Aunt Betty's Famous Ham Dressing Casserole

4.39 from 47 votes

Y'all will love my Aunt Betty's signature holiday dish of Ham Dressing.

Prep Time20

Cook Time1

Total Time1 20

Servings: Casserole of Dressing

Calories: 355kcal

Author: Julia Jordan

2 c All Purpose Cornmeal preferably stone ground (I was happy to be able to use stone ground cornmeal that I bought from a local grist mill not far from my home.)
1/2 c All Purpose Flour
2 tsp Baking Powder
Pinch of Salt
Cracked Black Pepper
1.25 c Buttermilk
2 Eggs slightly beaten
2 tsp Bacon Fat for bottom of the skillet
1 Sleeve of Saltine Crackers crushed
1 Onion finely diced
3 Stalks of Celery finely diced
1/2 tsp Dried Thyme
1.5 tsp Rubbed Sage or ground
Cracked Black Pepper to taste
3 c Cooked Ham chopped (recipe follows)
3/4 c Pan Cooking Juices optional
4 c Chicken or Pork Stock if not using pan juices, use 5 c of stock instead
3 Eggs slightly beaten
1 5-7 lb Naturally Smoked Ham
1/4 c Water

Preheat oven to 400℉. Add bacon fat to a cast iron skillet and place into the oven while it preheats.
In a mixing bowl combine cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, buttermilk and eggs and stir to combine.
Remove skillet from oven when it reaches temperature and add the cornbread batter. Bake for 25 minutes until golden brown.
Combine cornbread, crackers, onion, celery, and seasonings together in a large mixing bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight. (This can also be done early in the day before baking ham)
The next day after ham bakes - add the chopped ham, pan juices (if using) ,stock and eggs to the dry mixture stored in the refrigerator. Mix well to combine until everything is moistened. Use additional stock if needed.
Preheat oven to 375℉.
Place ham dressing mixture into a casserole dish and place into the oven.
Bake 30 to 45 minutes until set as desired and slightly browned on top.