50 Creative Ways To Use That Bag Of Cornmeal In Your Cupboard

From cakes and pies to fried foods and cornbread, here are our favorite cornmeal recipes. With this many options you just might have to run to the store to buy a second bag.

May 4, 2025 · 4 min · 709 words · Erika Davenport

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It’s not just for cornbread, y’all!

Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

When you think of cornmeal, you likely think ofcornbread.

The correlation is justified, especially for Southerners.

Southern Living Cornbread Cookies finished and ready to serve

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Whether you’re baking, frying, or cooking, be sure you read your ingredient list closely.

Pan-Fried Okra with Cornmeal

Cornmeal and cayenne pepper are staples in this signature Southern side.

Cornmeal Waffles

Add a Southern spin to your breakfast table.

Blueberry Cobbler with a scoop of ice cream

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Don’t have a waffle iron?

Use the batter to create cornmeal pancakes on the griddle instead.

Cornmeal adds a little extra flavor and body to the yellow cake layer.

Southern Living Tamale Casserole in the dish ready to serve with toppings

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Fresh herbs give them extra freshness and the dish is ready in less than an hour.

Blueberry-Cornmeal Cake

Medium-grind cornmeal and blueberries unite to create a texture-filled, fruity dessert.

This recipe using homemade cornbread is sure to complete any holiday table.

fried green tomatoes stacked

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Rebecca Cummins

Serve with extra ranch for dipping.

They’re the perfect addition to any cheeseboard.

Emeril’s Maple-Butter Corn Muffins

These corn muffins will yo both sweet and savory cornbread lovers.

Pan-Fried Okra with Cornmeal Recipe

Credit: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

And don’t skip out on the maple butter!

This Southern staple is always a crowd pleaser with the perfect ratio of savory and spicy.

And don’t forget about the beer mustard for dipping.

Southern Living Cornmeal Waffles on a plate to serve

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Hush Puppies

you could’t make fresh hush puppies without the grit and flavor of cornmeal.

Air Fryer Okra

Cornmeal helps makes this easy air fryer okra crispy and crunchy.

You won’t get slimy okra with this recipe!

Southern Living Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Cake sliced and ready to serve

Credit:Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Here’s your answer.

Lemon zest and juice add the just-right brightness to this confection.

This will help your batter firm up before you shape the cakes.

Cornmeal Crêpes with Blackberries and Buttermilk Cream

Credit: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Chicken and Drop Dumplings

Credit:Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

slices of Classic Chess Pie on multi-color plates

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly

Southern Living Onion Patties on a plate ready to serve

Credit:Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

crispy fried pickles in a basket with ranch dipping sauce

Credit: Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely

Blueberry-Cornmeal Cake

Credit: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Cornbread Dressing

Credit: Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Ben Mim’s Perfect Cornbread Recipe

Credit: Brian Woodcock

Southern Living Crispy Ranch Shrimp on a platter ready to serve with ranch dressing

Credit:Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Cheddar Shortbread Crackers

Credit:Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Southern Living Cornmeal Pancakes on plates to serve

Credit:Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Sally McKay; Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser

Sausage Gravy Casserole with Cheddar-Cornmeal Biscuits

Credit: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Fried Pickle Chips

Credit: Alison Miksch

Emerilâs Maple-Butter Corn Muffins

Credit: FOOD PHOTOGRAPH: ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL; PROP STYLING: CHRISTINA BROCKMAN

Southern Living Fried Okra on a platter to serve with ranch for dipping

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Classic Cornbread Dressing

Credit:VICTOR PROTASIO; PROP STYLING: GINNY BRANCH STELLING; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL

Southern Living Classic Fried Catfish on a platter to serve with lemon wedges

Credit:Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Southern Living Conecuh Sausage Corn Dogs with Back Forty Beer Mustard ready to serve

Credit:Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

Buttermilk Spoon Bread

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Southern Living Cornmeal-Crusted Soft-Shell Crab Sandwiches on a plate to serve with potato chips

Credit:Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Chocolate Chess Pie - Southern Living

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Southern Living Cornbread Muffins ready to serve with butter and honey

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Hush Puppies. on a plate with coleslaw beside

Brown Butter Cornbread

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Crispy Catfish Tacos with Slaw

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Green chile spoon bread in light pink casserole dish

Credit:Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Mississippi Slugburgers

Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Air Fryer Okra

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Honey-Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Southern Living Fried Fish Sandwiches on a plate with chips to serve

Credit:Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Pomelo olive oil cake slices on pink plates

Credit:Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

buttermilk cornbread

Credit: Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

Credit: Alison Miksch

Giant Buttermilk- Cornmeal Pancake with Blueberries

Credit:Johnny Miller

Southern Living Jalapeno Cornbread with a slice cut out of the skillet to serve

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Southern Living Corn Pone on a platter to serve

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Lemon Chess Pie - Southern Living

Credit:Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Kelly; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee

gluten-free cornbread - Southern Living

Credit:Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Southern Living Turtle Chess Pie in the pie plate to serve

Credit:Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling; Prop Stylist: Missie Neville Crawford

Basic Salmon Croquettes Recipes

Credit: William Dickey / Styling Buffy Hargett / Food Styling Angela Sellersc

air fryer hush puppies

Credit: Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist:Christine Keely Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Southern Living Fresh Fig Cake With Lemon And Rosemary on a plate to serve

Credit:Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

Ground Beef Recipes: Tomato ’n’ Beef Casserole With Polenta Crust

Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas