The BEST Southern Corn Spoonbread (Spoon Bread) Recipe! (2024)

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Southern Corn Spoonbread is cornbread in its lightest, creamiest form! Made with cornmeal, milk, sour cream and cheese, it is irresistible. You’re gonna need a big spoon!

I’ve never been a huge fan of vegetables. I mean, who is? I prefer my fresh sides to be cooked in butter, glazed with honey and seasoned to high-heaven. Although I probably should, I don’t force myself to eat things I don’t enjoy. Life is a little too short for that.

So, I eat the vegetables that bring me joy: smothered greens, glazed carrots, creamed spinach and corn, lots of corn. Corn is versatile and delicious in almost any form. I’ve shared a lot of corn-based recipes with you all but today’s is my absolute favorite.

Corn Spoon bread is a Classic Southern side dish that I grew up enjoying. It’s sweet yet salty, creamy with a bite and most importantly, cheesy. Polish your spoons and let’s get cooking!

Table of Contents

The Heart and Soul of the Best Corn Spoonbread Recipe

Cuisine Inspiration: Southern Comfort Who said comfort food is just about large portions and timeless classics? This Corn Spoonbread is Southern comfort with a twist, bringing home the warmth with every spoonful. Dive into a dish that’s part pudding, part bread, and all sorts of delicious.

Primary Cooking Method: Baking Get your oven mitts ready, because this culinary delight is all about the art of baking. Transform simple ingredients into a golden, fluffy masterpiece that’s a testament to the magic of oven alchemy.

Dietary Info: Gluten-Friendly Waving a friendly hello to our gluten-sensitive buddies! This spoonbread sidesteps the traditional flour route, making it a darling in gluten-light diets. But, as always, check your specific dietary needs before diving in!

Key Flavor: Sweet Corn Bliss Corn is the star of the show here, folks. Its natural sweetness and incredible texture shine bright, making this dish a delectable treat that dances between savory and sweet.

Skill Level: Easy Peasy Nope, you don’t need to be a pro to nail this recipe. If you’re all about simple steps and fantastic results, this level of “easy does it” is your kitchen jam!

Sweet Highlights:Comfort in Every Spoonful: It’s like a hug for your taste buds. Rich, creamy, and oh-so-satisfying, this Corn Spoonbread is comfort food at its most comforting.

Versatile Side Dish: Whether it’s a fancy holiday dinner or a casual summer BBQ, this spoonbread fits right in. It’s the side dish that’s ready to mingle!

Crowd-Pleaser: Ready to watch your dish disappear fast? Everyone from kids to adults swoons over this spoonbread. Expect a chorus of “Yums” and “More, please!”

Simple Ingredients, Stellar Dish: You don’t need an endless ingredient list to create something unforgettable. Sometimes, simplicity steals the show!

Perfect Make-Ahead: Big day tomorrow? No problem! Whip up this dish in advance and save yourself some last-minute hustling. It’s just as delightful reheated as it is fresh from the oven.

What is Corn Spoon Bread?

There are just about a million and one ways to use corn. From succotash to creamed corn, cornbread to corn cakes, the recipes seem to pile higher than the Empire State Building.

Corn Spoon bread is a variety of cornbread that is intended to be eaten with a spoon. Fluffy, light and creamy, spoon bread is a mixture between a pudding and a souffle. Its base is made with cornmeal and milk which makes for a silky-smooth texture.

Spoonbread recipes have been recorded since the 16th century but most likely, they go much farther back than that. Each bite is a sweet yet nutty adaptation of European-Native American cuisine. Rich in history and rich in flavor: just how I like it!

Ingredients

From start to finish this recipe is made in under an hour, most of which is spent baking. That means more time to binge watch Tiger King on Netflix (I’m obsessed).

Here’s what makes it all come together:

Sour Cream

Sour Cream adds much needed moisture to this recipe; corn recipes can dry out easily. A couple cups of tangy cream layers in flavor while helping to create a smooth, light texture.

Whole Kernel Corn & Cream Style Corn

I love using a mixture of these two different styles of corn. Whole Kernel Corn is fresh, light and crisp meanwhile, cream style is well, creamier. The two come together to create a textural balance throughout the bread.

Cornbread Muffin Mix

We can all appreciate a quick, easy recipe and this one fits the bill. By using a muffin mix we significantly cut down on preparation time. Jiffy is my go-to brand!

Cheddar Cheese

This one is simple: everything’s better with cheese. Cheddar is sharp, salty and slightly bitter, all things that balance out the sweetness of the corn.

Bonus: Southerners have endless variations of this recipe. Make this recipe your own by adding in chopped vegetables, hot or sweet peppers, or something new and creative!

How to Make Corn Spoonbread

Prep Your Oven and Dish:

  • Kick things off by firing up your oven to a cozy 375 degrees.
  • Show some love to your casserole dish with a nice greasing. Set that bad boy aside ’cause it’s showtime soon!

Onion Lovin’:

  • Grab a skillet and melt your butter like it’s summer in the South.
  • Toss in those onions and give ’em a sauté until they’re tender and smelling like heaven.

Creamy Corny Goodness:

  • Take those eggs and give ’em a whisk of their life with sour cream, both your sweet and creamed corns, and a dash of salt and pepper. It’s mixin’ time!

Cornbread Mix Magic:

  • Here’s where the fun begins! Stir in the cornbread mix, but hey, easy does it – just until it’s combined.

Onions and Cheese, Please!

  • Fold in those golden sautéed onions and half of your cheese like they’re long-lost friends coming home.

Into the Oven:

  • Pour that glorious mixture into your casserole dish. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top because, let’s be honest, there’s no such thing as too much cheese.
  • Pop it in the oven for 36-42 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean as a whistle.

How to Serve

There’s no shame in taking a spoon to this dish and gobbling it up for dinner. I mean, it is a spoon-bread isn’t it? But, if you’re looking for a little more variety tonight I’ve got your back.

This recipe can be paired with just about anything: steak, roast chicken, pot roast or roasted vegetables.

Here are few Grandbaby Cakes options that pair perfectly with this recipe:

  • Creamed Spinach
  • Classic Pot Roast
  • Slow Cooker Rosemary Chicken
  • Honey Glazed Carrots
  • Buttermilk Fried Chicken

BONUS: As much as I love spoonbread fresh and hot, it’s almost better served for breakfast in the morning! After being refrigerated overnight, the spoon bread will be firm enough to slice. Similar to french toast, cook the slices in butter until brown on each side. Drizzle with honey and serve!

How to Store and Reheat

Cooling Down:

  • First things first, let your spoonbread cool to room temperature. No lid or plastic wrap just yet; we don’t want any condensation turning your perfect texture into a soggy memory.

Refrigerating:

  • Once cool, cover your dish in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or transfer the leftovers to an airtight container. Your spoonbread will happily chill in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

Freezing for Later:

  • For those who want to relive the magic weeks from now, you can freeze it! Portion your spoonbread, wrap it securely in plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil or place it in a freezer-safe ziplock bag. It’ll keep its charm for about 2 to 3 months. Don’t forget to slap a label with the date on it!

Reheating:

  • When you’re ready to serve Round 2, reheat it in the oven at 350 degrees F until it’s warmed through (if refrigerated, about 15-20 minutes; if frozen, about 25-30 minutes). Add a sprinkle of cheese on top for an extra layer of joy.

Best Corn Recipes to Try

If you want more cornbread recipes, check out my Scalloped Corn, Creamed Corn, Corn Pone, Southern Cornbread, Honey Brown Butter Cornbread, Corn Pudding and Hot Water Cornbread.

The BEST Southern Corn Spoonbread (Spoon Bread) Recipe! (6)

Corn Spoonbread

Southern Corn Spoonbread is cornbread in its lightest, creamiest form! Made with cornmeal, milk, sour cream and cheese, it is irresistible. You’re gonna need a big spoon!

4.93 from 14 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Bread, Side Dish

Cuisine: soul food, south, Southern

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 36 minutes minutes

Total Time: 51 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 313kcal

Author: Jocelyn Delk Adams

Ingredients

  • 1/2 medium onion finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup salted butter
  • 2 large eggs beaten
  • 2 cups sour cream
  • 15.25 oz whole kernel corn can, drained
  • 14.75 oz cream style corn
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 8.5 oz cornbread muffin mix I use Jiffy
  • 1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Thoroughly grease a large casserole dish and set aside.

  • Saute onion in butter in a large skillet under tender.

  • Whisk in sour cream, both corns, salt and pepper to eggs.

  • Stir in cornbread mix until just combined.

  • Finally fold in sauteed onion and half of cheese.

  • Pour mixture into casserole dish and sprinkle remaining cheese on top.

  • Bake for 36-42 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Notes

Cooling Down:

  • First things first, let your spoonbread cool to room temperature. No lid or plastic wrap just yet; we don’t want any condensation turning your perfect texture into a soggy memory.

Refrigerating:

  • Once cool, cover your dish in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or transfer the leftovers to an airtight container. Your spoonbread will happily chill in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

Freezing for Later:

  • For those who want to relive the magic weeks from now, you can freeze it! Portion your spoonbread, wrap it securely in plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil or place it in a freezer-safe ziplock bag. It’ll keep its charm for about 2 to 3 months. Don’t forget to slap a label with the date on it!

Reheating:

  • When you’re ready to serve Round 2, reheat it in the oven at 350 degrees F until it’s warmed through (if refrigerated, about 15-20 minutes; if frozen, about 25-30 minutes). Add a sprinkle of cheese on top for an extra layer of joy.

Nutrition

Calories: 313kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 533mg | Potassium: 196mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 587IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 163mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @GrandbabyCakes or tag #grandbabycakes!

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The BEST Southern Corn Spoonbread (Spoon Bread) Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between Southern cornbread and regular cornbread? ›

Northern cornbreads tend to be more cake-like, on the sweet side, with a finer crumb due to more flour in the mixture. Southern cornbread is flavored with bacon grease, and cooked in a cast iron skillet, a perfect side for barbecues, or chili. It also tends to be rather crumbly.

What is spoon bread made of? ›

Spoon bread, also known as corn casserole or corn pudding, is a creamier version of cornbread that you eat with a spoon. The most well-known recipe is from Jiffy and is typically made from Jiffy corn muffin mix, butter, sour cream, eggs, canned corn, and canned creamed corn.

Why does spoonbread matter? ›

Spoonbread is one of the oldest Southern delicacies. When executed properly, it is incredibly light, even though it has a similar texture to grits, and almost tastes like an incredibly moist piece of cornbread.

What is the Awendaw spoonbread? ›

Although the term “spoonbread” is a child of the 20th century, the dish is distinctly Native American. A combination of eggs and cornmeal mixed with liquid and baked, spoonbread is called “Awendaw” in Charleston, after the Awendaw Indians who lent their name to the river and the area 15 miles up the coast.

Why do Southerners not put sugar in cornbread? ›

Sugar in the cornbread interferes with the flavor of the vegetables. Don't put sugar in your cornbread! Traditional cornbread isn't sweet, but many favorite recipes have sugar in them.

Which makes better cornbread white or yellow cornmeal? ›

Southerners, on the other hand, tend to prefer white cornmeal. Many people believe that it is because, in the old South, families used white cornmeal as it more closely resembled “fancy” European wheat flour. In any case, today it remains a main component in traditional Southern buttermilk cornbread.

Why is it called spoonbread? ›

As the name implies, the consistency is soft enough that it needs to be served and eaten with a spoon. Spoonbread with a side of butter at the Boone Tavern. Although named a "bread", spoonbread is closer in consistency and taste to many savory puddings, such as Yorkshire pudding.

Where does spoonbread come from? ›

Cornbread is as American as apple pie, but its origins date back far beyond the inception of this country. With roots in Mesoamerican, Native American, and African cultures; history and people have shaped this iconic American bread into what it is today.

What is cornbread and milk called? ›

In some corners, people call this Crumble In, or simply Bread and Milk.

Why is making bread so fun? ›

It's fun to mix all the ingredients, knead it, and shape it. It is very satisfying to take a loaf out of the oven and say, “I made that”. There is something about the process of creating something useful with your own hands and filling up the house with the mouth-watering smell of fresh bread!

Why is bread so amazing? ›

The secret to the wonderful taste and aroma of freshly baked bread is the Maillard reaction. It's a chemical reaction between proteins, certain carbohydrates and some of the fatty acids that occur when bread is baked in the oven, which gives it a delicious flavour and fine colour.

Why is bread so important to certain cultures? ›

Bread has a significance beyond mere nutrition in many cultures in the Western world and Asia because of its history and contemporary importance. Bread is also significant in Christianity as one of the elements (alongside wine) of the Eucharist; see sacramental bread.

What is Vesper bread? ›

Vesper Bread is a rural sourdough bread bakery in Freedom, Maine. We specialize in expertly crafted hearth and pan loaves for neighbors and wholesale. We use natural wild yeast, slow fermentation, and local and organic ingredients for superior flavor, texture, nutrition, and digestibility.

Is blue bread a thing? ›

You can use any recipe for the bread (with dry or fresh yeast, with or without milk) and make it by hand or in a food processor. If you want your bread to be completely blue, simply substitute the water in the recipe with the same amount of blue pea infusion.

What is Sputnik bread? ›

SPUTNIK. The Bread: Sputnik is a baby monay, shaped like a golf ball but with a very smooth, light brown crust and a nasty gash on one side. Sideways, that split looks like a mouth ready to chomp its opponents. Inside, the dough is pale and slightly dense. It tastes less sweet than putok but is more chewy and softer.

What is the difference between southern cornbread and New York cornbread? ›

The Difference In Cornbread Lies In These Key Ingredients

Also, Southern-style cornbread should contain very little sugar and flour, and if you can, get your hands on stone-ground cornmeal. If you favor moist, sweet Northern-style cornbread, use flour and sugar liberally in your mix.

What is Southern cornbread made of? ›

In a large mixing bowl, mix dry ingredients: cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; Set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and buttermilk. Pour the mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well. Take the cast iron skillet out of the oven and pour the batter into it.

Is real Southern cornbread sweet? ›

Real, traditional, Southern-style cornbread is savory, not sweet, and always has been.

What's another name for Southern cornbread? ›

Corn pones are a staple of Southern U.S. cuisine and have been discussed or referenced by many American writers, including Mark Twain.

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