Gluten-Free Jalapeño Cheddar Honey Cornbread Recipe

This is the best Gluten-Free Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread baked in a skillet for a soft, fluffy inside and perfectly crisped outside.

My recipe for classic Gluten-free Honey Cornbread serves as the base for this flavorful, cheesy jalapeño cornbread. It’s a rich twist on traditional cornbread that achieves a delicate balance of savory, sweet and spicy flavors.

While you can make this cheese cornbread in all kinds of baking dishes from square to muffin tins, a cast-iron skillet is my favorite choice. The edges get the ideal cornbread crisp in a cast-iron pan. Plus, a rustic skillet is a visual upgrade that adds to the sentimental and timeless appeal of this side dish. It’s a simple touch that makes this classic comfort food company-worthy.

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EQUIPMENT

• 12-Inch Oven-Safe Skillet: Pictured in this recipe is an Enameled Cast Iron Skillet from Target. (The recipe card also includes bake time adjustments for a smaller 10-inch skillet, 8×8 square baking dish, and 12 count muffin pan.)
• Whisk: I use a whisk for all of the mixing in this recipe, except for stirring in the cheddar and jalapeño peppers.

Gluten-Free Ingredients

• Gluten-Free Baking Flour Blend that contains xanthan gum: I used King Arthur Gluten-Free Measure for Measure Flour.
• Yellow Cornmeal: Choose cornmeal that is labeled gluten-free, to reduce the risk of cross-contact with gluten-containing grains during processing.
• Baking Powder & Baking Soda: Both give this fluffy cornbread the perfect rise. Baking powder is especially important in gluten-free baking.
• Honey: Adds sweetness and creates a moist crumb.
• Eggs: An important binder.
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Sharp cheddar cheese is my personal favorite. Use your favorite cheese… mild cheddar or pepper jack cheese are both great options. Pre-shredded cheese works fine in this recipe, if you don’t want to shred cheese yourself.
• Jalapeño: diced, fresh, jalapeños add a little kick to every bite.
• More Staples: Salt, Milk, Butter
• Cooking Spray or Oil: to grease the skillet before baking. Make sure your cooking spray is gluten-free. Pam Baking Spray, for example, contains wheat flour and is made specifically for “greasing and flouring” a pan.

Step-By-Step Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, add gluten-free flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Use a whisk to stir the dry ingredients until they are well-combined.

In a separate medium bowl, beat eggs and honey.

Then, whisk in milk and melted butter. Tip! To quickly melt butter, cut it into smaller pieces and melt in the microwave in 30-second increments.

Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients, and whisk until combined. It’s fine to have some small lumps remaining. The batter should be thick but pourable.

Stir in the shredded cheddar and diced jalapeño. For all the other mixing in this easy recipe, I use a whisk. But for this step, I switch to a soft spatula or spoon.

Let the batter rest for 20 minutes, so the gluten-free flour and cornmeal have time to hydrate. This is an important step in gluten-free baking, and will give you the perfect light, moist cornbread you’re after.

While the batter is resting, preheat the oven to 400℉. Grease a 12-inch skillet with oil or gluten-free cooking spray. 

Bake the cornbread at 400℉ for approximately 18-23 minutes. It’s ready when the crust is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

For muffins or other baking dishes, see the baking times in the notes section of the recipe card. Muffins will bake faster, and most other baking dishes will have a thicker batter and take longer to fully bake.

Let the cornbread cool for five minutes before slicing. Serve warm with butter and a drizzle of honey or alongside a bowl of chili.

Variations

• Increase the amount of jalapeño for an extra kick.
• Swap out shredded cheddar for your favorite cheese.
• Want real corn in your cornbread? Simply add 1 cup of sweet corn kernels (fresh, frozen or drained canned corn).
• Add crispy bacon. Mix four slices of chopped, fully-cooked bacon to the batter when you add the jalapeño and cheddar.
• Jalapeño cheddar cornbread muffins are a great option for freezing and reheating individual portions. (see reheating instructions below)

Storage

Keep leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. Do not store leftover cornbread in the fridge, where it will dry out.

For longer storage, wrap the cornbread tightly in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. I use a freezer bag to save precious storage space.

Reheating

Cornbread is susceptible to drying out, and gluten-free cornbread is especially so. Be sure to add moisture when reheating:

• Microwave Method: Place a damp paper towel on top of the cornbread and reheat. One slice takes about 30 seconds. If reheating several slices of cornbread, start with one minute and then reheat in 30-second increments until fully warm.
• Oven Method: Spray the cornbread with water or add a little butter to the top of the cornbread for moisture. Cover loosely with aluminum foil. Bake at 350℉ for approximately 10 minutes.

Related Gluten-Free Recipes

• Turkey Chili Recipe: Cheddar jalapeño cornbread makes the perfect side dish to hearty & healthy turkey chili.
• 40 Gluten-Free, Slow Cooker, Chicken Recipes: Pick one of these 40 recipes to pair with skillet cornbread for a delicious, comfort-food dinner.
• 63 Gluten-Free Super Bowl Snacks for the Win: Add gluten-free cornbread to your Game Day spread!