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.

The post Corn Pudding appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Cornmeal Pancakes

These cornmeal pancakes are ultra fluffy and golden! Fry up a stack and drizzle with maple syrup for a satisfying…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

These cornmeal pancakes are ultra fluffy and golden! Fry up a stack and drizzle with maple syrup for a satisfying breakfast.

Cornmeal Pancakes

There are so many types of pancakes, from buttermilk to blueberry to cottage cheese. Here’s one that rises to 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! Our son Larson especially gobbled these down (though he has yet to meet a pancake he doesn’t like!).

Ingredients in cornmeal pancakes

Cornmeal pancakes are a fun cozy breakfast, and come out beautifully fluffy and golden. The magic ingredient? Buttermilk, which makes that airy texture and adds a hint of tang to the flavor. You’ll want to use the real stuff here (no substitutes!). Otherwise, you might have all the other items on hand in your pantry and fridge. Here are the ingredients for cornmeal pancakes:

  • Fine ground cornmeal
  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking powder
  • Granulated sugar
  • Kosher salt
  • Egg
  • Salted butter
  • Buttermilk
Cornmeal

Use real buttermilk for the best results

Buttermilk is absolutely crucial to making a light and fluffy muffin with a beautiful crumb. Many people, ourselves included, are often tempted to use even a buttermilk substitute: the most popular is milk and lemon juice (or another acidic ingredient like apple cider vinegar).

But for the best flavor and rise, it’s got to be the real thing! The substitute can work in a pinch, but there’s something about the flavor and texture that’s luxuriously rich when you use actual buttermilk.

Cornmeal Pancakes

Tips for cooking cornmeal pancakes

Cornmeal pancakes come together in the same way as any other pancake. Mix the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients, then cook on a skillet until golden brown! However, there are a few nuances to the process that are helpful:

  • Use a large griddle: a non-stick surface is helpful. Some griddles have uneven heating, so use a quality griddle or skillet. A non-stick surface is a plus, though you’ll still want to cook the pancakes in butter to get them golden brown.
  • Experiment to find the right heat level. Medium low heat is ideal, but it’s different on every stovetop. It should take a few minutes to get the pan up to heat. If the heat is too low, the pancakes won’t puff as much when cooking.
  • Don’t worry if the first pancake isn’t perfect! Use it as a test for honing in your pancake skills and adjust the heat accordingly.
  • The batter sometimes becomes very thick while waiting for the second batch. If so, add a teaspoon or two of buttermilk until the batter is pourable. 

Mix-ins, toppings, and variations

Want to mix up these cornmeal pancakes? It’s fun to add mix-ins to add a burst of flavor. You can also add fun toppings to step them up. Here are a few ideas:

  • Blueberries: Pour the batter into circles on the griddle, then place a handful of blueberries into the top of each pancake (this works better than mixing them into the batter). 
  • Strawberries or raspberries: Add a handful of sliced strawberries or raspberries to each pancake while it cooks.
  • Pecans: Add a hint of nutty flavor with a handful of finely chopped pecans in each pancake.
  • Fruit syrup or compote: Top the pancakes with blueberry syrup or strawberry compote for a fruity contrast.
  • Nut butter: Try them slathered with almond butter for hearty breakfast.
Cornmeal Pancakes

Cornmeal pancake leftovers and storage info

Cornmeal pancakes are easy to store: they’re actually great as leftovers. Store them refrigerated for tasty snacks with nut butter and a little maple syrup. Cornmeal pancakes store in a sealed container for up to 5 days refrigerated and 3 months frozen. It’s a nice way to extend the life of a batch.

What to do with leftover buttermilk

Most buttermilk recipes don’t use the entire container. What to do with the remainder if you buy it for these cornmeal pancakes?

More recipes with cornmeal

Got cornmeal? Here are a few more ways to use it:

This cornmeal pancakes recipe is…

Vegetarian. For gluten-free, use 1-for-1 gluten-free flour. For vegan, use a flax egg in place of the egg.

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Cornmeal Pancakes

Cornmeal Pancakes


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 8

Description

These cornmeal pancakes are ultra fluffy and golden! Fry up a stack and drizzle with maple syrup for a satisfying breakfast.


Ingredients

  • ¾ cup fine ground cornmeal
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 4 tablespoons melted salted butter, cooled
  • 1 ½ cups buttermilk

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, stir together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar, and kosher salt. In another bowl, whisk together the egg, melted butter, and buttermilk.
  2. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, then stir gently to combine until the batter comes together and is pourable but slightly lumpy.
  3. Lightly butter a skillet or griddle and wipe off extra grease with a paper towel. Heat the skillet to medium low heat. Pour the batter into circles (about ¼ cup). Cook the pancakes until the bubbles pop on the top and the bottoms are golden. Then flip them and cook until cooked through. If the batter becomes very thick on the second batch, add a teaspoon or two of buttermilk until the batter is pourable. 
  4. Place the cooked pancakes under an inverted bowl to keep them warm. Repeat with the remaining batter, adjusting the heat as necessary to maintain an even temperature. Serve immediately with butter and maple syrup.
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Cornmeal pancakes

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Sheet Pan Pizza

Sheet-Pan Pizza is a low-effort recipe guaranteed to make any occasion special and satisfy cravings for take-out pizza at half the cost.

The post Sheet Pan Pizza appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Sheet Pan Pizza is the solution for anyone hoping to make crave-worthy, restaurant-quality pizza at home—at half the cost of carry-out! Our recipe for Sheet Pan Pizza will level up any casual date night in, make for an unforgettable family dinner, or serve as an interactive party dish where everyone helps pick the toppings. Sheet Pan Pizza is not just for special occasions. It’s also the perfect “take-out fake out” meal for two that will yield enough leftovers to check off some weekly meal prep!

A vertical image of a baked sheet pan pizza topped with pizza sauce, cheese, pepperonis, pickled jalepenos and honey that is not sliced.

WHAT IS SHEET PAN PIZZA?

This recipe for Sheet Pan Pizza combines my two favorite kinds of take-out pizza. The crust is a sturdy Foccacia bread, typically used for Sicilian-style “Grandma Pie,” that is baked and then covered edge-to-edge with tons of cheese and toppings—sort of like a Detroit-Style pizza—and then baked again! Sheet Pan Pizza is a fun way to feed a crowd and can easily be divided into sections so everyone in the family gets to have a few slices with their favorite sauce and toppings.

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE A SHEET PAN PIZZA:

  • A SHEET PAN: We suggest using a standard 18” x 13” rimmed metal baking sheet or the 16″ x 12.5″ x 1″ enamelware pan in our Shop.
  • PIZZA DOUGH: Our No-Knead Focaccia is oh-so-tasty on its own, but next level as the base of a giant pizza. Totally worth the extra time to make it from scratch! (You can also use store-bought pizza dough—see note below.)
  • OLIVE OIL: We used as little olive oil as possible to make this recipe budget-friendly. (Feel free to use a bit more!) You can substitute or mix it with plain cooking oil to reduce costs even more, but the pizza crust will lack the distinctive taste olive oil provides.
  • STORE-BOUGHT SAUCE: We chose a store-bought, traditional pizza sauce in order to keep things simple. You can totally make your own homemade pizza sauce! Or swap it out for a jar of alfredo sauce, vodka sauce, prepared pesto, or BBQ sauce!
  • TONS OF SHREDDED CHEESE: You need a good amount of cheese for this recipe, but it’s totally worth the extra ingredients to balance out all the bread, sauce, and toppings. 
  • YOUR FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPINGS: Keep it classic or mix it up—anything goes when it comes to Sheet Pan Pizza!
An extreme close up of a single slice of sheet pan pizza raised above the rest of the pizza with a spatula.

DO I HAVE TO MAKE MY OWN CRUST?

I would highly suggest making the pizza crust in this recipe – our shockingly-easy No-Knead Homemade Focaccia. It pretty much does the work on its own! You can substitute the homemade crust with 1 lb. of store-bought pizza dough for this Sheet Pan Pizza recipe (and start with the second set of instructions on the recipe card), but the results will be slightly different from the pizza we made.

TIP: Making Two Pizzas

  • If doubling the recipe: Prepare a doubled amount of pizza dough at once in a very large mixing bowl. Slice the large ball of dough in half (after the first ferment), and transfer each to its own 1/2 sheen pan for the second rise. Follow the recipe as written, also rotating and flipping the baking sheets halfway through both bakes so both pizzas cook evenly.
  • Alternatively, when making two smaller pizzas: Slice the risen ball of dough in half and transfer each to its own 1/4 sheet pan for the second rise. Split the remaining ingredients between the pizzas, and reduce both baking times by about 5 minutes each (also relying on the visual cues as a guide to prevent over-baking or under-baking the crust).

MAKE AHEAD & MAKE IT EASIER

  • You can make the dough for this Sheet Pan Pizza ahead and store it tightly covered in the fridge for up to 24 hours before baking it. Let it sit out at room temperature for about 30 minutes before transferring it to the sheet pan.
  • You can also pre-bake the pizza crust up to 8 hours ahead. Let the bread cool completely before covering it to keep it from getting soggy. When you’re ready to eat, just top the crust with sauce and toppings and bake it again for 10-15 minutes.
A horizontal image of a fully baked sheet pan pizza topped with pizza sauce, shredded cheese, pepperonis, jalepenos and honey that's held up with two white dish towels.
A vertical image of a baked sheet pan pizza topped with pizza sauce, cheese, pepperonis, pickled jalepenos and honey sliced and a spatula is removing the bottom right slice.
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Sheet Pan Pizza

Sheet Pan Pizza is a low-effort recipe guaranteed to make any occasion special and satisfy cravings for take-out pizza at half the cost.
Course Dinner, Main Course, Meal Prep
Cuisine American, Italian
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Resting Time 2 hours 45 minutes
Total Time 4 hours
Servings 7 people
Calories 539kcal
Cost $9.98 RECIPE / $1.41 SERVING

Equipment

Ingredients

Crust:

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour $0.61
  • 2 cups water $0.00
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt $0.03
  • 2 tsp instant yeast 0.48
  • 2 Tbsp cornmeal $0.03
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil* $0.15

Pizza:

  • 3 Tbsp olive oil, divided* $0.45
  • 1/2 tsp salt $0.01
  • 1/2 tsp Freshly cracked black pepper $0.02
  • 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning $0.05
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes $0.05
  • 1 14oz. jar pizza sauce $1.59
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella $2.49
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded or grated $0.75
  • 1/2 cup pepperoni slices (about 3 oz.) $1.50
  • 1/3 cup sliced pickled jalapeños $0.66
  • 2 Tbsp honey $0.38

Instructions

Crust:

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, water, salt, and instant yeast. Stir until just combined and no streaks of flour remain.
  • Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil around the sides of the bowl, and lift the dough with your hands to make sure the bottom and sides of the bowl are well-coated with the oil.
  • Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm, dry place for 2 hours, or in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. The dough should double in size and appear bubbly, wet, and very fluffy.**
  • Coat your fingers with a few drops of olive oil and then scrape the dough from the sides of the bowl, turning it over a few times to form a ball. Rest the dough for 5 minutes.

Pizza:

  • Brush 1 tablespoon of olive oil on the bottom and sides of 1 rimmed baking sheet and then sprinkle 2 tablespoons of cornmeal evenly on the bottom of the pan.
  • Coat the ball of pizza dough with 1 tablespoon of oil and flip it out of the bowl (oil side down) on the rimmed baking sheet, using a spatula to scrape any oil left in the bowl on top of the dough.
  • Gently press down the center of the dough and push it outward toward each corner of the pan. Let the dough rest again, uncovered, until it rises slightly and spreads to fill the sheet pan completely (About 30-45 minutes). While the dough rests, preheat the oven to 425℉.
  • Coat your fingers with oil and make dimples all over the dough, also pushing the dough into the corners again if needed. Brush the dough with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle over the salt, fresh-cracked black pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Bake the crust for 25 minutes, or until the surface of the bread is evenly golden brown.
  • Remove the crust from the oven and carefully spread the pizza sauce on top from edge to edge. Then top with the mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, pepperoni, pickled jalapenos, and if desired, a pinch of salt, pepper, and other seasonings
  • Bake the pizza for another 10-15 minutes or until the cheese has melted and started to brown.
  • Remove the pizza from the oven and drizzle the entire surface lightly with honey. Let it cool for 5 minutes and then slice the pizza into 15 squares. Serve each slice topped with more parmesan cheese and fresh-cracked black pepper.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

* Olive oil will add a distinct flavor to the pizza crust but can be substituted (or mixed) with cooking oil to make this recipe more budget-friendly. 
** The dough may need more time to rise in the sheet pan if coming out of a cold refrigerator. 

Nutrition

Serving: 2slices | Calories: 539kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 22g | Sodium: 1225mg | Fiber: 3g

How to Make Sheet Pan pIzza – Step by Step Photos

Ingredients for a foccacia-style pizza crust mixed together in a white bowl with a wooden spatula sticking out of the bottom left side of the bowl.

Combine 4 cups of all-purpose flour, 2 cups of water, 1 ½ teaspoons of salt, and 2 teaspoons of instant yeast in a large bowl. (If using a single-serving packet of yeast, which contains about 2 1/4 teaspoons, you can use the whole thing!) Stir until just combined and no streaks of flour remain. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil around the sides of the bowl, and lift the dough with your hands to make sure the bottom is also coated. Cover the bowl and let it ferment in a warm, dry place for 2 hours or in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. (If coming from the fridge, the dough may need an additional 30 minutes of resting time at room temperature.)

Ingredients for a no-knead focaccia style pizza crust after they have fermented for two hours in a white bowl. A left hand is stablizing the bowl with the right hand pulls the dough away from the side of the bowl.

After the first ferment, the dough should roughly double in size and appear bubbly, wet, and very fluffy. Scrape the dough off the sides of the bowl with your hands, turning it over a few times to form a ball. Let it rest in the bowl for about 5 minutes to prevent the dough from tearing. Brush the bottom and sides of the sheet pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle 2 tablespoons of cornmeal evenly on the bottom.

Raw pizza dough that has been fermented once and turned out onto a rimmed baking sheet and pressed out into a rectangle for a second ferment.

Coat the ball of pizza dough with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and flip it out of the bowl onto the prepared sheet tray (oil side down), using a spatula to scrape any oil left in the bowl on top of the dough. Gently press down the center of the dough and push it outward toward each corner of the pan. Let the dough rest again, uncovered, until it spreads to fill the sheet pan completely (about 30-45 minutes). Preheat the oven to 425℉.

A raw pizza dough that has fermented for a second time on a rimmed baking tray, two hands are pressing dimples into the center of the dough.

Coat your fingers with oil and make dimples all over the dough, also pushing the dough into the corners again if needed. Brush the dough with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle over a 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of freshly-cracked black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, and 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes.

A lightly golden pizza crust that was topped with olive oil, salt, pepper, italian seasoning and red pepper flakes and then baked.

Bake the crust for 25 minutes, or until the surface of the bread is lightly golden brown and has developed a still-tender, but firm crust. When pressed lightly (And carefully, don’t burn yourself!), the center of the crust should spring back and should look and feel fully cooked – not squish and soft.

A par-baked pizza crust on a rimmed baking tray that's topped with pizza sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, pepperonis and pickled jalapeño slices that needs to be baked again.

Top the fully-baked pizza crust evenly from edge-to-edge with 1 1/2 cups of prepared pizza sauce (from a 14 oz. jar), 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup of shredded or grated parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup of pepperoni slices (about 3 oz. or half a standard package), 1/3 cup of pickled jalapenos (about 1/3 of a standard jar), and if desired, another pinch of salt, pepper, and other seasonings.

A fully baked sheet pan pizza that is golden brown and topped with crispy pepperonis, melted cheese and pickled jalapeño slices and a hand is drizzling honey on the right center of the pizza.

Bake the pizza for another 10-15 minutes or until the cheese has melted and started to brown. Remove the pizza from the oven and drizzle the entire surface lightly with honey. Let it cool for about 5 minutes (so the toppings don’t slide off), and slice the pizza into 15 squares. Serve each slice topped with more parmesan cheese and fresh-cracked black pepper.

An extreme close up of baked sheet pan pizza topped with pepperonis and jalepenos that's being drizzled with honey.

Y’all, I love the combo of sweet & spicy toppings we used in this recipe, but I’m always looking for new ideas for my next Sheet Pan Pizza Party! What sauces and toppings will you put on your Sheet Pan Pizza? Tell us in the comments! ~ Marion :)

The post Sheet Pan Pizza appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Jalapeño Cheddar cornbread

In 1964, Frank X. Tolbert, the Dallas Morning News columnist who was passionate about chili and other Texan dishes involving peppers, shared a recipe for jalapeño cornbread. He wrote: “It’s…
Source

In 1964, Frank X. Tolbert, the Dallas Morning News columnist who was passionate about chili and other Texan dishes involving peppers, shared a recipe for jalapeño cornbread. He wrote: “It’s...

Source