Show off at the family gathering with this incredible layered cornbread salad.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Salads in the South are a bit confusing.

We know thatand this cornbread salad won’t help define the term.

Southern Living Cornbread Salad in a trifle bowl ready to serve

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Take as evidenceWatergate SaladandStrawberry-Pretzel Jello Salad.

Learn how to make cornbread salad, and impress everyone with your their new favorite potluck side dish.

Ingredients for Cornbread Salad

Cornbread salads have as much personality as the local garden club.

southern living cornbread salad

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Each person’s is different, and that’s the way we like it.

Here’s a brief overview; the full recipe is further below.

Store the salad covered with storage wrap or a lid up to 2 days.

Southern Living Cornbread Salad whisking together the dressing

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Ingredients

Cornbread:

1/4cupunsalted butter

3cups(about 14.4 oz.

pieces

1(20-oz.)

Once oven is preheated, remove skillet from oven.

Southern Living Cornbread Salad making the corn and tomato mixture

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Add butter, and place skillet in oven.

Heat in oven until butter is melted, about 3 minutes.

While butter melts, whisk together cornmeal mix, buttermilk, and eggs in a medium bowl until combined.

Southern Living Cornbread Salad ranch dressing mixture layer in trifle bowl

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Carefully remove skillet from oven; pour melted butter from skillet into batter, stirring quickly.

Immediately pour batter into hot skillet.

Let cool in pan 5 minutes; turn cornbread out onto a cooling rack.

Southern Living Cornbread Salad adding the cornbread layer to the trifle dish

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Let cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain; set aside.

Lightly press down on layers to compact in trifle dish.

Southern Living Cornbread Salad with red onion layer added

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Finish with remaining cornbread, remaining ranch dressing, and remaining red onion.

Arrange cooked bacon around edges of dish, and arrange remaining corn and tomato mixture in center of dish.

Store, covered, in refrigerator up to 1 day before serving.

Southern Living Cornbread Salad with a layer of ranch in the middle

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Southern Living Cornbread Salad final layer with bacon around the top

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox