Cheesy Cornbread Zucchini Muffins

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A twist on the classic zucchini muffin recipe, these cheesy cornbread zucchini muffins are made with cornbread batter instead of traditional zucchini bread batter and topped with cheddar cheese. This recipe is on our list of best zucchini recipes.

Zucchini bread is great, but sometimes you need a change. Enter the cheesy cornbread zucchini bread muffins.

cheesy cornbread zucchini muffin on red cloth napkin next to muffin tin full of muffins and large zucchini

These muffins are a cross between a cornbread muffin and a zucchini muffin with all of the right flavors melding together. You get that classic cornbread taste with the hint of zucchini and the decadence of the melted cheese.

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You definitely don’t want to skip the cheese on top – it just adds that extra bit of flavor that makes these cheesy cornbread zucchini muffins amazing.

For more zucchini bread recipes, try my recipes for Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins, Whole Wheat Zucchini Bread, or Instant Pot Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread.

Origin of this recipe for cheesy cornbread zucchini muffins

This recipe is adapted from the recipe I shared a few years ago for cheesy cornbread with summer squash. At the time, I was just a little anti-zucchini. I didn’t like the taste of it fresh, so I didn’t want to bake with it.

cheesy cornbread zucchini muffin sitting on white counter with muffin tin and zucchini in background

The thought of this totally cracks me up now. I really just didn’t have a good recipe for preparing zucchini as a healthy side dish (like these zucchini fritters, parmesan zucchini rounds, and parmesan zucchini fries) and I certainly didn’t understand the versatility of baking zucchini into something delicious. Oh well.

I know now and I’m determined to share all of the good things I have discovered along the way. Make sure you check out this instant pot double chocolate zucchini bread recipe, too.

hand holding a cheesy cornbread zucchini muffin with batch of muffins and zucchini in background

How to shred zucchini

There are two different ways to shred zucchini. You can use either a box grater and shred it as you would cheese. Or you can use the grater attachment on a food processor. Although the ladder requires more clean-up, it is my go-to for shredding zucchini because it gets the job done in just a few seconds. This is the food processor I have and love. (affiliate link)

vertical shot of cheesy cornbread zucchini muffins on a white counter with a red cloth napkin
cheesy cornbread zucchini muffin on red cloth napkin next to muffin tin full of muffins and large zucchini

Cheesy Cornbread Zucchini Muffins

Aileen Clark
A twist on the classic zucchini muffin recipe, these cheesy cornbread zucchini muffins are made with cornbread batter instead of traditional zucchini bread batter and topped with cheddar cheese. 
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 18 muffins
Calories 124 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 4 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 eggs large
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted
  • 1 cup zucchini shredded
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
  • Line a muffin tin with baking cups and spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. 
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and melted butter. 
  • Make a well in the dry mixture and pour in the wet mixture. Mix just until combined. 
  • Fold in the zucchini and 1/2 cup of the cheddar cheese. 
  • Spoon the cheesy cornbread zucchini muffin batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each space 3/4 of the way full. Sprinkle the tops with the remaining cheddar cheese. 
  • Bake for 20 minutes. 
  • Let cool on a cooling rack. 
  • Store at room temperature in an air-tight container for 3 days or freezer up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 124kcal
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