Crowd-Pleasing Cornbread Recipes

Cornbread doesn't have to be humble. The star of the holiday bread basket, staple among barbecue spreads, and dense vehicle for butter can be sweet, spicy, crunchy, tender, and creatively, shaped, filled, and topped. The savory comfort food transforms between bread, snack, side dish, and small plate among our best cornbread recipes below.

01 of 11

Virtue Cornbread

Slightly sweet and buttery, this classic Southern cornbread is a must-order at Virtue, Erick Williams' flagship restaurant in Chicago, where he celebrates the food of the Great Migration.

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02 of 11

Jalapeño Cornbread

Jalapeno Corn Bread — Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Debbie Wee

Filled with chopped jalapeño, red pepper, and corn kernels, this cornbread is heartier than the usual. Those additions add sweet and spicy notes to the bread, which we especially love when baked in a cast-iron skillet.

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03 of 11

Cast-Iron Cornbread

Chef Tiffany Derry of Roots Southern Table in Dallas combines sharp, tangy cheddar with a fresh jalapeño pepper for a kick that’s just right. She also studs her fluffy cornbread with thawed frozen corn kernels for extra pops of sweetness that help balance the heat from the jalapeño pieces.

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04 of 11

Buttermilk Cornbread

This recipe is an amalgamation of best practices across families and generations. It will keep its crunch and retain its structure if cubed and folded into a dressing for Thanksgiving.

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05 of 11

Mini Deviled Crab Cornbread Muffins

Deviled Crab Stuffed mini Cornbread muffins — Kelly Marshall

At his dinner parties in Harlem, chef and cookbook author Alexander Smalls pairs creamy, slightly spicy, fresh deviled crab with tender corn muffins, barely sweetened with brown sugar and studded with corn kernels, for a quick one-bite appetizer.

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06 of 11

Iron Skillet Cornbread

This show-stopping skillet cornbread from Indianola in Houston, Texas, features three homemade toppings: richly flavored Spiced Cane Syrup, crispy Fried Beluga Lentils, and Jalapeño-Onion Spread for heat — as well as Ruby Red grapefruit segments, fresh dill, and flaky sea salt. Piled on top of the cornbread, they make for a festive, colorful presentation.

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07 of 11

Blueberry Cornbread French Toast

Cornbread and blueberries are natural partners, especially in this French toast recipe by chef Erick Williams of Virtue restaurant in Chicago. Dipping cornbread into the blueberry-infused batter gives the bread a beautiful blue marbled pattern while retaining its texture. Be sure to just dip it in the batter and not soak the bread; otherwise, it will fall apart.

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08 of 11

Skillet Cornbread

Chef Carla Hall uses creamed corn in her skillet cornbread to give the finished result an extra bit of corn-y texture.

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09 of 11

Chicken Pot Pie Cornbread Muffins

These muffins are great for any meal of the day and make for an especially high-protein breakfast muffin.

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10 of 11

Cornbread Chicken Pot Pie

Scott Hocker's Southern take on the classic chicken pot pie is the ultimate comfort food.

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11 of 11

Corn Bread with Scallions

After cooking in Europe and writing and editing in New York, Paula Disbrowe packed her high heels and moved to Texas, where she spent three years as chef at Hart & Hind, a fitness retreat and cattle ranch. One result: Cowgirl Cuisine, with updated chuckwagon recipes like this tender, lightly sweet cornbread.

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