The turkey is not the only star of Thanksgiving — side dishes can be too! The staples have always included stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy and macaroni and cheese, but one side dish every table needs on Thanksgiving is cornbread. That’s why StudyFinds scoured experts’ opinions and compiled a list of the best cornbread mixes to use for Thanksgiving.
What is America’s favorite Thanksgiving side dish? In a classic holiday season battle, a recent survey finds nearly half of Americans crown mashed potatoes as their favorite (46%) — just narrowly beating out stuffing (43%). Meanwhile, sweet potatoes (39%) and cranberry sauce (37%) also make the list of the most popular choices.
Sometimes, not every Thanksgiving dinner is a home run. And when that happens, many people just keep their mouths shut. A study finds that seven in ten people lie to family members about how their holiday meals taste. But how can you really screw up cornbread?
Are you ready to make some delicious cornbread for the holidays? StudyFinds has the top five best cornbread mixes every baker needs. Did we miss one of your favorites? Let us know in the comments below!
The List: Best Cornbread Mixes, According to Experts
1. Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
Topping the list of best cornbread mixes is the classic Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix. “Jiffy is a staple baking mix in many Southern households,” says Southern Living. “This was also the most inexpensive mix out of the bunch, priced at just 60 cents at the local grocery store. And it earned the most points of any other mix in this taste test—by a lot.”
“Every baker in need of a quick fix cornbread knows Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix,” notes Taste of Home. “This cornbread mix is a staple in pantries for good reason. Our Test Kitchen team found this cornbread mix to be simple and satisfying. It bakes up golden yellow with that just-right cornmeal aroma. Right out of the oven, this is a treat to be savored with honey.”
Sporked calls Jiffy the “industry standard for cornbread mix.” “It bakes up moist and tender. The flavor is sweet, but not too sweet. It’s very mild and standard in the perfect way. That’s what makes it the best cornbread mix. Be warned, though: This is made with lard and is not suitable for vegetarians.”
2. Krusteaz Southern Cornbread and Muffin Mix
Coming in second on the list is the Krusteaz Southern Cornbread and Muffin Mix. “This recipe requires milk or buttermilk, melted butter, and eggs, which are pantry staples in many homes, so you won’t need to run out for ingredients,” explains The Spruce Eats. “You can use an 8-inch or 9-inch square pan, a round cake pan, or a muffin pan, but this cornbread is best when baked in a cast iron skillet.”
“Tasters found this mix produced a cornbread that was ‘more flavorful than most,'” writes Southern Kitchen. “Another taster said this cornbread ‘was very sweet and does kind of have a good corn aftertaste.’ Our tasters were also happy to see this cornbread could be extracted in one piece with ease. There was a slight crumble, but it was healthy and what you should expect.”
If you want your cornbread a bit sweeter, The Manual recommends the Krusteaz Honey Cornbread & Muffin Mix. It “adds something that many cornbread lovers can’t live without – that honey taste. Even if you’re looking for a hearty side dish for a savory entrée, the added honey ingredient in this cornbread infuses the corn while it bakes, rather than soaking through it as a topping.”
3. Famous Dave’s Cornbread Mix
Famous Dave’s is best known for its chain barbecue restaurants, but it also sells its popular cornbread mix. “Their delicious cornbread mix is reviewed highly, with many fans nationwide. Reviewers of this cornbread box mix note that this mix is easy to make and holds up well when baked without getting too crumbly,” writes Mashed. “Additionally, some people mention that this cornbread is not too sweet, but it does have a slightly sweet corn taste. While some cornbread mixes can bake up too dry, this one bakes up very moist.”
According to Allrecipes, “You may want to grab two boxes, but if you want homemade cornbread without the effort, Famous Dave’s will sate your craving.”
If you want to kick it up a notch, Sporked recommends Famous Dave’s Jalapeno Cornbread Mix. “If you can handle a little heat, I recommend getting a box of Famous Dave’s Jalapeno Cornbread. It’s my personal favorite. It’s so soft and definitely packs a punch of jalapeno-y goodness. This would be so delicious with chili. Or topped with salted butter and a little bit of honey. Honestly, I don’t think there’s anything you could do with this that wouldn’t be good. I don’t know Famous Dave, but I certainly would like to so I could thank him for making the best cornbread mix.”
4. Zatarain’s Cornbread
Sporked recommends Zatarain’s Honey Butter Cornbread Mix. “I know Zatarain’s knows rice, but I’m just finding out they also know cornbread mix! Their honey butter cornbread mix is delicious. It bakes up really tender and light. The honey flavor is pronounced without being overpowering. It’s super buttery. It’s the best cornbread mix to pair with a box of Zatarain’s Jambalaya for a delicious, cheap, faux-Cajun meal. To be honest, this cornbread doesn’t even need butter. It’s that good.”
“Zatarain’s specializes in New Orleans-style products, including a large variety of flavored rice mixes, frozen entrees, breading and frying mixes, and more. But what we love most from the brand is their delicious cornbread mix,” notes Mashed.
Another cornbread mix that can pack some heat is Zatarain’s Cheddar Jalapeno Cornbread Mix. “This New Orleans brand sells regional offerings like red beans and rice, jambalaya, and dirty rice, so it’s no surprise that they’ve also got a NOLA-style cornbread to go with your gumbo, but it’s just as good with your chili or fried chicken,” says The Spruce Eats.
5. Fleischmann’s Simply Homemade Baking Mix Cornbread
Rounding out the top five is Fleischmann’s Simply Homemade Baking Mix Cornbread. “If you’re a baker, you might know the company Fleischmann’s for their yeasts,” says The Manual. “That’s what the company has focused on since the 1860s. But there’s only one bread mix that rounds out their product line: Fleischmann’s Simply Homemade Cornbread Baking Mix. The ‘homemade’ title in the name of the product delivers – it tastes like the best version of homemade because it doesn’t have any artificial colors or preservatives. The mix only includes cornmeal, wheat flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, honey, and xantham gum as a thickener. This is our top choice of a cornmeal mix because it’s the perfect balance of savory and sweet and offers the perfect texture that isn’t too wet or too dry.”
“Craving an old-fashioned cornbread but don’t have the time to make a batch from scratch? Snag a box of Fleischmann’s Simply Homemade Cornbread Baking Mix instead,” writes Taste of Home. “This golden yellow pan of cornbread had the perfect level of moisture and great flavor. Yes, there were some sweet notes but they were balanced out with a touch of salt and nuttiness from the cornmeal. This mix also delivered the most on corn flavor which is, of course, the whole point of cornbread!”
Mashed notes, “As far as their cornbread boxed mix goes, reviews reveal that it’s a pretty popular option. Many reviewers note that it is not too sweet, which we love. It’s also moist — not gritty at all. While some note that its texture is too similar to cake, others claim that it’s perfect. While we know that it’s challenging to please everyone and many will have contradicting opinions, we love that Fleischmann’s is only focusing on cornbread.”
You might also be interested in:
Sources:
- Southern Living
- Bon Appétit
- Taste of Home
- Sporked
- The Spruce Eats
- Allrecipes
- Insider.com
- Mashed
- Southern Kitchen
- The Manual
This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.
Long ago I started making my cornbread from scratch. It’s easy and tastes much better than boxed mixes. Just think about “thirds”–1/3 flour, 1/3 corn flour and 1/3 corn meal. You get the corn flavor with less corn meal “grittiness”.