Southern Pimento Cheese Cornbread

This Southern Pimento Cheese Cornbread has just four simple ingredients and takes only 30 minutes to make. It’s a moist and cheesy cornbread that uses a box mix baked in a cast iron for a buttery golden brown crust.

This Southern style cornbread is always requested with any soup or chili at our house. It uses a box of cornbread mix with either store-bought or homemade pimento cheese.

Assembly is easy for this cheesy cornbread, the batter is mixed in one bowl and baked in a cast iron skillet for the perfect golden brown crust. It's the perfect side dish recipe for anyone who's a beginner at cooking.

I love also serving this with a loaded vegetable soup or chicken enchilada soup. I can guarantee this recipe will be a hit every time you make it! It has a buttery, crunchy crust, a cheesy, dense, moist texture and is the perfect balance of savory and sweet!

Ingredients for Cheesy Cornbread

Scroll down for specific ingredient amounts in the recipe card. 

• Honey Jiffy Cornbread Mix: A pre-mix sweet cornmeal, flour blend that provides structure and stability. It also yields it crumbly and slightly gritty texture.
• Creamy Pimento Cheese: Adds moisture, richness, creaminess, and a tangy flavor to the cornbread.
• Egg: Acts as a binder, helping to hold the cornbread together. It also provides moisture and richness to the dish.
• Butter: Helps yield a golden brown, crunchy, rich crust. Also delicious spread on top of a warm slice.
• Honey, optional: An optional add on that adds extra sweetness, flavor, and moisture.

Tools You'll Need

• Mixing Bowl
• Spatula
• 9-Inch Cast Iron Skillet

Using a Cast Iron Skillet for Cornbread

Cast iron is often considered the best choice for making cornbread for several reasons. First, it distributes heat evenly, ensuring that the cornbread bakes uniformly. This even heating also helps prevent hot spots that can lead to unevenly cooked or burnt areas in the cornbread.

Also, cast iron skillets can be used both on the stovetop and in the oven. When you preheat the cast-iron skillet in the oven or on the stovetop, it creates a hot surface for the cornbread batter to be poured onto. This initial burst of heat helps create a golden crust on the bottom and sides of the cornbread.

Over time, a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet can develop a patina, which is a natural, non-stick coating that enhances the flavor of foods cooked in it, including cornbread.

How to Make Pimento Cheese Cornbread

1. In a medium bowl, combine the cornbread mix, pimento cheese and the egg. The mixture will be dry at first, but will moisten as you mix and fold. 

2. Heat butter in a cast iron skillet in the oven while it’s preheating to 400°F. Carefully remove from the oven, and dollop the batter around the skillet and spread evenly.

3. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Serve as is or with extra butter and honey.

Tips and Variations

• Make Homemade Cornbread Mix. If you prefer to make a Honey Jiffy cornbread mix from scratch, here is an easy substitute. Combine in a bowl:
  • ⅔ cup all-purpose flour, ½ cup medium grind yellow cornmeal, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon honey
• Types of Pimento Cheese. Creamy pimento cheese is essential for this cornbread! My favorite store-bought brand to use is Palmetto Pimento Cheese. You can also use a homemade version if you prefer.
• Make it Spicy. Add extra spice by adding 1 finely diced jalapeño.
• Another sweet cornbread that has a unique flavor is Honey Buttermilk Cornbread. It incorporates graham cracker crumbs and honey and is incredibly delicious with butter and topped with maple syrup.

What to Serve with Southern Cornbread

The easier question to answer might be "what does southern cornbread not go with?" as it can go with nearly anything! Besides the obvious chili and soup accompaniments, this cornbread also pairs perfectly with barbecued meats like Crockpot brisket, Smoked brisket, or pulled pork. It's also excellent with fried chicken, greens, mac and cheese, and fried fish! We also love it in a glass with milk or buttermilk poured on top!

Storage and Freezing

Store leftovers in an air-tight container at room-temperature for 3 to 4 days or up to a week in the refrigerator.

Leftovers can also be frozen. Place in an air-tight, freezer safe container or wrap in plastic and freeze up to 2 to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Cornbread Recipes

• Hoe Cakes
• Sweet Cornbread and Honey Butter
• Cornbread Salad