Forget Plain Pancakes: This Boxed Mix Turns 'Em Cowboy-Style Instantly

Cowboy cuisine is all about simplicity, flavor, and ease. When it comes to breakfast, that usually entails fluffy biscuits, hearty meats, and strong coffee. But you don't need to break out the cast iron or load up on beans to start the morning cowboy-style. Instead, just add a classic boxed ingredient to your pancake batter: corn muffin mix.

Cornmeal is a Southwestern staple that creates the base for many beloved old-school dishes, like johnnycakes. First made with nothing but cornmeal, water, and salt, these historic pancakes were enjoyed by pioneers and cowboys for centuries. Modern versions have gotten a major upgrade thanks to the additions of flour, eggs, milk, and butter, but they still have that same delicate, slightly gritty texture and rich, earthy flavor. 

If you use corn muffin mix to make cowboy-inspired pancakes, you'll get an even sweeter result that's light, fluffy, and perfectly balanced. And all you have to do is stir the box right into an easy pancake batter.

If you're making your own batter, just combine the corn muffin mix with flour, baking powder, eggs, and buttermilk. Regular milk is also fine, but buttermilk just adds a nice tang that complements the earthy corn. Use more muffin mix than flour for more pronounced flavor, or leave the flour out all together for a sweeter taste. You can also use boxed pancake mix to make life easier — here are the best boxed pancakes of 2026, if you want some recommendations.

For a more tender pancake, lest the batter rest for a little bit after adding the muffin mix. You could add some mix-ins too like chocolate chips, chopped fruit, or nuts. We have a delicious recipe for fluffy blueberry cornmeal pancakes that explains how to make these without corn muffin mix; all you really have to do is use cornmeal in the batter instead.

Cornmeal pancakes tend to taste better when cooked on a griddle. Try to use a nonstick one and add butter to ensure the pancakes don't stick. Ina Garten prefers to use clarified butter when cooking corn pancakes, as it has a higher smoke point so there is less of a risk of burning. Coconut oil should work too.