Southern Cornbread Recipe
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This Southern Cornbread Recipe delivers a crispy, golden crust and a tender center with just 5 ingredients. Baked in a cast iron skillet and ready in 30 minutes, it’s the perfect delicious partner for chili, soup, greens, and many Southern recipe favorites.
The warm, inviting aroma of this Southern cornbread fresh from the oven is so comforting! This recipe was passed down from my grandmother and is a staple in my kitchen. It’s part of my heirloom Southern Cornbread Dressing. It is perfect with everything from a pinto bean supper to classic chili or my vegetable soup – and don’t miss it with turnip or collard greens! With its crispy edges and tender crumb, it’s so versatile and simple to make!
This is The Best Southern Cornbread!
Southern Cornbread is a classic side dish that is also a must in traditional Southern cooking. Generations of cooks in my family have made it this way. And without a doubt in my mind, a good cornbread recipe is an essential part of so many southern meals. But this cornbread recipe is special – no dry cornbread is accepted here!
Since watching my grandmother and mother make it and now making it more times than I can count, there’s a certain way to make great homemade southern cornbread – and I believe this is it!
Why You’ll Love This Southern Cornbread Recipe
- Crispy But Tender: This recipe, cooked in a hot iron skillet, creates golden, crunchy edges with a soft interior.
- Quick and Easy: Just 5 ingredients and 30 minutes for true Southern flavor.
- No Sugar: True to my Southern heritage, my recipe skips sugar for a classic, savory taste.
- Versatile: Delicious with butter, honey, or as a base for my southern cornbread dressing.
- Family Favorite: A cherished recipe that’s kid-approved and a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
- Self-Rising Cornmeal: Finely ground for a smooth taste and texture. If unavailable, see Ingredient Swaps for regular cornmeal.
- Flour: Use self-rising flour for a light, tender, and soft cornbread.
- Eggs: Room temperature eggs for best incorporation into the batter.
- Buttermilk: Gives great flavor and tenderness to the bread. Make buttermilk easily if needed.
- Water: Lightens the batter for the perfect consistency.
- Butter or Vegetable Shortening: For greasing the skillet and giving a rich, flavorful crust.
Ingredient Swaps
- Regular Cornmeal: Use finely ground cornmeal along with 1 tsp salt and 2 tsp baking powder.
- Gluten-Free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend with leavening as a swap for self-rising flour.
- Bacon Grease: Replace butter with bacon grease for a flavorful twist.
How to Make Southern Cornbread
In addition to a cast iron skillet, you’ll need these 5 ingredients, plus water:
Step by Step Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425º Fahrenheit. Coat a 12-inch cast iron skillet with butter or vegetable shortening. Place in the oven to heat until the butter melts, about 5 minutes. Swirl to coat, leaving excess butter in the skillet.
- In a large bowl, combine self-rising cornmeal, self-rising flour, eggs, buttermilk, and water.
- Stir until just combined—avoid overmixing for a tender texture.
- Pour batter into the hot skillet; the butter will sizzle and rise along the edges.
Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and the center springs back when touched. Slice into wedges in the skillet or let stand 5 minutes, flip onto a plate, and slice. Serve with your favorite Southern dishes or smear with butter and drizzle with honey. My granddaddy loved it with a cold glass of milk!
Recipe Variations
- Cornbread Muffins: Make these easy and delicious cornbread muffins. I use stone-ground cornmeal for these, as you’ll see in the recipe.
- Cheddar Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins: This recipe has a cheesy, spicy flavor with a bit of honey (that you can omit if you wish).
- Southern Cornbread Dressing Base: Crumble cooled cornbread for use in my Southern Cornbread Dressing.
- Cornbread Salad: Use crumbled cornbread in Mimi’s Cornbread Salad for a potluck favorite.
Recipe Success Tips
- Use A Hot Cast Iron Skillet: Preheat a 12-inch cast iron skillet for the best texture, flavor, and crispy crust.
- Room-Temperature Eggs: Gives a smooth batter and prevents curdling.
- Don’t Overmix Batter: Stir until just combined for tender results.
- Check for Doneness: The center should spring back to touch when lightly pressed.
- Care for Your Cast Iron Skillet: Use this treasure for generations with tips about caring for it, including how to clean and how to season.
Storage Tips
- Store: Cool completely, then cover tightly with wrap or foil, and store at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Freeze: Cool completely, portion into airtight, freezer-safe containers or bags, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight at room temperature.
- Reheat: Place cornbread in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes to warm or microwave for 20-second increments until heated throughout.
Frequently Asked Questions
My traditional southern cornbread skips sugar for a savory taste that’s the perfect partner with hearty dishes. Add 1-2 tbsp sugar if you prefer a sweet version.
The flour and buttermilk used in this recipe deliver a moist, tender cornbread. Don’t skip the water to ensure the perfect consistency.
A cast iron skillet gives the best crispy edges, but you can use an 8×8-inch baking dish – adjust baking time to 20-25 minutes.
It’s delicious served with chili, vegetable soup, and a variety of Southern dishes, including pot roast and vegetables, pinto beans, turnip or collard greens, and many more.
Why This Southern Cornbread is a Winner
This cornbread is more than a side dish—it’s a Southern tradition and heirloom. With a crisp golden crust and tender inside, it’s perfect for sopping up soups, serving with greens, or enjoying with a smear of butter and a drizzle of honey.
More Favorite Bread Recipes
Southern Cornbread Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups (244 g) self-rising cornmeal
- 1 cup (113 g) self-rising flour
- 2 large (100 g) eggs
- 2 cups (490 g) buttermilk
- 1/2 cup (114 g) water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425º F.
- Coat large (12 inch) skillet with enough vegetable shortening or butter to coat the bottom and sides of the skillet. Place the coated oven into the oven for the butter or shortening to melt. Remove the skillet from oven once melted.
- Meanwhile, stir together the cornmeal, flour, eggs, buttermilk and water and pour into the hot skillet. Return to the oven and bake about 25 minutes or until bread has risen and center springs to the touch.
- Serve directly from skillet or allow to stand about 5 minutes and flip onto a plate for serving.
Notes
- Store: Cool completely, then cover tightly with wrap or foil, and store at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Freeze: Cool completely, portion into airtight, freezer-safe containers or bags, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight at room temperature.
- Reheat: Place cornbread in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes to warm or microwave for 20-second increments until heated throughout.
- Cornbread Muffins: Make these easy and delicious cornbread muffins. I use stone-ground cornmeal for these, as you’ll see in the recipe.
- Cheddar Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins: This recipe has a cheesy, spicy flavor with a bit of honey (that you can omit if you wish).
- Southern Cornbread Dressing Base: Crumble cooled cornbread for use in my Southern Cornbread Dressing.
- Cornbread Salad: Use crumbled cornbread in Mimi’s Cornbread Salad for a potluck favorite.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
Hi! Any clue how I could convert all purpose flour and plain cornmeal for this?
Hi Christy,
If you only have all-purpose flour, you can follow these instructions for making your own self-rising flour that I’ve written. To the cornmeal, you would want to add 3 teaspoons of baking powder and 1 teaspoon of salt to the plain cornmeal. I hope you enjoy it!
Is the mixture supposed to really soupy?
It will be somewhat “soupy” when it’s all mixed together before baking. I hope you enjoy it Gayle. Thanks!
I have to cook dressing for 25 people …..how do I change the recipe for that many ? I would think two pans of corn bread ?
Thanks .
I think you will need two full recipes to feed that many people, Lori. My Dressing recipe serves twelve. Thanks!
Still confused on how much shortening. Using a 12” skillet would that be a stick of butter? How much did you use?
Hi Gayle,
Similar to how you would coat a cake pan for baking a cake. It definitely wouldn’t take a whole stick of butter 🙂 more like a tablespoon or two.
DO YOU USE WHITE OR YELLOW CORNMEAL?
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
You can use either you wish, Brenda. I usually use white for this. Hope you enjoy it! Happy Thanksgiving to you too! xo
This recipe along with the dressing recipe looks fantastic! Two Questions:
1.) How big of a cast iron skillet for cornbread? I have small one passed down from my grandmother (have never used it), however I know there are different sizes.
2.) On the dressing recipe under make ahead tips, you can make the entire dressing recipe and freeze for up to 2 weeks? Or only portions of the recipe can be made up to two weeks in advance?
Thanks!- first time Thanksgiving in case you can’t tell! 🙂
Hi Jen!
Thanks so much! It is definitely a family favorite!
1. I use a medium skillet (12-inches) for my cornbread. You can also cook it in a 9×13 baking dish if you don’t have a medium cast iron skillet.
2. You can make the entire recipe ahead! It makes serving those holiday meals so much easier!
I hope you have a great Thanksgiving! xo
do you cover the dressing with foil or is it baked uncovered?
Hi Sharyon,
I bake it uncovered. The post includes lots more tips you might find helpful. Enjoy! Thanks!
Got to be bacon grease for me. That’s what I grew up with. Don’t know why but mine just made 1 9 ×13 dish. Taste really good though. Thannks for the recipe.
Hi Steve,
I’m glad you enjoyed it! This recipe is enough for a cast iron skillet, so that would be about the same as your size dish. Thanks!
I just bought a cast iron pan and this is such a great idea of a way to use it! Thanks!
Oh yes, it’s amazing cooked in a cast iron skillet! I hope you enjoy it Kristen! Thanks!
How much shortening in this recipe?
Hi Nancy,
You’ll only want to use enough shortening or butter to coat your skillet well.