Spicy Cornbread Salad
Cornbread salad is a delightfully unique spin on traditional macaroni salad. Instead of usual salad recipe, why not try something totally unique?
The final stop on my week-long roadtrip cutting through the center of the country – from eastern Minnesota to western Tennessee and back – was at the Starboard Market in Clear Lake, Iowa.
It’s one of my favorite restaurants, but it’s more than two hours from where I live, so I can’t go often.
I’ve been there three times and have been so impressed with their creative menu and array of salads and scratch-made desserts. This time, I tried a cornbread salad. I loved it so much that I had to try my own version soon after I came back.
About The Recipe: Cornbread Salad
This cornbread salad recipe is interesting, combining the slightly sweet flavor of cornbread with the saltiness of olives and spiciness of jalapenos.
This is a very versatile recipe – if you’re not into spicy food, you could certainly substitute other flavors as well. You could add in virtually any ingredient that you would put in a traditional macaroni or potato salad: onions, green peppers, bacon, celery, cheese, etc.
This is a budget-friendly recipe for a couple of reasons:
- Cornbread is the base of this salad. Next time you are making cornbread as a part of your meal, make a double batch and use the rest for this salad.
- It’s customizable: You can easily substitute any add-ins that you happen to have on hand, allowing you to use up extra ingredients instead of buying more.
Bring this budget-friendly salad to your next potluck or picnic!
Want another Starboard Market (copycat) recipe? Check out my rendition of cheesy cornbread soup!
Get the recipe: Starboard Market-inspired butternut squash pasta salad
Spicy Cornbread Salad
Start with your favorite cornbread recipe or mix, enough for an 8x8 or 9x9-inch pan.
Ingredients
- One batch of cornbread (8x8 or 9x9-inch pan size)
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise (or more, depending on your preference)
- 1/2 cup chopped green olives
- 1/4 cup jarred jalapenos (not fresh)
- 1/3 cup chopped bacon
- Handful of pecans, chopped
- 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 carrot, shredded
- Cayenne pepper
- Ground black pepper
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Crumble prepared cornbread in a mixing bowl.
- In a separate bowl, mix mayonaise with spices and desired add-ins. Combine cornbread with the mayonnaise mixture. Add in more mayonnaise if desired. Chill and serve.