Description
These savory, slightly sweet muffins combine cornmeal, crispy bacon, spicy jalapeños, and sharp cheddar cheese for a quick, kid-approved weeknight meal or snack that comes together in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (120g) medium-ground yellow cornmeal
- 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk
- ¼ cup (60g) melted butter, cooled slightly
- ½ cup (70g) cooked bacon, crumbled
- 1–2 medium jalapeños, finely diced (seeds removed for mild heat)
- 1 cup (100g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 tablespoons green onions, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a standard 12-cup muffin tin with butter or cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar until evenly combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, buttermilk, and melted butter until smooth and slightly frothy.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently fold together with a spatula until just moistened; do not overmix.
- Fold in the crumbled bacon, diced jalapeños, shredded cheese, and green onions (if using).
- Divide the batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups, filling each about ¾ full.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to serve warm.
Notes
Do not overmix the batter to ensure tender muffins. If using pickled jalapeños, pat them dry to prevent soggy batter. For a gluten-free version, swap all-purpose flour for a 1:1 gluten-free blend. For dairy-free, use dairy-free butter and milk alternatives. These freeze well for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 muffin
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 280
- Fat: 9
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 7
Keywords: cornbread muffins, bacon jalapeno muffins, cheesy cornbread, quick weeknight dinner, kid-friendly recipes, savory muffins, meal prep