This is the BEST Easy Mexican Cornbread Recipe on the web! So moist and delicious, filled with cornmeal, corn kernels, spice, a hint of sweet and so much flavor!
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The Perks and Highlights of the Best Mexican Cornbread
Cuisine Inspiration: Mexican
Primary Cooking Method: Baking
Dietary Info: Vegetarian-friendly (but always check your specific ingredients!)
Key Flavor: Savory with a spicy kick
Skill Level: Pretty easy
Sweet Highlights:
- Spice is Nice: The combination of jalapeños and cheddar brings a spicy and savory kick that’s just irresistible.
- Corn Galore: We’re not skimping on the corn here. It’s in the name, and it’s in the game, bringing that sweet, earthy flavor to every bite.
- Cheesy Bliss: The melted cheese in every slice is like a surprise hug for your taste buds.
- Crispy Edges: Thanks to our trusty oven, every piece has those perfectly golden and crispy edges.
- Versatile Vibes: Serve it up as a side or enjoy it as a snack.
What is Mexican Cornbread?
Traditional Mexican cornbread has a mixture of cheese, chiles for spice and actual corn. It adds texture, gooeyness and spice which adds a wealth of flavors galore. You can of course adapt this recipe the way you see fit but I personally love it as is.
Ingredients
I like to add an abundance of flavors. These are the most important elements:
- Cornmeal
- Cheese
- Corn
- Buttermilk
- Chile peppers
Scratch cornbread always starts with cornmeal. I like to use a mix of yellow cornmeal and all purpose flour to balance the grit and flavor. For the cheeses, I use two types here: sharp cheddar for that more intense flavor and pepper jack for an additional kick.
Creamed canned corn is perfect or if you want to use some of my mama’s fried corn recipe.
Buttermilk is my major liquid. It adds a wonderful tang but so much moistness to this cornbread. We want to avoid making a dry cornbread recipe.
Finally the chile peppers are what truly makes this Mexican cornbread. If you can’t handle spice, the pepper jack cheese should be enough to give you a tiny kick. If you can do both, add them and it is delicious!
How to Make Mexican Cornbread
You can easily throw all of the ingredients into one bowl to make this recipe. It could not get easier. You don’t need to dirty up a ton of dishes that you will be washing all night. The ease of this recipe is what is so key.
Regarding the cheeses, I think the mix of cheddar AND pepper jack lends a unique blend of goodness. I love both cheeses equally and especially when paired together (try them in your quesadillas!).
The creamed corn really moves this past your wildest dreams. Each bite of this Mexican cornbread gives you a nice creamy bite of corn that really creates this perfect texture. And if you love a little bit more spice, definitely add in the peppers.
My husband can’t take things too spicy so I usually just rely on the pepper jack cheese for a mild kick. But if you are like me and love spicy foods, add the peppers.
How to Serve
This recipe is so fantastic to enjoy with soups and stews like this Chicken Pozole and Taco Soup or even a delish casserole like this Frito pie.
A nice Mexican rice and also pinto beans are also great sides that would be fantastic for this recipe.
How to Store
To store, simply wrap it up tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to keep it fresh, and place it at room temperature for up to two days. If you’re looking to keep it around for a bit longer, you can pop it in the fridge, and it’ll stay good for about a week. Just make sure it’s in an airtight container to maintain its moisture and flavor. When you’re ready to dive back in, you can enjoy it cold, bring it back to room temperature, or give it a quick warm-up in the oven or microwave.
Other Cornbread Recipes to Try
If you love this cornbread, definitely try these as well:
- Southern Cornbread
- Hot Water Cornbread
- Fried Cornbread (Hoe Cakes)
- Sweet Potato Cornbread
- Pumpkin Cornbread
- Honey Butter Cornbread
Easy Mexican Cornbread Recipe (How to Make Mexican Cornbread)
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Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup corn meal
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese plus more to sprinkle on top
- 1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese plus more to sprinkle on top
- 2/3 cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 8 ounces cream-style corn 1 can
- 1/2 stick salted butter melted
Optional:
- 4 ounces diced green chiles 1 can
Instructions
- Preheat Oven to 400 degrees.
- In a large bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, corn meal, baking powder, sugar, cheddar cheese and pepper jack cheese until well mixed.
- In a separate medium sized bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs, cream-style corn, diced green chiles if using, and melted butter.
- Slowly add wet mixture to dry mixture and mix together until well combined.
- Coat cast iron skillet or baking pan with shortening or spray with non-stick baking spray until fully covered. Add cornbread mixture to skillet. Optional: Sprinkle additional shredded cheeses on top of cornbread batter.
- Place in oven for 23-26 minutes until cornbread is done. Remove from oven and serve.
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Corn bread is a major weakness of mine 🙂 And now you add cheeses and Mexican spices??? Can I say yum?
Why is cornbread so good? It is such a weakness of mine too!
I love everything about this cornbread! This looks so good! The pepper jack cheese and the green chilies… I have never had spicy cornbread before but I need to try this ASAP! The next time I make chili.. this is going right along with it!
Hooray! Thanks so much Ally. I love spicy cornbread. If you love anything with a kick, you will love the spice in it for sure!
I could’ve used some of this cornbread with the white chili I had for lunch today!
Why yes you could have. I wish I could mail you some!
OK So, you had me at pepper jack cheese, this sound delicious, and I love cornbread too! 🙂
I know right? I adore pepper jack cheese!
We had chilli this weekend at the in-laws and everyone had theirs in bread bowls but I skipped that nonsense and stacked the cornbread! There is nothing like chilli and cornbread. I love this spicy recipe girl!! Mixing two cheeses? I must especially in quesadillas as you suggest 🙂
Yes you have to try it in your quesadillas Zainab! I adore pepper jack in them!
Ooooooh, this cornbread looks divine! I adore sharp cheddar and pepperjack cheeses on their own, so combining these two in this bread sounds brilliant. Now I’m hungry…and I just finished lunch. 🙂
Gosh just reading your comment about the two cheeses has made me hungry!!
There is no denying that cornbread freaking ROCKS. I haven’t had a “mexican” type of cornbread before but I definitely am intrigued. I bet it’s amazing.
Thanks so much Kammie! Mexican cornbread is the it thing.
This corn bread look so moist and delicious! Not sure I could take a lot of spice so I think I’m with your husband on that one. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Yep you are totally with my husband on that one but this is just as delicious without the spice. Thanks so much for stopping by!
I LOVE how tender and delicious this cornbread looks-it is exactly perfect for Michael too! He loves cheddar & pepper jack and he loves to use cornbread for dipping in chili, etc!
Yum!!! Why is chili such a perfect complement for cornbread? Or maybe it is the other way around!
WOW this would be amazing with a big bowl of chili to warm me up today!!
The bowl of chili is a superb idea with this cornbread!