I actually debated calling this recipe: Tomato, Basil, Mozzarella Cornbread. I mean, because really, that’s what it is. But, because I like alliteration, I thought Caprese Cornbread had a nice ring to it. Geek much? Totally.
Insalata Caprese (in Italian it means: Salad of Capri) is a simple Italian salad of fresh tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. Thank you to Wikipedia for that explanation. Google is a beautiful thing, no?Anyhow, a bit of olive oil is drizzled over the top of the whole salad. In this recipe, the tomatoes are sun-dried but it totally works here. Let’s be honest, sun-dried tomatoes are not the purdiest things in the world, but daggone it – they are SO flavorful!
If you aren’t real familiar with using sun-dried tomatoes, then this is the perfect recipe to try them. You can find the jars in a couple of places in your grocery store. My local Kroger actually has them in two locations: over by the canned tomatoes (usually on a top shelf) and in the aisle where all the pasta sauce and Italian products are located. The tomatoes are kept soaking in flavorful olive oil to keep them pliable and delicious.
I can’t wait for you to try this. We’re making it just a bit easier by using my favorite Martha White cornbread. It is super delicious and tastes just like homemade so it’s my go-to when making cornbread. And I’m making it all in my 10 1/2-inch Lodge Cast Iron skillet. You know why? Well, because it’s good and it gives me those crispy edges that I love on savory cornbread. But you wanna know another reason why? Because we’re celebrating the National Cornbread Festival again! Woot Woot! The fun is in South Pittsburg, Tennessee (the home of Lodge Cast Iron) on April 23rd & 24th.
If you have never been – it is so much fun! It’s family-friendly and the whole town gets in on the fun! Martha White and Lodge Cast Iron team up every year to host the National Cornbread Cook-Off. Amazing homecooks come out to share their very best cornbread recipes and to compete for the top prize! Now, the rules of the cook-off are that you have to create a recipe using at least one packet of Martha White cornbread mix and a Lodge cast iron skillet in the preparation. So I created this recipe using those guidelines. It may seem like a super simple recipe but man oh man – does it pack SO much flavor!
Ingredients:
2 (6 oz.) packets Martha White Cotton Country Cornbread
1 1/2 cups water
1 Eggland’s Best egg
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
1 (12 oz.) container marinated mozzarella balls
1 (7 oz.) jar sun-dried tomatoes
Apparently the egg was camera shy as it appeared she didn’t show up for the casting call…
Directions:
Preheat oven to 450f degrees. Coat a 9 or 10-inch cast iron skillet with a layer of vegetable or olive oil. Be generous with the coating of oil since you don’t want the cornbread to stick when trying to remove it. When oven is finished preheating, place the skillet into the oven to warm up (for about 6-8 minutes.)
While skillet is warming up, prepare the cornbread batter. In a large bowl, mix together both packets of cornbread mix with water and egg.
Finely chop basil and sun-dried tomatoes. And cut mozzarella balls in half.
Add basil, mozzarella and sun-dried tomatoes to cornbread batter. Stir gently until combined.
When skillet has warmed, add cornbread batter to the skillet. Note: Please be careful removing the cast iron skillet from the oven. It is heavy and hot so use oven gloves and take care.
Bake cornbread (on middle oven rack) for approximately 15 to 20 minutes (until golden brown.)
Bake cornbread (on middle oven rack) for approximately 15 to 20 minutes (until golden brown.)Then slice and serve while warm! This cornbread reheats really well too.
Enjoy!
Caprese Skillet Cornbread
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Calories: 400 kcal
Ingredients
- 2 6 oz packets Martha White Cotton Country Cornbread
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
- 1 12 oz container marinated mozzarella balls
- 1 7 oz jar sun-dried tomatoes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450f degrees.
- Coat a 9 or 10-inch cast iron skillet with a layer of vegetable or olive oil.
- Be generous with the coating of oil since you don't want the cornbread to stick when trying to remove it.
- When oven is finished preheating, place the skillet into the oven to warm up (for about 6-8 minutes.)
- While skillet is warming up, prepare the cornbread batter.
- In a large bowl, mix together both packets of cornbread mix with water and egg.
- Finely chop basil and sun-dried tomatoes.
- And cut mozzarella balls in half.
- Add basil, mozzarella and sun-dried tomatoes to cornbread batter.
- Stir gently until combined.
- When skillet has warmed, add cornbread batter to the skillet.
- Bake cornbread (on middle oven rack) for approximately 15 to 20 minutes (until golden brown.)
Recipe Notes
Please be careful removing the cast iron skillet from the oven. It is heavy and hot so use oven gloves and take care. Slice and serve while warm! This cornbread reheats really well too.
Nutrition Facts
Caprese Skillet Cornbread
Amount Per Serving
Calories 400
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
I am a proud ambassador for Martha White and J.M. Smucker company. As always though, all opinions are my own.
I'll take the piece with the gooey cheese, Brandie yummy!
Wow, these flavors are talking to me today!! Love this cornbread dish!!!
Oh my!!!! Brandie this looks fabulous and you used those mozzarella cheese balls. You got me drooling on my keyboard.
Loving that alliteration, my fabulous friend! 🙂 Seriously, this looks amazing… and so easy!
WOW! This looks amazing! I need to whip up a big ol' bowl of spaghetti to go with this. Can not wait to try this!
Stacy – not a stupid question at all! Use a 9×9 square or round pan for this recipe. Spray the pan with nonstick cooking spray. Bake at 400f degrees for about 18-20 minutes (until golden brown)
Veganrocks – yes – that's exactly right. I add the egg in this recipe (even though it's not needed for this particular pack of cornbread) to hold it together a bit better and make it more moist. Go ahead and use one egg per package of your Jiffy mix. So that would be two total eggs for this recipe. Hope that helps!
I know this is a stupid question, but if I don't have a cast iron skittlet, can I just bake this in a 13×9? Would the temp & time change?
This is a great way to enjoy cornbread! I love all the gooey cheese, too.
We don't have Martha White brand where I live. I notice the cornbread pouch already contains egg. Our local brand is Jiffy, and requires an egg with each 6 ounce pouch, should I just use the required number of eggs (2) with my available brand?
Caprese Cornbread does have a nice ring to it and it looks so amazing!!
You have inspired e and this will be on table tonight our stuffed shells. Thank you for sharing!