17 Best Leftover Cornbread Recipes (2024)

These leftover cornbread recipes will bring new life to your day-old cornbread.

From French toast to pudding to crab cakes, cornbread is just as good the second time around!

There’s no bad time for a perfectly moist cornbread, right? It’s always a great pair with stews, chili, and lots of other savory dishes.

17 Best Leftover Cornbread Recipes (1)

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No main dishes? No worries. A fresh pan of cornbread is amazing on its own.

The problem comes when you make too much of it.

That’s why I’ve rounded up 17 fantastic leftover cornbread recipes to help you get creative with this staple side dish at home.

Cornbread is too precious to go to waste, anyway. So without further ado, let’s get started!

1. Cornbread Pudding

An easy way to use leftover skillet cornbread is to make a pudding out of it.

Besides the cornbread, other ingredients that you’ll need are already in the kitchen pantry.

This dish is simple but packs great flavors, making it a wonderful side dish for a holiday meal.

But because it’s a cinch to make, don’t be surprised if everyone requests it on a normal day.

The pudding is a combination of cornbread cubes, fresh herbs, cheese, and egg-milk mixture. Biting into that delicious custard-like center is the best part!

Turn it into a hearty breakfast by serving with a fried egg on top. Or, consider adding some protein for an easy last-minute lunch idea.

2. Cowboy Cornbread Casserole

This cowboy casserole makes use of everyday ingredients to create a one-dish dinner for the whole family.

It combines cornbread, veggies, cheese, and a protein of your choice, all baked in a two-ingredient creamy sauce.

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Be sure to use coarse and crumbled cornbread because it makes the perfect crust and stuffing!

If you’re looking for a more filling meal, simply serve the casserole with baked beans or roasted veggies.

3. Cornbread Dressing Fritters

Reignite your love for cornbread dressing by turning it into fritters! Only a little prep time is needed, and all you’ll have to do is mix, coat, and fry.

In 30 minutes or less, you’ll have crispy, golden brown dressing balls with a bonus of ooey-gooey cheese inside.

The spiced cranberry sauce will take things to the next level. It’s a sweet, creamy sauce with a little zing — and it’s so addictive!

4. Heirloom Tomato and Cornbread Panzanella

Panzanella is a Tuscan-style salad traditionally made with stale bread, onions, tomatoes, and a zesty dressing.

For this recipe, however, you can use your leftover cornbread. Just cut it into cubes and toast until crunchy good.

The combination of tomatoes, mozzarella, shallot, olive oil, and vinegar creates a perfect meld of summery flavors!

5. Cornbread Croutons

This is, perhaps, the easiest way to use up your leftover cornbread.

In 30 minutes, using only three ingredients, you’ll have deliciously crunchy croutons for soups and salads.

Simply cut your day-old cornbread into small cubes, and drizzle olive oil and sea salt over them.

Adding butter won’t hurt if you like your croutons to be buttery!

After a little mixing and baking, you’ll get crunchy cornbread pieces with a chewy interior. It’s a texture combination that can’t be beaten.

6. Cornbread Buttermilk Soup

Using day-old cornbread, you can make a comforting soup for all seasons! This cornbread buttermilk soup is satisfyingly good even when served hot or cold.

The secret to getting the best taste is to use high-quality buttermilk, as it adds a rich, creamy texture to the dish.

Still, the cornbread is just as important because it also helps thicken the soup and adds a subtle sweetness.

A couple of pantry spices are also used to create a beautiful medley of flavors.

7. Cornbread Crab Cakes

There are several ways to cook crab cakes — sautee them, grill them, or deep fry them. But the best way for me is to bake these flavorful fish cakes!

Baking crab cakes allow you to get that heavenly crisp exterior, minus the greasiness.

When the cornbread meets crab meat, these baked goodies will taste like no other fishcakes.

There are lots of other ingredients needed for the crab cake mixture, but they do come together pretty easily.

Oh, and don’t forget to serve these cakes with lemon-caper mayo for the best appetizer ever!

8. Cornbread Strata with Jalapenos and Cheddar

This recipe creates a hybrid of frittata and pudding, combining corn kernels, cornbread, cheese, jalapeños, and scallions for a flavor-packed brunch!

I especially love adding strips of cooked bacon to this dish for a more breakfast feel.

As a versatile recipe, you can also swap out the cornbread for other stale bread and use other ingredients for mix-ins.

9. Cornbread French Toast

It goes without saying that brioche is one of the best breads for making French toast.

But if plain or sweetened cornbread is all you have on-hand, don’t fret.

Cornbread French toast tastes AMAZING! Cornbread is an unusual ingredient for this classic French treat, but it works well.

Making cornbread French toast is quick and easy. It’s pretty similar to making a standard French toast.

Simply prepare the bread slices, dip them into the egg mixture, and cook.

You can get creative with the toppings, but nothing beats the classic combination of maple syrup and fresh berries!

10. Cornbread With Scrambled Eggs and Sausage

Best for breakfast or brunch, this cornbread with scrambled eggs and sausage is yummy and oh-so-hearty.

Everything will be done in 30 minutes if you have the cornbread all prepped (it needs to be crumbled).

This recipe calls for sausage, bell pepper, and onions for added bulk and flavor.

Feel free to use your choice of meat and veggies if you want to make other variations.

11. Layered Cornbread Breakfast Casserole

If you have leftover cornbread and chili (or other stew), this recipe might just be made for you!

Cornbread and chili are the main ingredients of this layered casserole, made even more satisfying with fried onion rings and eggs on top.

This is one of those leftover cornbread recipes that yields an impressive-looking dish.

So if you’re serving to guests, I’m sure they won’t notice that the casserole is made with leftovers!

12. Cornbread Salad

If you’re a salad lover but you haven’t tried cornbread salad, you’re seriously missing out on some good southern cooking.

This salad combines crumbled cornbread, bacon, corn, mayo, and veggies.

Mayo as a dressing works fine, but if you’re looking for more flavors, try mixing it with dry ranch dressing.

Chop the veggies and mix them with other ingredients. Toss everything into the dressing mix until well coated.

Garnish with tomato slices when ready to serve. This salad is as beautiful as it is delicious!

13. Cornbread Sausage Quiche

Quiche is a quintessential French tart known for its flaky pie crust and flavorful filling.

To put a southern twist on this classic, cornbread sausage quiche has been invented!

The sausage adds a meaty taste to this dish, while the shredded cheeses bring the unmistakable savory flavor.

If you’re looking for a little zing, feel free to use spicy sausage or hot sauce. Want some tang and a smoky-sweet flavor? Try BBQ sauce instead.

There are different variations you can try, so much so that you’ll want to occasionally have leftover cornbread at home!

14. Cornbread Chicken Bake

Cornbread and chicken match so well in this dish. It’s delicious, moist, creamy, and everything you’ll want in a baked casserole!

This recipe calls for a few pantry ingredients. But since casseroles are known for being versatile, you can make this recipe yours by removing or adding more ingredients.

For instance, you can add mozzarella for a cheesy bite or throw in some carrots and spinach for a pop of color.

15. Cornbread Pudding With Bacon

Sweet and savory makes a downright irresistible combination, which is exactly what you’ll get in this fridge clean-out recipe.

Besides your stale cornbread, bring out your leftover cheese, eggs, and bacon, and get ready to make something AWESOME!

If you don’t have bacon, this pudding recipe also works with other leftover meats, such as ham, sausage, and the likes.

You can also add other spices like jalapeños, bell peppers, or chives for a super flavorful side dish!

16. Mexican Sausage Cornbread Strata

Looking for a recipe for busy mornings and a way to use up leftovers? Make this breakfast casserole!

This strata recipe makes use of leftover meat, cheese, and veggies, creating a dish that can satisfy a hungry crowd!

It’s SO easy to make, especially when you assemble everything the night before.

To achieve a casserole bursting with Mexican flavors, go for spicy sausage. Serve with salsa and Tabasco sauce for extra heat!

17. Fried Cornbread and Eggs

Start your morning right with this delightful breakfast that’s a cinch to make!

It only requires mixing and frying everything until you get a sweet-savory dish with a little bit of heat.

You can upgrade this breakfast recipe by adding some sausage, bacon, or any other meat you prefer.

And of course, everything’s better with cheese, so don’t hesitate to use it as a topping along with jalapeños or hot sauce.

17 Best Leftover Cornbread Recipes (2)

17 Ways to Use Leftover Cornbread

These leftover cornbread recipes will bring new life to your day-old cornbread. From French toast to pudding to crab cakes, cornbread is just as good the second time around!

Instructions

  • Select your favorite recipe.
  • Organize all the required ingredients.
  • Prep a cornbread dish in 30 minutes or less!
17 Best Leftover Cornbread Recipes (3)

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17 Best Leftover Cornbread Recipes (2024)

FAQs

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 ingredient keeps cornbread from crumbling? ›

Cornmeal gives cornbread its classic color and flavor, but too much can make your bread crumbly. Try replacing a little bit of cornmeal with flour. The specific measurements will depend on how much cornmeal and flour is in your recipe, but you should try to have more flour than cornmeal in your batter.

How to improve Martha White cornbread mix? ›

Here are ten of our favorite no-fail combinations; give them a shot—or feel free to experiment on your own!
  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.

What's the difference between cornbread and hot water cornbread? ›

While regular cornbread is made by pouring batter into in a pan or skillet and baking it in the oven, for hot water cornbread, the batter is shaped into cakes and fried in hot fat in a skillet on the stovetop.

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.

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? ›

1Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). 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. 2Melt the butter, and then set aside to cool slightly.

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

If you want to make your Jiffy cornbread moist and fluffy, try adding in eggs, milk, sour cream, vegetable oil, and honey. Those add-ins are the perfect way to enhance your Jiffy mix!

Why is my cornbread dense and heavy? ›

Why is my cornbread dense? If you overmixed your batter or over-measured your flour, your buttermilk cornbread could turn out dense. Be gentle with your batter and make sure you know how to properly measure flour.

What to add to cornbread mix to make it better? ›

One of the simplest ways is to bring in more flavor and depth is by adding ⅓ cup of sour cream to the batter, which makes the cornbread extra moist and a little tangy. Another tangy option: Add ⅔ cup of buttermilk, which also makes the cornbread super tender.

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

Can I substitute water for milk in cornbread mix? Yes, you can, but it may result in a less rich flavor. If you're out of milk, try using cream or half-and-half, evaporated or powdered milk, or even plain yogurt. If you have dietary restrictions, try soy milk or oat milk.

How to make Krusteaz cornbread better? ›

How To Spice Up Krusteaz ® Cornbread
  1. Green Chile (or Jalapenos) & Cheddar Cheese. Give your cornbread a spicy kick by adding 1/4 cup chopped green chiles or jalapenos and 1/2 cup cheddar cheese. ...
  2. Peaches & Brown Sugar. ...
  3. Parmesan Cheese & Herbs. ...
  4. Apples & Maple Syrup. ...
  5. Bacon, Green Onion & Pepper Jack Cheese. ...
  6. Corn & Chives.

What is the difference between New York cornbread and southern cornbread? ›

While both styles generally use the same ingredients -- cornmeal, flour, eggs, and baking powder -- the variance lies in the flavor and texture. Northern-style cornbread tends to be sweeter, moister, and cake-like compared to its Southern counterpart.

Is Jiffy cornbread the same as cornmeal? ›

Jiffy cornbread mix, in case you really are standing in the baking aisle wondering, is wheat flour mixed with some cornmeal, a lot of sugar, lard, baking soda, and a handful of preservatives. (Note that because of the wheat flour, it's not gluten-free.) Use it to make creamy, cheesy Corn Pudding.

What is cornbread in milk called? ›

It's usually buttermilk, although some people prefer "sweet milk", a vernacular term for regular fresh milk. In some corners, people call this Crumble In, or simply Bread and Milk.

What is Southern cornbread called? ›

Hot water cornbread

This type of cornbread is often known as "hot water" or "scald meal" cornbread and is unique to the American South.

Is northern or Southern cornbread better? ›

The verdict: Northern cornbread's cakey texture and sweetness allow it to be a stand-alone dish, complete without any mix-ins. It can still be used to soak up other foods, like cranberry sauce, but its sweetness makes it less versatile than Southern cornbread, and more suited to accompany other sweet foods.

Is Southern cornbread sweet or savory? ›

Real, traditional, Southern-style cornbread is savory, not sweet, and always has been.

What's the difference between white and yellow cornmeal? ›

Types of cornmeal: Cornmeal can be categorized primarily by two factors: color and grind size. Yellow cornmeal has the most prominent corn flavor, while white cornmeal has a more subtle, delicate flavor (it's especially nice in a ricotta cornmeal cake).

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