When you’re left with a surplus of cornbread after a meal, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut, wondering what to do with the leftovers. But don’t let that bread go stale! Instead, think outside the box and repurpose it into something deliciously new. Many recipes specifically designed for leftover cornbread offer a headstart on your next meal prep, transforming it from a mere afterthought into a valuable resource. And who says you can’t get creative with croutons or crumbs?
Turn that dry-out-prone cornbread into crunchy toppings for salads, soups, or casseroles. The options are endless! When brainstorming ideas to use up cornbread, consider the places where leftover bread typically shines – in a stuffing, bread pudding, casserole, or chili topping. You’ll find countless recipes calling for crumbled cornbread, and we’ve curated some fantastic ones right here. Feel free to put your own spin on things by adding unique flavors and spices to suit your taste.
From humble Cornbread Croutons to show-stopping Greek Yogurt Cornbread Cranberry Trifle, or even a hearty Cranberry BBQ Turkey Stuffed Sweet Potatoes, this collection has something for everyone.
Leftover Cornbread Breakfast Bake Casserole
Starting with a breakfast twist, our collection of leftover cornbread recipes begins with a delightful casserole that seamlessly blends savory and sweet flavors. The beauty of this recipe lies in its versatility – the entire casserole can be prepared a day or two in advance and reheated for a hassle-free morning. Feel free to get creative with your ingredients, experimenting with various meats, vegetables, or even something entirely new.
To begin, simply brown the sausage and cook the veggies until they’re tender. Next, create layers of crumbled cornbread, the savory sausage mixture, shredded cheese, and an egg-rich topping in a casserole dish. Finally, pop it into the oven for a mouthwatering breakfast that’s sure to satisfy!
Cowboy Casserole With Cornbread And Chicken
Indulge in a comforting delight with this creative recipe that repurposes leftover cornbread into a satisfying casserole. The layered masterpiece consists of four distinct components: a mixture of half the remaining cornbread and vegetables, tender diced chicken, a savory soup and broth combination, and finally, the remainder of the cornbread mixture. While the dish is flavorful as-is, feel free to add your preferred seasonings to give it an extra boost of flavor.
Cornbread Croutons
Elevate your snacking game by transforming leftover cornbread into crunchy croutons! A simple yet ingenious idea that repurposes stale bread into a tasty addition to salads and soups. To get started, take cubes of leftover cornbread and gently toss them with olive oil, salt, and pepper for added flavor and texture.
Next, place the cornbread cubes in a single layer on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, making sure they’re spread apart evenly.
Then, pop the tray into the oven and let the magic happen.
Bake until you achieve your desired level of crispiness, flipping the croutons halfway through to ensure even cooking. Voilà! Your leftover cornbread has been transformed into a delicious and crunchy snack perfect for adding some excitement to your favorite dishes.
Cornbread Chicken Bake
Transforming leftovers into a new culinary masterpiece has never been easier. This recipe cleverly utilizes leftover cornbread to create an entirely new entree, perfect for another meal. With the option to cook up fresh chicken breasts or utilize already cooked leftovers, this Cornbread Chicken Bake is incredibly versatile. To get started, combine crumbled cornbread with regular bread, sautéed onion, cream of chicken soup, broth, melted butter, dried sage, salt, and pepper.
Once all the ingredients are well incorporated, transfer the mixture to a casserole dish and let it bake to perfection.
Cornbread Salad Recipe With Ranch Dressing
When it comes to reviving leftover cornbread, few recipes are more satisfying than this classic Southern treat. The perfect potluck offering, this cold salad is a refreshing and delicious way to repurpose stale bread. The key to its creamy allure lies in the combination of mayonnaise and ranch seasoning, which melds together beautifully. But what truly sets this dish apart is the delightful medley of textures and flavors it provides.
Crunchy onions, bell peppers, and crispy bacon join forces with tender tomatoes and sweet corn, all held together by crumbled cornbread. And the magic happens when you let it sit in the fridge for at least two hours, allowing all the flavors to harmonize. Feel free to get creative and add your own twists – after all, that’s what potlucks are all about!
Greek Yogurt Cornbread Cranberry Trifle
A sweet and satisfying dessert, trifle is a delightful way to repurpose leftover cornbread recipes. The combination of four ingredients may seem unexpected, but it works beautifully together. At the heart of this treat are slices of cornbread, which serve as the foundation for the layers that follow. A layer of whole cranberry sauce adds natural sweetness and a pop of color, while a dollop of vanilla Greek yogurt provides creaminess.
A pinch of lime zest adds a burst of citrus flavor to tie everything together. To assemble the trifle, simply repeat these layers one or two more times, depending on your desired level of indulgence. This dessert is perfect for savoring after Thanksgiving, but it’s also enjoyable any time of year.
Leftover Chili & Cornbread Breakfast Casserole
Combining leftover cornbread with a hearty bowl of chili may seem like an unusual pairing, but trust me when I say that this Cornbread Breakfast Casserole is a game-changer. The recipe is surprisingly simple, requiring just a few key ingredients: rich butter, sautéed onions, crumbly cornbread, leftover chili or stew, shredded cheese, and a trio of eggs. The real magic happens when you start layering these components in a skillet.
Begin by cooking the onions until they’re soft and translucent, then set them aside to make way for the rest of the ingredients. Next, it’s time to create the egg mixture – simply whisk together your eggs and a pinch of salt. Now it’s time to build the casserole itself. Alternate layers of crumbled cornbread, the egg mixture, shredded cheese, and leftover chili or stew until you’ve used up all of your ingredients.
Top the whole thing off with another layer of cornbread and finish things off by adding a sprinkle of eggs and some sautéed onions to the mix. Finally, pop the skillet into the oven and let it bake until golden brown and puffed.
Cornbread Pudding
Indulge in a delightful bread pudding recipe that transforms leftover cornbread into a sweet and savory masterpiece. The best part? You can skip the laborious process of making cornbread from scratch, as this recipe leverages your existing leftovers to create an incredible treat.
The real magic happens when you combine the cornbread with rich butter rum sauce, made by mixing together butter, water, sugar, and a hint of spiced rum.
The three-layered wonder is truly remarkable, boasting a satisfying balance of textures – from the crunchy bread to the velvety sauce.
Spicy Yellow Squash Dressing With Leftover Cornbread
This innovative leftover cornbread recipe cleverly combines the flavors of Tex-Mex yellow squash casserole with traditional cornbread dressing to create a unique veggie side dish. The blend of ingredients includes tender yellow squash, rich butter, sautéed onion and bell peppers, earthy mushrooms, warm cumin, savory flour, creamy milk, sweet corn, diced green chiles for added spice (optional), crumbly cornbread, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper to bring it all together.
For those who prefer a milder dish, simply omit the chilies and enjoy the comforting flavors of this one-of-a-kind recipe.
John Fleer’s Buttermilk Cornbread Soup
Transforming stale cornbread into a decadent culinary experience, this luxurious recipe yields a warm or cold soup that’s sure to delight. The foundation of this creamy concoction lies in a medley of sautéed aromatics, including chopped leeks and celery, which are then simmered in a rich chicken broth with the added depth of garlic. But what takes this soup from ordinary to extraordinary is the addition of tangy buttermilk and velvety heavy cream, expertly balanced by a pinch of salt and pepper.
The crowning glory of this dish, however, is the crispy cornbread crumble that’s sprinkled atop, adding a satisfying textural element to each spoonful. And for those curious about its origins, this recipe hails from the heart of Appalachia, where hearty soups and comforting traditions are woven into the fabric of daily life.
Orange Cornmeal Pancakes
These Orange Cornmeal Pancakes stood out from other leftover cornbread recipes I’d tried – they were a game-changer! The secret lies in the combination of crumbled cornbread, salt, egg, milk, orange juice, vanilla, and orange zest that makes up the pancake ingredients. The wet mix is simply incorporated into the cornbread, then cooked just like any other pancake would be. The result? Absolutely scrumptious!
Cranberry BBQ Turkey Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
When sweet potatoes are at their peak in the fall, they’re a perfect match for leftover cornbread. Simply mix the two with shredded cheddar cheese to create a mouthwatering topping for baked sweet potatoes.
But why stop there? Once your sweet potato is out of the oven, slice it open and fill it with a delightful combination of warmed cranberry sauce, tangy barbeque sauce, and savory turkey. The finishing touch? A sprinkle of crumbled cornbread and melted cheddar cheese on top.
The result is a flavorful and satisfying dish that’s sure to become a new favorite.
Cornbread Sausage Stuffing
A comprehensive recipe for cornbread sausage stuffing is presented here, making it an excellent addition to my collection of creative ways to utilize leftover cornbread. Specifically, this dish requires cooking the cornbread and then allowing it to dry out slightly, which aligns perfectly with my previous ideas on how to repurpose this bread. Some individuals even maintain a Ziploc bag in their freezer for storing cornbread remnants until they’re needed for a substantial recipe like this one.
This stuffing boasts an impressive array of flavors, featuring sausage, apples, seasonings, dried cranberries, and – of course – cornbread.
Cornbread Crumbs
When it comes to creating bread crumbs, many may assume it’s as simple as transforming any type of bread into crumbly goodness. However, I’d like to share a specific recipe for leftover cornbread that provides detailed steps on how to achieve this texture.
To begin, spread the cornbread out on a baking sheet and bake until crispy on both sides. Once cooled, tear it into smaller pieces that can be easily blended in a food processor or crushed with a rolling pin in a plastic bag.
The resulting crumbs can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to six months. When you’re ready to use them, simply add your desired seasonings and you’ll be all set.
Cornbread Bread Pudding With Blueberries
Imagine indulging in a scrumptious dessert that transforms leftover cornbread into a heavenly bread pudding infused with juicy blueberries. This sweet treat is made possible by combining eggs, maple syrup, half-and-half, salt, brown sugar, and of course, those beloved cornbread leftovers – all topped off with an abundance of blueberries. But what truly elevates this dish to new heights is the tangy peach sauce that’s drizzled over each slice upon serving.
This delectable accompaniment is crafted by blending butter, brown sugar, a hint of Jack Daniels (optional), warm cinnamon, and tender sliced peaches. As you take your first bite, it’s all too easy to resist putting down the fork – the allure of this sweet masterpiece is simply irresistible!
Leftover Cornbread Casserole
A versatile breakfast option that’s perfect for utilizing leftover cornbread is to create a layered masterpiece. This recipe involves alternating layers of cubed cornbread, nearly cooked scrambled eggs, diced ham, and shredded cheese. The process is then repeated, allowing for a delightful combination of textures and flavors. To take it to the next level, pour milk over the top before baking, creating a creamy and indulgent twist.
What’s great about this recipe is its flexibility – feel free to swap out the meat and cheese with your preferred options, ensuring that every bite is tailored to your taste. Once baked, simply slice and serve for a satisfying breakfast or brunch.
Leftover Turkey Casserole
The star of this creative cornbread casserole is undoubtedly the leftover turkey and rich gravy. What’s more, it’s surprisingly easy to make! The process begins with melting butter in a saucepan before whisking in a blend of flour, turkey gravy, milk, and melted mozzarella cheese. With the sauce prepared, it’s time to add the showstoppers: crumbled cornbread, juicy turkey, and a medley of colorful vegetables including peas, carrots, and green beans.
Finally, the mixture is transferred to a casserole dish and baked to perfection, evoking the cozy warmth of a Thanksgiving feast in every bite.
Scrambled Eggs With Sausage And Cornbread
A breakfast twist without the need for baking, this leftover cornbread recipe is a game-changer. Simply cook up some sausage on the stovetop until it’s nice and browned, then mix in crumbled cornbread pieces. Next, crack in some eggs and scramble them to perfection before adding diced bell peppers and onions. Stir everything together continuously for a hearty and satisfying breakfast that’s sure to please even the pickiest of eaters.
Mexican Sausage & Cornbread Strata
The pièce de résistance of cornbread usage lies in its ability to bring together any leftover meat, vegetables, or cheese from the fridge, making it an excellent way to reduce food waste. The dish gets a boost of Mexican flair courtesy of the spicy sausage and salsa.
The recipe begins by cooking the sausage – or substitute with your preferred meat – along with an onion on the stovetop.
Next, add in the corn, salsa, and crumbled cornbread, mixing everything together until well combined.
Pour over a mixture of eggs and watch as the cornbread soaks up the egginess. Finally, bake to perfection and indulge!
The bottom line
Whether you’re craving a morning meal, mid-day snack, evening repast, or sweet indulgence, these innovative recipes utilizing leftover cornbread are sure to satisfy. From the first bite to the last crumb, each one is designed to delight your taste buds and make the most of that extra cornbread.
