BEST Easy Mexican Cornbread Recipe (2024)

March 30, 2018 by Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) · Updated November 3, 2023

This is the BEST Easy Mexican Cornbread Recipe on the web! So moist and delicious, filled with cornmeal, corn kernels, spice, a hint of sweet and so much flavor!

The Perks and Highlights of the Best Mexican Cornbread

Cuisine Inspiration: Mexican
Primary Cooking Method: Baking
Dietary Info: Vegetarian-friendly (but always check your specific ingredients!)
Key Flavor: Savory with a spicy kick
Skill Level: Pretty easy

Sweet Highlights:

• Spice is Nice: The combination of jalapeños and cheddar brings a spicy and savory kick that’s just irresistible.
• Corn Galore: We’re not skimping on the corn here. It’s in the name, and it’s in the game, bringing that sweet, earthy flavor to every bite.
• Cheesy Bliss: The melted cheese in every slice is like a surprise hug for your taste buds.
• Crispy Edges: Thanks to our trusty oven, every piece has those perfectly golden and crispy edges.
• Versatile Vibes: Serve it up as a side or enjoy it as a snack.

What is Mexican Cornbread?

Traditional Mexican cornbread has a mixture of cheese, chiles for spice and actual corn. It adds texture, gooeyness and spice which adds a wealth of flavors galore. You can of course adapt this recipe the way you see fit but I personally love it as is.

Ingredients

I like to add an abundance of flavors. These are the most important elements:

• Cornmeal
• Cheese
• Corn
• Buttermilk
• Chile peppers

Scratch cornbread always starts with cornmeal. I like to use a mix of yellow cornmeal and all purpose flour to balance the grit and flavor. For the cheeses, I use two types here: sharp cheddar for that more intense flavor and pepper jack for an additional kick.

Creamed canned corn is perfect or if you want to use some of my mama’s fried corn recipe.

Buttermilk is my major liquid. It adds a wonderful tang but so much moistness to this cornbread. We want to avoid making a dry cornbread recipe.

Finally the chile peppers are what truly makes this Mexican cornbread. If you can’t handle spice, the pepper jack cheese should be enough to give you a tiny kick. If you can do both, add them and it is delicious!

How to Make Mexican Cornbread

You can easily throw all of the ingredients into one bowl to make this recipe. It could not get easier. You don’t need to dirty up a ton of dishes that you will be washing all night. The ease of this recipe is what is so key.

Regarding the cheeses, I think the mix of cheddar AND pepper jack lends a unique blend of goodness. I love both cheeses equally and especially when paired together (try them in your quesadillas!).

The creamed corn really moves this past your wildest dreams. Each bite of this Mexican cornbread gives you a nice creamy bite of corn that really creates this perfect texture. And if you love a little bit more spice, definitely add in the peppers.

My husband can’t take things too spicy so I usually just rely on the pepper jack cheese for a mild kick. But if you are like me and love spicy foods, add the peppers.

How to Serve

This recipe is so fantastic to enjoy with soups and stews like this Chicken Pozole and Taco Soup.

A nice Mexican rice and also pinto beans are also great sides that would be fantastic for this recipe.

How to Store

To store, simply wrap it up tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to keep it fresh, and place it at room temperature for up to two days. If you’re looking to keep it around for a bit longer, you can pop it in the fridge, and it’ll stay good for about a week. Just make sure it’s in an airtight container to maintain its moisture and flavor. When you’re ready to dive back in, you can enjoy it cold, bring it back to room temperature, or give it a quick warm-up in the oven or microwave.

Other Cornbread Recipes to Try

If you love this cornbread, definitely try these as well:

• Southern Cornbread
• Hot Water Cornbread
• Fried Cornbread (Hoe Cakes)
• Sweet Potato Cornbread
• Pumpkin Cornbread
• Honey Butter Cornbread