Savory Cornbread Recipes

By Southern Living

Celebrate a Southern staple with these savory and delicious cornbread recipes. This Southern classic is a simple wonder that will be forever welcome at even the most lavish table.

Sweet or savory: that’s the question for cornbread, and these recipes solve the problem with delicious ideas for both. If you prefer yours sweet, you will love our Cornbread Madeleines, a Southern twist on the French sponge-cake classic. If savory is more to your taste, try Grannie’s Cracklin’ Cornbread, or Skillet Cornbread. If you’d like to serve cornbread as finger food, our recipes for Cornbread Crostini and Cornbread Tartlets with Tomato-Lima Bean Relish will have guests piling their plates high. And of course one of our recipes is for good old-fashioned Buttermilk Cornbread. However you like to enjoy your cornbread, these recipes will have you devouring this mouthwatering Southern delight every day. 

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Chorizo-and-Cornbread Dressing

Recipe: Chorizo-and-Cornbread Dressing

"There are two things you'll always find at the Summers' family Thanksgiving table: Julia Child's iconic Cornbread Sausage Stuffing and lively table conversation. A few years ago, I started amping up the spice in Julia's stuffing by adding jalapeño and using chorizo sausage. As the years progressed, I noticed the spicier the stuffing, the livelier the conversation." —Libbie Summers, stylist and author of Sweet & Vicious

This flavorful twist on classic Southern dressing doesn't have to be reserved for the holidays. Made with the heat of chorizo and fresh jalepeno, this side dish has everything you love about cornbread dressing in an out-of-the-box package. The new and unexpected spices of this Thanksgiving recipe will be a delightful upgrade to your table, and you won't regret trying it out. This Southern stuffing recipe brings in toasted cornbread cubes and French bread as the base of the dish, and ingredients like onions, garlic, parsley, and chicken stock bring in the classic flavors that your family loves. The secret star of the dish? Bacon. This beloved ingredient gives salt to your Chorizo-and-Cornbread Dressing.

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Ben Mims' Perfect Cornbread

Photo: Brian Woodcock

Recipe: Ben Mims' Perfect Cornbread

Our Test Kitchen granted the "perfect" moniker to Ben's recipe, thanks to the extra flavor and superior texture his browned butter affords.

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Cornbread Tartlets with Tomato-Lima Bean Relish

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Cornbread Tartlets with Tomato-Lima Bean Relish

Inspired by summery succotash, these petite tarts are buttery and fresh all in one bite.

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Skillet Cornbread

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Skillet Cornbread

Quickly incorporate the hot bacon drippings into the batter with a fork. When you pour it back into the hot skillet, listen for the sizzle. That sound means your crust will be dark golden and crisp.

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Buttermilk Cornbread

Photo: Howard Lee Puckett

Recipe: Buttermilk Cornbread

Serve this Southern staple with soups, stews, or salads. Plan to make this just before guests arrive so they can enjoy it hot.

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Cornbread Biscuits

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Cornbread Biscuits

Add your own signature spin with a few teaspoons of your favorite herb, such as thyme or rosemary.

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Sweet Potato Cornbread

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Sweet Potato Cornbread

Sandwich your favorite barbecue topped with Pickled Peppers & Onions between slices of Sweet Potato Cornbread for a change of pace, or serve alongside your favorite meal as you would regular cornbread. The sweet potatoes add a touch of sweetness.

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Lace Cornbread

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Lace Cornbread

This old Southern take on cornbread is a crisp, lacy brown wafer best enjoyed a few seconds after it leaves the skillet.

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Cornbread Croutons

Photo: Johnny Autry

Recipe: Cornbread Croutons

Our Cornbread Croutons pack a bite with two jalapeño peppers and fresh cilantro baked into them. Use them to top your favorite soup or salad.

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Savory Cornbread Recipes

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Cheesy Cornbread

If you're looking for delicious, savory (and sometimes sweet) cornbread recipes, you've come to the right place. From traditional, crispy skillet cornbread to new and creative twists like tartlets and croutons—you'll love finding new ways to serve up this Southern classic.

In Cheesy Cornbread, sharp Cheddar cheese melts into a homemade buttermilk batter to create this simple and delicious cornbread.

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Cornbread Madeleines

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Cornbread Madeleines

This delicate Southern twist on the traditional French sponge cake is one of our favorite food gifts. Light and airy, and not too sweet, they'd have Proust swooning "Lawdamercy."

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Sour Cream Cornbread

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Sour Cream Cornbread

Low-fat kitchen staples keep this Cheddar-topped cornbread moist and delicious. Enjoy it as a side to any meal, or use this recipe as an ingredient in our fabulous Farmhouse Eggs Benedict.

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Parmesan-Pepper Cornbread Biscotti

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Parmesan-Pepper Cornbread Biscotti

Crispy cornbread biscotti is the perfect accompaniment to hearty soups and stews. 

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Cornbread Crostini

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Cornbread Crostini

Small, thin rounds of cornbread baked in muffin pans replace baguette slices as a tasty base for Southern-style crostini.

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Cornbread Focaccia

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Cornbread Focaccia

We love this fun, pizza-like flatbread, submitted by reader Angie Nelson of Ledbetter, Kentucky.

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Hot-Water Cornbread

Photo: Oxmoor House

Recipe: Hot-Water Cornbread

Prepare this cornbread at the last minute so you can serve it piping hot.

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Grannie's Cracklin' Cornbread

Photo: Oxmoor House

Recipe: Grannie's Cracklin' Cornbread

This classic cracklin' cornbread is a traditional Southern cornbread and calls for just six ingredients.

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