A sweet, salty and deliciously moist cornbread, this winning cornbread recipe is the perfect accompaniment to a hot bowl of chili or chicken noodle soup. It’s a crowd-pleaser (a chili cook-off winning recipe!) and this easy cornbread recipe is even worthy of serving along with your Thanksgiving dinner!
A few years ago, back when Ryan and I were living in Orlando, we entered Sadie into a neighborhood Doggie Derby competition. We learned about the event from someone at our favorite local dog park who said he thought Sadie would do fantastic in the race. When we heard about the format of the informal race – someone stands at the start line with the dog while another person calls the dog at the finish line – we had high hopes for our little speed demon. Sadie is incredibly motivated by running to me or Ryan when we call her and after several rounds of racing, Sadie ended up winning the entire competition. I’d try to play it cool and say we thought it was no big deal but we were two excited dog parents beaming with pride that day! And guess what? Sadie even got a trophy for her win!
Ever since Sadie’s Doggie Derby victory, Ryan and I have an ongoing joke that she’s going to be the last member of our little family to win any kind of award. Now that I think about it, we should probably stop making this joke since our family has expanded and we now have a toddler. I’m assuming Chase will win something at some point, right? At least a “Best Attitude” award which is what I got when I was on the swim team my freshman year of high school. (That should tell you something about my talent level in the sport.)
Well, the tides turned for the Fagan family last Saturday evening when I shockingly won something. A REAL competition! Well, kind of. I won an annual chili cook off party’s prize for Best Cornbread. Does that count as “real?” Please let me have this one, you guys. There were 50(ish) people there and everyone had to cast votes to determine the best chili and best cornbread of the evening, so I’m going to go ahead and milk this one for all its worth.
Truthfully, I cannot claim the credit for my winning cornbread. I owe it all to you guys because three of you recommended the same cornbread recipe to me when I put a call out on the blog for recipe recommendations before the chili cook off. I personally prefer cornbread that is slightly sweet and a bit salty. I’m not as into the whole jalapeño or cheesy cornbread thing and when I saw three people recommended a recipe involving creamed sweet corn, the recipe immediately caught my eye.
I did some digging and cannot find the original source of the recipe. It just kind of seems to exist on the internet which often seems to be the case with tried-and-true recipe favorites. While I followed the base of the recipes to a tee (Jiffy cornbread muffin mix, sour cream, creamed corn), I added a little more sweetness to the recipe in the form of honey. I also added a bit of pink Himalayan salt both to the batter and on top of the cornbread before baking. I think both of these small additions ended up making a pretty big difference so I wanted to share my version of the recipe with you today!
I know we’re right in the middle of cornbread season (is that a thing?), so keep this recipe in mind the next time you find yourself whipping up a batch of chili or chicken noodle soup. It’s the perfect slightly sweet and savory side dish to get you through the chilly fall and winter months!
Also, this may be a little bold, but I think this recipe is good enough to make on Thanksgiving as well. Yep, I said it. And I only said it because when I baked another batch of this cornbread to photograph for the blog, I ended up eating two whole rows of it while I snapped away. I couldn’t stop!
Winning Cornbread Recipe
Winning Cornbread Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Total Time: 50 mins
- Yield: 16 pieces 1x
- Category: side dish, bread
Description
A sweet, salty and deliciously moist cornbread, this winning cornbread recipe is the perfect accompaniment to a hot bowl of chili or chicken noodle soup.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 boxes Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix (approximately 12 ounces)
- 8 ounces full-fat sour cream
- 1 cup creamed corn
- 1/2 cup canola oil or melted coconut oil (refined)
- 3 eggs
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pink Himalayan salt + more to sprinkle on top
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix together until thoroughly combined.
- Pour into an 8×8 baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
- Sprinkle additional freshly ground pink Himalayan salt on top of the batter. Do not stir. (This will make the top of the cornbread deliciously salty.)
- Bake for 40-45 minutes or until top of the cornbread begins to brown and the middle of the cornbread is completely set.
- Allow to cool before serving.
Question of the Day
What was the last award or competition you won? What was the silliest/most random award you’ve won?
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This looks great! Any ideas on how to sub the sour cream to make it dairy free? I know it won’t be as good, but we have dairy allergies in this house. 🙁
I found this substitute recipe: https://www.thespruce.com/vegan-dairy-free-sour-cream-1000729 It looks like it will take a little effort but seems like it would work well!
I do not typically like cornbread, but this recipe actually sounds really good. I’m like you – I never win anything. And I truly couldn’t tell you the last award or competition I won. Probably something to do with dance back in high school, over 10 years ago? So sad…haha
We have a chili and soup potluck Sunday so this recipe will be great!
It’s the real deal and you won!
Congratulations!
Ha! Thanks, Vera!! 🙂
The most random award I won was high school cross country for the best nickname. My one friend started calling me “Mo-Fo”. Mo is a nickname for Maureen and my last name is Feeney so she took the F from there. After a week or so, someone went up to my friend and questioned why it was “Mo-Fo” because it’s not the best connotation (think of mother and a curse word). It became a big joke on the team.
I love cornbread so much! It’s the perfect pair with chili and now I’m craving it so bad! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing this recipe! I’m really excited to try it out! I just love chili and cornbread, especially when the weather is cold and dreary.
I love when cornbread has actual corn instead — it just adds a little extra somethin’ somethin’ to a food that’s already so good!
Totally agree! Love the texture corn adds to cornbread!
I am a sucker when it comes to cornbread! My mom always made warm cornbread with here bean soup and served the cornbread with butter and honey. It’s literally one of my favorite childhood memories! Thanks for sharing this recipe, I can’t wait to try it out 🙂
Congrats on your cornbread win! Hey, it’s the little things. I’d count it as a victory as well. 🙂
I don’t know why, but I don’t think I’ve ever made homemade cornbread. I know. I have no idea why I haven’t because I always love it when someone else makes it. I’m going to give this one a try with a big pot of turkey chili.
Yum! I love cornbread, I will definitely have to give this a try.
We have a chili cook-off with my office every year and this looks like it would be a perfect addition!
Yum! I’ve won many work awards, but as far as individual sports awards, I was awarded “Sweet As Pie” on a volleyball team. lol
There was a contest at work to guess the number of candy corns in a massive jar and I won! We have several thousand people on our “work campus” and there were a lot of entries so I was sooo freaking excited! You would have thought I won the lottery when they called and told me. That was three years ago and I am still pumped. I. Never. Win. Anything.
I may need to try this recipe although I still love my jalapeno cheesy cornbread!
I won a cruise to the Bahamas from Bud Light about 10 years ago. It was a big event at a bar and they picked my raffle number. I was so excited and the cruise was legit!
this looks AMAZING. can’t wait to try it!
the comments on this post are so fun, too 🙂
Yes, I’d count that as a real contest. Congrats on your victory. I love cornbread and wish I could have been a taste tester!
I make a version of this that was a hit at our broncos party last weekend (at least the food was good, the game was terrible…)
1 box jiffy
1 can creamed corn
1 can corn kernels, drained
1/2 stick butter (kerrygold ftw)
8oz sour cream
Oven st 350, place butter in 8×8 inside the oven to melt and grease the pan, then dump everything directly in and mix. Smooth top then bake for 30-40. Top with cheese (or not- I prefer it without)
I make this corn pudding for thanksgiving every year! It’s SO good!
This is the version I make as well.
Congrats on your cornbread win – and sharing the recipe with us!
I love cornbread! Perfect soup and chili accompaniment!
It’s no wonder you won!
We make a similar one but it’s more casserole-like. Think more corn and lots of butter instead of oil. It’s heavenly and we have to make a 2 huge foil pans of it for Thanksgiving AND Christmas. I think if we didn’t we’d have a revolt on our hands.
Yum!
Julie–I have loved your blog for a few years now and hope that you and the family are doing great (you sure seem to be). I hope that the end of the year is better than the earlier parts of the bumps and roller coasters.
As a native of Michigan-i’m glad you found my home welcoming and fun. The Cider Mill culture is wonderful and I miss that since I have moved out. (Though my mid section does not miss the donuts, which are the best). Royal Oak has been a hipster type place so you are lucky to have visited.
Regarding cornbread: I recommend getting rid of Jiffy and just using fresh cornmeal (well, the bagged stuff) and making the bread from scratch. Jiffy –a Michigan brand btw–has additives and I prefer nonprocessed. One big time ingredient that I love adding to cornbread is pure maple syrup. Don’t need much. Maybe 1/4 cup, maybe less. Try that and let us know.
So the Trader Joe’s cornbread is not the winning one?!?!
LOL. Just kidding. I am going to try this and then use it for my cornbread stuffing for Thanksgiving.
Thank you for sharing. Hope you are well. xoxo
Haha!! 🙂 I haven’t tried that one — worth trying, I’m guessing!?!
Yes! It is simple and delicious!
Saving/pinning for my Friendsgiving this year! 🙂 Sounds delicious. Thanks!
Friendsgiving is SO much fun!!! Enjoy!
I won a lot of acting competitions in college! I think the silliest thing I ever won was a beer trivia at my friend’s housewarming party. I literally knew NONE of the answers, but somehow won a homemade beer buddy. It was a beer bottle with eyes and pipe cleaners as hands. So weird. But I’m proud!
Haha!! Way to go!!
Was expecting a recipe from scratch not a modified box mix. VERY disappointing
When I asked if people wanted me to share the recipe, I specifically said it was a “doctored up” recipe using a box mix. I’m sorry it’s not what you were hoping for, Penny!
I’m thrilled it’s a doctored up box mix! The simpler, the better and this looks DELISH!
This cornbread is so flavorful and moist! It’s equal parts sweet and salty and is ridiculously easy to make.
hahaha – i once made a junior mint cheesecake for a pediatric brain turmor fundraiser and came in second in the “other” category ( not chocolate of fruit). I now refer to it as my “award winning jr mint cheesecake” !
Chili + corn bread is THE BEST…..I’m definitely going to make this when we have our parents over for Halloween trick-or-treating! Can’t say I’ve won any awards but I have gotten lucky in designer bag bingo, does that count!?
Yes!! Sounds like a great thing to win if you ask me!! 🙂
Every year my extended family does football predictions, a competition in which we make weekly picks for every single game throughout the NFL season. I won last season, and I was more than just a little bit proud! It was a lifelong goal. 😉
I LOVE cornbread, so I’m excited to give this recipe a try!
You TOTALLY deserve props for winning this contest! You can claim all the bragging rights you want! And cornbread season IS a thing!
I’ve made this before, but I’m going to try it your way the next time! (And I actually DID make the original version of this for my family Thanksgiving LAST year. So you’re right – it is Thanksgiving worthy!)
Congrats!
Of course you need to take credit for winning Julie! You’re the one that made it, entered ur recipe, and won! Yay!
I am so glad to finally see this recipe pop up!!! I’ve been waiting to make it with some left over (frozen) chili I made last week! I can’t wait to try it! Thanks so much for sharing!
Great job on the cornbread! I recently made a similar recipe but we cook ours in a cast iron pan and I’m convinced it comes out better – crispier on the edges. Also, if it makes you feel better, in high school, I won the “most improved” award…in choir. Talk about embarrassing. Obviously, I can’t carry a tune in a bucket. ?
I’m all in favor of doctoring up a box recipe, and this recipe looks delicious and easy, and at this stage of my life with a toddler, this is exactly what I need (and want!). I’m making it today to go with a red pepper-tomato chimichuri soup (also from a “box” & frozen bag haha). Thanks for sharing!!
I just made this recipe and it was amazing! The texture was soft and the slight sweetness balanced out the spice in the chilli so well. Loved that it was a doctored up box recipe too. The only thing I didn’t have was the himylayan salt. Any suggestions on where to find it?
I got mine at ALDI!
What type of creamed corn do you use?
This recipe sounds delicious! One quick question though–about how much additional salt do you sprinkle on top? I am bringing this to a friends birthday dinner this weekend and I won’t have time to make a practice batch beforehand.
Yay! Thanks for sharing! I’m going to make it for Thanksgiving to go along with an Instant Pot Creamy Potato Soup from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe. If you do decide to get an Instant Pot, try this soup…so good!
I made this cornbread this last weekend for a crossfit event. I did make them into muffins so they were easier for people to grab (in muffin tins – baked at same temp but for 14-15 minutes). Even though I had to sub olive oil for canola oil, everyone was raving about them!
Awesome!! Thank you for reporting back, Ashley!!
I made this cornbread for a Friendsgiving this weekend and it was a huge hit! It was the only dish that was completely polished off 🙂 I’ll definitely be making again very soon.
I made this last night and it was such a HIT! I didn’t want to waste any jiffy mix so I simply upped the recipe ingredients by 1/3 and made muffins with the extra batter! Used the whole can of corn too! Simply wonderful!! My friends absolutely loved it. This is now my stand-by cornbread recipe 🙂 THANK YOU!
Oh and we enjoyed it with pumpkin turkey chili. yaaaaaas
Love the idea for making muffins, too! Yum! Thanks for sharing!!
I just made this and LOVED it, it was the perfect cross between a cornbread and corn casserole, which was what I was looking for. Almost like a fluffy cake texture. So good!! Thanks Julie!
We loved this! Made it last night alongside your crockpot chicken chili recipe. So good!
I have made this recipe for many different occasions since you first shared the recipe back in 2017. My family LOVES it!
I made this over the weekend to have with chili and it is SO GOOD! It will definitely be a staple recipe in our house. I make your Paleo chicken marinade almost once a week. Thank you for the great recipes!
I just made this for our annual Christmas Eve dinner/gift exchange with another family and my 15 year old taste tested it and immediately said that I cannot make another cornbread recipe ever again!!! I am so glad I finally made it, will go perfect with my Honeybaked Ham!!
So happy to hear this!!! Enjoy!!
Made this last night for a BBQ! Easy and delicious. Thanks for the recipe!