Cornbread Salad Recipe
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What do you get when you combine garden-fresh veggies, crispy crumbled bacon, homemade cornbread, and ranch dressing? This amazing crowd-pleasing Southern cornbread salad.
Cornbread salad is a wonderful old-fashioned Southern recipe that you need in your life! Thanks to follower, Linda Wood for sharing her amazing recipe with me. It’s kind of in the same family as potato salad and definitely something you’d expect to find at a family reunion, potluck, or barbecue. Featuring garden-fresh vegetables, crispy bacon, homemade cornbread, and a mix of ranch dressing and mayo, I encourage everyone to make this cold and creamy salad this summer.
Now, one of the key ingredients of this salad is cornbread. While you can simply use a package of cornbread mix, here is my recipe for hot water cornbread and my dixie cornbread recipe if you’re feeling traditional.
Recipe Ingredients
- Onion
- Corn
- Mayo
- Tomatoes
- Bell pepper
- Dry ranch dressing mix (optional)
- 1 pan crumbled cornbread
- Crisp fried bacon
Helpful Kitchen Tools
How to Make Cornbread Salad Recipe Step By Step
Pour the ranch dressing mix into a bowl with mayo.
You can skip this step if you just really like mayo. But if you’re like me and want a little something else or if you just love the taste of ranch, do what I’m doing here.
Then stir it up.
Dice up your tomato, onion, bell pepper, and drain your can of corn.
Dump all that in a big bowl.
Crumble up your cornbread and dump that on top of the veggies.
Add in your crumbled bacon.
Stir well.
Add in the salad dressing mix. We went a little crazy with the mayo this time because my son likes that extra mayo, but feel free to keep it at 2 cups if you don’t want as much mayonaise.
Stir that up really good until well coated. Now, cornbread salad is even better when made ahead of time, so cover your dish and refrigerate for several hours or until chilled well.
Garnish with beautiful sliced red tomatoes and serve cold.
DELICIOUS
Storage
This salad will last up to four days in an airtight container in the fridge. However, the cornbread does start to get mushy after only one day, so if this isn’t your style it’s best to avoid leftovers. Like most salads, you shouldn’t freeze cornbread salad.
Recipe Notes
- This recipe is great for using up leftover cornbread. Cut the recipe in half to make a smaller portion if you like as well.
- The secret ingredient in my easy cornbread salad recipe is bacon grease! If you saved any bacon grease from your bacon, add one teaspoon to your salad dressing, but don’t tell anyone because they’ll react as if you’d told them you didn’t like mayonnaise! I’m not going to put this in the recipe so only the folks who read this part of the post will know this little secret ingredient! It totally adds an extra KAPOW of flavor.
- One of the best things about this salad is that it’s so easily customizable. First, use whatever vegetables you have on hand. Then, don’t be afraid to add drained pinto beans, shredded cheddar cheese, diced pickles, black olives, or even jalapenos if you prefer a kick! You can even top with a sprinkle of green onion if you have some handy.
- For the best flavor, I recommend making this salad between one and six hours before serving.
Recipe FAQs
What goes well with cornbread salad?
Serve your salad alongside other popular Southern mains like fried chicken, pork chops, or slow-roasted beef brisket .
You may also enjoy these cornbread recipes:
Mexican Cornbread Recipe by Mama
Keto Cornbread Recipe Southern Plate
Peaches and Cream Cornbread with Maple Sausage
Ingredients
- 1 pan cornbread see recipe here or use a package of cornbread mix
- 1 cup diced onions
- 1 bell pepper seeded and diced
- 1 cup diced tomato
- 15 ounce can whole kernel corn drained
- 1 pound bacon cooked until crisp and crumbled
- 2-3 cups mayonnaise I used two
- 1 oz Package ranch dressing mix
Instructions
- Bake cornbread. Once cool, crumble and place in a large bowl. Add in onions, bell pepper, diced tomatoes, corn, and bacon. Stir until well combined.1 pan cornbread, 1 cup diced onions, 1 bell pepper, 1 cup diced tomato, 15 ounce can whole kernel corn, 1 pound bacon
- In a separate bowl, place mayo and ranch mix (if using). Stir until well blended. Skip this step if just using plain mayo.2-3 cups mayonnaise
- Add mayonnaise dressing mixture to salad and stir until fully mixed. Cover and refrigerate at least two hours before serving. ENJOY!
Notes
Nutrition
I’m happier than a bird with a french fry!
~Unknown, but an awfully good way to feel!
I had never heard of cornbread salad before seeing your post. I made it for church potluck and it was a hit! Absolutely delicious !! Thank you for sharing.
Oh my goodness, it is one of my favorites!! I am so glad to hear it was a hit at the Church potluck!!
Just made this and it is delicious!! I did not alter at all. Used the ranch dressing and bacon grease. It is perfect!!!
Loved the recipe.
But it is dry. Did I do something wrong?
Should I have made it as a ranch dressing and added? All I did was add mayo to dry mix.
Amber, I find the basic recipe too dry also. Recently my sister and I made it and doubled the amount of ranch dressing and it was perfect.
To those of you who do not care for mayo (Duke’s IS the southern brand); try using 1/2 the amount of mayo and substitute sour cream for the other 1/2.
Haven’t tried the bacon drippings yet, but will do so in a few minutes. I’m making this for our priest’s retirement luncheon tomorrow.
NOW, everybody eat cornbread salad…yum, yum!!
I made this yesterday with your “Go dawgs” cornbread. Very good. Thank you.
I had cornbread salad two years ago in Missouri and have been looking for a recipe ever since. Thanks so much for printing this recipe. The salad I had , I was told it was made with stove top dressing (box), they couldn’t tell me any thing else about it. Can’t wait to try this.
I hope you get the chance to try it soon Gloria!!
South Pittsburg. TN has a Cornbread Festival every year and Lodge Mfg.. the maker of Cast Iron skillets and other cast iron cookware is the sponsor. It is actually this weekend. You can find some great recipes on their fb pages. I am with you, I cannot stand mayonnaise, but do love it with ranch dressing. There is a cornbread cook off every year too. You might be interested in looking at the recipes for that. They are not your normal cornbread recipes!
I love the cornbread festival! I’ve been judging the cookoff for years and will be there again this year. I usually feature my personal favorite recipe from the cookoff on SouthernPlate after it is over. You are so right!
Hello There I am making this recipe for an event on Saturday…. Can I make it and chill for overnight or longer? Thanks! Tracy etc112360@gmail.com
Yes! You definitely can and that actually makes it even better 🙂
When and where is the corn bread festival in 2017
Where is the corn bread festival
I get quite so excited when I see another Vanita in the world. YEAH!
It is always held in April (so it has already passed this year) and is located in South Pittsburg Tennessee.
I am making this now. I am going to add a little cheddar cheese and omit the bacon.
…but you’re leaving out the best part! Hehehe
I had never heard of cornbread salad! This is one recipe that I will be trying soon. I live in Brazil and am curious to see what my Brazilian friends think of it. Next church dinner this will be on the table. I have used lots of your recipes in the past and have yet to try one that we didn´t like.
Oh my goodness Deloris, I can’t wait to hear how you like it!!! It is one of my favorites and I hope it will be one of yours too!!
Christie I had this recipe several years ago and lost it. So glad to find it again and and will try it. like you, I can’t stand mayonnaise and was wondering what about just using hidden Valley premade ranch dressing in place of the mayo. What do you think?
Susie, I have made this using bottled ranch dressing and it was very good. I have also used mayo and a packet of ranch dressing mix sprinkled in. When it comes to cooking, whatever floats your boat will usually work.
I’m currently making this!!! So excited to eat it!!! And yes for bacon grease!! I also use it to grease my pan for my cornbread!!! I mean I don’t like to waste it
I hope you enjoy the Cornbread Salad!!!