The Perfect Spicy & Cheesy Side: Jalapeno Cornbread

Homemade jalapeno cornbread is moist, fluffy, and flavorful, made with buttermilk, cheddar cheese, and a kiss of spicy heat to go along with a bowl of chili.

Homemade jalapeno cornbread is moist, fluffy, and flavorful, made with buttermilk, cheddar cheese, and a kiss of spicy heat to go along with a bowl of chili.

Easy Gluten-Free Cornbread (1 Bowl!)

It’s no secret we love cornbread and have shared recipes for it before (exhibits A and B). And we wouldn’t be posting another version if it wasn’t worth it. So trust us…it’s worth it! This FLUFFY, moist gluten-free cornbread is naturally sweetened with…

Easy Gluten-Free Cornbread (1 Bowl!)

It’s no secret we love cornbread and have shared recipes for it before (exhibits A and B). And we wouldn’t be posting another version if it wasn’t worth it. So trust us…it’s worth it! This FLUFFY, moist gluten-free cornbread is naturally sweetened with honey, SO flavorful, and seriously EASY to make. 

Just 1 bowl and 8 ingredients stand between you and the best gluten-free cornbread.

Easy Gluten-Free Cornbread (1 Bowl!) from Minimalist Baker →

Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread

Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread is a delicious and flavorful twist on traditional cornbread. It’s easy to make and SO much better than boxed Jiffy cornbread. It has a golden crust, with a slightly crisp exterior, while the inside is soft and tend…

Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread is a delicious and flavorful twist on traditional cornbread. It’s easy to make and SO much better than boxed Jiffy cornbread. It has a golden crust, with a slightly crisp exterior, while the inside is soft and tender. The heat from the jalapeños complements the creaminess of the cheese, creating a delightful…

Homemade Shake and Bake Chicken

Enjoy the best crunchy chicken with savory homemade shake and bake. This easy breading mix has all the seasonings needed to make juicy, flavorful chicken, pork chops, or fish in the oven or air fryer.

Enjoy the best crunchy chicken with savory homemade shake and bake. This easy breading mix has all the seasonings needed to make juicy, flavorful chicken, pork chops, or fish in the oven or air fryer.

Fried Green Tomatoes

“TOWANDA!” These fried green tomatoes are crispy, crunchy, and so flavorful! Coated in crispy cornmeal and fried to golden perfection!

The post Fried Green Tomatoes appeared first on Budget Bytes.

I absolutely love making my crispy fried green tomatoes with a tangy buttermilk batter. I spent hours testing different versions until I found the perfect recipe. The crispy batter fried onto each slice creates a perfectly crunchy crust. The inside is juicy and the ultimate bite of Summer. These tomatoes are a standout dish that always impresses at any meal!

overhead view of fried green tomatoes on a wire rack.

“TOWANDA!” Have you ever seen the 1991 movie, “Fried Green Tomatoes”? If you’ve never seen it, you need to run to the grocery store (or outside to your own garden), gather up some plump green tomatoes, and put this recipe into action. It’s time to plan a movie night with your best girlfriends! It’s one of my favorites— and so is this recipe.

What Are Fried Green Tomatoes?

Fried green tomatoes are just what they sound like— green (unripe) tomatoes coated in a crispy breading and fried to golden perfection! Green tomatoes have a tart flavor and a firmer texture than fully-ripe tomatoes. I made these for Easter Brunch and have made them quite a few times since.

The fry mix really clings to these tomatoes thanks to the initial flour step and the tangy, rich, sticky, and creamy buttermilk egg dredge. The result is a perfect, crisp crust on each and every slice of green tomato. The batter is thick enough to stand up to the thick cuts of tangy green tomato, making these a true showstopper at Sunday Supper. They. Are. Perfect.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make fried green tomatoes:

  • Green Tomatoes: These underripe tomatoes can be found at farmers’ markets and the grocery store in early springtime and towards the end of tomato season. If you grow your own tomatoes, don’t be afraid to pluck a few before they ripen!
  • All-Purpose Flour: Helps seal in the moisture of each tomato slice and helps bind the egg and buttermilk to the tomatoes.
  • Cornmeal: Adds a delightful crunch and a slightly sweet flavor. This gives the tomatoes a perfect texture!
  • BBQ Rub Powder: If you can’t find BBQ seasoning, you can skip this and save a little money, but it definitely adds great flavor and contributes to the beautiful color once fried!
  • Salt and Pepper: Enhances the natural flavor of the tomatoes.
  • Eggs and Buttermilk: Form a culinary glue to help the seasoned cornmeal stick to the tomatoes.
  • Canola Oil: Helps the tomatoes fry up crispy and golden brown.

Can I Fry Red Tomatoes?

In my experience, red tomatoes are usually too juicy for frying. They have a softer texture and are too wet for the breading to really stick properly. Underripe green tomatoes are the best choice for this recipe.

Tips and Suggestions

  • I like to slice off just a sliver from the end of each tomato where the rounded bottom and stem are, so I can use as much of the tomato as possible. Doing this ensures there’s enough of the moist inner part of the tomato surface exposed for all of the yummy ingredients to stick to.
  • Using just cornmeal to coat these tomatoes caused the breading to fall off, so I mixed in flour to help bind everything together. The method in this recipe yields a perfect fried crust that covers the tomatoes completely!
  • You can flip the tomatoes as many times as you need to while frying, but I recommend babysitting them a bit! If you burn one batch, the next batch will have a burnt flavor, too. I like mine a little darker in color, but no one likes them burnt! If you watch the film, you’ll see Ruth would agree. ;) Flipping them too often can sometimes make the breading fall off. Just keep an eye on them!
  • Fried treats are yummy in moderation, but leftover cooking oil is no fun! I found some great tips on using leftover fry oil that I thought you might enjoy.

Serving Suggestions

Fried Green Tomatoes can be served on their own (trust me, they are THAT good) or with our sriracha pimento cheese, crumbled goat’s cheese, homemade ranch dressing or BBQ sauce. (As Sipsey would say, “The secret’s in the sauce!”)

They’re also great to jazz up a classic BLT or can be served in a salad over a bed of mixed greens or arugula.

3 fried green tomatoes on a white plate.
overhead view of fried green tomatoes on a wire rack.
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Fried Green Tomatoes

I absolutely love making my crispy fried green tomatoes with a tangy buttermilk batter. I spent hours testing different versions until I found the perfect recipe. The crispy batter fried onto each slice creates a perfectly crunchy crust.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Total Cost ($6.57 recipe / $1.31 serving)
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 5 (3 slices each)
Calories 292kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 large green tomatoes, cut into 1/3-inch slices $3.49
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, divided $0.07
  • 1/2 cup cornmeal $0.38
  • 1 Tbsp BBQ rub powder, optional $0.69
  • 1 tsp salt, divided $0.02
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper $0.03
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk $0.32
  • 2 eggs $0.34
  • 1 1/3 cups canola oil* $1.23

Instructions

  • Cut the tomatoes into 1/3-inch slices horizontally, discarding the end with the stem and the very bottom which is smooth.
  • Combine 1/4 cup flour, 1/2 cup cornmeal, 1 Tbsp BBQ seasoning powder, and 1/2 tsp salt in one small bowl. Whisk to combine.
  • In another small bowl, pour in the remaining 1/4 cup flour by itself.
  • In a third bowl, whisk together the eggs and buttermilk.
  • In an assembly line fashion, dip your cut tomatoes into the flour, then the buttermilk egg mixture, and finally the cornmeal BBQ seasoning mixture. Place each slice of tomato off to the side and continue this assembly line process until all tomatoes have been dredged in this magical trio!
  • Once your tomatoes are dredged and off to the side, heat up the canola oil in a thick bottom pan on high heat until it is very hot! (Take a droplet of water on your finger and drip it into the pan. Once it lands, if it pops and hisses, it’s ready to fry the tomatoes!)
  • Gently place 3-4 tomatoes (depending on the size of your frying pan) into the hot oil using a spatula. Let the tomatoes fry in the shallow oil for 2-3 minutes. Flip and fry the other side for around the same time, sometimes a minute longer.
  • Remove tomatoes as they are done to a paper towel lined plate or cooling rack so they aren’t sitting in any excess oil.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

*You want the oil to cover about half of the tomato’s height when it’s in the pan. These aren’t deep fried (completely submerged) so the other side will get nice and crispy when you flip them.
**If you like a thicker crispy fried coating, you can add ½ cup of panko breadcrumbs. The version I tested with ½ cup cornmeal and ½ cup panko also came out fantastic!

Nutrition

Serving: 3tomato slices | Calories: 292kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 15g | Sodium: 539mg | Fiber: 4g
overhead view of 3 fried green tomatoes on a white plate.

how to make Fried Green Tomatoes – step by step photos

sliced green tomatoes on a cutting board.

Cut 4 large green tomatoes into 1/3-inch slices horizontally, discarding the end with the stem and the very bottom which is smooth.

flour, cornmeal, and bbq seasoning in a white bowl.

Combine 1/4 cup flour, 1/2 cup cornmeal, 1 Tbsp BBQ seasoning powder, and 1/2 tsp salt in one small bowl. Whisk to combine. In another small bowl, pour in the remaining 1/4 cup flour by itself.

pouring buttermilk into a bowl of eggs.

In a third bowl, whisk together 2 eggs and 1/2 cup buttermilk.

dipping a green tomato in seasoned flour and cornmeal.

In an assembly line fashion, dip your cut tomatoes into the flour, then the buttermilk egg mixture, and finally the cornmeal BBQ seasoning mixture. Place each slice of tomato off to the side and continue this assembly line process until all tomatoes have been dredged in this magical trio!

breaded green tomatoes on a baking sheet.

Once your tomatoes are dredged and off to the side, heat up 1 1/3 cups canola oil in a thick bottom pan on high heat until it is very hot! (Take a droplet of water on your finger and drip it into the pan. Once it lands, if it pops and hisses, it’s ready to fry the tomatoes!)

3 fried green tomato slices in oil.

Gently place 3-4 tomatoes (depending on the size of your frying pan) into the hot oil using a spatula. Let the tomatoes fry in the shallow oil for 2-3 minutes. Flip and fry the other side for around the same time, sometimes a minute longer.

fried green tomatoes draining on a wire rack set in a baking sheet.

Remove tomatoes as they are done to a paper towel-lined plate or cooling rack so they aren’t sitting in any excess oil.

a fork stabbing a piece of cut fried green tomato on a white plate.

These crispy, crunchy fried green tomatoes are the perfect summer appetizer!

The post Fried Green Tomatoes appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Cornbread

Homemade cornbread is the perfect side with any soup or chili recipe. It’s light and fluffy with just a hint of sweetness. It’s also the perfect side dish for a holiday meal.

Homemade cornbread is the perfect side with any soup or chili recipe. It's light and fluffy with just a hint of sweetness. It's also the perfect side dish for a holiday meal.

Homestyle Cornbread

This super moist and rich cornbread has crispy golden edges and a rich buttery flavor, perfect for chili or with honey butter for breakfast.

The post Homestyle Cornbread appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Our Easy Homemade Cornbread, which is like the classic Jiffy cornbread mix, has been a reader favorite on Budget Bytes for years, but I was craving a richer, more decadent cornbread to go with my Black-Eyed Peas this year. So, I crafted this super rich cornbread that is less on the sweet side and full of golden buttery goodness. It’s the perfect compliment to a bowl of chili, to serve with your Thanksgiving feast, or drenched in honey and butter for breakfast.

Close up overhead view of a stack of cornbread squares with melting butter on top.

Ingredients for Super Moist Cornbread

Here’s what you’ll need to make this super rich, moist, and buttery homestyle cornbread:

  • Yellow Cornmeal: This is the base for the cornbread. For this recipe, we use slightly more cornmeal than flour to give the bread even more corn flavor.
  • All-Purpose Flour: Mixing just a bit of flour into the cornmeal helps keep the cornbread soft, moist, and not too crumbly.
  • Salt: Salt is very important in cornbread, which can otherwise be a little bit bland. The salt helps the flavor of the corn pop!
  • Baking Powder and Baking Soda: Baking powder and baking soda keep this rich cornbread from being too heavy and dense by adding just the right amount of leavening. We use a mix of baking soda and powder because of the acidic pH of the sour cream.
  • Milk & Sour Cream: I used a mix of whole milk and sour cream to moisten the cornbread and give it tons of rich flavor. Sour cream adds flavor similar to buttermilk, but is an ingredient we’re much more likely to already have in our fridge!
  • Egg: Egg helps give the cornbread strength so it doesn’t fall apart, and it adds just a little bit of fluff to the texture.
  • Butter: Instead of just using cooking oil for this cornbread, I used melted butter for extra rich flavor.
  • Oil: Butter gives the cornbread tons of flavor, but just a little bit of oil helps keep the bread super moist after baking in a way that butter alone does not. You can use any neutral cooking oil like canola oil, vegetable oil, avocado oil, or corn oil.
  • Sugar: I tested this recipe both with and without sugar since sugar is a VERY controversial ingredient in cornbread. I will say that I prefer just a little sugar in my cornbread, but you can leave it out if you prefer.

What Bakeware to Use

You have a few options when it comes to what to use to bake this cornbread. I used a simple 8×8 metal baking dish, but if you prefer super crispy edges you can bake the cornbread in a preheated cast iron skillet. You can also bake it in a 9-inch round pie plate, if preferred. It all depends on what shape you want the pieces (square or wedges) and if you like those super crispy edges!

What to Serve with Cornbread

Cornbread is a staple recipe that goes with just about any meal, and because it’s so easy to make it is definitely one of my go-to side dishes for dinner. That being said, cornbread is a must with Thanksgiving dinner, a hearty bowl of chili, bean soup, vegetable soup, or black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day. I also love cornbread with butter and honey as a side to my fried eggs for breakfast!

How to Store Leftovers

Make sure to let the cornbread cool completely to room temperature before packing to prevent condensation, then place it in an air-tight container for storage. Cornbread can be kept at room temperature for about three days, or refrigerated for about five days. You can rewarm cornbread in the microwave briefly to make it steaming hot and ready to melt a pat of butter!

You can also freeze cornbread for longer storage. Make sure to wrap the cornbread tightly in plastic or waxed paper, then place it in a freezer-friendly container (like a freezer bag). Frozen cornbread will stay good for about three months. It can be thawed at room temperature.

Close up of butter being spread onto a piece of cornbread.
Close up overhead view of squares of cornbread with butter melting top.
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Homestyle Cornbread

This super moist and rich cornbread has crispy golden edges and a rich buttery flavor, perfect for chili or with honey butter for breakfast.
Course Bread, Breakfast, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Total Cost $2.97 recipe / $0.33 serving
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 9 pieces
Calories 276kcal

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups yellow cornmeal $0.73
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour $0.10
  • 1 tsp salt $0.05
  • 1 tsp baking powder $0.06
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda $0.02
  • 2 Tbsp sugar (optional) $0.04
  • 1 cup sour cream $1.06
  • 1/2 cup whole milk $0.24
  • 4 Tbsp salted butter, melted $0.50
  • 2 Tbsp cooking oil $0.08
  • 1 large egg $0.09

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400ºF. In a large bowl, stir together the cornmeal, flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and sugar until well combined.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the sour cream, milk, melted butter cooking oil, and egg.
  • Pour the dry ingredients into the bowl of wet ingredients and stir just until everything is evenly combined. Avoid over-stirring the batter.
  • Pour the batter into a greased 8×8-inch baking dish. Transfer to the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
  • Allow the cornbread to cool in the baking dish, then slice into nine pieces and serve.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 276kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 16g | Sodium: 428mg | Fiber: 3g
Squares of cornbread on parchment with honey and butter on the sides.

How to Make Cornbread – Step by Step Photos

Cornbread dry ingredients in a bowl.

Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Add 1.5 cups yellow cornmeal, ½ cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp baking soda, and 2 Tbsp sugar (optional) in a bowl. Stir until the dry ingredients are really well combined.

Wet ingredients for cornbread in a bowl.

In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 cup sour cream, ½ cup whole milk, 4 Tbsp melted salted butter, one large egg, and 2 Tbsp cooking oil until smooth.

Wet and dry ingredients combined to make cornbread batter.

Pour the dry ingredients into the bowl of wet ingredients and stir just until they are combined. Try not to over-stir the batter.

Cornbread batter in a square metal baking dish.

Spread the cornbread batter into a greased 8×8-inch baking dish.

Baked cornbread in the baking dish.

Bake the cornbread in the preheated 400ºF oven for about 20 minutes or until it’s golden brown on top.

Squares of cornbread on parchment with honey and butter on the sides.

Let the cornbread cool in the pan, then slice into nine squares and serve.

A stack of cornbread squares with honey being drizzled over top.

I love cornbread with butter and honey, but it goes with a variety of savory meals as well!

The post Homestyle Cornbread appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Corn Pudding

This homemade corn pudding recipe is made with sweet corn, cornmeal, cheddar cheese, eggs, and dairy to make a rich and cozy corn casserole.

The post Corn Pudding appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Corn pudding is a staple at southern Thanksgiving tables, but honestly, it’s a great side dish any time of year! This rich corn casserole is made with sweet corn, cornmeal, eggs, cream, and cheddar, and then baked to perfection. And even though our corn pudding recipe is made 100% from scratch (no boxed cornbread mix or canned creamed corn), it’s still incredibly easy and it will definitely leave you wanting seconds. ;)

Close up overhead view of corn pudding in the casserole dish with a wooden spoon scooping some out.

What is Corn Pudding?

Corn pudding is essentially a corn casserole made with sweet corn, cornmeal, and cheddar cheese baked into a custard made with eggs, cream (or half and half), sour cream, and seasoning. The texture is a bit like stuffing or dressing, in that it is soft, moist, and scoopable. While the ingredients may look similar to cornbread, corn pudding is far more rich and moist.

Ingredients for Corn Pudding

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this corn pudding recipe:

  • Corn: We used frozen sweet corn for convenience, but if you happen to have an abundance of inexpensive fresh corn, you can boil it or roast it, slice it off the cob, and then add it to the casserole.
  • Half and Half: This creamy mixture is the base for the custard. If you don’t have half and half you can use a 50/50 mix of whole milk and heavy cream, or just whole milk, although that won’t be quite as rich as the half and half.
  • Eggs: Eggs combine with the half and half to create the rich custard. They firm up when baked, giving the pudding its scoopable texture.
  • Cornmeal: Cornmeal gives body and structure to the pudding, so it’s not just a milk custard, but half-way between a custard and a cornbread in texture. Use yellow cornmeal for the best color.
  • Sour Cream: Sour cream adds moisture, richness, and even more flavor to the corn pudding.
  • Cheddar Cheese: Cheese gives the pudding depth of flavor and makes it extra rich!
  • Sugar: A little bit of sweetness contrasts the savory pudding in all the right ways!
  • Seasoning: The pudding is seasoned simply with a little salt, pepper, and a dash of cayenne pepper for sparkle. It’s not enough cayenne to make it spicy, just to give the pudding some personality!

What to Serve with Corn Pudding

Corn pudding is a classic side dish served on Thanksgiving, but it’s also great the rest of the year paired with dishes like Pulled Pork, Baked Beans, or BBQ chicken. It’s a classic American comfort food that goes with any stick-to-your-ribs meal!

How to Store Leftovers

Leftover corn pudding can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days (if you don’t eat it all first!). Or, once chilled in the refrigerator, you can divide it into single-serving portions and freeze for up to three months. Allow frozen corn pudding to thaw completely in the refrigerator first before reheating in the microwave. Just be careful not to overhead the corn pudding as it can cause it to get a little watery.

Side view of corn pudding in the casserole dish with some scooped out.
Overhead view of corn pudding being scooped out of the casserole dish.
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Corn Pudding

This homemade corn pudding recipe is made with sweet corn, cornmeal, cheddar cheese, eggs, and dairy to make a rich and cozy corn casserole.
Course Dinner, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Total Cost $6.36 recipe / $0.80 serving
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 8 (about ¾ cup each)
Calories 347kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 cups frozen sweet corn (thawed), divided $1.67
  • 1 cup half and half* $0.75
  • 3 large eggs $0.32
  • 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal $0.24
  • 1/2 cup sour cream $0.63
  • 1/4 cup sugar $0.09
  • 2 tsp salt $0.10
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper $0.05
  • 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper $0.02
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided $2.49

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Place 2 cups of the thawed sweet corn in a blender with the half and half, then blend until mostly smooth.
  • Add the blended corn to a large bowl with the remaining 2 cups of corn, the eggs, cornmeal, sour cream, sugar, salt, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Whisk the ingredients together until evenly combined.
  • Fold 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese into the pudding mixture.
  • Pour the pudding into a greased 2 quart casserole dish, then top with the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar.
  • Bake the pudding for 50 minutes, or until the outer edges are golden and the center jiggles just a little when you shake the dish. Let the corn pudding cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

* You can use a 50/50 mix of whole milk and heavy cream, or all whole milk (although this will not be quite as rich).

Nutrition

Serving: 0.75cup | Calories: 347kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 19g | Sodium: 817mg | Fiber: 3g

How to Make Corn Pudding

Corn in a blender with half and half being poured in.

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Add 2 cups of thawed frozen corn to a blender with 1 cup half and half. Blend the mixture until mostly smooth. Reserve the remaining 2 cups of thawed corn for the next step.

Other corn pudding ingredients added to the bowl with thawed corn.

Add the blended corn and half and half to a large bowl with the remaining 2 cups of corn, 3 large eggs, ½ cup yellow cornmeal, ¼ cup sugar, ½ cup sour cream, 2 tsp salt, ½ tsp cayenne pepper, and ¼ tsp black pepper. Whisk these ingredients together until evenly combined.

Cheddar cheese being folded into the corn pudding batter.

Fold 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese into the corn pudding batter.

Cheddar cheese being sprinkled over top of the corn pudding in the casserole dish.

Pour the corn pudding mixture into a greased 2 quart casserole dish, then top with another 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.

Baked corn pudding in the casserole dish.

Bake the corn pudding in the preheated 350ºF oven for 50 minutes or until the outer edges are golden and the center only slightly jiggles when you shake the casserole dish. Allow the casserole to cool for 10 minutes after removing from the oven, then serve.

Overhead view of corn pudding being scooped out of the casserole dish with ingredients on the sides.

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