Cornbread: (Prepare 1 day in advance!) Preheat oven to 375°F (191°C). Whisk all of the cornbread ingredients together in a large bowl. Pour into a greased 9-inch square baking pan. Bake for 22–24 minutes or until the top is lightly browned. Set aside to cool overnight. Do not cover.
Preheat oven to 300°F (149°C). Cut the cornbread into 1-inch cubes. You will have about 7–8 cups of cubes. Spread onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and bake for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool as you prepare the stuffing. If you’re baking the stuffing on its own and not inside a turkey, turn the oven up to 375°F (191°C).
Stuffing: In a very large bowl, whisk the broth and eggs together. Set aside.
Heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, celery, thyme, sage, parsley, salt, and pepper. Cook for 4 minutes until vegetables begin to soften. Squeeze the sausage meat out of the casings into the skillet. Break up with a spoon. Cook for about 4 minutes, until sausage meat is just about cooked through.
Pour sausage mixture into the broth + egg, including any liquid from the skillet. Add the toasted cornbread cubes and pecans, if using. Very gently fold everything together.
If using to stuff a turkey, allow to cool completely before stuffing. If baking the stuffing separately like I did in these photos, spoon stuffing into a greased 9×13-inch baking pan. Bake for 40 minutes, or until lightly browned and crisp on top.
Garnish with fresh herbs before serving, if desired. Serve warm.
