Cornbread Pudding

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Cornbread Pudding is soft, moist and buttery with a creamy texture and a hint of smoky heat! It comes together in one bowl and it’s super easy to make with the help of a corn muffin mix!

If you’ve never tried cornbread pudding, it’s seriously a must-try! It’s a creamy, softer version of cornbread with a spoonable texture thanks to all the sour cream, butter and cheddar cheese! 

We love all varieties of cornbread in our house, including this air fryer cornbread, Instant Pot cornbread and spicy Cajun cornbread dressing. But the texture of cornbread pudding is a whole new level of deliciousness! 

Cornbread pudding is similar to a spoonbread with its custard-like texture. It’s so soft and moist, the only way to serve it up is with a spoon!

This Southern-style recipe is also loaded with two kinds of corn - whole kernel corn and creamed corn, which adds a subtle sweet flavor and amazing texture.

While this is a pudding, it’s far from a dessert. This pudding is on the savory side so it’s the perfect replacement for bread as a side dish for everyday dinners or holiday meals!  

We actually love to serve it for brunch with sous vide scrambled eggs and bacon or sausage, but it’s also a delicious side dish for dinner with this sous vide pulled pork.

Check out the cornbread pudding story!

Why this recipe works

1. It comes together in one bowl and includes pantry staples like corn muffin mix and canned corn, making it super easy to make.
2. The pudding includes a generous amount of butter, sour cream and cheese, creating a creamy texture and rich flavor.
3. It’s a versatile recipe! There are so many optional add-ins for this cornbread pudding. You can make it sweet, savory or spicy, and it goes with almost every type of meal!

Ingredients

The full list of ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

You’ll need 1 box (8.5 ounces) of Jiffy corn muffin mix. You can use any type of corn muffin mix, but Jiffy is my preferred brand.

For the best texture and added sweetness, you’ll want to use two types of corn - whole kernel corn and cream style sweet corn. (For convenience, the recipe uses canned corn).

To add a little smoky heat, a 4 ounce can of diced green chilies and 1 teaspoon of chili powder are added to the mix. If you prefer hot and spicy, try adding chopped roasted jalapeños and red pepper flakes instead!

For the rich and creamy texture, you’ll need 1 cup of sour cream, 1 cup of grated cheddar cheese and ½ cup of unsalted butter.

I highly recommend using full fat sour cream instead of low fat, and if you decide to use salted butter, you’ll want to omit the ½ teaspoon of salt that’s added to the recipe.

Step by step instructions

Preheat the oven to 350F degrees.

Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl.

Add all the remaining ingredients and mix, being careful not to overmix. **It's okay if there are a few chunks in the batter.

Grease a 9x9" baking dish and pour the mixture in.

Bake for 45-55 minutes, until the top has browned. **It may crack a little at the top, but that's okay.

Remove from the oven and serve warm.

Expert tips

1. Avoid over-mixing the batter as it may cause the pudding to turn out a little tough or chewy.
2. You’ll want to bake the cornbread pudding until it’s golden brown with crispy edges. Don’t worry if a few cracks form on top. The texture will still be soft and buttery in the middle.
3. If you can’t find Jiffy corn muffin mix, no worries. You can use any brand of corn muffin mix.
4. For the best texture, make sure you use the two different types of corn - whole kernel corn and cream-style corn.
5. Don’t forget to drain your can of whole kernel corn. Any additional liquid added to the batter may cause the pudding to be runny.
6. You can use fresh corn in place of the canned kernel corn. When I make this sous vide corn on the cob, I sometimes reserve some to add to recipes like this. 
7. Instead of canned creamed corn, you can make your own. This Instant Pot homemade creamed corn recipe is a favorite in our house.

Common questions

Recipe variations

There are so many options for add-ins with cornbread pudding. You can make it sweet, spicy or savory depending on your flavor preferences. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Add meat like crumbled bacon or diced ham.
• Mix in some sliced jalapeños or other types of hot peppers for heat.
• For extra heat, add some cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes.
• Chop a chipotle pepper in adobo sauce and mix it in to add heat and smoky flavor.
• Instead of chili powder, add smoked paprika, chipotle powder or homemade Cajun seasoning.
• Stir in some chopped green onions, chives or red onions. 
• Instead of cheddar cheese, mix in grated mozzarella, parmesan or pepper jack. 
• Make it sweeter by mixing in a tablespoon of honey, maple syrup or brown sugar.

Serving options

Pair this cornbread pudding with a few of the following recipes for an extra special family meal or holiday gathering:

• Honey Baked Ham
• Instant Pot Collard Greens
• Buttery Roasted Turkey Thighs
• Southern Green Beans
• Dirty Rice
• Instant Pot Pork Chops with Sausage Gravy
• Sweet Potato Hash with Ham and Eggs

Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out!