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Cornbread Salad (+Video)

This layered Cake Pan Cornbread Salad has layers of cornbread, bbq ranch dressing, beans, lettuce, tomato, bacon, and green onion!

A FILLING SOUTHERN SALAD RECIPE

This isn’t your Momma’s cornbread salad! Southern cornbread salad is traditionally served in a big trifle dish with a dressing of mayonnaise and sour cream. We are going to take cornbread salad to the next level today! First of all, I’m layering it in a cake pan. I think this makes it so much easier for family and friends to serve themselves and also so they can take advantage of every layer of the salad. And then I am topping it with a super simple BBQ ranch Dressing.

cake pan southern cornbread salad shown in a glass baking dish with a portion of salad removed to show layers of salad.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What is cornbread salad?

Cornbread Salad is a popular Southern dish made with crumbled cornbread, chopped vegetables, bacon, and a tangy dressing.

Can this salad be made ahead of time?

Yes, you can make Cornbread Salad ahead of time. Simply prepare the salad as directed, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to serve (no more than 24 hours in advance.)

Isn’t this usually served in a trifle dish?

What I love about making this in a cake pan is you can easily serve up all the layers much more easily and it makes for easier serving than a tall and deep trifle dish. Plus, not everyone owns a trifle dish. However, this recipe can easily be converted to serve in a trifle dish.

Can I use homemade cornbread?

Absolutely! You can use your favorite cornbread recipe or even purchase store-bought cornbread to make it quicker to prepare.

How long does cornbread salad last in the refrigerator?

Generally Cornbread Salad can last for up to 3 days in the refrigerator if stored in an airtight container. However, keep in mind, the lettuce will start to wilt and the cornbread tends to get soggy as well.

What if I don’t like pinto beans?

Just like any salad recipe, you can add in or take out anything you don’t like. It’s your salad so make it with what you enjoy!

Can I make the dressing from scratch?

That would be a lot of work but it certainly can be done! You’d want to prepare homemade ranch dressing and a homemade bbq sauce together to create this salad dressing.

Can this salad be frozen?

I do not recommend freezing cornbread salad.

Southern Cake Pan Cornbread Salad recipe from The Country Cook, serving of cornbread salad shown on a small round plate with a fork inserted into the salad.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)

  • cornbread mix
  • pinto beans
  • corn
  • Roma tomatoes
  • red bell pepper
  • cucumber
  • red onion
  • ranch dressing
  • barbecue sauce
  • romaine lettuce
  • shredded cheddar cheese
  • bacon
  • green onion
cornbread salad ingredients: cornbread mix, pinto beans, corn, Roma tomatoes, red bell pepper, cucumber, red onion, ranch dressing, barbecue sauce, romaine lettuce heart, shredded cheddar cheese, bacon, sliced green onion.

HOW TO MAKE CORNBREAD SALAD:

Prepare cornbread mixes according to package directions. Let cool and cut into 1″ cubes. Layer cornbread on bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.

cubed pieces of cornbread shown layered in the bottom of a glass baking dish.

Top with a layer of pinto beans, followed by the corn, tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber, and onion.

pinto beans, corn, tomatoes, onions and cucumbers layered on top of cubed cornbread in a baking dish.

In a medium bowl (or large measuring cup like I did), mix together the ranch dressing and barbecue sauce.

ranch dressing and barbecues sauce shown in a measuring cup beaker.

Pour dressing evenly on top of salad.

barbecue ranch dressing evenly spread on top of cornbread salad mixture.

Top with a layer of romaine lettuce. Note: You may need to gently press down this layer. Then top with cheddar cheese, bacon and green onion.

romaine lettuce, chopped bacon and green onions layered at the very top of the cornbread salad in a baking dish.

Cover tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

plastic wrap covering baking dish.

Then dig in!

Cornbread salad serving shown on a white plate with a mason jar of iced tea in the background.

CRAVING MORE RECIPES?

Originally published: June 2017
Updated & republished: May 2021

Cake Pan Cornbread Salad

Cornbread Salad (+Video)

This layered Cake Pan Cornbread Salad has layers of cornbread, bbq ranch dressing, beans, lettuce, tomato, bacon, and green onion!
5 from 13 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 12

Ingredients

  • 2 (6 ounce) packets cornbread mix
  • ingredients needed to make cornbread (as called for on the back of the packages)
  • 14 ounce can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
  • 14 ounce can corn, drained
  • 3 Roma tomatoes, diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 cucumber, chopped
  • ½ red onion, finely diced
  • 1 ½ cups ranch dressing
  • ½ cup barbecue sauce
  • 1 romaine lettuce heart, roughly chopped
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 2-3 green onions, sliced

Instructions

  • Prepare 2 (6 ounce) packets cornbread mix with ingredients needed to make cornbread according to package directions. Let cool and cut into 1" cubes. Layer cornbread on bottom of a deep 9×13-inch baking dish.
  • Top cornbread with a layer of 14 ounce can pinto beans, rinsed and drained followed by 14 ounce can corn, drained, 3 Roma tomatoes, diced, 1 red bell pepper, diced, 1 cucumber, chopped and 1/2 red onion, finely diced.
  • In a medium bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups ranch dressing and 1/2 cup barbecue sauce.
  • Pour evenly on top of salad.
  • Top with a layer of 1 romaine lettuce heart, roughly chopped. Note: You may need to gently press down this layer. Then top with 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, 1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled and 2-3 green onions, sliced.
  • Cover tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Video

YouTube video

Notes

  • What I love about making this in a cake pan is you can get to and serve up all the layers much more easily and it makes for easier serving than a tall and deep trifle dish. However, this recipe can easily be converted to serve in a trifle dish.
  • Traditionally a cornbread salad is made with a sour cream and mayonnaise dressing. That is perfectly fine but it really doesn’t offer much flavor to the dish. This combination of ranch dressing and BBQ sauce brings so much flavor! 
  • Feel free to switch out the ingredients with what you love. Don’t like pinto beans? Switch them out for another bean or remove altogether. 
  • Store bought cornbread works just as good for this to save on time!
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 412kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 36g | Sodium: 822mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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Recipe Rating




15 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    How far ahead should this be assembled. I do not want it to be soggy , but don’t want to fool making it at the last minute either ?

    1. Rena in your case I would only make half the recipe. The cornbread gets too soggy after sitting for a day in the fridge. Or just keep all the ingredients separate until you’re ready to make some and then just make it as you go.

  2. I’m not fond of raw cucumbers so I replace them with a layer of diced celery; I also add a can of Rotel in place of the tomatoes.

  3. 5 stars
    I’m using beefsteak tomatoes for mine…less juice and more flavor, but just my opinion.

  4. Is there another salad dressing that would be as good as the ranch dressing? My family does not care for ranch dressing and this salad sounds so good!

  5. 5 stars
    Great idea Brandie ! I was not raised knowing about this salad until I was an adult. I made one once and have to admit it wasn’t my favorite. I think your idea of putting it in a cake pan and changing up the dressing is genius! I can’t wait to try this YOUR way!

    1. 5 stars
      I hope you love it Vickie! We had friends over who had never eaten it before and they really enjoyed it (and I don’t mind saying that they are very picky too…LOL) I always feel like if they like it then I did good! 🙂

  6. 5 stars
    That looks absolutely delicious. I agree that it’s pretty in a trifle dish but it’s so much easier to get a taste of it all this way. ????