Mexican Cornbread
This Mexican Cornbread is an easy homemade recipe made with cornmeal, flour, cheddar cheese, cream corn, green onions, and peppers!
A SUPER FLAVORFUL CORNBREAD RECIPE
There’s something truly comforting about a slice of warm, freshly baked cornbread. With a golden, crispy crust and a tender, moist interior, Mexican Cornbread is the perfect sidekick to chili, soups, or on its own! Once you start making this homemade Mexican Cornbread, you’ll be hooked and won’t want any other cornbread.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
You must use self-rising flour and self-rising cornmeal or it will not turn out properly. This is why there is no additional baking soda or baking powder added because it is already in the self-rising ingredients. If you don’t use self-rising ingredients, your cornbread won’t rise.
Try dicing up a fresh jalapeño for an extra kick!
It definitely should not be at all with this recipe. This is very moist! However, having said that, It could be a few reasons:
1. You over mixed the batter. Stirring the batter too much can make the gluten in the flour to form elastic gluten bands (it’s all very scientific, but basically, it makes for dry, dense baked goods).
2. You might’ve baked it too long. Ovens vary and some ovens have hot spots or sometimes oven temperatures are inaccurate. So although a recipe says to cook it for a certain temperature, know your oven. If necessary check it earlier and stick a toothpick in the center to determine if it is done. Also, it might be worth it to invest in an oven thermometer to make sure your oven is heating to the correct temperature.
3. You used a low fat or skim milk. Try using a higher fat milk. Or perhaps try buttermilk. Even though most buttermilk is lower in fat, it has higher acidity that helps to break down long strands of glutens and proteins in baked goods, resulting in a more tender bread or baked good.
Yes, self-rising yellow cornmeal will work in this recipe.
You can really serve this with so many meals. Try serving this with Chicken Tortilla Soup, Chicken Enchilada Soup or Taco Soup . One of my personal favorite meals to serve this with is Creamy White Chicken Enchiladas. Perhaps you want to have this for a brunch? Huevos Rancheros is perfect with Mexican Cornbread! Or for something a bit more simple, a serving of homemade refried beans is so good!
I have not tested this recipe with cooked ground beef but I think it should worked. I would maybe just use about a pound. Cook and crumble it (maybe season with a bit of salt and pepper or your favorite Mexican seasonings) until fully cooked then add it to the batter.
Certainly. I’ve made this in a circular baking pan before and it took about an hour to bake. As you’ll see in these images, I used an 8×8-inch baking dish which took about 45 minutes. If you want to use a 9×9-inch baking dish, you can and it will take a little less time to bake, since the cornbread will be thinner. So start checking it earlier.
If you want a thinner cornbread than what I made, you’ll definitely want to use a bigger baking dish, like the 9×9 and adjust your baking time accordingly.
Leftovers should be properly covered and can be stored on the counter for up to 2 days. Refrigerating bread can cause it to become dry. It can also be frozen, if wrapped properly to protect against freezer burn, for up to 3 months.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- self-rising white cornmeal – I like the Martha White brand (paid affiliate link) but there are certainly other brands that can be used.
- self-rising flour – I always prefer White Lily flour (paid affiliate link) for baked goods if you are able to find it. Any self-rising flour will work though.
- shredded cheddar cheese – freshly shredded cheese is best but if you are pressed for time, the pre-shredded bagged cheese works just fine.
- green onions – these do not give it a strong onion flavor. It’s very light and gives it a nice color as well.
- red bell pepper – or you can use a green bell pepper for a different color.
- green chiles – I don’t think the canned green chilies make this spicy since they are so mild.
- cream-style corn – this is going to help keep the cornbread moist and give it a tad bit of sweetness.
- eggs – most baked goods come out better if you let the eggs come to room temperature before using (if you have time).
- milk – try to use a fattier milk. I would suggest a whole milk or at the very least 2%. You want that extra fat to keep this bread moist. Buttermilk is even better if you happen to have that on hand.
HOW TO MAKE MEXICAN CORNBREAD:
Preheat the oven to 350F degrees and lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking dish or use a springform pan. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the cornmeal, flour, cheese, green onions, green bell pepper, and canned green chili peppers until blended.
Stir in the eggs, creamed corn, and milk. Do not over mix. Stir just until combined. Spread the batter out into the prepared pan.
Bake in the oven for 1 hour, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
- Cornbread Taco Bake
- Cornbread Muffins
- Sweet Cornbread
- Bacon Cornbread
- Skillet Cornbread
- Broccoli Cheese Cornbread
- Taco Rice
- Taco Bake
- Skillet Cornbread Pizza
- Tamale Pie
- Taco Bell Mexican Pizza
- Cowboy Bread
- Cornbread Chicken Casserole
- Cornbread Waffles with Chili
- Corn Fritters
- Cornbread Salad
- White Chicken Enchiladas
Originally published: June 2018
Updated photos and republished: August 2025
Mexican Cornbread (+Video)
Ingredients
- 1 cup self-rising white cornmeal
- ½ cup self-rising flour
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 green onions, sliced (green parts only)
- ½ cup chopped red bell pepper (or green bell pepper, for color)
- 6 ounce can green chiles
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 8 ounce can cream-style corn
- ¼ cup milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F degrees and spray a 8×8-inch baking dish or a springform pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together 1 cup self-rising white cornmeal, ½ cup self-rising flour, 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese, 2 green onions, sliced, ½ cup chopped red bell pepper and 6 ounce can green chiles until well blended.
- Stir in 2 large eggs, beaten, 8 ounce can cream-style corn and 1/4 cup milk. Do not over mix. Stir just until combined. Spread the batter out into the prepared pan.
- Bake in the oven for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- PLEASE READ: It must be SELF-RISING FLOUR and SELF-RISING CORNMEAL or it will not turn out properly. This is why there is no additional baking soda or baking powder added because it is already in the self-rising ingredients.
- Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
Nutrition
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.
cannot wait,, looks so yummy
I’ve lived in Tennessee all my life and this is probably the best Mexican cornbread recipe I’ve ever found! I used to eat at Piccadilly restaurant as a kid and they had Mexican cornbread and I’ve always tried to duplicate it. This is very very close.
can I use hot Rotell if I don’t have peppers and chillies. ??
Possibly. I haven’t tested that though. You’d probably have to drain it very well though.
If I double the recipe, can I make it in a 9×13 pan?
That would be my guess. I haven’t personally tried to double it though so can’t really give you any direction based on personal experience. Sorry!
Yes. You can absolutely double this recipe. I made it for the first time and I needed a larger batch so I threw caution to the wind and doubled the recipe and it came out perfect!
Delicious- turned out perfect! Everyone enjoyed it!
Yay! Love hearing that – thanks so much!
Great recipe!
My family loves this recipe!
Thank you.
It was delicious, but I want a little more sweet. I know it’s suppose to be savory but I’m use to cornbread being a little more sweet. What can I add to that? & how much.
Will self- rising cornmeal cmix” (1 1/2 c) work, and 1/4 c. buttermilk?
I’ve never done that
My grandson doesn’t like regular cornbread’s dry texture but he loved this! It went perfectly with beef chili. I don’t keep self-rising flour so made my own.
I made this and added real bacon pieces, half of a big bag walmart brand…I sautéed onions and peppers in 1/4 cup of oil and added it…cooked in cast iron skillet…it was the best Mexican cornbread to date…I served mine with chili ❤️
I don’t have self rising flour or cornmeal. Been looking for weeks, so I made my own . Still turned out wonderful. Thanks for recipe.
My whole family really enjoyed this! Thank you!
Can I use cornbread mix?
You can purchase Mexican cornbread mix at the store – this is for a homemade recipe
Is a corn bread mix the same as self rising corn bread? I can’t buy self rising white corn bread in Canada.
Corn meal is not the same as cornbread mix. Cornbread mix also has flour in it where self rising cornmeal does not. Are you near a Walmart? I know Canadian Walmarts sell it. I have quite a few friends in Canada and half my readers here on the site are Canadian so I am super familiar with Canadian grocery stores as I am up there often as well. So, I reached out to several of them and they all confirmed they can find both self rising cornmeal as well as just plain yellow cornmeal in Walmart. But I know not everyone is near a Walmart.
So, you can make your own self rising cornmeal. Combine 3/4 cup (plus 3 Tablespoons) of yellow or white cornmeal with 1 Tablespoon of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. This will give you one cup of self rising cornmeal.
Purple hull peas and this right here!! Can’t beat it!
Sounds perfect to me!
This Mexican cornbread is my favorite and so easy to make. I served with pinto beans and sweet tea. I always bake in 10″castiron skilllet
This is so delicious and will having that tomorrow for supper
Love Mexican cornbread. I did make it with 1lb. lean ground beef drained with Taco mix for a spice boost and 8oz bag shredded sharp Cheddar.
Made this twice this week with soup and cornbread. So delicious!!!
Excellent. Added a jalapeño diced. Cooked in a cast iron 10″ skillet preheated with lard. Turned out delicious and moist.
Yum.
We really enjoyed this one – thank you
It was delicious. I poured pinto beans on top. After I baked the corn bread. And I used a red pepper instead of green.
Now that is my kind of meal right there!!
I used jalapeño slices instead of red or green bell and added sour creme
Love this recipe
Yum!
Very good we made it even good couple days later heated in microwave
Wow – thank you so much Lynn! You were so sweet to take the time to come back and comment!
I’m getting ready to make this now and I was looking for a link to send you a question. I’m hoping you see this in time. it does not say to drain the green chili can. That is what I need to know… is it drained or is it not?
Thank you!
Hi Sue, nope you don’t need to drain them or I would’ve mentioned that in the recipe. For nearly all recipes, you usually don’t ever drain the green chiles as they aren’t packed in much liquid. Hope you enjoy this one 🙂
Delicious – thank you
I put this on my menu for next week! Looks amazing. This is my favorite recipe website.
Thank you for this recipe, it was enjoyed by all
Delicious!
I have had this recipe for years but it’s called “Charlie Bread”… YuMMM!
HI Brandie,
I love the tip on the springform pan as an option. That is seriously the thickest cornbread that I’ve ever seen ~ so now that I’ve seen it, that’s my new cornbread height goals! It just looks amazing ~ can’t wait to try it!