Ah, Cornbread with Beans—a comforting, hearty dish perfect as a side or even a main. Here’s a classic version where sweet, crumbly cornbread meets savory beans:
Ingredients
For the Beans:
- 2 cups cooked beans (pinto, black, or kidney beans work well; canned is fine, drained and rinsed)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- ½ tsp cumin
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp oil
For the Cornbread:
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup sugar (optional, adjust for sweetness)
- 4 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup milk
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup melted butter or oil
Instructions
- Preheat Oven:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Grease an 8×8-inch baking pan or similar dish.
- Cook the Beans (if using fresh/canned):
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Sauté onion and garlic until translucent.
- Add beans, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper.
- Cook 5 minutes until heated through, then remove from heat.
- Prepare the Cornbread Batter:
- In a bowl, mix cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk together milk, egg, and melted butter.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Combine and Bake:
- Spread half of the cornbread batter in the prepared pan.
- Spoon beans evenly over the batter.
- Pour remaining cornbread batter on top, spreading gently.
- Bake 25–30 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the cornbread comes out clean.
- Serve:
- Let cool a few minutes, then cut into squares.
- Optional: top with shredded cheese or hot sauce for extra flavor.
💡 Tips:
- For extra richness, stir some shredded cheese or chopped green chilies into the cornbread batter.
- Leftovers reheat well in the microwave or oven.
- You can also make individual cornbread and bean muffins by layering beans and batter in a muffin tin.
I can also give a Southern-style skillet cornbread with beans recipe where the cornbread has a crispy crust and the beans are baked right inside—super hearty and flavorful.
Do you want me to provide that version?
