BBQ Cornbread is the best of sweet-meets-smoky. Tender cornbread batter bakes under a saucy barbecue beef topping, then gets a melty cheddar finish. All in about 30 minutes with 5 pantry-friendly ingredients.
Updated September 2025: Improved title and description, added ToC, clarified tips on oven temperature and fill amounts, added FAQs, and refreshed internal links. Originally posted September 29, 2017.
Here's what readers have to say about this recipe:
Reader Cathy, commented: "Made this exactly as directed and it was a big hit. My son devoured three of the jumbo, so if you have a 20 year old bottomless pit like I do, you may need to make a few more. Took no time at all, which is a weeknight plus, for sure. I used a Texas style BBQ sauce. Personal taste. ★★★★★"
Another reader Tracy, commented: "My kids LOVED these! So glad to have stumbled upon this recipe to use a cornbread mix I'd found in the pantry. Such a fun recipe, will definitely make again! ★★★★★"
I've been making a version of these savory cornbread muffins for years, and they never miss: quick to prep, crowd-pleasing, and just right when you need dinner fast. (New here? I've been sharing modern comfort food with soul since 2013. Come say hi on my About page.)
Before You Cook
The Vibe: Sweet-smoky, saucy, hearty. Hand-held and game-day friendly.
Tools: Jumbo or standard muffin pan, large skillet, mixing bowl, scoop, or 2-Tbsp measure.
Key Ingredients (what to buy):
- Ground beef (lean works great)
- Onion (yellow or white, diced fine)
- Barbecue sauce (choose smoky/spicy to balance the sweet mix)
- Corn muffin mix (8.5 oz; Jiffy or similar)
- Cheddar (freshly shredded melts best)
Helpful Swaps & Variations:
- Meat: Swap with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles (brown well, add 1-2 tablespoon oil if lean).
- Sauce: Use your favorite sweet & spicy, hickory, or mustard BBQ.
- Cheese: Cheddar, Colby-Jack, or pepper jack.
- Add-ins: Diced jalapeño, a pinch of chili powder, or smoked paprika in the beef.
Best Bite Alert: Don't overload the meat topping, too much can weigh down the rise. (See Recipe Tips below.)
BBQ Cornbread Recipe
📖 Recipe
BBQ Cornbread (Savory Cornbread Muffins) Recipe
Video
Equipment
- 1 Jumbo Muffin Pan
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ¼ cup onion, diced
- ¾ cup barbecue sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 package (8.5 oz.) corn muffin mix
- ½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. (*the Jiffy package states 400 degrees F. but please ignore that) and lightly spray a muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray or use muffin liners.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add in the 1 pound of ground beef and ¼ cup of diced onions. Stir and cook until the meat has browned and then carefully drain off the excess fat if needed.
- Stir in the ¾ cup barbecue sauce until the beef mixture is evenly coated. Stir in the ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, and ¼ teaspoon garlic powder until combined. Turn off the heat and set the skillet aside.
- Prepare the 8.5 ounces of corn muffin mix according to the instructions on the package.
- Spoon in about 2 tablespoons of the corn muffin mixture into each individual muffin well.
- Top the muffin mixture with about 2 tablespoons of the barbecue beef mixture and place into the oven to bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove the muffins from the oven and top each with 1 tablespoon of the shredded cheddar cheese. Bake for an additional 5 minutes to allow the cheese to melt.
- Carefully remove from the oven and allow the muffins to cool in the pan for about 3 to 4 minutes before removing from the pan.
- Top with additional cheese if you prefer and serve warm. Enjoy!
Notes
- Bake at 350°F (ignore 400°F on mix box).
- Use 2 tablespoon batter + 2 tablespoon sauced beef per well; finish with 1 tablespoon cheese.
- Standard pan yields 8-9; jumbo yields 6.
- Reheat: air fryer for crisp edges; microwave for soft texture.
- When ready to reheat the muffins, try heating them in the air fryer for a slightly crispy texture. You may also reheat in the microwave, but the muffins will be soft.
After You Cook
Storage: Refrigerate airtight up to 3 days.
Reheat: Air fryer for a few minutes for crisp edges, or microwave until warm.
Freeze: Not recommended (texture softens).
Want To Save This Recipe?
Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get comforting new recipes from us every week!
Serving Ideas
- Drizzle with a little extra BBQ sauce and a sprinkle of green onion.
- Plate with Garlic Green Beans or a simple coleslaw.
- Make a game-day board with Sweet & Spicy Meatballs and BBQ Chicken Sliders.
Expert Tips
- Balance the flavors: choose a smoky/spicy BBQ sauce to offset the lightly sweet mix.
- Don't overmix the batter-tiny lumps = tender crumb.
- Mind the fill level: 2 tablespoon batter + 2 tablespoon beef is the sweet spot for a nice dome.
- Shred your own cheese for the best melt.
FAQs
Yes. Brown well with a teaspoon of oil, then sauce as directed.
Bake, cool, and refrigerate up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer to crisp the edges.
A smoky or spicy sauce balances the slightly sweet mix. Mustard-based works too if you like tangy.
Yes, spread batter in an 8-inch pan, spoon beef over, bake 20-25 minutes, add cheese for the last 5.
Mild as written. Add diced jalapeño or chili powder for heat.
Did you grow up eating savory cornbread too? Let me know your family twist in the comments! If you make this recipe, tag @SimplyLaKita on Instagram or pin it to save for later.
💌 From my kitchen to yours, happy baking!
Tracy says
My kids LOVED these! So glad to have stumbled upon this recipe to use a cornbread mix I'd found in the pantry. Such a fun recipe, will definitely make again!
LaKita says
Thank you Tracy!! Happy to hear your kids enjoyed the recipe!
Hayley Dhanecha says
Love the fact that this recipe is 5 ingredients! Your tutorial is super helpful and led to perfect results!
LaKita says
Thank you Hayley, we love a easy and helpful recipe here 🙂
Jamie says
This is such a great idea combining bbq with cornbread! It was so flavorful and a huge hit at dinner. Thank you!
LaKita says
Thanks Jamie, it is a pretty great combination 🙂
DEbbie says
These Barbecue Cornbread Muffins were so yummy , my whole family loved these. This were simple and so good. Thanks for a great recipe.
LaKita says
Thank you so much Debbie!!!
Jenny says
Please move to the front of the class. I love this barbecue cornbread muffin recipe. Who needs protein (grin)? Thanks for sharing!
LaKita says
Thank you so much Jenny!! That makes me so happy to hear 🙂
Andrea says
This is the first time I've had BBQ corn muffins. They are great! Thank you.
LaKita says
Thank you Andrea, happy to hear you enjoyed the muffin recipe!
Tristin says
These barbecue muffins were the star of the show! No one really cared about the rest of the food, just the muffins, lol!
LaKita says
Thank you so much Tristin, that is great to hear!
Megan says
these are so awesome! I would never have thought to make them with beef and barbecue sauce.
LaKita says
Thank you Megan, it's a great unlikely combination!
Amanda Mason says
These were so fantastic!! I mean so good! What a great recipe! Loved every bite and these were really easy to make! Great recipe!
LaKita says
Thank you so much Amanda, definitely easy to make!
veenaazmanov says
This is definitely unique and a perfect Breakfast dish. Looks moist and tempting and delicious for sure. Weekend Breakfast special for my loved ones.
LaKita says
Thank you, never thought to have these for breakfast but a great lunch or dinner option for sure!
Amy Liu Dong says
This muffin recipe looks yummy! I love the unique concept of this recipe, it's just so innovative. Loved it!
LaKita says
Thank you so much Amy!
Heather says
These are a hit with my teen! Making this for the second time in two weeks tonight. I use a honey cornbread mix that we like.
LaKita says
Awesome! So glad to hear and honey cornbread sounds delicious!
Sunny D says
In the words of my 10-year old: "These look kind of odd and the idea sounds strange, but they're really, really good!" Everyone in my family loved these -- even the five year old picky eater. Thanks!
LaKita says
I'm so happy to hear that!!!!
Kelly Hodgins says
I made this tonight, and my kids and I loved it! I served it with a pickle and cottage cheese. Thanks for the recipe!
LaKita says
Thank you Kelly! Glad it was a hit with you and your family!
Shannon Holand says
I was pleasantly surprised how much I loved these muffins! I'm not big on bbq sauce but thought I would give them a try. I didn't have a cornbread mix so I mixed up 1/2 batch of my own recipe which is a lot more work but it was so worth it. With the onion, red pepper, jalapeno, cream corn, a touch of sugar and sour cream they were so flavourful. I will find cornbread muffin mix to have on hand when I want to make this the quick way just so I can compare. Wondering if you can recommend the best way to reheat these as the microwave took away the crispness of the cornbread.
LaKita says
Hi Shannon, Glad you enjoyed them! Love hearing about your changes. Reheating will not keep the crispness unfortunately.
Nancy says
Try reheating in an AIR FRYER to keep them crisp, and not microwave soggy/tough.
LaKita says
Great idea!! Thank you for sharing!!
Heather says
Love reheating in the airfryer it’s perfect for all sorts of creations
LaKita says
Thank you Heather! I agree, the air fryer is so perfect for all sorts of food items 🙂
Elysa says
The directions on the muffin box said 400° but i followed the recipe. It didn't cook fully. I added about 4 extra minutes and it was fine. And absolutely fabulous!
(Update from last review. please disregard it.)
LaKita says
Hi Elysa! Thank you. I will be sure to update the recipe to note the difference.
Akaleistar says
Yummy! Those muffins look like a bite sized meal 🙂
LaKita says
Thank you...they really are 🙂
Sonya says
These cornbread muffins look delicious!!! 🙂
Your son looks a lot like you.
I'm happy to hear that you have so many exciting things in the works. Photographing a cookbook sounds really exciting and I know it will be beautiful because your pictures are always gorgeous.
LaKita says
Aww...Thank you so much Sonya! We get that a lot 🙂
Tamara says
This is so creative. I remember last year my mother-in-law made cornbread that was a bit spicy and with cheese, and I thought, "Wow, that's one way to up it." I love the upgrades and making meals out of cornbread. YUM.
LaKita says
Thank you! Spicy and cheesy cornbread sounds like my kind of recipe 🙂
Janet Weisbrod says
love this...I double it and bake it in a 9× 13 pan.
LaKita says
Glad you enjoyed it, love that you made it in a 9x13 inch pan!!!
Damian says
What's a good side dish for this?
LaKita says
Really any that you prefer. Try pairing it with a side salad, green beans or some potato salad and baked beans. Hope this helps!
Mary says
I like pretty much any recipe that has 5 ingredients, that means I can't mess it up... hopefully lol. I'm happy you found a mastermind group. Working for yourself is very hard, I have my ups and downs, my good days and bad, but having a good support group is always beneficial to entrepreneurs like us! I'm very proud of my friend, if you ever need someone to talk too I'm also here. I'll be in the look out for mid-day munchines.
LaKita says
Thank you!! That is so true...having support as a solopreneur is so important. It can get pretty lonely around here.