Southern Cornbread Salad

Course Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Southern

Keyword layered-cornbread-salad, southrn-cornbread-salad-recipe

Prep Time 20

Chill time 4

Total Time 4 20

Servings servings

Calories 520kcal

Cornbread:
2 Tbsp bacon drippings or vegetable shortening
2 cups yellow self rising cornmeal
1 1/2 cups whole fat buttermilk
4 Tbsp salted butter melted
1 large egg
For the Salad:
3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 lb bacon cooked and crumbled
2 15 oz cans pinto beans drained and rinsed
1 large red bell pepper
1 large green bell pepper
1 cup green onions thinly sliced (Reserve some for garnishing)
1 pint cherry tomatoes halved (Plus additional for garnishing as pictured)
2 1/2 cups canned or frozen and thawed corn with peppers (Mexican corn) (drain canned corn)
Dressing: (Make up to 1 day in advance and chill)
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 cup mayonnaise
1 1.0 oz packet dry Ranch salad dressing mix

Preheat oven to 425°F. Place bacon drippings in an 8 inch cast iron skillet or similar size baking dish and into the oven while it preheats.
In a medium size mixing bowl whisk together cornmeal, buttermilk, melted butter and egg until fully combined.
Remove skillet from oven, swirl to coat with bacon fat. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly golden. Cool completely then crumble.
Whisk together buttermilk, mayonnaise and Ranch dressing mix. Chill until assembling the salad.
To assemble: Divide cornbread and shredded cheese into thirds. Begin with cornbread, cheese, 1/2 layer bell peppers, 1/2 bacon, 1/2 pinto beans, 1/2 green onions, cherry tomatoes and corn. Spread half of dressing evenly on top.
Repeat 1/3 cornbread, 1/3 cheese, bell peppers, bacon, pinto beans, green onion, cherry tomatoes and corn. Spread with remaining dressing.
Garnish with final layer of cornbread and shredded cheese. Garnish as desired with green onions and additional tomatoes.
Refrigerate for 4-6 hours or overnight. Serve chilled.

To Expedite Assembly:

Bake the cornbread and make the Ranch dressing in advance.
You can also toss together the bell peppers combining them for the bell peppers layer.
You can season between the layers with salt or garlic salt and black pepper to your personal taste. Avoid salting the tomatoes or they could breakdown.