Beef and Cornbread Stuffing

This cozy and comforting cornbread and Ground Beef Stuffing Recipe takes classic dressing to an entirely new level. Fresh herbs, crisp veggies, juicy beef, and golden brown cornbread make for a simple and delicious side dish the whole family will love.

Ingredients:

• 12-14 c cornbread cubes, stale/dried out  
• 4-5 celery stalks, chopped, 2 cups  
• 1 large onion, diced  
• 1 lb. ground beef  
• 4 T butter  
• 2 T fresh sage, chopped  
• 1½ T fresh thyme, chopped  
• 1 T fresh parsley, chopped  
• 2-3 garlic cloves, minced  
• ½ tsp salt 
• ½ tsp pepper  
• 2 large eggs  
• 2 – 2½ c beef broth  
• Optional add-ins include dried cranberries, chopped walnuts or pecans, sautéed mushrooms, diced apples, etc.

Cooking:

1. Add dried-out cornbread cubes to a large bowl. (see notes below about options for cornbread and how to dry it out.)  
2. In a large skillet, melt the butter at medium-high heat. Add the onion and celery and sauté for several minutes until the onion just starts to become translucent.  
3. Add and brown ground beef. Once the meat is browned, shift stove to medium heat and add the chopped herbs, garlic, sea salt and pepper. Heat for about 1 minute and then remove from heat. 
4. Add the veggie and beef mixture to the bowl with the cornbread.  
5. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and broth to combine. Pour the mixture over the beef and bread mixture and gently toss to evenly coat all the ingredients. The cornbread will crumble up a bit and that is normal. If your mixture seems dry, you can add more broth. 
6. Transfer the mixture to a greased 9×13 inch baking pan or large casserole dish. Bake covered with foil for about 20 minutes and then remove foil and allow to bake another 10 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the center is set and no excess moisture is on top.  
7. Cool for about 5 minutes before serving.

Notes:

• Prep this recipe a day in advance. You can prep this stuffing a day ahead of time. Get it all made and into the greased pan. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Pour some extra beef broth over top before baking to moisten it up a bit.  
• Make your own cornbread, or grab store-bought. To save time, just grab the ready-to-go cubes or get a couple of baked loaves of cornbread. You do not have to make your own!  
• Make sure the cornbread is dried out before making this recipe. For best results, you want your bread very dry, almost crouton-like before making this dish. This will keep it from becoming a pile of mush and have more texture.  
• Make this recipe a meal! While this ground beef stuffing makes for a great side, you could easily shift it and make it more of a beef and cornbread casserole for a fun dinner. Add some diced green and red peppers for some extra veggies, maybe a sprinkle of cheese and you have yourself a cozy and comforting meal! Serve it up with a salad and enjoy!

Safe Handling Tips:

• Wash hands with soap and water before cooking and always after touching raw meat. 
• Separate raw meat from other foods. 
• Wash all cutting boards, utensils, and dishes after touching raw meat. 
• Do not reuse marinades used on raw foods. 
• Wash all produce prior to use. 
• Cook steaks and roasts until temperature reaches 145°F for medium rare, as measured by a meat thermometer, allowing to rest for three minutes. Cook Ground Beef to 160°F as measured by a meat thermometer. 
• Refrigerate leftovers promptly. 

For more information on degree of doneness and other cooking tips. 

For more information on safe food handling and beef safety.