Description
These crispy, golden Southern-Style Cornbread Poppers are a bite-sized delight, blending rich tradition with modern comfort. Packed with cheesy, smoky flavor and a touch of heat, they’re the perfect snack or side dish for any Southern-inspired meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup sugar (optional)
- 1 cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup cooked and crumbled bacon or sausage
- 1/4 cup chopped jalapenos (optional)
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- Mix cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a large bowl until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, egg, and melted butter. Gradually add to the dry ingredients, stirring until just mixed.
- Fold in cheddar cheese, your choice of cooked meat, and jalapenos if using.
- Heat oil in a deep skillet over medium-high. Test with a small drop of batter—it should sizzle immediately.
- Drop spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil. Fry in batches until golden, about 3–4 minutes per side.
- Use a slotted spoon to remove poppers, and drain them on paper towels. Serve hot.
Notes
Don’t overmix your batter—it’s okay to leave it a bit lumpy. Make sure your oil is hot enough so your poppers come out crispy, not greasy. Try adding garlic powder or onion powder for extra flavor, and swap cheddar for pepper jack if you like heat. Leftovers reheat well in the air fryer!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 popper
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: cornbread, poppers, southern snack, cheesy bites, fried cornbread