Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread Recipe | Homemade & Yummy (2024)

/ By: 142 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Disclosure Policy.

XPinterestFacebookYummlyFlipboard

Jump To Recipe

This old-fashioned cheddar cornbread is packed with spicy heat. It can be baked in a baking dish, or made in a cast-iron skillet too. A traditional cornbread recipe that is moist and so delicious.

Jalapenos, corn kernels, and lots of cheddar cheese. The perfect side to soup, chili, or just on its own. Cayenne and black pepper add more heat to this spicy cornbread recipe.

If you love warm cheesy goodness, you also need to try these Cheddar Cheese Muffins.

Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread Recipe | Homemade & Yummy (1)Pin

Sweet cornbread does not cut it for me. It is all about the spice. I relate it to southern flavours. Things like cayenne and jalapeño. Shrimp and grits are iconic for sure.

NEW WEEKLY RECIPES DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

Never Miss A Recipe, Sign Up Today!

Several years ago, my daughter brought some leftover cheesy cornbread home from a party she attended. I still remember her saying, “Mom, you are going to LOVE this”. She was right.

Thank goodness it was made by her good friend Kris, and she has kindly let me replicate it for you. She just happens to be part of the great Canadian band Loco Zydeco.

RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for this southern jalapeno cornbread can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Old-Fashioned Cheddar Cornbread Ingredients

All it takes are some simple ingredients, nothing that is hard to find.

  • Buttermilk
  • Cornmeal
  • Jalaepno peppers
  • Flour
  • Baking powder
  • Baking soda
  • Salt
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Black pepper
  • Sugar
  • Garlic powder
  • Eggs
  • Cheddar cheese
  • Corn
  • Butter
  • Lemon juice
Pin

Another thing I totally relate to southern cooking is using cast iron skillets. I have a huge selection of sizes and I use them ALL the time.

From Crispy Cast Iron Potatoes to Greek Nachos, my skillets get lots of use. Hubby uses them on the BBQ too. Bacon and eggs on a Saturday morning, or sautéing some mushrooms to go with that awesome steak for dinner, cast iron works wonders whether you are cooking indoors or at the campfire.

How To Make Cast Iron Skillet Jalapeno Cornbread

This is simple to make, yet really packs a punch. Mix, pour, and bake. If you don’t have a cast-iron skillet that is ok. Kris uses a glass baking dish (and I have too).

Here is the condensed version, please see the recipe card for everything you need to know.

  • Line your baking dish with parchment. I used a skillet for this recipe, and DID NOT preheat it.
  • Grate your cheese.
  • Preheat the oven.
  • Chop the jalapeno peppers (remove the seeds if you don’t want all the heat).
  • Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
  • Heat buttermilk along with diced jalapenos. Cool slightly.
  • Combine the wet and dry ingredients.
  • Pour and bake.
Pin

Bread Made With Cornmeal

There are several varieties, usually baked or fried, but can also be steamed to create a cornmeal pudding.

  • Baked Cornbread can be made sweet or savoury.
  • Cracklin Bread has addition of pork rind as an ingredient.
  • Johnnycakes are similar to a pancake, a skillet fried cornbread patty.
  • Hushpuppies are made with a buttermilk batter that is deep-fried.

Recipe Tips

  • If you prefer LESS spice, reduce the amount of jalapenos, cayenne and black pepper.
  • Removing the seeds from the pepper reduce the heat level as well.
  • If baking in a skillet that is not pre-heated, the baking time will need to be adjusted. I did not pre-heat my skillet.
  • Change the cheese. Smoked cheddar works great in this recipe.
  • Corn kernels can be fresh, frozen or canned. Creamed corn does not work well in this recipe.
  • No buttermilk? Thin out some sour cream or plain yourt with milk.
Pin

FAQ

How long does cornbread last?

Properly stored, it will last 1-2 days at room temperature, and about 1 week in the fridge.

What is the best way to store it?

Wrap in foil for best results. You can also use plastic wrap.

Can you freeze it?

Cornbread can be frozen for several months. Be sure to wrap it well.

What is the best way to reheat it?

You can pop it in the microwave, wrap it in foil, reheat in the oven, or even the bbq.

Be sure toCLICK THE SUBSCRIBE BUTTONlocated in theTOP MENU.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve this buttermilk cheddar cornbread with:

  • Chunky Chili
  • Chorizo Chili
  • Slow Cooker Spicy Kale Soup
  • Creamy Fish Soup
Pin

Still looking for some great bread recipes?

Irish Soda Bread is quick and easy. It can be made any night of the week.

Onion Bread is the perfect side to comfort foods like soup, chili, and stew.

If you want to try your hands on making homemade bread from scratch, I have just the recipe for you. This Sun-dried Tomato and Olive Artisan bread recipe is so delicious. Follow the steps in the post for perfect results.

Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread Recipe | Homemade & Yummy (6)Pin

Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread Recipe | Homemade & Yummy (7)

Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread

This cheesy cornbread made in a cast iron skillet is the ultimate side to soup and chili.

5 from 35 votes

Pin Recipe Print Rate Save

Course: side

Cuisine: Tex-Mex

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Servings: 10 servings

Calories: 254kcal

Author:

Ingredients

  • ½ cup chopped jalapeno peppers seeds and ribs removed
  • 1 ½ cups buttermilk
  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 beaten eggs
  • 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup whole kernel corn (fresh, frozen or canned)
  • 3 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 tablespoons lemon juice

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Line bottom and sides of square glass baking dish (8×8 or 9×9) with parchment paper. Alternatively you can use a cast iron skillet.

  • Preheat oven to 425°

  • Mix dry ingredients.

  • Heat buttermilk and jalapenos in microwave on high for 1 minute. Let cool for 5 minutes.

  • Combine buttermilk/jalapenpo mixture with eggs, cheese and corn, add to dry ingredients.

  • Mix only until blended.

  • Add lemon juice and melted butter.

  • Pour into pan.

  • Bake 40-50 minutes until golden brown and cake tester comes out clean. If using cast iron, baking time will increase slightly.

  • Remove from oven, cut into wedges and enjoy.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 254kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 757mg | Potassium: 224mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 465IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 152mg | Iron: 1mg

Notes

The choice of cheese will alter the flavours. The heat all comes down to the amount of peppers (black, cayenne and jalapeno) you decide to use.

If you preheat our cast iron skillet, you will have to adjust the baking time (usually less).

Tried this recipe?Take a picture and tag @homemadeandyummy

Nutritional information on this site is generated via a plugin. I am not responsible for the accuracy of the plugin information.

More Recipes

  • Best Cinnamon Coffee Cake
  • Air Fryer Fish Cakes
  • Homemade Onion Gravy with Red Wine
  • Easy Cold Smoked Salmon Plate

MEET THE AUTHOR

Gloria Duggan is the author for Homemade & Yummy, where she creates fun and easy recipes. She is also a brand ambassador/influencer for well-known companies. Gloria has judged food competitions and has posted about local food events. Gloria's work has been featured in magazines, and she has been interviewed on several podcasts. Read More…

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Natalie

    Cornbread has always been close to my heart, one of my favorite. This cornbread looks so amazing Gloria. Perfect texture and flavors. I’m definitely going to make this.

    Reply

    • You won’t be disappointed it is easy and delicious.

  2. Hayley Dhanecha

    Saving this recipe for coming weekend, I have invited my friends for a Mexican dinner. I am sure they’ll love this cheezy cornbread!!

    Reply

    • This cornbread will be the perfect addition to your dinner party. ENJOY.

  3. Naïby

    I love all the play of flavors in the recipe, the tanginess, the spiciness, and the yumminess, ha ha

    Reply

    • I agree,there is everything to love about this delicious cornbread.

  4. Brianna

    Cheesy, spicy and super easy to make. Such a fun take on classic cornbread!

    Reply

    • This cornbread does tick all the boxes for sure.

  5. Marisa F. Stewart

    We made ham and beans and this went really great with it. Not only was it easy to make, it had the ingredients we love — jalapeños and cheese. You can’t go wrong with this recipe. It’ll be a standard with out soups.

    Reply

    • This cornbread is the best, and I agree the ingredients pair well together.

  6. Farrukh Aziz

    This was really simple to make, and it tasted amazing! We love cornbread, so this is perfect for me and the fam. 🙂

    Reply

    • This is the only cornbread recipe we use. So easy and so delicious.

  7. Mikayla

    We just had to give this a try with our pot of soup, we were not disappointed. The spicy rich flavor was a great option for a change.

    Reply

    • Cornbread is the perfect side to so many things. Glad you enjoyed the recipe.

  8. silvia

    Cornbread is a family favorite, we love it with chili or soup and this variation is very tasty, the jalapeños add a great flavor to the bread. Great recipe.

    Reply

    • This is a great cornbread with lots of room to play with ingredients.

  9. Kate

    I was so delighted to come across this recipe. I am also not keen on sweet cornbread, this was perfect!!!

    Reply

    • I know right? This is just the opposite of sweet…and so delicious.ENJOY!

  10. Liz

    Saving this recipe for the fall – will go great with a bowl of chili!

    Reply

    • Yes, it sure will. The perfect side to a bowl of chili.

  11. Leslie

    Sadly, I usually keep my cornbread pretty simple, but I’m going to have to give this recipe a try!

    Reply

    • This still is simple and delicious. ENJOY!

« Older Comments

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread Recipe | Homemade & Yummy (2024)

FAQs

What is good to add to cornbread mix? ›

10 Mix-Ins for Classic Cornbread
  1. Bacon and scallion. ...
  2. Green chile and cheddar cheese. ...
  3. Crumbled sausage and poultry seasoning. ...
  4. Fresh corn and basil. ...
  5. Pepperoni, parmesan, and black pepper. ...
  6. Spicy shrimp and creole seasoning. ...
  7. Brown sugar and pecan. ...
  8. Cranberry and maple syrup.

What is the difference between Yankee cornbread and Southern cornbread? ›

The thing that distinguishes Southern cornbread from, say Yankee cornbread, or any other cornbread one is likely to eat outside of the southern states, is that it is savory, not sweet, and it is made mostly with cornmeal.

What makes cornbread tough? ›

Pour batter into prepared pan. The batter will be lumpy. Overcome the urge to mix until smooth. Overmixing can cause the corn bread to peak and have tunnels, resulting in a tough texture.

What are the ingredients for Martha White Mexican cornbread mix? ›

Enriched Degerminated Yellow Corn Meal And Enriched Bleached Flour (Degerminated Yellow Corn Meal, Wheat Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Canola Oil, Nonfat Dry Milk, Leavening (Calcium Phosphate, Baking Soda), Salt, Contains 2% Or Less Of: Dextrose, Dried Red And Green Pepper, Dried ...

How to jazz up boxed cornbread mix? ›

You can stir in 1 cup of roasted chopped jalapeños or 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne into the batter. Or, you can mix in 3 tablespoons of your favorite chile paste. Fields also recommends trying a little NOLA flair by adding a rounded ¼ teaspoon Cajun spice blend to your cornbread mix.

What does adding an extra egg to cornbread mix do? ›

Eggs, or egg substitutes help add structure to the cornbread. Without an egg or substitute, the cornbread may crumble and fall apart easily.

Why do southerners not put sugar in cornbread? ›

The most common theory is a change in cornmeal itself. Until early in the 20th century, Southern cornmeal was made with sweeter white corn and it was water-ground. When industrial milling came along, that changed. The steel-roller mills used yellow corn that was harvested before it was ripe, so it had less sugar.

Which makes better cornbread, white or yellow cornmeal? ›

While either white or yellow cornmeal will technically work when making cornbread, yellow does make for a softer more tender bread. Milk is what is going to make sure our bread stays nice and moist as it acts as the binding agent. Baking powder is key for getting a nice tender and fluffy crumb.

What did Native Americans call cornbread? ›

Among them was a version of Indian bread made of cornmeal, salt and water called pone or corn pone. The name came from the Algonquin word apan, meaning "baked." The Narragansett word for cornbread, nokechick, became no-cake and then hoe-cake.

Should you let cornbread batter rest before baking? ›

Let the batter sit before baking.

We found that if you leave the batter to sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes before baking it, the cornmeal has some extra time to absorb flavor from the other ingredients and the leaveners (baking powder and baking soda) get a head start.

Is it better to use butter or oil in cornbread? ›

Oil changes cornbread's texture

Using oil will make your cornbread tender and moist while butter will give you heavier bread. Why do you get such different qualities from these fats? This is largely due to the fact that at room temperature, oil is a liquid while butter is a solid.

Should cornbread batter be thick or thin? ›

Making cornbread is all about getting the perfect consistency. It should be a very loose batter, almost looking a little watery, it should not be dense and thick like a cake batter or you will end up with a cornbread brick.

What is the black stuff in cornbread mix? ›

The black specks are simply naturally dark pieces of the pericarp (skin) of the corn, where the tip of the kernel attaches to the cob. The color of the specks will vary by crop and year. They are the same as those commonly seen in hard taco shells, corn or tortilla chips, cornmeal, and natural whole corn products.

What ingredient keeps cornbread from crumbling? ›

Adding about 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of extra butter or vegetable oil can increase the moistness of your cornbread. You can do this even if your recipe doesn't call for butter or oil. Replace milk or water with creamed corn. If your recipe calls for milk or water, try replacing it with creamed corn.

Can I use milk instead of water in Martha White cornbread mix? ›

Martha White Buttermilk Cornbread & Muffin Mix

Like the Martha White Cotton Country Cornbread, this bag of cornbread mix only requires water—or you could use milk.

How to doctor up jiffy? ›

24 Things To Add to Jiffy Cornbread Mix to Make It Even Better
  1. ⅓ cup white sugar + ¼ cup brown sugar + ⅓ cup sour cream + 4 tablespoons melted butter + 1 tablespoon vanilla.
  2. 1 tablespoon oil, melted butter, or browned butter.
  3. ½ cup mayonnaise.
  4. ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt.
  5. 3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup.
Dec 18, 2022

How do you keep cornbread moist? ›

Melted butter and thick buttermilk keep this cornbread moist. After baking, I like to run a stick of butter over the top of the hot cornbread so that it soaks right in and stays even more moist and buttery.

Can I use milk instead of water in cornbread mix? ›

Yes, milk may be used in place of water substituting 1 to 1.

Should you let cornbread mix sit before baking? ›

Note: We recommend allowing cornbread batter to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before baking, so if you prefer, you can delay heating the oven until you make the batter.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Cheryll Lueilwitz

Last Updated:

Views: 6051

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Cheryll Lueilwitz

Birthday: 1997-12-23

Address: 4653 O'Kon Hill, Lake Juanstad, AR 65469

Phone: +494124489301

Job: Marketing Representative

Hobby: Reading, Ice skating, Foraging, BASE jumping, Hiking, Skateboarding, Kayaking

Introduction: My name is Cheryll Lueilwitz, I am a sparkling, clean, super, lucky, joyous, outstanding, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.