Cornbread is a quick bread typically made with cornmeal, wheat flour (white or yellow), baking soda or powder, eggs, salt, and usually some milk or butter.
Additional ingredients are often added, such as cheese, jalapeños, onion, etc.
Cornbread can be baked in many shapes, including squares, circles, muffins, or as a loaf of bread.
To have the best-tasting cornbread, be sure to use fresh ingredients.
Mainly, buttermilk adds both flavor and texture to the bread.
Using butter instead of oil also gives it a pleasant taste.
There are many types of cornbread.
Some people like it sweet (with more sugar), some like it savory (no sugar, sometimes with cheese).
It can also be made without wheat flour and be gluten-free.
Cornbread goes well with many foods, including fish, corn on the cob, chicken, etc.
In this article, we will list 7 of the best side dishes that go well with cornbread.
Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Cornbread?
If you are cooking your main dish, you might want to consider serving cornbread as a side dish.
Even if you are not cooking any other dishes for dinner, having cornbread with the meal makes it even better.
It’s so good.
Cornbread has excellent flavor and texture that many different types of side dishes can enhance.
- Cornbread goes well with many main dishes, particularly those that are seafood or poultry-based. It can be served as a side dish for fish, chicken, pork chops, etc. Also, consider serving it along with other toppings such as garlic bread or soup.
- If you have cornbread (no other side dishes), consider adding a unique ingredient to enrich the flavor. Some people add sugar to their cornbread, while others add honey or molasses. Butter will give it a nice texture and taste. Jalapenos can be added for a bit of kick in the pants.
- If you are making cornbread a stand-alone dish, you might want to go easy on the other toppings. If your side dish has a lot of flavoring, it will be hard to distinguish the flavor of the cornbread because the heavy flavors will overpower it. Try something simple like garlic bread or soup if you want something your cornbread can stand up against.
- If you are cooking other dishes simultaneously, having a side dish of cornbread is perfect because it doesn’t require much attention or heat to cook. Also, consider adding some meat (fish, chicken) to the meal so that you have more than just your cornbread as your meal.
What to Serve with Cornbread? 7 BEST Side Dishes
Here are 7 of the best side dishes you can serve with cornbread.
You can find more ideas online and in cookbooks.
1 – Pan-Fried Okra
A vegan side dish that consists of fresh okra, onion, and bell pepper seasoned with salt and spices such as paprika and black pepper.
This side dish gives nice crispiness to the cornbread.
You can also add some types of spices or seasonings to enhance the flavor even better.
To have this with your cornbread, saute up your okra in a pan over medium heat.
Once it becomes tender and slightly browned, please put it on a plate and serve it with your cornbread.
Tip – If you are not entirely vegan, you can also try adding some bacon for a different kind of flavor.
2 – Baked Beans
A traditional American-style dish made with baked pinto beans, salt, molasses, and spices.
It can be served as a side dish for many different meals, such as lunch or dinner.
This side dish is not particularly sweet, so that it won’t take away from the flavor of your cornbread.
The ingredients in this dish also complement each other well, so it makes for a good combination.
To have this with your cornbread, put the baked beans in a container and gently heat it in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes.
Once heated through, serve it warm. You can also try eating them both at once.
Tip – Try using different kinds of spices or seasoning to change the flavor.
3 – Mashed Potatoes
This is a classic. Mashed potatoes are the perfect accompaniment to just about anything, especially if it’s smothered in gravy.
Mashed potatoes are also easy to make.
They’re cooked mashed potatoes with butter and milk, but you can add other ingredients like cheese or veggies for added flavor and texture.
To make your mashed potatoes fluffier, add a dollop of sour cream or buttermilk to the mix.
Then grab a spoon, grab a plate of your favorite cornbread, and chow down.
4 – Sweet Potato Casserole
This simple dish is easy to make and delicious.
The base of the recipe contains sugar, brown sugar, butter, pecans, and cinnamon.
It’s the perfect way to show off your sweet tooth, but it’s also great for people who don’t like rich foods.
You can even make this in advance and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake.
This casserole is another popular dish that can be served with just about any main course, but it goes exceptionally well with the classic combination of ham and green beans.
5 – Creamed Greens
We don’t often think of creamed greens as a side dish, but switching things up is always good.
This is particularly great for people who like their veggies to have flavor and texture.
You’ll need bacon (of course), onion, butter, flour, and milk or broth – but feel free to experiment with different ingredients.
This dish is best served alongside creamy, cheesy dishes that are loaded with carbs.
It tastes great on top of macaroni and cheese or even just some crusty white bread.
6 – Roasted Vegetables
Vegetables make the perfect side dish because they’re full of vitamins and fiber.
This recipe calls for butter, olive oil, onion, garlic cloves, and red bell pepper – but feel free to experiment with different vegetables.
You can also use a variety of seasonings to make your veggies taste great.
These roasted veggies taste delicious on their own or alongside just about anything that isn’t very spicy or saucy.
The sweetness of the vegetables balances out flavors, like spice and bitterness, making them great for pairing with many dishes.
These vegetables are also great because they’re easy to make in large batches, which means you can eat them for several days or even freeze extra portions to enjoy later.
7 – Creamy Coleslaw
Creamy coleslaw can be served at any time of year, and it’s super easy to make.
You will need cabbage (of course), onion, mayonnaise, white distilled vinegar, and sugar – but feel free to experiment with different ingredients.
This dish is also great because it goes with just about anything, including fried chicken and spicy dishes that can be overwhelming to the palate.
You can even add raisins or dried cranberries to give this slaw a unique, sweet flavor.
This is the perfect side dish for people who are looking for something light and simple.
It’s also great because it can be made in advance, so you don’t have to worry about making dinner last minute.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cornbread is a great eat on its own or as a side dish.
The recipes mentioned above are some of the best ways to consume cornbread as a side dish.
There you have it. These are some of the most popular and tasty cornbread-based side dishes from around the web.
Try them out today, and let us know what your favorite side dishes are.
What to Serve with Cornbread? 7 BEST Side Dishes
Ingredients
- Pan-Fried Okra
- Baked Beans
- Mashed Potatoes
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Creamed Greens
- Roasted Vegetables
- Creamy Coleslaw
Instructions
- Choose your favorite recipe from the list of options.
- Organize all required ingredients and prepare a delicious meal in 30 minutes or less!