Cornbread, Chorizo, Cherry, and Pecan Stuffing

A rich and flavorful stuffing that combines crumbled cornbread with spicy chorizo, tart cherries, and toasted pecans. This savory dish features layers of texture and taste from fresh herbs, aromatics, and a buttery finish.

8 servings

2 hr 27 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•¾ cup unsalted butter
•¼ cup white wine vinegar
•½ cup dried tart cherries
•10 cups crumbled cornbread
•⅓ cup coarsely chopped pecans
•¼ cup olive oil
•1 pound fresh chorizo
•2 medium onions
•4 stalks celery
•to taste kosher salt and pepper
•2 cloves garlic
•2 tablespoons fresh sage
•2 large eggs
•3 cups chicken stock
•¼ cup fresh parsley

Cooking Instructions

1.
Preheat oven to 400°. Butter a shallow 3-quart baking dish and a sheet of foil. Bring vinegar and 2 tablespoons water to a boil in a small saucepan; remove from heat and add cherries. Let sit until cherries are plump, 15-20 minutes.
20 min
2.
Meanwhile, spread out cornbread on a rimmed baking sheet and toast until golden brown, 10-15 minutes. Let cool. Place in a very large bowl.
15 min
3.
Drain cherries, reserving soaking liquid, and add cherries to bowl with cornbread (do not mix).
2 min
4.
Reduce oven temperature to 350°. Toast pecans on a clean rimmed baking sheet, tossing once, until fragrant and slightly darkened, 8-10 minutes. Let cool; add to bowl.
10 min
5.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Cook chorizo, stirring occasionally and breaking into small pieces with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, 8-10 minutes. Transfer to bowl with a slotted spoon.
10 min
6.
Add onions and celery to skillet, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring often, until onions are golden brown and soft, 10-12 minutes. Add garlic and sage; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer to bowl.
12 min
7.
Reduce heat to medium and cook reserved cherry soaking liquid in skillet, scraping up any browned bits, until almost all evaporated, about 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup butter; cook, stirring, until melted. Drizzle over bread mixture.
3 min
8.
Whisk eggs and 2 cups stock in a medium bowl; pour over cornbread mixture. Add parsley, season with salt and pepper, and gently toss, adding more stock 1/4-cupful at a time as needed (you may not use it all), until combined and cornbread is hydrated. Mix carefully to avoid breaking cornbread into crumbs. Transfer to prepared dish and dot with remaining 1/4 cup butter.
10 min
9.
Cover with buttered foil; bake until a paring knife inserted into the center comes out hot, 30-35 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 450°. Uncover and bake until top is golden brown and crisp, 20-25 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.
65 min
10.
Do ahead: Stuffing can be assembled 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

Ingredients

•¾ cup unsalted butter

•¼ cup white wine vinegar

•½ cup dried tart cherries

•10 cups crumbled cornbread

•⅓ cup coarsely chopped pecans

•¼ cup olive oil

•1 pound fresh chorizo

•2 medium onions

•4 stalks celery

•to taste kosher salt and pepper

•2 cloves garlic

•2 tablespoons fresh sage

•2 large eggs

•3 cups chicken stock

•¼ cup fresh parsley

Cooking Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°. Butter a shallow 3-quart baking dish and a sheet of foil. Bring vinegar and 2 tablespoons water to a boil in a small saucepan; remove from heat and add cherries. Let sit until cherries are plump, 15-20 minutes.

20 min

Meanwhile, spread out cornbread on a rimmed baking sheet and toast until golden brown, 10-15 minutes. Let cool. Place in a very large bowl.

15 min

Drain cherries, reserving soaking liquid, and add cherries to bowl with cornbread (do not mix).

2 min

Reduce oven temperature to 350°. Toast pecans on a clean rimmed baking sheet, tossing once, until fragrant and slightly darkened, 8-10 minutes. Let cool; add to bowl.

10 min

Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Cook chorizo, stirring occasionally and breaking into small pieces with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, 8-10 minutes. Transfer to bowl with a slotted spoon.

10 min

Add onions and celery to skillet, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring often, until onions are golden brown and soft, 10-12 minutes. Add garlic and sage; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer to bowl.

12 min

Reduce heat to medium and cook reserved cherry soaking liquid in skillet, scraping up any browned bits, until almost all evaporated, about 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup butter; cook, stirring, until melted. Drizzle over bread mixture.

3 min

Whisk eggs and 2 cups stock in a medium bowl; pour over cornbread mixture. Add parsley, season with salt and pepper, and gently toss, adding more stock 1/4-cupful at a time as needed (you may not use it all), until combined and cornbread is hydrated. Mix carefully to avoid breaking cornbread into crumbs. Transfer to prepared dish and dot with remaining 1/4 cup butter.

10 min

Cover with buttered foil; bake until a paring knife inserted into the center comes out hot, 30-35 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 450°. Uncover and bake until top is golden brown and crisp, 20-25 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.

65 min

10.

Do ahead: Stuffing can be assembled 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.