Freezer Meals 101

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cornbread

Mexican Cornbread Muffins

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These Mexican cornbread muffins are a nutritious side dish that can even be made ahead and frozen. They’ve got such nice flavors. You can even add a bit of extra kick if you like.3 light yellow muffins next to a small red and yellow pepper on a white plate. Text reads "Mexican Cornbread Muffins" #freezermeals101 #cornbreadmuffins #mexicanfreezermeals #mexicancornbread #cornbread

Having make-ahead cornbread muffins available in your freezer ready to go means dinner just got easier. If you are looking for a more classic cornbread, you can check out our Southern Cornbread recipe.

Mexican Cornbread Muffins Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 15 oz. box of Cornbread Mix
  • 1 jalapeño, chopped*
  • red pepper, chopped
  • orange pepper, chopped
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 2/3 cup milk
  • 1 cup Pepper Jack cheese, shredded

*If you prefer things less spicy, remove the seeds and membrane of the jalapeño.

Assembly Instructions:

  1. Start by putting the cornbread mix, egg, milk, and melted butter into a large mixing bowl.
  2. Whisk until smooth.
  3. Fold in the chopped vegetables and shredded cheese.
  4. Grease a muffin tin.
  5. Fill each muffin tin halfway.
  6. Bake at 375° for 20 minutes.
  7. Either serve warm or allow to cool (for best results, cool on a cooling rack) and place in a large resealable freezer bag. Remove the excess air and seal before freezing.

collage of steps to make Mexican cornbread muffins from bowl to plateReheating Instructions:

  1. Thaw.
  2. If you want to serve warm, place as many jalapeño cornbread muffins as you are planning to serve on a paper towel-lined plate. 
  3. Microwave until warm.

How do I serve cornbread muffins?

Serve your savory muffins as a side dish along with such main courses as:

Some people like to spread butter on their cornbread, so it’s a good idea to set some butter on the table to provide that option.close up of a Mexican cornbread muffin cut in half next to a full one leaning on a yellow sweet pepper

What’s the difference between cornbread and corn muffins?

Corn muffins are often made as a dessert as they are sweeter whereas cornbread muffins are intended as a side dish or a savory snack. Personally, I prefer savory to sweet. 

Print
Mexican Cornbread Muffins
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: cornbread, muffins
Servings: 12
Calories: 273 kcal
Ingredients
  • 15 oz. box of Cornbread Mix
  • 1 jalapeño chopped*
  • red pepper chopped
  • orange pepper chopped
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup butter melted
  • 2/3 cup milk
  • 1 cup Pepper Jack cheese shredded
Instructions
Assembly Instructions:

  1. Start by putting the cornbread mix, egg, milk, and melted butter into a large mixing bowl.

  2. Whisk until smooth.

  3. Fold in the chopped vegetables and shredded cheese.

  4. Grease a muffin tin.
  5. Fill each muffin tin halfway.
  6. Bake at 375° for 20 minutes.

  7. Either serve warm or allow to cool and place in a large resealable freezer bag. Remove the excess air and seal before freezing.

Reheating Instructions:
  1. Thaw.

  2. If you want to serve warm, place as many jalapeño cornbread muffins as you are planning to serve on a paper towel-lined plate.

  3. Microwave until warm.
Recipe Notes

*If you prefer things less spicy, remove the seeds and membrane of the jalapeño.

Check out some of our other make-ahead side dishes:

Old Fashioned Southern Cornbreadclose up of old-fashioned southern corn bread with syrup being poured on it

Honey Maple Glazed Carrotsclose up of honey maple glazed carrots side dish

Make-Ahead Mac and Cheesea fork is lifting some creamy make-ahead mac and cheese from a dish

Good Old Fashioned Southern Cornbread Recipe

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Who doesn’t like good old-fashioned cornbread? Whether you are looking for a side dish for your next dinner or holiday feast or wanting to eat cornbread for cornbread’s sake, you’ve come to the right place! This skillet Southern cornbread is everything you’re looking for.

You can serve this on its own, deliciously drizzled with honey or alongside dishes like chili, soups, stews, baked beans, or pulled pork. a triangle shaped piece of cornbread on white plate with honey drizzling down on it and text that reads "Good Old Fashioned Southern Cornbread" #freezermeals101 #southerncornbread

Can you freeze cornbread?

Cornbread freezes beautifully! Wrap the cornbread tightly in plastic wrap and place in a large freezer bag. Seal and freeze. It lasts 3-4 months in the freezer. Reheat or serve at room temperature.

If you want to be able to take out individual pieces, then slice the cornbread before wrapping and freezing. close up of syrup being poured onto old fashioned southern cornbread

What’s another name for cornbread?

Now I didn’t grow up in the South, so I’m sure there are some stories behind these names but most of them just sound funny to me! Cornbread is also called Journey Cakes, Hoe Cakes, Johnnycake, Spoonbread, Corn Pone, and Indian Pone.

Corn Dodgers or Hush Puppies are basically when cornbread is made in a ball or fritter shape.

Skillet Southern Cornbread Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup self-rising cornmeal
  • 1 cup flour
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ½ tsp. baking soda
  • 1 ¼ cup buttermilk
  • ½ cup butter, melted
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ to ½ cup vegetable or olive oil

collage of southern cornbread on a plate with jelly at the side and with syrup being poured onto itInstructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°. Pour the oil into an 8-inch cast-iron skillet and place it in the oven to heat.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, and baking soda.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, melted butter, and eggs until well blended.
  4. Stir together the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients. The mixture will be somewhat thick.
  5. Carefully remove the skillet from the oven and add the batter to the skillet.
  6. Immediately return the skillet to the oven and bake for approximately 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  7. Remove from the oven.
  8. Cover the skillet with a plate and flip the cornbread onto the plate. Cut into wedges.
  9. Serve warm or allow to cool and wrap in plastic wrap before placing in a freezer bag and freezing until needed.

It’s so nice to have a few of these in the freezer so that you always have it ready to serve as a side dish for your weeknight meal or holiday dinner such as Thanksgiving. If you want to get creative, you can even use this recipe to create cornbread stuffing.

What goes with cornbread?

Print
Good Old Fashioned Southern Cornbread
Course: Side Dish
Keyword: cornbread
Servings: 12 pieces
Calories: 226 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 cup self-rising cornmeal
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 1/4 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4-1/2 cup vegetable or olive oil
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°. Pour the oil into an 8-inch cast-iron skillet and place it in the oven to heat.

  2. In a large bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, and baking soda.

  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, melted butter, and eggs until well blended.

  4. Stir together the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients. The mixture will be somewhat thick.

  5. Carefully remove the skillet from the oven and add the batter to the skillet.

  6. Immediately return the skillet to the oven and bake for approximately 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

  7. Remove from the oven.

  8. Cover the skillet with a plate and flip the cornbread onto the plate. Cut into wedges.

  9. Serve warm or allow to cool and wrap in plastic wrap before placing in a freezer bag and freezing until needed.

Recipe Notes

It’s so nice to have a few of these in the freezer so that you always have it ready to serve as a side dish for your weeknight meal or holiday dinner such as Thanksgiving. If you want to get creative, you can even use this recipe to create cornbread stuffing.

Check out these other make-ahead side dishes:

Honey Maple Glazed Carrotscollage of honey maple glazed carrots in freezer bagsMake Ahead Rice Pilafclose up of rice pilaf in a blue bowl

Make-Ahead Mac and Cheeseclose up of a raised fork over a plate with mac and cheese