Cornbread Salad Recipe

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

• Mixing Bowl
• Rubber Spatula
• Large Serving Bowl

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

Crock Pot Cornbread Dressing

Peaches and Cream Cornbread with Maple Sausage

 

I’m happier than a bird with a french fry!

~Unknown, but an awfully good way to feel!