Description
Southern Cornbread Casserole delivers pure comfort straight from Grandma’s kitchen, blending creamy corn and golden cornbread into a hearty side dish that brings families together around the dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 16 ounces frozen corn
- 8 ounces bacon
- 1 ½ cups grated cheddar cheese
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup sour cream
Supporting Ingredients:
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1 to 2 jalapeños
Seasoning & Leavening Agents:
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Adjust your oven rack to the center position and preheat to 350°F. Thoroughly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
- Combine 1 cup cornmeal, 1 cup flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, ¾ teaspoon salt, and 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar in a large mixing bowl. Whisk ingredients until well blended.
- Add 16 ounces thawed corn, 1 cup milk, and 1 cup sour cream to the dry mixture. Stir until ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Pour 6 tablespoons melted butter into the batter. Sprinkle freshly ground black pepper to taste and mix gently.
- Fold 8 ounces of crispy diced bacon and 1 to 2 minced jalapeños into the mixture. Stir in 1 cup grated cheddar cheese until just combined.
- Transfer the entire batter to the prepared baking dish. Smooth the surface with a spatula to ensure even distribution.
- Scatter the remaining bacon pieces, jalapeño bits, and ½ cup cheese across the top of the casserole.
- Slide the dish into the 350°F oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes. The casserole is ready when the center sets and the top turns golden brown.
Notes
- Fresh corn kernels work best, but frozen corn can save time and still deliver great flavor.
- Swap out regular milk for buttermilk to add extra tanginess and create a more tender texture.
- For a vegetarian version, skip the bacon and add smoked paprika for a similar depth of flavor.
- Letting the casserole rest for 10 minutes after baking helps it set and makes slicing easier.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 310 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 410 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg