This is traditionally served with Thanksgiving dinner but don't wait for the holidays to try this easy, family-pleasing side dish recipe!
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Table of Contents
🗝️ Key takeaways
- This easy side dish is made with just a few simple ingredients and almost no prep time.
- Jiffy cornbread casserole is almost always served at Thanksgiving but it is a budget-friendly side dish all year long.
- Read through the tips for all of the options for making it ahead of time.
Cornbread casserole with Jiffy corn muffin mix is a Southern classic that makes its way to most holiday tables around here. It's to Thanksgiving dinner what Pineapple Casserole is to Easter.
It's actually a type of southern spoon bread - super simple with some corn, dairy, eggs, and cornbread mix.
That's part of the popularity of this recipe - it's easy and it's delicious Southern food! It's so good I can pretty much eat a whole dish by myself.
Try the corn pudding next. It's a little different.
🧾 Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you'll need - got your list ready?
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- Jiffy cornbread mix (in the past I've also used Marie Callenders low fat mix to cut the fat a little)
- Cheddar cheese
- eggs
- chiles
- cream-style corn
- whole corn kernels
- butter
- cumin
📚 Variations
You can make some small changes to get big flavors with this recipe. In fact, you can even turn it into a main dish by adding some cooked meat as a bottom layer!
- Add chili to the baking pan and spoon the corn casserole batter over it.
- Chop candied jalapenos up and add to the batter before baking.
- Red bell peppers, chopped and sauteed, are pretty AND delicious!
- Drain a can of RoTel tomatoes and add with the other ingredients.
- Stir in cooked, shredded chicken before baking or add it as a layer to the bottom of the casserole dish.
- Spoon cooked ground beef and a can of Ranch beans into the baking pan then add the batter. Bake as directed
🔪 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below. Click on the image to see it full size.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large
mixing bowl stir all of the ingredients together. - Pour the ingredients into a greased 9x9 casserole dish.
- Bake uncovered for 45 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown.
- Remove from oven and let stand for at least 10 minutes to firm up.
Cornbread casserole in a Crockpot
You can easily make this creamy corn casserole recipe in a
- Spray the crock with nonstick cooking spray.
- Mix the ingredients in a large bowl, as above.
- Spoon the cornbread mixture into the crock.
- Cook in low for 4-5 hours.
- Serve.
Since all slow cookers are different be sure to check at the 3-hour mark to see how it's coming along.
🥫 Storage
Store this Jiffy cornbread casserole in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 4 months.
Cover with plastic wrap or put leftovers in an airtight container. A vacuum sealer works great, too.
💭 Tips
Expert Tip: Save time during the holidays. Make this 2 to 3 days ahead of when you'll need it and store in the refrigerator, either cooked or uncooked.
This is an easy side dish but here are a few tips that will make it even easier.
- Cornbread casserole can be frozen either baked or unbaked. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking as directed in the recipe. If you've frozen it already baked then just warm it at 300F for 20 minutes.
- You can use either a box of cornbread mix or the homemade cornbread recipe I've provided in the recipe card below.
- Don't over-bake - it will get dry.
- Let the casserole stand for 10 minutes or so before serving to allow it to firm up.
👩🏻🍳 FAQs
Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this recipe.
You definitely can! You can make it ahead and store it unbaked or baked for a couple of days in the refrigerator or freeze for longer storage.
A couple of days. If you are going to keep it more than 3 days go ahead and freeze it.
Absolutely! Cover and refrigerate as soon as your meal is over.
Here are some holiday food safety tips from the FDA.
Ummm... everything? It's the perfect side dish. Seriously, I love it with BBQ, ham, turkey, chicken... anything you'd serve corn with. For a normal meal, I would make it the only starch and not add potatoes or other starchy sides but for the holidays anything goes!
📚 Related recipes
Side dishes make the meal and I have quite a few of them here on Restless Chipotle.
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes are a little sweet and a little spicy. It’s a healthy side dish that goes perfectly with roasted meats and poultry.
- Fried Potatoes are perfect every single time. The secret is in the two step process. It's easy and it only takes 40 minutes total.
- Chipotle Sweet Potato Mash is creamy, sweet, smoky perfection — it's a unique and delicious side dish that goes great with pork or poultry.
- Cinnamon Spiced Apple Rings are just as gorgeous as they are delicious! Tangy apples are simmered in cinnamon syrup until they are infused with crimson color and spicy cinnamon flavor. The perfect side dish recipe for fall!
- Creamy Potatoes au Gratin will quickly become a family favorite. Gooey cheese, tender potatoes, and a crunchy, crumbly Panko topping makes these potatoes au gratin the best you’ve ever tasted!
- Yellow Squash Casserole is definitely one of my favorites! I could eat this stuff all day long! Creamy and delicious.
What’s new? Check out my Restless Chipotle & Co. Store on Amazon where you'll find all kinds of nostalgic goodness! Thanks so much for being a part of Restless Chipotle!
📞 The last word
I'm not sure but I think it's a rule in the South that there's no such thing as too many corn recipes on the table during the holidays.
Just because you made a big old vat of dressing does not mean you can't serve creamed corn (with plenty of pepper and butter) and Jiffy corn casserole... and maybe cornbread on the side.
You know I'm right.
Make a double batch. Last time I made it the dish was empty in seconds. It's a great side dish any time of the year.
Try adding this pumpkin cheese ball to your Thanksgiving spread! It's so pretty.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Jiffy Cornbread Casserole
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 15 ounces whole kernel corn, drained
- 15 ounces creamed corn, don't drain
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 1 ½ cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 eggs
- 8 ounces cornbread mix, 1 box
- ¼ teaspoon cumin, (optional)
- 4 ounces chiles, undrained (optional)
Homemade Cornbread Mix (if you prefer not to use a commercial mix)
- 1 ⅓ cups All-purpose flour
- 1 cup Cornmeal
- 1 tablespoons Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl stir all of the ingredients together.
- Pour the ingredients into a greased baking dish. I used 9x9-inch.
- Bake uncovered for 45 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown.
- Remove from oven and let stand for at least 10 minutes.
Homemade Cornbread Mix
- Mix all ingredients together and store in a cool, dark place.
To Slow Cook
- Spray a slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
- Spoon in the cornbread mixture.
- Cook on low for 4 -5 hours. Since different slow cookers cook differently be sure to check it at about 3 hours just to make sure that it isn't cooking faster than expected.
Notes
- If using homemade cornbread mix add an extra 2 tablespoons butter
- You can make this 2 to 3 days ahead of when you'll need it and store in the refrigerator, either cooked or uncooked.
- You can also freeze it either baked or unbaked. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking as directed in the recipe. If you've frozen it already baked then just warm it at 300F for 20 minutes.
- Don't overbake - it will get dry.
- Let the cornbread casserole stand for 10 minutes or so before serving to allow it to firm up.
- Add chili to the baking pan and spoon the corn casserole batter over it.
- Chop candied jalapenos up and add to the batter before baking.
- Drain a can of Ro*Tel tomatoes and add with the other ingredients.
- Stir in cooked, shredded chicken before baking or add it as a layer to the bottom of the casserole dish.
- Spoon cooked ground beef and a can of Ranch beans into the baking pan then add the batter. Bake as directed
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
First published November 12, 2017. Last updated August 1, 2023 to improve readability. This was originally called Mexican cornbread casserole but that seemed to confuse readers who expected to find a tamale pie recipe.
Vicky Geiger says
I have been making this recipe for years after having it at a friend's house. One of the main problems is the length of time it is in the oven while cooking a turkey. Seeing your suggestion about slow cooker gave me an idea for this year. But I'm wondering if it comes out just as good as the oven..
Valerie says
Can you double this recipe for a Can you double this recipe successfully for a 13x9x2 casserole dish?
Marye says
You may need to cook it a bit longer but yes.
Deborah says
I use ground beef or sausage in mine to make a meal out of it. I do Cook mine in a cast iron skillet in the oven. It’s really good with either one.
Marths says
Would you serve this with butter or syrup or just a stand alone side?
Marye says
It's a stand alone side dish -
Cynthia says
Will try for the holidays
Marye says
I hope you like it!
Susan says
No cornmeal in your homemade cornbread mix? Is the recipe for that correct?
Marye says
HA! Susan you got me. I accidentally left it out. Good catch! I've fixed it now - thanks!
Laura Dembowski says
I have a huge weakness for cornbread and turning it into dinner sounds right up my alley!
Wimpy Vegetarian says
I can, and do, completely skip the turkey. This is exactly the kind of dish I gravitate to. I can't wait to make it!
Marye Audet says
🙂 let me know what you think!
Liz says
I don't think my family would complain with another corn dish on the table! Your cornbread casserole looks terrific!!
Marye Audet says
Thanks Liz! I love this easy recipe!
Renee - Kudos Kitchen says
For me, Thanksgiving is more about the side dishes than the turkey. Your Mexican cornbread casserole looks like a real winner! I'd go back for seconds 😉
Marye Audet says
Thanks Renee! I love the side dishes, too