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Home » Recipes » Sides

Modified: Sep 30, 2022 | Categories: Baked Goods

Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread Muffins

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Your favorite chili accompaniment will be these cheddar jalapeno cornbread muffins!

They're tender, buttery and have crispy bacon mixed in.

Cornbread Muffins on a marble board.
PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

How to make cheddar jalapeno cornbread muffins

Featured Ingredients

  • Bacon: Chopped and fried until crispy, then drain and let dry on a paper towel.
  • Flour: Any all-purpose flour will work.
  • Cornmeal: A must-have for cornbread muffins!
  • Baking powder: To make them fluffy.
  • Butter: Melted, mixed into the batter.
  • Sugar: To give them just a little bit of sweetness.
  • Eggs: To hold everything together and add to the fluff.
  • Buttermilk: To give that classic tang of cornbread muffins.
  • Cheddar: Shredded mild or sharp cheddar.
  • Jalapeno: Finely minced for a bit of a kick.
Cornbread muffin batter with cheddar, bacon and jalapeno in a bowl.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin tin with muffin liners. Set aside.
  2. Heat medium skillet to medium heat.
  3. Add chopped bacon and cook, 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently, until crispy.
  4. With a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
  5. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt.
  6. In a separate medium bowl, beat together softened butter and sugar, then add eggs one at a time, until mixture is fluffy.
  7. Beat in buttermilk until combined.
  8. Slowly add dry ingredient mixture until just combined.  Use a spatula to fold in bacon crumbles, shredded cheddar and minced jalapeno.
  9. Use a cookie scoop to scoop batter into each muffin well, filling about ¾ of the way full.
  10. Bake 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes clean.
  11. Let cool, then serve with butter and honey.
Single cornbread muffin on marble.

Recipe Substitutions and Alterations

  • For the bacon: You can use pre-cooked bacon or leave it out completely.
  • For the flour: You can use all-purpose, whole wheat, whole wheat pastry, whole wheat white or gluten free all-purpose flour.
  • For the cornmeal: You can use yellow or white cornmeal.
  • For the butter: You can sub for oil or use a mix of oil and butter.
  • For the buttermilk: You can use regular milk and add a tablespoon of white vinegar.
  • For the cheddar: You can use mild or sharp cheddar, shredded.
  • For the jalapeno: You can leave if out if you don't want the heat.

Nutrition Considerations

  • To make them gluten free: Use gluten free all-purpose flour. Be sure all ingredients are gluten free.
  • To make them dairy free: Use a dairy free milk sub, like plain soy, almond, pea, oat, cashew, coconut or rice.
  • To make them vegan: Skip the bacon and cheddar and use a plant-based milk like plain soy, almond, pea, oat, cashew, coconut or rice.
    • Use an egg substitute like Bob's Red Mill Egg Replacer (although I haven't tested this).
  • To make them nut free: This recipe does not contain nuts. Be sure all ingredients are nut free.
  • To make them egg free: Use an egg substitute like Bob's Red Mill Egg Replacer (although I haven't tested this).
Cornbread muffins on a marble board.

Storage Tips

  • To eat right away: Store them in an airtight container or Ziploc bag at room temperature up to 7 days.
  • To freeze: Store them in an airtight container or Ziploc bag in the freezer up to 2 months.
    • Let them thaw at room temperature.
PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

What to serve with cornbread muffins:

  • Pulled Pork Chili
  • Loaded Cheesy Potato Soup
  • Classic Chili with Beef
  • Roasted Poblano Soup with Chicken
Print

Cheddar, Jalapeno & Bacon Cornbread Muffins

Cheddar, Jalapeno & Bacon Cornbread Muffins on a marble board.
Print Recipe

Buttermilk cornbread muffins with freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese, spicy jalapenos and crispy, salty bacon.

  • Author: Julie Andrews
  • Prep Time: 15 min
  • Cook Time: 22 min
  • Total Time: 37 min
  • Yield: Makes 15 muffins 1x
  • Category: Side, Snack
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Southern, American

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 slices all-natural bacon, chopped
  • 1 ½ cups flour*
  • 1 cup coarse cornmeal
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon coarse salt
  • 6 tablespoons butter, softened
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups low fat buttermilk or 1 ½ cups milk
  • 1 cup shredded mild or sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 medium jalapeno, seeded, ribbed and minced
  • Soft salted butter and honey, for serving

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin tin with muffin liners. Set aside.
  2. Heat medium skillet to medium heat. Add chopped bacon and cook, 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently, until crispy.  With a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt.
  4. In a separate medium bowl, beat together softened butter and sugar, then add eggs one at a time, until mixture is fluffy. Beat in buttermilk until combined.  Slowly add dry ingredient mixture until just combined.  Use a spatula to fold in bacon crumbles, shredded cheddar and minced jalapeno.
  5. Use a cookie scoop to scoop batter into each muffin well, filling about ¾ of the way full. Bake 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes clean.
  6. Let cool, then serve with butter and honey.

Notes

Cooking Tip: You can also use all-purpose, whole wheat, whole wheat pastry, whole wheat white or gluten free all-purpose flour.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/15 of recipe
  • Calories: 171
  • Sugar: 8
  • Sodium: 202
  • Fat: 8
  • Saturated Fat: 5
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 19
  • Fiber: 2
  • Protein: 5
  • Cholesterol: 46

Keywords: easy, healthy, whole wheat, with buttermilk, homemade, from scratch, quick

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hi, i’m julie!

chef, registered dietitian & mom
passionate about simple, healthy cooking

*formerly the gourmet RD*

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