This Easy Cornbread Salad Recipe is the Perfect Potluck Idea! (2024)

Bless This Mess Recipes Side Dishes and Salads Salads

By Melissa

5 from 1 vote

on Jun 29, 2022

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This easy Cornbread Salad has all of your favorite summertime flavors, like tomatoes, corn, pinto beans, and the star of the show, cornbread! Topped with a rich and creamy homemade ranch dressing, it’s a perfect potluck dish.

This salad includes my easy homemade cornbread recipe as one of the ingredients.It is seriously the BEST cornbread you will ever try!

This Easy Cornbread Salad Recipe is the Perfect Potluck Idea! (2)

Table of Contents

  • What Is Cornbread Salad?
  • Ingredients:
  • How to Make Cornbread Salad:
  • Frequently Asked Questions:
  • Cornbread Salad Recipe

What Is Cornbread Salad?

The first thing you think of when you hear “cornbread” probably isn’t salad. You’d probably think of grilling out or a big bowl of chili, or maybe a cool, fall day watching football with your favorite comfort foods being served up. But let me tell you, this cornbread salad is a game changer (and it doesn’t even have to be served on game day!).

Packed with colorful veggies, pinto beans, shredded cheddar cheese, and crumbly, sweet cornbread, it comes together beautifully with a creamy homemade ranch dressing to top it off. All these fresh and big flavors combine to make a decadent and rich salad that the word “salad” doesn’t do justice to.

It’s a big batch, and it doesn’t save all that well because the cornbread gets soggy overnight, so bring this to the next party you attend or just make a half batch for home. Either way, you’ll be sure to impress!

This Easy Cornbread Salad Recipe is the Perfect Potluck Idea! (3)

Ingredients:

  • 1 Batch of myfamous cornbread: this is the unique aspect to the salad! This recipe for cornbread is sweet and sturdy and is so amazing mixed with all of these other ingredients
  • Romaine Lettuce: true to the name, this salad does have some lettuce
  • Pinto Beans: these give the salad some body, you can use just about any beans that you like or have on hand
  • Cheese: I love a good sharp cheddar in this, I think a pepper Jack would be amazing too
  • Veggies: tomatoes, bell pepper, green onions, and corn
  • Dressing ingredients: mayo, sour cream, ranch dressing mix, and milk are all mixed together to make one amazing homemade ranch dressing to dress this salad

How to Make Cornbread Salad:

  1. Make the cornbread first. This can be done ahead of time too or you can use leftover cornbread (if that’s such a thing). Let the cornbread cool completely before using.
  2. Chop up all of your veggies and add them to a large bowl.
  3. Add the cornbread, beans, and cheese.
  4. Mix up the ranch dressing and pour it over the top.
  5. Toss and serve right away.
This Easy Cornbread Salad Recipe is the Perfect Potluck Idea! (4)

Frequently Asked Questions:

How Do You Serve Cornbread Salad?

I love layering up this salad in a glass bowl so you can see all the different colors and textures for presentation. It is so beautiful and fun! To serve, top with a drizzle of the ranch dressing with more in a small bowl on the side so people can add as much more as they’d like.

Can You Make Cornbread Salad Ahead of Time?

You can — to make it ahead of time, put all the veggies in a bowl, and keep the dressing, cornbread, and cheese separate so that nothing gets soggy or wilted. Add those three ingredients right before serving.

What is Cornbread Salad Made of?

Cornbread salad is hugely customizable, so you can really add any vegetables you like or have on hand, or use a different type of beans or cheese. For this version, I used romaine lettuce, corn, tomatoes, green onions, green bell pepper, pinto beans, shredded cheddar cheese, my famous cornbread, and a simple creamy ranch dressing using easy homemade seasoning. This is also a great dish to make when you have leftover cornbread you need to use up!

This Easy Cornbread Salad Recipe is the Perfect Potluck Idea! (5)

More great salads for a party:

  • Deli-Style Broccoli Salad
  • Classic Potato Salad Recipe
  • Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
  • Mediterranean Cucumber Salad

If you’ve tried thiseasy cornbread salad recipeor any other recipe on Bless this Mess, then don’t forget torate the recipeand leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some pictures of it, share it with me onInstagramso I can repost on my stories.

This Easy Cornbread Salad Recipe is the Perfect Potluck Idea! (6)

5 from 1 vote

Cornbread Salad

This easy Cornbread Salad recipe has all of your favorite summertime flavors, like tomatoes, corn, pinto beans, and the star of the show, cornbread! Topped with a rich and creamy homemade ranch dressing, it's a perfect potluck dish.

Prep: 20 minutes mins

Cook: 25 minutes mins

Total: 45 minutes mins

Servings: 8

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Ingredients

  • 1 batch of my famous cornbread, baked and cooled
  • 6 cups shredded romaine lettuce, about 2 romaine hearts
  • 1 can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
  • 4-6 green onions, chopped
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
  • 1 large tomato,, diced (or 3 roma tomatoes)
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 1 can corn,, drained (or 1.5 cups frozen corn, thawed)
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 heaping tablespoon ranch dressing mix
  • 1-2 tablespoons milk

Instructions

  • When the cornbread is cool, remove it from the pan and cut into 1- to 1.5-inch cubes.

  • Add the lettuce to a large bowl, and top with the cornbread, pinto beans, green onion, cheese, tomato, bell pepper, and corn.

  • In another bowl, add the mayonnaise, sour cream, and ranch mix. Stir to combine. Add enough milk to make a dressing that is pourable, but still on the thick side.

  • When you are ready to serve, toss the salad well and drizzle with half the dressing. Serve right away with the other half of the dressing on the side so that people can add more as they like.

Notes

  • This recipe is beautiful layered in a glass bowl or trifle! If I’m taking it to a party, I always layer it up because it’s so pretty.
  • The cornbread falls apart and crumbles, but it’s so good! The texture and sweetness do something magical to this salad.
  • This salad is super customizable — add what you have or like, and leave out what you don’t like or have. I love chopped jalapeno in it, and sometimes I’ll grill a few ears of corn instead of using frozen.
  • Add some grilled chicken to make this a main dish salad.
  • This recipe makes a lot of salad, and it’s not great leftover (the cornbread gets too soggy), so take it to a party or make a half batch.
  • If you’d like to make this ahead of time, assemble the salad but leave the dressing and cornbread separate from everything else. Toss it all together right before serving.
  • This is a great recipe to use with leftover cornbread.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 of 8 cups, Calories: 427kcal, Carbohydrates: 41g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 25g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 63mg, Sodium: 622mg, Potassium: 328mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 12g, Vitamin A: 3683IU, Vitamin C: 18mg, Calcium: 217mg, Iron: 2mg

Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

For more yummy salad ideas, check out these recipes:

  • Classic Tuna Pasta Salad
  • Spinach Bacon Pasta Salad
  • Easy Apple Spinach Salad with an Apple Vinaigrette
  • Instant Pot Potato Salad
  • Classic Macaroni Salad Recipe
  • Midwestern Creamy Cucumber and Vinegar Salad
  • Very Veggie Asian Pasta Salad
  • Creamy Taco Pasta Salad

Next time you are headed to a pot-luck I hope you’ll bring this along, or make it a meal for your family. Cornbread salad just hits the spot all summer long.

About Melissa

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This Easy Cornbread Salad Recipe is the Perfect Potluck Idea! (2024)

FAQs

What dishes pair well with cornbread? ›

10 Ways To Enjoy Cornbread That Aren't Chili
  • CAROLINA-STYLE PULLED PORK.
  • CUMIN CHILI GRILLED CHICKEN WINGS.
  • BOURBON-BROWN SUGAR GLAZED BABY BACK RIBS.
  • CORNBREAD AND SAUSAGE DRESSING WITH PECANS.
  • SAVORY CORNBREAD PUDDING WITH BACON, LEEKS AND SAGE.
  • MINI CORN MUFFINS WITH ROASTED GARLIC AND FRESH HERBS.
  • CLASSIC FRIED CHICKEN.
Apr 11, 2024

What are good things to add to cornbread? ›

10 Mix-Ins for Classic Cornbread
  • Bacon and scallion. ...
  • Green chile and cheddar cheese. ...
  • Crumbled sausage and poultry seasoning. ...
  • Fresh corn and basil. ...
  • Pepperoni, parmesan, and black pepper. ...
  • Spicy shrimp and creole seasoning. ...
  • Brown sugar and pecan. ...
  • Cranberry and maple syrup.

What is the best cornmeal for cornbread? ›

As for the best cornmeal for cornbread, either fine- or medium-grind cornmeal is a great choice. Medium-grind cornmeal will bring slightly more texture and grittiness to the batter, which you may or may not want (it's up to you!). You can use fine or medium cornmeal in these extra corny muffins.

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.

What culture eats cornbread? ›

Cornbread has become a "cornerstone" of cuisine within the southeastern United States as well as being featured on the plates of African Americans, European Americans, and Native people alike.

Is cornbread good for your bowels? ›

Is cornbread hard to digest? A. Cornbread contains fibre, which is not easily digested or absorbed by the body and passes through the digestive system relatively intact. Fibre also controls bowel motions by softening and increasing the weight and size of the stool, all of which make it easier to pass stool.

Is cornbread good for your stomach? ›

Cornbread can help improve digestion.

Fiber also helps food to pass quickly through the intestines. Cornbread is also made with whole-grain cornmeal. So, it boasts even more digestive-friendly benefits.

How do Southerners eat cornbread? ›

While on its own, Southern cornbread may be underwhelming, it's neutral flavor and crumbly texture make it the perfect vessel to soak up liquidy foods, like cranberry sauce or turkey gravy. Or, it can be eaten on its own, perhaps mixed with gooey cheese or spicy jalapeños.

What do Americans eat cornbread with? ›

A Southern comfort food treat is to crumble leftover cornbread into a tall glass of cold buttermilk and eat it with a spoon as a snack before bedtime or in the morning, much like cereal. Skillet cornbread is also used for making the famous oyster stuffing served during the holidays in the South.

What can you spread on cornbread? ›

It's a real treat with chili, ribs, or barbecued chicken. You could even use this sweet, homemade cornbread to make stuffing for your Thanksgiving feast! My mom made this for me as a child, and now it's my family's favorite. Serve with butter, jam, honey, or your favorite spread.

Which makes better cornbread white or yellow cornmeal? ›

While either white or yellow cornmeal will technically work when making cornbread, yellow does make for a softer more tender bread. Milk is what is going to make sure our bread stays nice and moist as it acts as the binding agent. Baking powder is key for getting a nice tender and fluffy crumb.

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 is cornbread mix made of? ›

Whisk together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Store in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months.

What is homemade cornbread made of? ›

Ingredients
  1. 1 cup all-purpose flour.
  2. 1 cup yellow cornmeal.
  3. ⅔ cup white sugar.
  4. 3 ½ teaspoons baking powder.
  5. 1 teaspoon salt.
  6. 1 cup milk.
  7. ⅓ cup vegetable oil.
  8. 1 large egg.

Is corn salad a type of lettuce? ›

Corn Salad, also known as Lamb's Lettuce, is a very useful and hardy salad plant. It has soft green leaves with a nutty flavour. It is an annual and can withstand very low temperatures so can be grown outside in the garden with little protection.

What is the difference between cornbread and polenta? ›

Cornmeal is made by grinding dried corn kernels – yellow, white or blue – into fine, medium and coarse textures, while polenta is made from a specific variety of corn called flint corn. Polenta also has a coarser texture than most types of cornmeal.

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