This mouth-watering cornbread salad recipe is the perfect addition to any summer BBQ or potluck. Its combination of fresh vegetables, creamy dressing, and savory cornbread will surely please a crowd.
What is Cornbread Salad
Southern Cornbread Salad Recipe is a delicious combination of flavors from moist cornbread, bell peppers, pinto beans, corn, tomatoes, ranch dressing, sharp cheddar cheese, bacon crumbles, and green onions. It all comes together quickly and easily, making it one of our favorite go-to salads. Serve it layered in a trifle dish or tossed in a large bowl. This side dish is ideal for potlucks, picnics, family reunions, and pool parties.
This is an excellent dish for leftover cornbread. You can assemble this layered salad in a clear large bowl or even a clear rectangular baking dish. The colors on this salad pop and make it perfect for a party. If you are squeezed for time, bake a batch of cornbread a day or two in advance. If you like this recipe, try pea salad, sweet potato cornbread, southern pimento cheese, and southern collard greens.
Ingredients needed
- Mayonnaise – Duke’s is by far my favorite
- Sour cream
- Ranch seasoning mix – the packet with dry ingredients
- Corn muffin mix
- Egg
- Milk
- Veggies – bell pepper, corn, onion, tomatoes, and green onion
- Pinto beans – can substitute other beans
- Cheddar cheese – sharp
- Bacon – cooked
How to make Southern Cornbread Salad
Start by preparing the dressing mix. Mix the mayo, sour cream, and ranch seasoning packet in a medium bowl. Then, cover it with plastic wrap and put it in the fridge while you prepare the cornbread.
Mix the corn muffin mix, egg, milk, and sour cream in another medium bowl. Stir just until combined, then spoon into a greased 8×8-inch square pan and bake in a preheated oven for about 20 minutes. Then, place the pan on a wire rack and let it cool for a few minutes while you cut the vegetables.
Cut the cornbread into 1-inch cubes and place it into the bottom of a trifle dish or clear bowl. Top with the red bell pepper, pinto beans, corn kernels, onion, and tomatoes. Spread the dressing mixture over the top using a spatula or the smooth bottom of a large spoon. Layer with the shredded cheddar cheese, crisp bacon, and sliced green onions.
Cornbread Salad Recipe Notes
- Make the cornbread up to 2 days in advance.
- I grease the baking dish for the cornbread with vegetable shortening, but butter will work, too.
- Kidney beans or black beans can be substituted for the pinto beans.
- You can use any colored bell pepper you like. Red, yellow, orange, or green bell peppers all work.
- If you have the time, make homemade ranch dressing. It is incredibly flavorful and makes the salad that much better.
- Use your favorite homemade cornbread recipe instead of the Jiffy cornbread, or try mine.
- This salad is very forgiving regarding what layer goes where, so don’t sweat it.
- If desired, toss it in a large bowl and season to taste with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper.
Storage
Store it covered in the fridge until you are ready to serve or up to 10 hours. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
More Salad Recipes
Cornbread Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 packet 1 ounce ranch seasoning and dressing mix
Cornbread
- 1 8.5 ounce box Jiffy corn muffin mix
- 1 egg
- ⅓ cup milk
- ⅓ cup sour cream
Salad
- 1 red bell pepper seeded and diced
- 1 15 ounce can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 15.14 ounce can sweet corn, drained
- 1 medium sweet onion finely chopped
- 3 large tomatoes chopped
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 slices bacon crispy cooked and crumbled
- 2 green onions sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease an 8x8 inch baking dish.
- Stir together the mayonnaise, sour cream, and ranch seasoning packet in a medium bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
- In a medium bowl mix together the corn muffin mix, egg, milk and sour cream. Stir just until combined then spoon into the prepared pan and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Place the pan on a wire rack to cool while you cut the vegetables.
- Cut the cornbread into 1 inch squares and place into the bottom of a trifle dish or clear bowl. Top with the red bell pepper, pinto beans, corn kernels, onion, and tomatoes. Using a spatula or the smooth bottom of a large spoon spread the ranch dressing over the top. Layer with cheddar cheese, bacon, and green onions. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve or up to 10 hours.
Notes
- Make the cornbread up to 2 days in advance.
- I grease the baking dish for the cornbread with vegetable shortening, but butter will work, too.
- Kidney beans or black beans can be substituted for the pinto beans.
- You can use any colored bell pepper you like. Red, yellow, orange, or green bell peppers all work.
- If you have the time, make homemade ranch dressing. It is incredibly flavorful and makes the salad that much better.
- Use your favorite homemade cornbread recipe in place of the Jiffy cornbread, or try mine.
- This salad is very forgiving as far as what layer goes where, so don't sweat it.
- If desired, toss it in a large bowl and season to taste with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper.
Nutrition
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Clark Dowd
I stumbled upon your delightful cornbread salad. As I layered the crumbled cornbread with fresh greens, beans, and a zesty dressing, the colors and aromas created a feast for the senses. The final dish was a harmonious blend of hearty and healthy, a perfect centerpiece for a family gathering that left everyone asking for the recipe.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Clark! I am so happy that everyone enjoyed it.
Catherine G
I was intrigued by the idea of a Cornbread Salad, so I had to try it, and I’m so glad I did! The textures and flavors were amazing together – sweet, savory, and crunchy, all at once. I loved it and so did my sister and her husband.
Beth Pierce
So glad that you liked it, Catherine!
Tamara Andrews
I’ve never had this before! I loved all the flavors and textures. A true southern delight. I served it with barbecued chicken and macaroni salad and it was a delightful meal!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Tamara! So glad that you liked it. It is one of my favorite dishes.
Melissa Dixon
I loved every bite. I had not enjoyed this in ages. Thanks for the recipe it brought back wonderful memories of my grandmother and her kitchen.
Beth Pierce
That is awesome. I love that certain recipes can bring back such fond memories.
Karen D
I never had cornbread salad before…This was so so good!! The recipe was easy to follow and even my picky husband enjoyed it! Thank you so much.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Karen! So glad that you and your picky husband enjoyed it.
Sammy D
I love this cornbread salad. I grew up in the south so this is pure heaven to me. This recipe is as good as my Grandma’s.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Sammy! So glad that you love it!
Yolanda White
This is such a great recipe for cornbread salad. I love corn bread and it goes so well with all of the other ingredients, the crispy bacon bits, cheese and tomatoes. It really is very tasty. I am saving the recipe. Thank you!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Yolanda! We love it too!
April L
This seemed like such a weird combo to me, but OMG is it ever delicious – everything just works so well together and I’m really looking forward to making it again this summer, it’s going to taste so great at our BBQs!
Beth Pierce
So glad that you liked it, April!
Claudia R
This is so good! I actually never even heard of cornbread salad until I found this recipe. Now it’s my new favorite.
Janelle
Brought this to a family get-together and it got devoured. Thanks for the recipe!
Erica K
It’s incredibly delicious! And so fun! I am going to make it again for a pre Easter celebration with friends. They will love it!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Erika! I hope that they enjoy it as much as we do!
Sandra Marks
This recipe was definitely worth it! I was amazed at how it turned out, so good and flavorful! My family loved it and they want me to make it again!
Beth Pierce
That is awesome, Sandra!
Holley
Good recipe. I was looking for a recipe similar to a cornbread salad I remember from years ago. This was close, but I will make a few modifications next time.
Mainly, there was too much dressing, which turned the cornbread into mush. I would half that. I would use only one tomato or just leave it out all together for the same reason – it added too much moisture. Maybe add some chopped celery for extra crunch.
I don’t think the salad I was trying to mimic had whole kernel corn but that was a really good addition and I would use it again.
Finally, I used black eyed peas in lieu of pintos and think that was a good modification.
This makes a huge amount of salad, FYI!
stephanie
I made this without the red peppers and it was delicious! Being from the NorthEast, cornbread salad isn’t something I’ve ever had before.
Beth Pierce
So glad that you liked it, Stephanie!
Tayler
This salad was excellent! Full of southern flavor and really easy to make!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Tayler! I am so happy that you enjoyed it!
Kechi
I didn’t even know you could add cornbread to salad or use it to make salad, am definitely looking forward to giving this a try! WOW! I want it so bad and can’t wait to try! Thanks for sharing!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, enjoy!
Kushigalu
Refreshing and delicious salad recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Andrea
What fantastic flavors in this cornbread salad. It’s perfect for spring/ summer picnics, BBQ’s or Sunday dinner.
Beth Pierce
So true, Andrea!
LeighAnne Wilson
Has anyone ever tried this as a hot meal? I ate this last night at a local restaurant but it was served warm and so good….just wondering how to prepare it like that?
Tammy
This is such a good idea for summer! Cornbread is a must at all our cookouts and bbqs and this is such a fun way of serving it up. Delicious recipe!
Melanie E
This cornbread salad is amazing. Such a delicious southern treat. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Rosey
This recipe is genius. I’ve never heard of anything like it, but I like every single thing in it!
Luna S
Yum! We are big fans of cornbread in our house, but I have never heard of this before. It looks pretty good, I will have to give it a try sometime.
Beth Pierce
You really should. It is so darn good.
Juliane
This was so good. It reminds me of the delicious cornbread salad my aunt made for us when we were kids. I forgot how delicious this salad really is. Thanks for the blast from the past.
Tracey
I have made this for years. I don’t put corn or beans in ours and I just half cherry tomatoes…
It is always a hit. I always call it my church lady pot luck salad…my grandmother made it when we were kids and it always went to the pot lucks…I take it in the summers to barbqs…
Krystle
This is my kind of salad, I’ve been craving it all week.
Sandra
This is such an amazing salad! The combination of flavors is amazing!
Gina
I was so excited to try this recipe. It came out great! It is so delicious that I will be making next weekend as my side dish at a BBQ. I know everyone is going to love it!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Gina! So glad that you liked it!
GUNJAN
This salad idea is so unique and so delicious. its so flavorful. we loved it.
Toni
Everyone at my house loved this! Such an amazing recipe!
Claudia Lamascolo
We loved this salad with cornbread dish and the cheese and onions were a perfect compliment of flavors!
Savita
This salad was so flavorful and delicious, perfect for summers.
Erin
This was amazingly delicious! It was a hit on our table.
Amanda
This is my kind of recipe! I love anything with cornbread!
Kimberly
This salad is wonderful! I’m bringing this along with me to an upcoming outdoor potluck – it’s going to be a hit!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Kimberly! I sure hope they enjoy it as much as we do!
Catalina
This salad has all the ingredients that I love! It looks amazingly delicious!
Catalina
The best salad ever! I’ve made it and everyone loved it!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Catalina! So happy that you liked it!
Jacque Hastert
This has been saved and will be getting made this weekend! What a great idea to use cornbread, I would have never thought of that!
Allyson Zea
This looks so wonderful with so many of my favorite flavors! Love this idea of using cornbread!
Sue
This Cornbread Salad is absolutely delicious! Yummy!