20 Tasty Cornmeal Recipes

A cornmeal recipe that's at the top of our list: Cornmeal Pancakes! These tasty flapjacks are crisp and golden on the outside, with a fluffy interior that tastes just like cornbread. Top them with a drizzle of maple syrup and a pat of butter and they’re perfect for a morning breakfast or special brunch! 

A good cornbread recipe is a necessity for the home cook, we’ve found. Here’s a favorite of ours: this Skillet Cornbread recipe! It’s great in a cast iron skillet, though you can use any type of oven-safe skillet that’s on hand. Bake it up and it has just the right thickness, moist crumb, and savory sweetness you want in a great cornbread.

Polenta is the ideal cornmeal recipe: all you need to add is water and a little butter. It may sound glamorous, but it’s nothing other than an Italian-style cornmeal porridge! This side dish is often found on restaurant menus, much like its cousin, American-style grits.

Try this irresistible and easy corn fritters recipe! They come out crisp-edged and golden, with a savory sweet batter of cornmeal and spices and big sweet pops from the corn kernels. Dip them into a creamy sauce and there’s nothing better! 

The only thing better than homemade cornbread is…homemade corn muffins! This corn muffin recipe is our family go-to that’s nostalgic for both of us. This recipe takes all that’s great about the box mix…without the box! These muffins are moist and fluffy, with the ideal sweet savory flavor.

Grits are the perfect cornmeal recipe! This shrimp and grits recipe is courtesy of our chef friend Tanorria Askew. When Tanorria was competing on MasterChef, Gordon Ramsey himself proclaimed her shrimp and grits the best in the MasterChef kitchen. This recipe is her spin on the original, made especially for us with a few flavor tweaks.

Want to spice up your cornbread routine? Try this Mexican-Style Cornbread! Fill this crowd-pleasing quick bread with green onion, red pepper, and jalapeno peppers, then add a hint of Mexican-blend cheese. Pair it with chili, black beans, tacos, or even a breakfast skillet: it’s totally versatile. This spin is not authentic to Mexican cuisine, but a American South spin-off using Mexican-inspired ingredients.

Cornmeal makes a stunning cake, and this one is an eye-catching one! Fennel and orange are a natural pairing, and here they're featured this upside down cake where the oranges are baked on the bottom. The savory, herbal fennel adds just the right amount of complexity and pairs well with the lightly moist cake. The thin citrus slices come out beautifully sweet, almost like a candied orange.

This vegan cornbread is the moistest, fluffiest, thickest recipe we’ve made, with the best sweet-savory tang. Turns out, all you need is cornmeal and coconut oil to make a great plant-based version of the classic. It’s all the nostalgia of sneaking licks of the Jiffy corn muffin mix spoon!

These Hoe Cakes, also called Johnny Cakes, are a Southern staple! These small, round, and crispy fried cornmeal pancakes have a crunchy exterior and stay wonderfully soft and delicious inside. via Grandbaby Cakes

Use leftover cornmeal to make a cornmeal pound cake! This one is perfectly moist, sweet, buttery and rich with a classic flavor of pound cake but combined with the slight graininess and earth undertone from cornmeal. via Grandbaby Cakes

Corn pone is a twist on classic cornbread, a bit more dense than fluffy. This intensely moist, flavorful and authentic corn pone recipe is made with simple ingredients and baked until beautifully golden brown! via Grandbaby Cakes

Hot water cornbread is a cornmeal recipe that's a Southern staple! It has warm, crispy edges and a deliciously soft center, making it an excellent side to any greens, beans, soups, and even fried dishes. via Immaculate Bites

Hush puppies are another cornmeal recipe that's a staple in the American South! They're bite-sized with a beautiful crunchy exterior and a moist inner texture. Try them as a fun appetizer or a side dish for gatherings and special occasions. via Immaculate Bites

This moist, sweet cornbread that's easy to make and perfect with any meal! Fresh out of the oven, it's drizzled with warm honey butter on top making this buttery cornbread its moist texture with just the right amount of sweetness. via Britney Breaks Bread

One of our favorite cornmeal recipes is making a skillet cornmeal cake! This Strawberry Cornmeal Cake has a delicious tartness from the berries that contrasts the moist, pleasantly coarse texture of cornmeal! The strawberries bake and settle into the top of the cake to create a fresh, sugary topping. 

Cornmeal recipes are at the heart of Southern cooking, and perhaps nothing is more iconic than fried green tomatoes! This gem transforms the humble green tomato into a savory, crunchy delight that will have your taste buds singing praises. The tangy green tomatoes are coated in a seasoned cornmeal and panko breadcrumb mix and then fried to a beautiful golden-brown. via Grand Baby Cakes

Cornbread chili casserole makes a cornmeal recipe into a meal! Take a classic hearty chili to the next level by topping it with buttery, crumbly cornbread, all in one comforting dish. This dish comes together easily, and if you have an oven-safe skillet, it can go from the stove to oven in 1 pan. via Sally's Baking Addiction

Spoonbread is a beloved classic Southern side dish. combining cornmeal, milk, and eggs to make a souffle-like dish that resembles a cross between corn pudding and cornbread. Serve it as a side dish during weeknight dinners or entertaining. It melts in your mouth! via Immaculate Bites

Last up in our cornmeal recipes, add a twist to your cornbread with sweet potatoes! This sweet potato cornbread is a moist, delicious mix between golden buttery cornbread and creamy sweet potato pie. It's easy to make and the perfect side to a dinner party or a casual weeknight meal.