Spoon bread is a creamy twist on cornbread that you scoop with a spoon! This old-fashioned side dish has a texture that’s part soufflé, part bread pudding, and 100% delicious. It pairs perfectly with your favorite Southern meals.
Serve spoon bread as a side to cozy Brunswick stew or beef tips with gravy for a hearty cold-weather dinner.
Spoon bread gets its name from how you eat it: With a spoon! This is because this twist on cornbread is soft and creamy in texture, like soufflé, and needs to be dished out by scooping. Spoon bread is believed to have Native American roots, and it’s a Southern favorite, with a short ingredients list and simple steps to make it, which I love.
What Makes Old-Fashioned Spoon Bread a Go-To Side Dish
One bowl. Combine a box of corn muffin mix with pantry staples like butter, sour cream, and eggs. Mix the batter in a single bowl, then bake and enjoy!
Delicious texture. The combination of cornmeal, creamed corn, and sweet whole kernels gives this bread plenty of texture and fresh corn flavor.
Sharing is caring. Golden-baked spoon bread is the best side dish to make for a crowd. Unlike traditional cornbread, which requires slicing, you serve spoon bread right from the casserole dish.
Spoon Bread vs. Cornbread
Spoon bread is like a softer, more moist version of cornbread. It shares many of the same ingredients, with a light, creamy texture somewhere between a souffle and bread pudding.
Ingredients in This Recipe
For the complete ingredients list and recipe details, refer to the printable recipe card after the post.
Corn Muffin Mix – You can use Jiffy or similar brands. Choose your favorite!
Corn – You’ll need one can of creamed corn and one can of corn kernels. I use this combination in my cheesy cornbread recipe. The creamed corn adds creaminess and moisture, while the whole kernel corn adds texture.
Butter – Salted or unsalted butter, melted.
Sour Cream – Plain yogurt is a good substitute if needed.
Eggs – For a more even batter, bring fridge-cold ingredients like eggs and sour cream to room temperature.
How to Make Spoon Bread
Making spoon bread is VERY easy. I recommend baking in a glass or ceramic baking dish, as the edges tend to brown more quickly in a metal pan.
Try These Variations
Tex-Mex. You can add a Tex-Mex spin on this recipe by using “Mexicorn” in place of the plain canned corn. Or add in a drained can of green chilis
Add bacon. Fold cooked, crumbled bacon into the batter.
Cheesy. Add in shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Pepper Jack cheese.
Sweeten it up. Add a tablespoon of brown sugar, granulated sugar, or honey for a sweeter version.
How to Store It
Refrigerate. Store your leftover spoon bread in a covered airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat. You can warm up the spoon bread in the oven or heat individual servings in the microwave.
Old-fashioned Southern spoon bread is a soft, creamy twist on cornbread that you eat with a spoon! It’s a comforting side dish to soups, stews, or any meal.
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Coat a 9×9-inch baking dish with nonstick spray and set aside.
In a large bowl, stir together all of the ingredients until well combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 45 – 50 minutes or until the bread is just set.
Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
You can add a Tex-Mex spin on this recipe by using “Mexicorn” in place of the plain canned corn. Or add in a drained can of green chilis!
Store airtight in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
