Southern Cornbread Salad

Homemade CORNBREAD, garden fresh vegetables and homemade ranch dressing all in one delicious dish! HELLO SOUTHERN CORNBREAD SALAD! 

NOTHING is more southern than that! So let’s pull up a chair, have a glass of sweet tea and dip us out a big ol serving of cold, crunchy, herby delicious Southern Cornbread Salad.

How can corn bread salad look so fun???!!!

Why This Recipe Works…

• The mayonnaise based Ranch Dressing mixes with the other tastes to bring out the flavor! 
• Crunchy vegetables combine with the corn flavored bread for a perfect bite!
• It’s EASY!

This Is How It’s Done…

STEP 1. 

Make cornbread and cut it into bite size pieces. 

PRO TIP:  If making cornbread isn’t your thing, go to your local southern style restaurant and buy some or go to the grocery and by the mix and bake kind! 

Make the Corn Bread and cut into 1 inch cubes for cornbread salad

STEP 2. 

Assemble your ingredients and your cornbread salad bowl…

PRO TIP:  There are LOTS of ways to make this cornbread salad your own! Add more ingredients like pickles, black olives or more grated cheddar cheese (you can even add cheese to the layers instead of just to the top!)

Assemble the ingredients for cornbread salad

STEP 3. 

Begin layering the ingredients

Layer the ingredients into your glass bowl for southern cornbread salad

STEP 4. 

Cover with grated Cheese and then pour the dressing over the top.  YUM! 

Pour the dressing over the top of the cornbread salad

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

WHAT IS CORNBREAD SALAD?

Cornbread salad is a lovely layered salad made up of delicious summer veggies and wonderful homemade cornbread and then topped with cheese and dressing!  WHOO WEEE!! Wonderful!

WHAT GOES WITH CORNBREAD SALAD?

Cornbread salad is wonderful served as a side dish to any delicious southern meal.

Because of its fresh veggies, I think it accompanies things like

• Fried Chicken,
• Pork Loin and
• BBQ very well!

Pair it with other side dishes like

• Green Beans,
• Potato Salad and
• Corn!

HOW DO I MAKE THE CORNBREAD FOR CORNBREAD SALAD?

Making cornbread is so simple. 

For this recipe, feel free to use your own recipe, however, DO NOT use sweet cornbread (like the kind that comes in the jiffy package), it is too sweet and it throws the flavor profile off.

Use a southern cornbread recipe. Hence, I included a recipe for cornbread in the recipe card at the end of this post.

HOW LONG DOES CORNBREAD SALAD LAST?

At my house, it lasts exactly one meal! Lol.

That isn’t what you are asking though, is it?

• Cornbread salad is good for several days in the refrigerator. You will want to throw it out by day 5 though.
• The bread starts to get a mushy after day one.

Ways to Change up Cornbread Salad

• Here’s the thing. I’ve given you a basic recipe for cornbread salad.
• You DO NOT have to stick with exactly the ingredients that I have given you though.
• IT IS FUN TO  change things up and still have a delicious and WONDERFUL cornbread salad!

You might want to try any of the following (simply substitute one of my ingredients for one of these):

Cornbread salad with ….

• Bacon
• Ham
• Without Ranch
• Blue cheese dressing
• Lettuce
• Pickles
• Cucumbers
• Black Eyed Peas

You will still end up with a beautiful salad!

THINGS TO REMEMBER IF YOU CONSTRUCT YOUR OWN SOUTHERN CORNBREAD SALAD

One of the wonderful things about a cornbread salad is the balance of colors, crunch, protein and flavor. You will want to make sure that you have….

1. A balance of flavors by having cornbread, beans, crunchy colorful veggies and a dressing.
2. Watch for a balance of colors:  Pick veggies with all the colors of the rainbow.
3. Make sure you add a dressing.   If you leave off the dressing (feel free to pick something different than ranch), your salad will be too dry.

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR SOUTHERN CORNBREAD SALAD

• If you want a lovely pattern of ranch dressing running down the sides of your trifle bowl, you’ll need to drizzle some on the sides before you start putting the ingredients in the bowl.
• A trifle bowl makes a lovely presentation for this dish. Trifle bowls are not expensive and you can usually find one at a discount price at someplace like Marshalls, TJ Max or Homegoods. Walmart and Target also usually carry them.
• Make absolutely sure to drain your canned veggies well. The watery stuff in the can will make your cornbread too damp and that is unappetizing.
• You will want to assemble this dish about 2-6 hours before you serve it to allow it to become very chilled and for the dressing to have time to work its way into all of the crevices.
• When pouring the dressing on, you will need to move some of the ingredients out of the way to allow the dressing to get way on down into the salad.
• Serve this with a very long and large spoon so that people can dig all the way down into the bottom to get all layers of the salad.

Make sure you get some of every layer of your cornbread salad!

TOOLS I USED TO MAKE THIS SOUTHERN CORNBREAD SALAD

I am including links to the items that I use for this salad. These are Amazon affiliate links and if you click the photo it will take you through to Amazon where you can compare prices. If you purchase through these links, I do earn a commission (which doesn’t cost you more). I encourage you to shop your local stores for the best price on these items though.

This is a trifle bowl and is best for serving this dish, however, any large dish will work.

This is a long handled large serving spoon, it is always good to have one in your kitchen and this is a particularly nice one.

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS RECIPE FOR SOUTHERN CORNBREAD SALAD, YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY….

All the Secrets to Perfect Pasta Salad

Old Time Broccoli Opposites Salad

Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad

Southwest Chipotle Chicken Salad

Blueberry Balsamic Salad

Cracklin Cornbread

I LOVE GETTING TO CHAT WITH YOU! 

Please leave me a comment below and a 5 STAR 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟review! 

That gives us a chance to chat and let’s other people know that this is the home of Southern Comfort Food on the internet. 

Southern Cornbread Salad

A wonderful layered salad using southern cornbread, veggies and ranch dressing, what could be better? 

4.67 from 3 votes

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Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Cornbread salad, Corn bread salad

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes

assembly: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 people

Calories: 604kcal

Author: Wendi Spraker

Ingredients

For the Southern Cornbread Salad

• 1 Recipe of cornbread - cut into 1 inch cubes once it has cooled.
• 1 14. 5 ounce can red kidney beans- drained and rinsed
• 1 15 ounce can of corn niblets drained
• 1 Vidalia Onion - chopped small
• 1/2 Green Bell Pepper - chopped
• 1/2 Yellow Bell Pepper - chopped
• 2 Small Tomatoes 3 Roma's if in winter time - chopped
• 2 Cups of Grated Cheddar Cheese
• Parsley or green onion for garnish.

For the Ranch Dressing

• 1 Cup Mayonnaise
• 1 Cup of Milk
• 1 Packet of Hidden Valley Ranch Salad Dressing Mix

For the Cornbread

• 1 Tablespoon of Butter or Shortening
• 2 Cups Self Rising Corn Meal Mix
• 1 1/4 Cups Whole Milk
• 1 Large Egg beaten
• 1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil
• Pinch of salt and pepper

Instructions

Instructions for the Southern Cornbread Salad

• Into the bottom of a glass bowl (Trifle Bowls work great for this), place the cornbread cubes.
• Layer on the kidney beans, corn, onion, bell peppers, tomatoes and cheese. Top with grated cheese and ranch dressing per the instructions below.
• Place plastic wrap over the top and put into the fridge for at least 2 hours. The dressing will become thick during this time.
• Garnish the top with fresh parsley or green onion slices. Serve cold.

For the Ranch Dressing

• In a medium size bowl, using a whisk, mix together the mayonnaise, milk and ranch dressing mix. Make sure to whisk out any lumps. It will be thin at first. While it is still thin, CAREFULLY pour the dressing into the bowl. Use a butter knife to make paths and holes down into the salad for the dressing to sink down in.

Instructions for the Cornbread

• 1 Tablespoon of Butter or Shortening
• 2 Cups Self Rising Corn Meal Mix
• 1 1/4 Cups Whole Milk
• 1 Large Egg (beaten)
• 1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil
• Pinch of salt and pepper
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Prepare a 9 or 10" cast iron skillet with the butter/shortening by rubbing a thin layer all over the inside of the pan. Place the pan into the oven on a center rack while the oven preheats.
• In a large bowl, mix together the corn meal mix, whole milk, large egg, vegetable oil and salt and pepper. Mix very well removing all lumps.
• Once the oven has come to temp, allow the skillet to remain in the oven for a few more minutes. Gather together the following items at the stove: Cornbread batter, good hot pad/oven mitt, rubber spatula.
• As quickly as possible, open the oven, pull the rack that the pan is sitting on out where you can easily pour the batter into the pan without getting burned (use your oven mitt). Use the rubber spatula to quickly scrape all of the cornbread batter into the skillet. You should hear some sizzling (that is good because that is a crusty bottom on your cornbread developing!).
• Using your oven mitt, push the rack and skillet back into the oven and shut the oven door and don't dare open it again for at least 15 minutes. The cornbread is done when it has risen and is golden across the surface. You will probably notice some C shaped cracks near the edges of the cornbread and that is fine.
• When done, remove from the oven and serve right away.

Notes

• If you want a lovely pattern of ranch dressing running down the sides of your trifle bowl, you’ll need to drizzle some on the sides before you start putting the ingredients in the bowl.
• A trifle bowl makes a lovely presentation for this dish.  Trifle bowls are not expensive and you can usually find one at a discount price at someplace like Marshalls, TJ Max or Homegoods.  Walmart and Target also usually carry them.
• Make absolutely sure to drain your canned veggies well.  The watery stuff in the can will make your cornbread too damp and that is unappetizing.
• You will want to assemble this dish about 2-6 hours before you serve it to allow it to become very chilled and for the dressing to have time to work its way into all of the crevaces.
• When pouring the dressing on, you will need to move some of the ingredients out of the way to allow the dressing to get way on down into the salad.
• Serve this with a very long and large spoon so that people can dig all the way down into the bottom to get all layers of the salad.
• A balance of flavors by having cornbread, beans, crunchy colorful veggies and a dressing.
• Watch for a balance of colors:  Pick veggies with all the colors of the rainbow.
• Make sure you add a dressing.   If you leave off the dressing (feel free to pick something different than ranch), your salad will be too dry.
•  

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Southern Cornbread Salad

Amount Per Serving

Calories 604 Calories from Fat 324

% Daily Value*

Fat 36g55%

Saturated Fat 14g70%

Cholesterol 61mg20%

Sodium 817mg34%

Potassium 579mg17%

Carbohydrates 56g19%

Fiber 8g32%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 18g36%

Vitamin A 755IU15%

Vitamin C 21.4mg26%

Calcium 360mg36%

Iron 4.1mg23%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Tried this recipe?Mention @loavesanddishes or tag #loavesanddishes!

***This post originally appeared on the pages of Loaves and Dishes on August 19, 2019 and has been updated with new information including: why this recipe works, FAQ’s, nutrition information, step by step instructions and video***

A VERSE TO SHARE

Here is something that has been on my mind lately:  Tithing. Do you participate in tithing? If you don’t know, tithing is giving 10% of your earnings to the church.

It is so easy to just keep your money and “forget” to give it to the church, particularly if you don’t really have a home church. Seriously, God isn’t going to reach down into your pocket and take your money. Do you think He might punish you or take away some of  your financial gifts if you don’t give?

To read the remainder of this “verse to share”, Click Here. 

2 Corinthians 9: 6-9

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;

   their righteousness endures forever.”