Making this southern cornbread recipe is simple and only requires a few staple ingredients. It’s rich and buttery, has a tender crumb but is crisp and browned on the edges. This is the cornbread recipe you’ve been searching for!

This southern cornbread recipe is comforting and crisp. You can make it for almost any occasion.

This southern cornbread recipe is easy to make. It only takes about 30 or 40 minutes to make from start to finish, and most of that time is hands-off! Just mix your ingredients together and then add to a pan or skillet and bake!

Southern Cornbread Ingredients

Cornmeal: Use a finely ground cornmeal for a more put together cornbread. Using a medium or coarsely ground cornmeal will crumble when it is cut into.
Flour: Adding a little bit of regular white flour will help all the ingredients “stick” together during baking.
Oil: Adding fat to the cornbread is a must. If enough fat isn’t added, then your cornbread will fall apart and overall be crumbly.
Sugar: To add sweetness to the cornbread.
Milk: Milk is not an absolute requirement for this cornmeal, but it will give your cornbread more smoothness.
Eggs: Use one egg as a binder in the cornmeal.

How to Make Cornbread

Making this cornbread is quite simple. Whisk the dry ingredients together: the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder. After the dry ingredients are mixed, add in the wet ingredients and mix until combined.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease an ovenproof pan well and add your mix to the pan. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean in the center.

Baking Cornbread to get a Crust

Have you ever wondered how to get that golden brown and crisp crust on your cornbread? Well, I will share a sacred southern cornbread secret with you: heat your pan first.

If you don’t have a cast-iron skillet, you can use an oven-safe pan instead, it just needs to be hot. Either pot it into the oven while it’s preheating or you can heat it on the stove. My preferred method is in the oven because it saves energy and it’s easy. After the skillet is piping hot, add some butter to grease the pan.

After greasing, add in your batter. It should give a sizzle when it hits the pan. The sizzling means the caramelizing has begun. Bake your cornbread until it is baked in the center and then serve!

Southern cornbread can be served right out of the cast iron skillet!

What to Serve with Southern Cornbread

While many are used to having a piece of this southern classic on the side, there are many creative (and many “why didn’t I think of that?!”) ideas for this cornbread. Below are some of my favorite dishes to serve it with:

…Or just serve this cornbread by itself warm with honey and butter. There’s nothing better than that!