Turn A Whole Box Of Cornbread Mix Into A Decadent Breakfast Casserole With A Few Ingredients

Cornbread is tender and comforting, but you don't often think of it as a canvas for a casserole. While there are plenty of breakfast and brunch casseroles that lean into baked eggs as their base, why not consider soulful cornbread as an anchor? This toothsome and starchy baked good welcomes the addition of other ingredients that transform it into a meal in its own right.

While you may be familiar with doctoring up your boxed cornbread with honey, sour cream, mayonnaise, or even more corn, you may not be thinking of a meal's worth of additions. If you think of cornbread as both a binder and a foundation, plenty of ideas may start popping into your head. You've likely seen jalapeños or even cheese incorporated into cornbread, so this hack simply takes the idea to the next level. Proteins like cooked sausage, ground meat, and bacon are quick go-tos, but you could also incorporate cooked, cubed chicken and veggies like chopped peppers.

To get your cornbread casserole going, prep two boxes of cornbread mix as directed, and add your mix-ins of choice. You could go Southwestern with sausage, bacon, cheese, green chiles, and a dash of cumin, or make a take on a farmer's omelet with bacon, cheese, peppers, and some cooked broccoli florets and onions. After you've incorporated all of your fixings, pour the mixture into a greased dish and let it bake until golden brown. Then, restrain yourself as you let the concoction cool before digging in.

Cornbread has an incredibly long culinary history, beginning thousands of years ago with the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. It became part of the American food tradition, particularly in the South, in the 18th century. Its story is also tethered to enslaved people, as its few necessities of cornmeal, salt, and water were somewhat readily available, and it ultimately evolved into a staple of Southern cuisine. 

Because this bread was naturally versatile, regional cooks began embellishing the basic batter with whatever they had on hand. Adding leftover bacon fat, cracklings, or green chiles helped turn a simple side into a heartier dish, echoing the fully loaded casseroles we make today. Plus, whipping up cornbread now is easier than ever before thanks to boxed mixes, and a wedge of cornbread casserole is just as satisfying straight out of the pan as it is heated back up as leftovers.

If you enjoy thinking outside the box with your cornbread mix, consider crafting cornbread bowls for your next batch of chili or even making cornbread waffles. Just remember to grab more cornbread mix for a repeat performance of this hearty breakfast casserole.