vegan cornbread dressing muffins on platter
Recipes,  Side Dishes

Cornbread Dressing Muffins

November 5, 2025 /
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With Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner I have started menu planning. I am a firm believer that you can never have too many side dishes. Dressing or as some folks call it stuffing is a must have for your Thanksgiving dinner table. These vegan Cornbread Dressing Muffins are a quick and easy option for your holiday meal.

Cornbread dressing is a beloved side dish in the south. The terms dressing and stuffing are interchangeable. Technically it’s dressing if it’s not stuffed inside of something. Like our recipe for vegan cornbread stuffing in a smoked acorn squash.

Why Make Muffins?

Traditional cornbread dressing bakes in the oven for 45 minutes to an hour. If you want to make a big pan of dressing it’s going to take longer. The advantage of these cornbread dressing muffins is that they only have to bake for 20 minutes. Stuffing muffins are also nice because it gives you an easy way to distinguish an individual serving. This recipe makes 12 muffins. Let’s be honest though. Most people will want more than one muffin as a serving.

overhead photo of muffins baked in tin

What’s In These Cornbread Dressing Muffins?

These cornbread dressing muffins are vegan if you use a vegan cornbread mix. I like to use a store box brand and make vegan substitutes when baking my cornbread. You can also easily make cornbread from scratch. Nora Cooks has an easy recipe for the best vegan cornbread. You can make the cornbread a day in advance to be crumbled into the muffin mix.

The dressing muffins are seasoned with traditional holiday flavors. The recipe calls for sage, thyme, parsley, and just a touch of red pepper flakes to spice things up. These classic flavors come to life mixed with onion and celery that you quickly sauté. The sautéed veggies are then mixed with the crumbled cornbread and dried cranberries. Using good vegtable broth is a secret to this recipe. When you pour and mix the broth into the cornbread you want the flavorful broth to saturate the cornbread. The wet muffin mixture will stick to itself making it easy to scoop into your muffin pan. I like to use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to spoon the mixture evenly into the muffin baking pan.

Southern vegan cornbread dressing muffins

What Should I Serve These With?

Cornbread dressing muffins are yummy on their own but you can also pour gravy or cranberry sauce on top of them. These are solid flavor combos.

If you need ideas on what else to serve at your holiday meal check out these great recipes:

Looking for more to fill your plate? Check out this collection of 20+ Vegetarian Southern Side Dishes for the perfect pairing.

close up of vegan cornbread dressing muffins

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between dressing and stuffing?

Technically, it is called dressing when it is baked in a separate pan or dish, and stuffing when it is cooked inside the cavity of a bird or vegetable. In the South, the terms are often used interchangeably, regardless of how it’s prepared! If you’re looking for a version that actually stuffs a vegetable, try this recipe for cornbread stuffing in a smoked acorn squash.

Can I make these muffins ahead of time?

Yes! You can bake the cornbread a day in advance and crumble it when you’re ready to prep the muffins. You can also bake the finished muffins ahead of time and gently reheat them in the oven before serving to save space on your holiday stovetop.

Are these cornbread dressing muffins vegan?

These muffins are entirely vegan as long as you use a vegan cornbread mix and vegetable broth. For the best results, we recommend this recipe for the best vegan cornbread from Nora Cooks or our easy to follow Savory Southern Vegan Cornbread recipe.

How do I prevent the muffins from falling apart?

The secret is ensuring the cornbread crumbles are fully saturated with the vegetable broth. The mixture should be wet enough to stick to itself, making it easy to scoop into the pan. Using a 1/4 cup measuring cup helps compress the mixture so the muffins hold their shape.

What should I serve with cornbread dressing muffins?

They pair perfectly with traditional holiday sides. Some great vegan options include:

overhead photo of muffins baked in tin
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Cornbread Dressing Muffins

Course Dinner, Side Dish
Cuisine Southern, vegan
Keyword Cornbread, Stuffing
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 12 Muffins

Ingredients

  • 4 cups Crumbled Vegan Cornbread Make one batch of your favorite vegan cornbread.
  • 1 cup White Onion Finely Diced
  • 1/2 cup Celery Finely Diced
  • 1/4 cup Dried Cranberries
  • 1 1/2 cup Vegetable Broth
  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 tsp Dried Parsley
  • 1/2 tsp Sage
  • 1/2 tsp Thyme
  • 1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Black Pepper

Instructions

  1. Make one pan of your favorite vegan cornbread mix. Allow it to cool and then crumble it. This should yield 4 cups of crumbled cornbread. You can make the cornbread a day in advance if desired.

  2. Preheat the oven to 350 for the muffins. Lightly grease your muffin tin to prevent the muffins from sticking.

  3. Sauté the finely diced onion and celery in a tablespoon of olive oil. Cook the onions until translucent. Then add in the spice and herbs (sage, thyme, red pepper, parsley, salt, and pepper). Stir and cook for an additional few minutes.

  4. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the crumbled cornbread and mix in with the onions and celery. Slowly add your vegetable broth. Continue to stir until completely mixed and all of the crumbled cornbread is wet.

  5. Mix in a 1/4 cup of dried cranberries.

  6. Spoon a 1/4 cup of the cornbread mixture into each hole in your muffin pan.

  7. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Allow the muffins to partially cool before removing from the pan.

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