Easy Skillet Cornbread

Easy homemade cornbread so good it doesn't even NEED to be served with butter! No mixer needed, and ready in 30 minutes. This cornbread recipe can be made in a cast iron skillet, stoneware baking dish, casserole baking dish, or square cake pan. Use it to make my super flavorful Cornbread and Bacon Stuffing.

I don't normally give my recipes taglines, but for this one I have to: It's cornbread so good it doesn't even need butter. That's right, I said it.

Now does that mean that you shouldn't slather it with butter? Of course not! 

Here's the thing – I could go on and on about this cornbread for days. I could babble about how buttery it is, and how it has the perfect amount of sweetness.

I could ramble about the crispy edges and the soft, tender texture. I could talk your ear off about how it pairs perfectly with freaking everything.

About how you could probably turn this batter into pancakes. About how this is the bread and butter of every meal I pair it with and how, yes, that pun was intended.

My favorite trick for the best homemade cornbread

Melt a tab of butter in the baking dish or skillet in the preheated oven.

Once it's melted, swirl it around to coat the bottom and the edges of the pan. This gives the perfect base that keeps the cornbread from sticking to the pan, and adds an extra buttery flavor to the bottom of the cornbread.

Ingredients for cornbread

• Unsalted butter: I know the cornmeal should be the real star of the show, but to be honest it's the butter. This is essential to the moist, rich flavor we're going to be drooling over.
• All-purpose flour: The flour gives the cornbread a rise and the cakey consistency.
• Yellow cornmeal: Because… cornbread! This helps provide the yellow color, as well as the slightly grainy consistency as well (in the case of cornbread, that's a good thing).
• Baking powder: The helps the batter rise as it bakes.
• Baking soda: Baking soda also helps breads rise, in particular when paired with an acidic ingredient such as buttermilk.
• Salt: A little salt provides the perfect balance to the buttery sweetness of the rest of the mixture.
• Buttermilk: This is essential for the rich moisture of the end result. I don't recommend substituting for regular milk, as buttermilk provides a tangy flavor and a lighter texture in the finished cornbread. Don't have any on hand? It's easy to make yourself with just a couple ingredients!
• Light brown sugar: To add a little sweetness – I like using light brown sugar for a more complex flavor profile instead of granulated sugar like some other recipes.
• Egg: This adds flavor, but more importantly helps the cornbread bind together for a moist crumb, but not overly crumbly texture.

How to make cornbread

1. Preheat oven to 400° F.
2. In a microwave safe bowl, melt ½ cup butter. Set aside to cool.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
4. In a medium bowl, combine buttermilk, butter, brown sugar, egg. Stir until combined and no lumps remain – it should be grainy and tan in color.
5. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until just combined – don't overmix!
6. Place 1 tablespoon butter in skillet and place in oven. Let it sit until the butter has just melted and then remove. Roll the skillet around to coat the bottom with the melted butter.
7. Pour batter into skillet in even layer. Bake 20 minutes, or until the edges are golden and crisp, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Allow to cool for a few minutes, slice and serve.

Add ins for cornbread

• Jalapenos: Add a couple tablespoons of diced jalapenos to the batter. If you're feeling crazy, you could press a few jalapeno slices into the top of the batter just before baking for an extra kick in each bite!
• Chili flakes/red pepper flakes: 1 tablespoon of chili flakes added to the batter can add a nice, subtle heat.
• Cheese: Try adding 1/2 cup shredded sharp or mild cheddar cheese to the batter.
• Corn: I know, crazy – right? For a more substantial cornbread with even more corn flavor, try adding 1 cup whole kernel corn to the batter.

What kind of skillet or pan should I use to make cornbread?

This cornbread recipe can be made in a cast iron skillet, stoneware baking dish, casserole baking dish, or square cake pan.

If you use a glass baking dish, just know that the bottom and edges may be extra browned, as it holds heat and will continue to bake a bit after you've removed it from the oven.

Toppings for cornbread

• Butter
• Honey butter
• Honey
• Hot honey
• Maple syrup (don't knock it 'til you try it)

I'm going to encourage you to make this. Immediately and in mass quantities. Does anyone have a 6 foot skillet they could make this in? If so, do so immediately and invite me over to watch, kthx.

Easy Skillet Cornbread

5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

Servings: 8 to 16 slices

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Description

Easy cornbread so good it doesn't even NEED to be served with butter! No mixer needed, and ready in 30 minutes. This cornbread can be made in a cast iron skillet, stoneware baking dish, casserole baking dish, or square cake pan.

Equipment

• Skillet
• Mixing bowls
• Whisk
• Mixing spoon

Ingredients

1x2x3x

US CustomaryMetric

• ½ cup + 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, divided
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• ¼ cup light brown sugar
• 1 egg

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400° F.
• In a microwave safe bowl, melt 1/2 cup butter. Set aside to cool.
  1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  1 cup all-purpose flour

  1 cup yellow cornmeal

  1 teaspoon baking powder

  1/2 teaspoon baking soda

  1 teaspoon salt
• In a medium bowl, combine buttermilk, butter, brown sugar, egg. Stir until combined and no lumps remain – it should be grainy and tan in color.
  1 cup buttermilk

  1/4 cup light brown sugar

  1 egg
• Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until just combined – don't overmix!
• Place 1 tablespoon butter in skillet and place in oven. Let it sit until the butter has just melted and then remove. Roll the skillet around to coat the bottom with the melted butter.
  1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• Pour batter into skillet in even layer. Bake 20 minutes, or until the edges are golden and crisp, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Allow to cool for a few minutes, slice and serve. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Don't have a skillet? You can also use a stoneware baking dish, casserole baking dish, or square cake pan – just note that your baking time may vary a bit, so keep an eye on it as it bakes. If you use a glass baking dish, just know that the bottom and edges may be extra browned, as it holds heat and will continue to bake a bit after you've removed it from the oven.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 301kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 568mg | Potassium: 142mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 478IU | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition Disclaimer

The provided nutrition information is generated by an automatic API and does not take variations across specific brands into account. This information is provided as a general guideline and should not be treated as official calculations. Learn more here.

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This recipe was originally published in November 2015, and was republished in October 2021 with shiny new pictures and even more helpful information.