Soft, irresistible homemade cornbread squares are slathered with a kickin’ jalapeño honey butter and then quickly grilled to crisp, buttery perfection! This unique summer side dish will revolutionize your grilling experience.
As a lifelong cornbread enthusiast, I’m always seeking new ways to enjoy this classic comfort food. Forget just chili season – my cornbread cravings hit year-round! And when summer rolls around, bringing with it scorching temperatures and the irresistible lure of the grill, it sparks an exciting culinary challenge: how can I bring my beloved cornbread into the realm of outdoor cooking? The answer, as it turns out, is a revelation: grilled cornbread slathered with a vibrant, spicy-sweet jalapeño honey butter.
This isn’t just any cornbread; it’s cornbread transformed. Grilling it imparts a smoky depth and an incredibly satisfying crispy exterior, while the inside remains tender and moist. But the real game-changer is the homemade jalapeño honey butter, adding layers of sweet, spicy, and savory flavors that make each bite an unforgettable experience. It’s the perfect side for your summer barbecues, a delightful appetizer, or even a unique brunch item.
Why Grilled Cornbread Is Your Next Summer Obsession
You might think of cornbread as a warm, cozy dish primarily served alongside stews and chilis. But trust me, grilling cornbread opens up a whole new world of texture and flavor that is perfectly suited for warmer months. When cornbread hits the hot grates of the grill, something magical happens:
- Crispy Exterior: The direct heat creates a beautifully crisp, slightly charred crust that contrasts wonderfully with the soft interior. It adds a satisfying crunch that you just don’t get from oven-baked cornbread.
- Smoky Flavor: Grilling infuses the cornbread with a subtle, yet distinct, smoky aroma that complements the natural sweetness of the cornmeal. This makes it an ideal pairing for other grilled meats and vegetables.
- Enhanced Moisture: The quick cooking process on the grill, especially with the added butter, helps to lock in moisture, ensuring your cornbread remains incredibly tender on the inside.
- Unexpected Side Dish: It’s a fantastic conversation starter! Your guests will be intrigued and delighted by this unique twist on a familiar favorite.
This simple technique elevates humble cornbread into a gourmet experience that is both easy to achieve and incredibly rewarding.
Crafting the Perfect Jalapeño Honey Butter
The secret to taking this grilled cornbread from delicious to absolutely divine lies in the homemade jalapeño honey butter. This compound butter delivers an exquisite balance of sweet, spicy, and savory notes that truly enhances the grilled cornbread.
For this recipe, I partnered with Madhava Sweeteners, a brand I genuinely adore for their commitment to quality and natural ingredients. Their Organic Pure & Raw Honey is the star of this butter, providing a rich, floral sweetness that beautifully complements the heat of the jalapeño. Madhava’s honey is not only delicious but also minimally processed, ensuring you get all the natural goodness and flavor. Their range of sweeteners, from coconut sugar to agave, are staples in my pantry, and their organic honey is simply unparalleled for both baking and savory applications like this one.
Making the butter is incredibly simple: combine softened salted butter, finely minced fresh jalapeños (seeded to control the heat level), and Madhava Organic Pure & Raw Honey. The result is a creamy, flavorful butter that melts beautifully over the warm, grilled cornbread, creating an irresistible glaze.
Beyond Cornbread: Versatile Uses for Jalapeño Honey Butter
Don’t let any extra butter go to waste! This jalapeño honey butter is incredibly versatile. Here are a few ideas for how to enjoy it:
- Corn on the Cob: Slather it generously on hot, grilled corn on the cob for an explosion of flavor.
- Toast or Biscuits: Elevate your breakfast or brunch by spreading it on warm toast, biscuits, or even bagels.
- Grilled Chicken or Fish: Melt a dollop over grilled chicken breasts or delicate fish fillets for a sweet and spicy kick.
- Sweet Potatoes: A fantastic topping for baked or roasted sweet potatoes.
- Directly from the Spoon: (I won’t judge!) It’s that good.
The combination of sweet honey, fiery jalapeño, and creamy butter is truly addictive and will find a place in many of your culinary creations.
Preparing Your Cornbread for Grilling
For this recipe, you’ll want a batch of your favorite homemade cornbread. I highly recommend using a recipe that yields a slightly denser, yet still moist, cornbread, as it holds up better on the grill. The Family-Favorite Cornbread recipe mentioned in the original post is an excellent choice. Prepare it exactly according to the recipe instructions and allow it to cool slightly before handling.
Once cooled, cut your cornbread into generous squares or rectangles. The key step here is to carefully split each piece horizontally, creating two thinner “slabs.” This maximizes the surface area for grilling, allowing for more delicious crispy edges and providing ample space to spread that incredible jalapeño honey butter. Don’t be shy with the butter – a thick layer on both cut sides ensures maximum flavor and helps prevent sticking on the grill.
Grilling Tips for Golden Perfection
Grilling cornbread is surprisingly quick, so stay attentive! Here’s how to achieve those perfect grill marks and a wonderfully crisp texture:
- Preheat Your Grill: Ensure your grill is preheated to medium-high heat. A hot grill is essential for getting those beautiful char marks without overcooking the inside.
- Clean and Oil Grates: Always start with clean, oiled grill grates to prevent the cornbread from sticking.
- Butter Generously: Apply a liberal amount of the jalapeño honey butter to both split sides of your cornbread pieces. This not only adds flavor but also helps create a golden-brown, crispy crust.
- Watch Carefully: Cornbread cooks quickly on the grill. Place the buttered sides down and grill for about 2-3 minutes per side. You’re looking for distinct grill marks and a lovely golden-brown crispness.
- Don’t Overcook: Overcooking can lead to dry or burnt cornbread. Keep a close eye on it; the transition from perfectly toasted to burnt can happen in a flash.
- Serve Immediately: Grilled cornbread is best enjoyed fresh off the grill while it’s warm and crispy.
The entire grilling process takes less than 10 minutes, making this a perfect last-minute addition to any meal.
Serving Suggestions
While this grilled cornbread with jalapeño honey butter is utterly delicious on its own, it also makes a fantastic accompaniment to a variety of dishes:
- BBQ Feasts: A natural partner for ribs, pulled pork, grilled chicken, or brisket.
- Summer Chili: Don’t limit chili to winter! A lighter, summer chili pairs wonderfully with the grilled cornbread.
- Grilled Burgers and Hot Dogs: A more exciting side than plain buns.
- Salads: Adds a delightful texture and flavor to a fresh summer salad.
- Breakfast/Brunch: Serve with scrambled eggs, bacon, or a fruit salad for a unique morning treat.
No matter how you serve it, this grilled cornbread is sure to be a showstopper. It’s comfort food, elevated for summer, and absolutely irresistible. Give it a try, and prepare to be amazed!
Grilled Cornbread With Jalapeno Honey Butter
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Ingredients
- 1 batch Family-Favorite Cornbread prepared according to recipe instructions
- 1/2 cup salted butter softened
- 1 small jalapeño seeded and minced
- 2 tablespoons Madhava Sweeteners Pure and Raw Honey
Instructions
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Slice prepared cornbread into squares and split each square horizontally. Set aside.
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Place remaining ingredients in a medium bowl and beat until butter is creamy. Spread butter generously on split sides of cornbread squares.
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Grill cornbread over medium-high heat, about 3 minutes on each side or until cornbread is crispy and has prominent grill marks. Serve immediately.
This post is sponsored by Madhava Sweeteners, however all opinions are completely mine alone.
Click HERE to enter Madhava Sweeteners awesome summer Backyard Bartender contest!