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

How long is cornbread good for in the fridge? ›

Plastic wrap will keep air and moisture away from your cornbread so it lasts longer. Store your cornbread in the fridge for up to 1 week. After 1 week, your cornbread will start to lose its flavor and go bad. If you see excessive moisture or mold, your cornbread has started to spoil and you should throw it out.

How do you jazz up store bought cornbread? ›

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 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 do southerners eat with cornbread? ›

In fact, savory cornbread, corn muffins, or even old-fashioned "corn pones" can sometimes be the meal all on its own, maybe with some collard greens, butterbeans, yellow summer squash, or fried okra, plus a tall glass of frosty-cold iced tea.

Can jiffy cornbread mix go bad? ›

For best results, we recommend using all “JIFFY” mixes by the “Best If Used By” date. Beyond this date, dependent upon local weather and storage conditions, the quality of the end product may be affected.

Can you freeze cornbread after you make it? ›

Yes, you can definitely freeze cornbread. But the way you prepare it and store it for the freezer can influence the texture when it's time to defrost it. You'll need to consider if you want to freeze the entire loaf or slice it up for individual portions.

How to spruce up boxed cornbread? ›

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.

Should you let cornbread batter sit? ›

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.

Is Jiffy cornbread healthy? ›

This product contains a high percentage of the Institute of Medicine's recommended adequate intake for sodium of 1500 mg a day (IOM 2005). This value is much lower than what the FDA requires be listed on food labels -- 2400 mg. Americans average 3,400 mg of sodium a day.

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.

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? ›

Southerners, on the other hand, tend to prefer white cornmeal. Many people believe that it is because, in the old South, families used white cornmeal as it more closely resembled “fancy” European wheat flour. In any case, today it remains a main component in traditional Southern buttermilk cornbread.

What is cornbread in milk called? ›

Also referred to as “crumble-in,” this hearty snack of cornbread doused in milk is beloved among communities in the Southern United States, stretching from Appalachian West Virginia to the heart of Texas.

Is it better to use buttermilk or milk in cornbread? ›

I recommend using buttermilk in this cornbread recipe for the best texture; it helps keep it soft and moist. If you use just regular milk for this recipe, your cornbread will come out drier than I personally care for, but since cornbread is classically crumbly, you might be able to get away with it.

Can you eat old cornbread? ›

Cornbread is best hot, right out of the oven. It will begin to dry out fairly quickly but will be eatable for 3 or 4 days after baking.

How do you store and reheat cornbread? ›

Reheating cornbread in the oven is a great option and, in my opinion, guarantees the best results. Set the oven to 350 degrees. Place cornbread on an oven-safe surface, such as a cookie sheet, baking dish, or cast iron skillet. It will take 5-10 minutes for the cornbread to evenly reheat.

How long will cornbread dressing last in the refrigerator? ›

A great make-ahead recipe: You can make this Thanksgiving side dish up to a day in advance, and keep it in the fridge until you're ready to bake it. The leftovers are good for up to 4 days so you can enjoy leftover cornbread dressing with your turkey leftovers the next day.

How long should cornbread cool? ›

Let the homemade cornbread cool for at least 20 minutes at room temperature before slicing and serving. It'll be tempting to try a slice right away, but trust me, the wait is worth it. After it cools, the cornbread will have a fluffier, more cohesive texture and richer corn flavor.

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