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Southern Cornbread Recipe

Robyn Stone

Published Sep 23, 2025

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.

Cast iron skillet holds golden brown southern cornbread sliced into wedges with one wedge served on a plate. - 1

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 i n 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.

Side view of baked, crispy-edged southern cornbread in a cast iron skillet. - 3

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

Skillet with melted butter on a marble countertop. - 5

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.

Pouring buttermilk into cornbread batter to mix in a glass bowl. - 6

In a large bowl, combine self-rising cornmeal, self-rising flour, eggs, buttermilk, and water.

Mixing cornbread batter with a whisk in a glass mixing bowl. - 7

Stir until just combined—avoid overmixing for a tender texture.

Cornbread batter in a cast iron skillet ready to be baked. - 8

Pour batter into the hot skillet; the butter will sizzle and rise along the edges.

Overhead view of cornbread with crisp edges in a cast iron skillet. - 9

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.

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.

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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.

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Enjoy! Robyn xo