15 Cornbread Recipes You Should Keep In Your Pocket

Cornbread is a cherished staple in Southern kitchens, embodying a culinary tradition that spans generations. With its golden crust and crumbly texture, this cornbread strikes the perfect balance between sweet and savory. The recipe typically combines cornmeal, all-purpose flour, buttermilk, baking powder, and a touch of sugar.

Traditionally, southern cornbread is cooked in a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet, where the cornbread develops a crispy exterior while maintaining a soft interior. The subtle sweetness of this complements hearty Southern dishes like collard greens, barbecue, or a warm bowl of chili.

Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread is a slight deviation from the classic but adds a fiesta of flavors in every bite. It is a spicy, cheesy twist on a classic. Golden cornbread with a crumbly exterior is studded with fiery jalapeños on the inside along with generously loaded sharp cheddar cheese in the mix.

The marriage of heat and cheese transforms a humble cornbread into a flavor extravaganza. It's a Tex-Mex party on your palate, a celebration of bold and comforting notes that make each slice a star at the table. It goes best with some Southern barbecue as well as other Jalapeno recipes to make for a gathering.

Honey butter cornbread are more than just baked goods, these are a reminder that sometimes, a touch of honey and butter can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. These delights blend the rustic charm of cornmeal with the rich, velvety goodness of honey butter. Once baked, these remain crumbly and buttery with a subtle sweetness from the honey.

These are best served with a steaming bowl of chili and can also be enjoyed as a standalone treat. In a sea of muffin recipes, this version stands out as a classic.

The foundation of Vegan Cornbread often involves swapping out dairy for plant-based alternatives like almond milk or soy milk and replacing eggs with innovative binding agents such as flax eggs or a butter alternative. Texture and taste, those paramount qualities of any good cornbread, remain intact and often elevated.

A well-executed Vegan Cornbread boasts a moist crumb, a golden crust, and a slightly sweet, savory dance on the palate. Some recipes introduce exciting variations, like the subtle crunch of chopped nuts or the heat of diced jalapeños to ensure that the flavor of the dish remains intact despite the ingredients swap.

At its core, Maple Bacon Cornbread is a celebration of contrasts. The sweetness of pure maple syrup meets the smoky richness of bacon, creating a delicate balance. We start with the sizzle of bacon, each strip rendering its savory essence as it crisps. Meanwhile, in a bowl, cornmeal, flour, and a hint of baking powder make the foundation for the dish.

The addition of pure maple syrup introduces a luscious sweetness. As the batter comes together, the cooked bacon is gently folded in so that its smokiness can disperse throughout the food.

The addition of rosemary and Parmesan to cornbread is a simple way of elevating this classic. Once you cut through the bread, the fragrant herbaceousness of fresh rosemary comes through revealing a crumbly and moist texture. Meanwhile, the Parmesan, finely grated and generously folded into the batter, contributes a savory depth that lingers on the palate. 

It pairs flawlessly with a bowl of hearty soup, elevates a simple salad into a feast, or stands proud as the star of a charcuterie board. You will be happy to know that rosemary nutrition makes it a healthy add-on to your cornbread.

The star of this dish is the nutty brown butter. It is folded into the batter mixture so that the flavors mix in with the rest of the ingredients. To really enhance the nuttiness of the dish, you can also add some nuts like almonds and walnuts in the batter.

Once baked, the cornbread develops edges that are deep golden brown while the inside is slightly moist and crumbly. The flavor of this version is slightly nuanced and lingers on the palate. It represents the power of a single ingredient and how it can change the overall flavor profile of a dish.

Blueberry cornbread is a fusion of Southern tradition and fruity bliss. The cornbread is dotted with juicy blueberries like hidden gems waiting to burst with every bite. The blueberries are softened and slightly caramelized inside the cornbread which offers a burst of tart sweetness to the buttery bread.

The foundation of blueberry cornbread is the perfect balance between the earthiness of cornmeal and the burst of sweetness from plump blueberries. As the batter comes together, the berries, with their deep blue allure, are gently folded in, creating a mosaic of fruity pockets.

Similar to several pumpkin bread recipes, pumpkin cornbread is also a variation of the classic with the addition of pumpkin puree. This dish embodies the essence of seasonal culinary joy. The addition of pumpkin not only imparts a captivating orange hue but also introduces a velvety texture and sweetness.

To complement the flavors of pumpkin, warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves are also added to the mix. As these autumnal spices cook, it fills the kitchen with the cozy vibes of fall. This dish is a great way to introduce cornbread to the dinner table as a part of a heavy Thanksgiving meal.

In the realm of cornbread, where golden crumbs meet sweet and savory perfection, the Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Cornbread emerges as an interesting underdog. This variation transcends the classic cornbread and combines it with vibrant sun-dried tomatoes and aromatic fresh basil.

The sun-dried tomatoes are concentrated and rich with a subtle tang and intense sweetness. Fresh basil, in turn, has aromatic notes to it. When combined, the flavors go pretty well together. The bright green and red specks scattered throughout the cornbread promise a vibrant and savory take on the classic.

Cranberries are pretty similar to blueberries except that they carry a more tart flavor. These crimson berries, whether fresh or dried, appear in the form of dotted red colors all over the cornbread.

This recipe is a festive addition to holiday tables and a perfect companion to roasted meats. It's a celebration of harvest, a nod to the bountiful fruits of fall, and a warm embrace during chilly evenings. With its history, the dish encapsulates the spirit of togetherness and the joy found in sharing delicious food with loved ones.

We are all familiar with the simple box of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix. It is a staple in many kitchens, known for its convenience and consistent results. When enriched with the velvety addition of creamed corn, the humble mix becomes a luscious, moist delight that pays homage to Southern cooking.

Creamed corn, with its smooth, creamy consistency, infuses the cornbread with moisture. The kernels of corn are dispersed throughout the batter, resulting in pockets of juiciness and a pop of texture. With minimal effort and a handful of ingredients, you have for yourself a homemade treat that you can share with your friends and family.

Spoonbread has its roots deep in the heart of Southern cuisine but it takes center stage in Virginia's culinary legacy. Beyond its deliciousness, Virginia spoon bread is a symbol of communal gatherings and cherished family recipes. The bread is prepared with cornmeal, milk, eggs, and leavening agents to create a batter that magically puffs up in the oven. 

What sets Virginia spoon bread apart is its velvety texture and the ritual of serving it with a spoon directly from the dish. It bridges the gap between a cornbread casserole and a soufflé. Often, it's seasoned with a touch of sugar, salt, and butter, appealing to palates seeking the perfect balance of sweet and savory.

Chili Cornbread Casserole is like a cozy hug on a chilly day. It is basically a hearty chili, all bubbly and packed with beans, meat (or plant-based alternatives), and spices, cozied up under a golden blanket of cornbread.

To make the dish, you whip up your favorite chili from our list of best chili recipes, and let it simmer away with all those flavors melding together. Then, you pour it into a baking dish and cover it with a layer of cornbread batter. Pop it in the oven, and voila! What emerges is a one-pan wonder prepared from two comfort classics. It's like having your main course and side dish all in one glorious scoop.

Sweet Buttermilk Cornbread is possibly the most different from all other recipes on this list. But what makes it special? Well, it's got this sweet dance going on, thanks to a generous pour of buttermilk and a touch of sugar – not too much, just enough to bring a bright sweetness to the dish.

The batter is pretty much the same with cornmeal, flour, and a few kitchen staples. But here's the kicker: buttermilk. It swoops in and turns the whole experience into a flavor fiesta. You can also add heavy cream or heavy cream substitutes if you'd like. Once baked, slather on some butter, drizzle a bit of honey, or just enjoy it as is – there's no wrong way to savor the simplicity and warmth of Sweet Buttermilk Cornbread.