The Best Southern-Style Cornbread Recipe Is Right Here (2024)

  • Southern
  • Cornbread
  • Skillet

This traditional Southern cornbread is made in a cast iron skillet and is the ideal partner to a bowl of chili or a plate of ribs.

By

Elise Bauer

The Best Southern-Style Cornbread Recipe Is Right Here (1)

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated April 04, 2024

The Best Southern-Style Cornbread Recipe Is Right Here (2)

43 ratings

In This Recipe

No Yeast Required! 13 Bread and Biscuit Recipes to Satisfy Your Carb CravingsFEATURED IN:

Anytime you write about cornbread, it's likely to stir up controversy. It seems like every person I've ever known from the South has their favorite way of making homemade cornbread, and every way is different.

What Makes a Southern Cornbread

The thing that distinguishes Southern cornbread from, say Yankee cornbread, or any other cornbread one is likely to eat outside of the southern states, is that it is savory, not sweet, and it is made mostly with cornmeal.

Northern cornbreads tend to be more cake-like, on the sweet side, with a finer crumb due to more flour in the mixture. Southern cornbread is flavored with bacon grease, and cooked in a cast iron skillet, a perfect side for barbecues, or chili. It also tends to be rather crumbly.

The Best Southern-Style Cornbread Recipe Is Right Here (3)

A Cornbread Experiment

With this cornbread recipe, we experimented both with all cornmeal, and with just three-quarters cornmeal and one-quarter flour. We also experimented with including or leaving out an egg.

Result: Either way works! Though the version with some of the cornmeal swapped out with flour, and including an egg, holds together better and is a little more tender.

Sugar Is Optional

If you are new to making southern cornbread, take note of the following. Whether to include sugar or not in a southern cornbread recipe is an issue for debate. We've included as an option a tablespoon which just intensifies the flavor of the cornmeal; it doesn't make the cornbread sweet.

The choice is yours as to whether or not to include it. (See this excellent article from Serious Eats on why traditional southern cornbread does not include sugar.)

The Best Southern-Style Cornbread Recipe Is Right Here (4)

Cornmeal: All In or Only Some?

You can either use all cornmeal or a combination of cornmeal and flour to make this cornbread. If you go the all cornmeal route, note that the result will likely be very, very crumbly. That's just how the Southern cornbread crumbles. If you would like cornbread with a little more structure, I recommend using a combination of cornmeal and flour.

Why Use Bacon Drippings and Butter

You'll notice there are both bacon drippings and butter in this cornbread recipe. The butter adds needed richness to the bread itself, and the bacon drippings help brown the crust, keep it from sticking to the skillet, and add a lovely bacon flavor to the bread.

Make Cornbread in a Cast Iron Skillet

Finally, the method that works best with using a well-seasoned cast iron skillet is to preheat the skillet with the fat and then add the batter to the hot skillet. This helps brown the crust and with the pan already hot, the cornbread cooks more quickly.

How to Season Cast IronREAD MORE:

The Best Southern-Style Cornbread Recipe Is Right Here (5)

Readers Weigh In With Opinions and Memories

Readers from all over (but especially the South) love to share their feelings about cornbread.

  • Randy (from KY): "My mom always used flour with cornmeal but she also added melted bacon fat to the mix itself as well as to coat the skillet or muffin tin. An egg was never an option, it had to go in. Sugar is sacrilege...I don't know where people came up with that silliness!"
  • Sheila: "I grew up in NC. After baking cornbread in that cast iron pan, we show off our perfectly crisp crust by inverting it onto a plate or cutting-board to slice it. Grandma would never cut the cornbread in her beautiful cast iron pan nor would she allow it to sit crust-side down in the pan! She said it would get soggy, or maybe it would start to blacken from the residual heat
  • Georgia: "I'm from Georgia and we always used WHITE cornmeal. Used flour with it. You can substitute bacon grease if you have to and use Crisco shortening. We only put butter on/in it when took a piece and sliced it open. Used buttermilk too. We would take the grease in the skillet and pour it into the mixture and pour it back into the cast iron skillet (we made sure the sides were coated with the grease)."
  • Carol: "This cornbread is delicious!! The tablespoon of sugar really makes a huge difference. I will never make cornbread without sugar again. It doesn't make it sweet, it just gives it a heartier flavor."

Leftover Cornbread

  • Cornbread will keep at room temperature for a day or two. After that, it tastes stale.
  • Can you freeze cornbread? Yes, for up to two months if you wrap it well, though because it's very crumbly, it's best to freeze it only if you plan to use it as crumbs, or in cornbread dressing.
  • Speaking of, leftover cornbread is excellent in cornbread stuffing.

Try These Other Cornbread Recipes, Too!

  • Jalapeño Cornbread
  • Yankee Cornbread
  • Cheesy Skillet Cornbread
  • Green Chile Cornbread

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Southern Cornbread

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time35 mins

Servings8 servings

White cornmeal is used in most Southern cornbreads, but we could not find any here in California, so we used yellow cornmeal. If you can find white cornmeal, by all means use it.

The egg is optional, though without it the cornbread will be very crumbly.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon bacon drippings

  • 2 cups cornmeal OR 1 1/2 cups cornmeal and 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 tablespoon sugar, optional

  • 1 large egg, optional

  • 1 1/4 cups buttermilk

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Method

  1. Preheat pan with bacon drippings:

    Put the bacon drippings in a 9 or 10-inch well-seasoned cast iron skillet and put the skillet into the oven. Then preheat the oven to 400°F with the skillet inside. (If you don't have an iron skillet, you can use an uncovered Dutch oven or a metal cake pan.)

  2. Make the batter:

    Whisk together all the dry ingredients (cornmeal, baking soda, salt, sugar if using) in a large bowl. In another bowl, beat the egg (if using) and buttermilk until combined, then mix that into the bowl of dry ingredients. Stir in the melted butter.

    5 Substitutes for Buttermilk READ MORE:

    The Best Southern-Style Cornbread Recipe Is Right Here (6)

    The Best Southern-Style Cornbread Recipe Is Right Here (7)

    The Best Southern-Style Cornbread Recipe Is Right Here (8)

  3. Pour batter into hot skillet and bake:

    When the oven is hot, take out the skillet (carefully, as the handle will be hot!). Add the cornbread batter and make sure it is evenly distributed in the skillet.

    Bake at 400°F for about 20 minutes, or until the edges are beginning to brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean.

    The Best Southern-Style Cornbread Recipe Is Right Here (9)

    The Best Southern-Style Cornbread Recipe Is Right Here (10)

  4. Rest bread in skillet, then serve:

    Let the bread rest for 10 to 30 minutes in the skillet before cutting it into wedges and serving.

    To store, let the cornbread cool, then remove from pan and wrap in plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container. Store at room temp for 2 to 3 days

    To avoid burning your hand because you've forgotten the pan is hot, I recommend placing a pot holder on the pan's handle while the cornbread is resting, or cooling the handle down a bit with an ice cube.

    Did you enjoy this recipe? Let us know with a rating, review, or your own cornbread memories below!

    The Best Southern-Style Cornbread Recipe Is Right Here (11)

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
232Calories
12g Fat
27g Carbs
5g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories232
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12g16%
Saturated Fat 7g33%
Cholesterol 49mg16%
Sodium 518mg23%
Total Carbohydrate 27g10%
Dietary Fiber 2g8%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 0mg2%
Calcium 52mg4%
Iron 1mg7%
Potassium 157mg3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

The Best Southern-Style Cornbread Recipe Is Right Here (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between cornbread and Southern cornbread? ›

She notes that Northern cornbread is sweeter, lighter, and more cake-like than Southern cornbread. Not surprisingly, it includes sugar (or molasses, in the earlier centuries), unlike traditional Southern cornbread.

Why don't southerners put sugar in cornbread? ›

The most common theory is a change in cornmeal itself. Until early in the 20th century, Southern cornmeal was made with sweeter white corn and it was water-ground. When industrial milling came along, that changed. The steel-roller mills used yellow corn that was harvested before it was ripe, so it had less sugar.

Should I use milk or water for cornbread? ›

Can I substitute water for milk in cornbread mix? Yes, you can, but it may result in a less rich flavor. If you're out of milk, try using cream or half-and-half, evaporated or powdered milk, or even plain yogurt. If you have dietary restrictions, try soy milk or oat milk.

What ingredient keeps cornbread from crumbling? ›

Cornmeal gives cornbread its classic color and flavor, but too much can make your bread crumbly. Try replacing a little bit of cornmeal with flour. The specific measurements will depend on how much cornmeal and flour is in your recipe, but you should try to have more flour than cornmeal in your batter.

Which cornmeal is best for cornbread? ›

Cornbread Ingredients

Cornmeal: Opt for yellow cornmeal for this recipe, as it's sweeter than its white counterpart.

Can you add extra sugar to cornbread? ›

That being said, this is YOUR Sweet Cornbread recipe, so use as little or as much sugar as you would like. Here is the breakdown: 1 cup sugar = sweet. 1 ¼ cups = definitely sweet.

Why is cornbread not healthy? ›

However, cornbread generally contains high amounts of carbs, phosphorus, and sodium in each serving. One piece of cornbread prepared from a commercially prepared mix contains ( 2 ): Calories: 198. Protein: 4 grams.

How did the slaves make cornbread? ›

Now on to the fried cornbread. My mom told me back in slavery time, African-Americans had no fat or milk to make cornbread. They were only given cornmeal so they came up with just adding hot water to cornmeal and frying it up.

Is cornbread good or bad for diabetics? ›

Diabetics should approach cornbread with caution due to its high carbohydrate content, which can lead to spikes in blood sugar levels. Traditional cornbread recipes often contain refined flour and added sugars, further exacerbating the issue.

When making jiffy cornbread without milk? ›

Water: Water can be used as a substitute for milk in Jiffy cornbread. It may result in a slightly drier and less rich texture, but it will still work. Buttermilk: Buttermilk is a good substitute for milk in Jiffy cornbread. It will add a tangy flavor and a moist texture.

Can I use half-and-half in cornbread mix? ›

Thoroughly grease a 9 x 9-inch baking dish. Sift together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt. Combine the half-and-half, eggs, butter (or shortening), and sugar (if using). Add half-and-half mixture to the flour mixture and combine just until the flour is moistened, no more than 10 to 15 seconds.

Can I use heavy whipping cream instead of milk for cornbread? ›

You can substitute heavy cream for 1/2 cup milk plus 1/2 cup sour cream, combined. You can also substitute the cream for milk. Use 3/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons of milk plus 2 Tablespoons melted butter to the batter. The cornbread will have a close texture.

Should you let cornbread batter rest? ›

1Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). We recommend allowing cornbread batter to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before baking, so if you prefer, you can delay heating the oven until you make the batter. 2Melt the butter, and then set aside to cool slightly.

How to stop jiffy cornbread from crumbling? ›

So, you could marry someone from Alabama, or:
  1. Try a good Southern cornmeal mix. ...
  2. Use a goodly amount of flour along with cornmeal (up to a 1:1 mix or slightly less flour than cornmeal). ...
  3. Try an extra egg and a splash more liquid than your recipe calls for.
  4. Make sure your batter contains oil or melted butter.
Sep 26, 2016

Why does my cornbread always sink in the middle? ›

While not a professional chef, my experience with corn bread, be it packaged or made from scratch is if you over mix it, it's gonna fall! Also, let it sit for 4-5 minutes after gently scraping it into the pan and let the ingredients start their magic reactions. No peeking while baking!! That can make it fall too.

What is Southern cornbread called? ›

Hot water cornbread

This type of cornbread is often known as "hot water" or "scald meal" cornbread and is unique to the American South.

Is Jiffy cornbread the same as cornmeal? ›

Jiffy cornbread mix, in case you really are standing in the baking aisle wondering, is wheat flour mixed with some cornmeal, a lot of sugar, lard, baking soda, and a handful of preservatives. (Note that because of the wheat flour, it's not gluten-free.) Use it to make creamy, cheesy Corn Pudding.

Do southerners like sweet cornbread? ›

The distinguishing reason is that North of the Mason-Dixon, cornbread is routinely sweet. Real, traditional, Southern-style cornbread is savory, not sweet, and always has been.

What did Native Americans call cornbread? ›

Among them was a version of Indian bread made of cornmeal, salt and water called pone or corn pone. The name came from the Algonquin word apan, meaning "baked." The Narragansett word for cornbread, nokechick, became no-cake and then hoe-cake.

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