked dressing in a preheated oven of 350 degrees for 1 hour. Let dressing cool a little before serving and top with gravy! If you’re making it ahead of time, you can always cover the dish with aluminum foil as well to keep warm until serving.

To store dressing, let it cool completely to room temperature and place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The reheating process is simple for this dish. Just place it in the oven for about 15 minutes or so until warm.

Frying Cornbread Dressing

To cook the dressing the way my husband’s family does, you will need to fry it! So if you like a crispier dressing, this recipe is for you!

Simply heat up a frying pan with some olive oil on medium heat. Then, patty out the cornbread mixture into small patties.

Once frying pan is hot, place the cornbread patties on the pan and fry until each side is a golden brown color, usually about 4-5 minutes per side.

We also sprinkled some Sergio’s Seasoning on top, which was a perfect addition! You may recall that we always use that seasoning for our filets and steaks at home.

But you can use it for so much more too! Like this southern dressing recipe! For best results, enjoy the dressing patties on the same day that you fry them.

You can always save some of the cornbread mixture and wrap the bowl in plastic wrap. Then, when you’re ready to make more, just heat up your frying pan and fry up some more! We did this a few days after our Thanksgiving dinner was over with no problems. 

​Enjoy Your Cornbread Dressing! 

Well, I hope you liked this cornbread dressing recipe. And I hope this post answered your question of how long does cornbread dressing last in the refrigerator too!

No matter what you cook this holiday season, I hope you enjoy it all with your family members and loved ones. But, I highly suggest making this cornbread dressing on Thanksgiving Day!

It has so much flavor and leftover dressing is the best! I love to reheat it and eat it by the Christmas tree! Well, that and all of the Thanksgiving leftovers combined!

I promise this will be the best cornbread dressing recipe you have ever tried and will love it just as much. And I bet it will become one of your holiday favorites too!