Bacon Cheddar Jalapeño Cornbread is moist, tender, and loaded with flavor...the perfect accompaniment for all of your favorite soups, stews, and chilis!
So...I'm posting this recipe today because cornbread accompanies soup, and soup is associated with cold weather, and maybe if we build it, they will come. Or, in this case, maybe if we act like fall temperatures have arrived, they finally will. Because, Y'ALL. It hit 100 degrees around here this past week. IN MID-OCTOBER. So if it's not too much trouble, everyone in central Texas please make a skillet of this Bacon Cheddar Jalapeño Cornbread STAT so that we can put this confused weather craziness behind us.
Now about this cornbread... Oozing with melty cheese, studded with salty bacon, and peppered with minced jalapeños, this version is so tasty that it doesn’t even require soup to justify it. Feel free to change up the cheese if you prefer — Monterrey jack or even pepper jack would be yummy as well — but be sure not to skimp on the bacon, because hellooooo? Best. Part. ? And as long as you remove the seeds and membranes from your jalapeños, they should lend flavor as opposed to heat, but you can always omit them if peppers aren’t your thang.
I make cornbread so often through the fall and winter months that I keep a jumbo jar of Homemade Cornbread Mix in the pantry year round, allowing me to effortlessly whip up a skillet of golden goodness at a moment’s notice. If you enjoy cornbread with soup, stew, or chili, I highly suggest you do the same! It only takes a few minutes to put together a big batch of cornbread mix...and not only does it save you time when making a pan of cornbread, but it's also free of the additives and icky ingredients prevalent in most store bought cornbread mixes. Plus, you can easily jazz it up with other flavors, as evidenced by -- wait for it! -- this Bacon Cheddar Jalapeño Cornbread!
So are you already enjoying autumn leaves and brisk mornings and pleasantly cool weather? Or, like me, are you sweating it out in a location that apparently still has not received the memo that summer is over? If it's the latter, I'm sorry. I commiserate. And I think that baking cornbread is clearly the answer. 😉
Bacon Cheddar Jalapeño Cornbread Recipe
Bacon Cheddar Jalapeño Cornbread
Ingredients
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup (½ stick) butter, melted and cooled
- 1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
- 1 egg, whisked
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 5 slices bacon, cooked and diced (1 tablespoon bacon grease reserved)
- 4 ounces (1 cup) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 jalapeño, seeds & membranes removed and minced (more or less, to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Place a tablespoon of bacon grease (or butter) in the bottom of an 8-inch cast iron skillet and place in the oven to melt.
- In a large bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the melted butter, buttermilk, egg, and honey. Mix in diced bacon, shredded cheddar, and minced jalapeño. Using a pot holder, remove hot skillet from the oven. Pour cornbread batter into center of skillet, allowing melted bacon grease to spread to the edges.
- Smooth the top and bake for 20 minutes, or until surface is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool skillet for 5 minutes before slicing and serving cornbread warm.
Notes
- Instead of a cast iron skillet, you may bake this cornbread in an 8-inch round pan or in 12 muffin cups. If doing so, generously grease the pan/muffin cups with butter or spray with nonstick cooking spray (in lieu of preheating in the oven with melted butter).
- You may use regular all-purpose white flour in this recipe, or whole wheat pastry flour, or a combination of the two. I used half white flour and half whole wheat pastry flour for the cornbread in these photos.
- If you don't have buttermilk on hand, make your own by putting a tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar into the bottom of a glass measuring cup. Fill the cup to the 1-cup line with milk, stir, and allow to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes, after which the milk will have thickened and curdled like buttermilk.
This recipe was originally shared at Lil' Luna in September 2015.
Cozy Soups to Enjoy with This Recipe
- Macaroni & Cheese Soup
- Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup
- Slow Cooker Creamy Black Bean & Chicken Soup
- Easy White Bean, Kale, & Sausage Soup
Diane
Sorry but I was very disappointed in this cornbread. It smelled and looked wonderful but was to dry to eat. Happy baking to all.
Samantha Skaggs
So sorry to hear that, Diane! If it was dry, that means it baked too long. 🙁
Peyton
It was so tasty and the bacon grease was such a good idea
Priya
Hello Samantha, I don’t cook bacon at home. Can I substitute it with store bought bacon bits? If yes, how much should I add? Eager to try this recipe because husband and I love anything with cheese bacon and jalapeños! Thanks in advance 🙂
Samantha Skaggs
Hi Priya! Bacon bits should work fine in this recipe. 🙂 And honestly, you can add as many bacon bits as you prefer. Maybe start with 1/2 cup, stir in, and then add more if you like? Enjoy!
Violeta May
Thanks for the recipe! have you tried making this gluten free? I am curious if it would work.
Samantha Skaggs
I have made the base recipe for this cornbread (without the added bacon/cheddar/jalapeño) using gluten-free baking mix and it works, but it does not rise as much cornbread made with all-purpose flour. Hope that helps! 🙂
DG
Made a big pot of chili today. Can't think of a better cornbread to go with it. Precooked the bacon and softened the jalapeno. ingredient are ready to go. Gotta wait a couple more hours before I can bake it. There is no doubt in my find this cornbread will ROCK!...along side the chili. Perfect combo of ingredient. Can't wait! Well done.
Stephen Williams
This turned out to be The Best Cornbread Ever!
And I’ve made a lot. Great Recipe! Thanks ( I did use more buttermilk than called for.
Kim
Thanks Samantha. No rush, I can relate to things being a bit crazy! Made your Slow Cooker Corn & Potato Chowder with Ham for a 'girlfriends' dinner last night. It was delicious. Everyone enjoyed it!
Kim
Samantha at Five Heart Home
So happy to hear that the chowder was a hit with you and your friends, Kim! And I've got the cornbread mix labels on my to-do list, so hopefully I can get to it sooner than later. 🙂 Hope your week is off to a great start!
Kim Huff
Hi Samantha,
I'm wondering if you made a printable label for the cornbread mix and the directions for a batch of cornbread, like you did for the Whole Wheat Waffle Mix & Whole Wheat Pancake Mix. I made the cornbread mix today and put a yellow post-it on it to label it. Drat!
Love your recipes, thanks for all you create and post.
Kim
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Hi Kim! That is such a great idea. I don't currently have a cornbread mix label, and my schedule is a bit crazy these days, but I will add that to my to-do list and try to get one made as soon as possible. Thank you for the suggestion. My cornbread mix container is labeled with a sticky note at the moment, too...definitely need to remedy that! 😉
Pat
This is my kinda food! Just found your blog and so happy I did. Besides all the great food here, I see you're in Texas too. I'm near DFW ~ are you close? 🙂 I'm not a stalker...just think it's great to know others in this great state! I share your feelings about our weather. Those 90's were working my last nerve ~
I'll certainly be making this dish and anything with bacon & jalapenos has to be divine! I look forward to getting to know you as I'm a new follower.
xo
Pat
Samantha at Five Heart Home
So happy to "meet" you, Pat! I'm in the Austin area, so not too far from DFW, as distances go in this great, big state. 😉 Hopefully y'all got some of the cool, rainy weather we had this weekend...it finally felt like fall! Enjoy this cornbread if you have a chance to try it and thank you for following along. Have a great week!
The Better Baker
This luscious recipe grabbed our attention at Weekend Potluck and is being featured this week. Thanks so much for sharing. Can't wait to see what you bring to our virtual table this week. Blessings on a great weekend ahead! XO
Samantha at Five Heart Home
You are too sweet, Marsha...thank you, as always, for the generous feature. 🙂 Hope you're having a lovely fall!
The Better Baker
Oh SSam - this looks so so good! I know my hubby would really enjoy all the flavor blasts in this recipe. Thanks so much for sharing with us at Weekend Potluck.
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thanks so much, Marsha, and I really appreciate y'all featuring this recipe! Hope this cornbread is a big hit with you and your hubby if you have a chance to try it. Have a wonderful week! 🙂
Happy Valley Chow
Bacon and cornbread sounds like a wonderful combination! Pinned 🙂
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thanks so much, Eric! Bacon makes everything better...even cornbread. 😉 I appreciate the pin and hope you have a great week!
Jenni
I'm on the Gulf and it is definitely not fall here, either. 🙁 When it dropped to 80 degrees I did a little dance, though, and made cornbread too! Maybe it was wishful thinking??
This looks soooo good. I will definitely be making some to accompany the chili this weekend (hot or not, it is football season). =D
Samantha at Five Heart Home
You are so right, Jenni...this is the time of year for chili, whether the weather cooperates or not! It was actually cold and rainy here this weekend, though, so chili seemed altogether appropriate. 😉 Hope the cornbread was/is a hit, and hope you have a wonderful week!
Kristin
This is perfect for soups, etc. which I will be making lots of this weekend. You're welcome to come north and enjoy the lovely high's in the 50's this weekend 😉
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Ha, Kristin...see, that's the thing. I'd take highs in the 90s over highs in the 50s any day! But I'm clearly just a little bit bitter that our three perfect 70-degree October days have decided to skip us this year. 😉 At any rate, enjoy your soup and your cornbread (and your sweater) this weekend!
Grace K.
Do I cook the jalapeño before adding?
Samantha Skaggs
No. 🙂