Best Homemade Cornbread Recipe – Simple & Easy (With Video!)

4.77 from 709 votes

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This is truly the best homemade cornbread recipe. It’s my go-to quick bread on busy nights because it’s ready for the oven in 5 minutes! If you’re wondering how to make cornbread, this simple cornbread recipe is what you’ve been looking for.  It makes buttery, perfect cornbread – every time.

See How Easy It Is To Make This Cornbread Recipe!


My family has been making this easy cornbread recipe for decades, and thousands of people on the internet have, too. This recipe has over 1000 comments and 600 glowing reviews and is officially THE favorite cornbread recipe!

17 Best Cornbread Recipes Ever!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  1. This cornbread is EASY – prep in just 5 minutes!
  2. No buttermilk and basic pantry ingredients.
  3. Bake it in any pan.
  4. Ready in 30 minutes!

This cornbread has been a staple for my family for years and years. My family absolutely loves this cornbread recipe, and I’m sure your loved ones will too.

slice of cornbread on a plate.

What Makes This THE Best Cornbread

One of the reasons I love this cornbread recipe is that you don’t need anything fancy to make it. Many cornbread recipes require buttermilk or creamed corn or a very specific kind of pan.

  • Well for starters, it tastes DIVINE.
  • It’s sweet but not over the top.
  • It’s soft but not cakey.
  • And crumbly without being a plain mess.

I serve this cornbread alongside all my soups, favorite chilis, and along with my favorite barbecue.

Recipe Ingredients

  • All-purpose flour
  • Yellow cornmeal: A must for cornbread! It gives the bread its beautiful golden-brown color and grainy, delicious consistency.
  • Granulated sugar: This gives the bread sweetness. I LOVE sweet cornbread, and this is a sweet cornbread recipe. Don’t love sweet cornbread? Just leave it out or reduce it!
  • Salt
  • Baking powder: To help the dough rise and expand as it bakes.
  • Oil
  • Egg: This binds everything together and helps the bread to rise.
  • Milk: For a rich, moist cornbread!

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

ingredients in cornbread

Practical Substitutions

There’s a LOT of room to play with this recipe so don’t feel that you have to make it exactly as it’s written.

  • Use melted butter OR oil—canola, avocado, vegetable oil, or even coconut oil.
  • Use fine OR medium ground cornmeal, and you can use white OR yellow cornmeal.
  • Use all-purpose flour OR a white whole wheat flour.
  • Don’t like a sweet cornbread? Feel free to reduce the sugar to as little as 2 tablespoons.
  • Use cow’s milk—whole milk is perfect—OR alternative milk, like almond or soy.
  • Use an egg OR a flax egg.

How to Make Homemade Cornbread

I can’t express enough how easy this cornbread recipe is to make, even for a new cook. And it’s a great recipe for kids learning to bake for the first time!

So, how do you make cornbread? Just follow these easy steps to make this super simple recipe.

dry ingredients for cornbread in bowl.

Step 1: Toss your dry ingredients in a bowl.

cornmeal batter in a bowl.

Step 3: Give everything a quick mix. So easy!

wet and dry ingredients in cornbread in bowl.

Step 2: Add the wet ingredients.

cornbread before baking.

Step 4: Pour it into a greased dish or cast iron pan and bake in a preheated oven. You’re done putting it together in 5 minutes!

Different Baking Dishes & Cooking Times

I have tested this recipe a ton! You can use whatever pan you like or have on hand, including a metal or glass dish or a cast iron pan.

  • 8×8 inch square or round baking dishes: bake 35 minutes
  • 9×9 inch square or round baking dishes: bake 25 minutes
  • Double the batch for a 9×13 inch pan: bake 45-50 minutes
  • 12 muffins in a standard muffin tin: bake 15-18 minutes
  • Cast iron skillets are the same cooking time based on size

Extra Yummy Tip: If you pour the cornbread batter into a hot skillet and then bake, it will result in an amazingly crisp golden crust!

baking times for cornbread in different pans.

What is the Best Cast Iron Skillet for Cornbread?

I love using the Staub Cast Iron Fry Pan for my homemade cornbread. While it’s a bit of a splurge, I’ve found that the extra smooth interior lasts forever! It’s oven-safe up to 900 degrees F and the enamel construction is safe to use on all stovetops. Unlike other cast iron skillets, it doesn’t require seasoning (a huge bonus!) and it’s dishwasher-safe, although I recommend hand washing it. Plus, your freshly made cornbread will look absolutely gorgeous in it!

Recipe FAQs

What is the best kind of cornmeal to use for cornbread?

Use yellow cornmeal in this recipe. White works fine, but it just doesn’t look the same. Golden yellow cornbread is a must. NOTE: Do NOT use anything that says Cornmeal Mix or self-rising cornmeal, or you’ll have too much baking soda and salt in the recipe.

What is the difference between cornmeal and polenta?

Cornmeal is dried ground corn. It’s found in the baking aisle of grocery stores. You can typically find it in a fine or medium grind. Both will work well for this recipe. Don’t use polenta or grits; they are processed differently and will not work. Corn flour is more finely ground and can also be used, though the texture will change.

What is a good substitute for milk in cornbread?

You don’t have to use cow’s milk in this cornbread recipe!
-Use an alternative milk, like a nut or seed milk—almond, soy, hemp, coconut, or oat.
-Use evaporated milk for a shelf-stable milk substitute from the pantry.
-A powdered milk, either dairy or nondairy, can also be used.

Can you freeze corn bread?

Yes, cornbread can be frozen! Wrap individual pieces or a whole loaf tightly in plastic wrap or foil and place in an airtight freezer bag for an additional layer. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Leave in the wrapping to thaw overnight in the refrigerator or on the counter for several hours before reheating.

cornbread in a glass pan.

Topping Ideas for Cornbread

Did you know that you can add fun toppings to cornbread that make it even more delicious to eat?

Here are some of my favorite topping ideas for homemade cornbread:

  • A drizzle of honey
  • Butter
  • Honey butter
  • Jelly or jam
  • Maple syrup
  • Or just as it is!
cornbread with butter and honey on a plate.

What To Serve With Cornbread

We eat this cornbread about once a week! A slice of cornbread is scrumptious served with any of these easy recipes:

bowl of beans with pieces of cornbread on a blue towel.

Make This A Gluten-Free Cornbread Recipe

Make this recipe gluten-free by simply swapping out the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free baking blend (often labeled 1:1 gluten-free baking blend). It works perfectly!

This truly is the best cornbread recipe! It can be whatever you need it to be and still come out amazing.

Ways to Use Leftover Cornbread

For special meals, I will use any leftover cornbread in a tasty and so simple Cornbread Dressing with Sausage & Apples.

My next favorite way to use it up is in this extremely versatile Cornbread Salad—yes, a salad!

And the simplest way to give a new life to leftover cornbread is to pop it in a glass and top with cold milk. It’s so yummy, whether the cornbread is warm or at room temperature! (This is the perfect way to eat cornbread for breakfast IMO.)

How to Store Cornbread

Cornbread can be stored in a bag or airtight container on the counter for 1 to 2 days if the room temperature isn’t too hot.

For warm or humid conditions, it’s best stored in the refrigerator.

cornbread stacked together.

More Great Cornbread Recipes

cornbread in a glass pan
4.77 from 709 votes

The Best Homemade Cornbread Recipe

This recipe for homemade cornbread is tried and true and perfect EVERY time! My family has been making this easy cornbread recipe for decades and THOUSANDS of people on the internet LOVE it too! Read the reviews!
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 9

Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour, not self rising flour
  • 1 cup yellow cornmeal, fine ground, not cornmeal mix
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, see notes for recent changes
  • 1/3 cup neutral oil or melted butter
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup milk, or milk substitute like almond milk
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Instructions 

  • Grease a 9-inch round cake pan or square baking dish or cast iron skillet well and set aside. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. See notes for other pan sizes.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, add the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Whisk to combine well.
  • Make a well in the center of your dry ingredients and add your oil or butter, milk, and egg. Stir just until the mixture comes together and there are only a few lumps remaining.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Serve hot.

Notes

  • NOTE! The original recipe called for 3.5 teaspoons of baking powder and it worked great for many people (me included) but a few people reported it leaving a bitter taste. I take reviews seriously, so I did major recipe testing on 6/11/24 and tested the recipe 10 times on one day. I made the decision to change the amount of baking powder to 1.5 teaspoons. I tested it many times and had my mom test it as well at sea level. I believe this is a great move for everyone and the recipe will work perfectly. You can always use the original amount of baking powder if that’s how you made it before. 
  • You can make this in a 9-inch round cake pan, 9-inch square baking dish, or 9-inch cast iron skillet. You can also bake this in an 8×8 square baking dish for 35 minutes, make it into 12 standard sized muffins baking them 15-18 minute, or double the recipe and toss it in a 9×13-inch baking pan and bake for 45-50 minutes.
  • Use yellow cornmeal in this recipe. White works fine, but it just doesn’t look the same. Don’t use a cornmeal mix or self-rising cornmeal so check the package to make sure it doesn’t have added baking soda, baking powder, or salt.
  • To make this recipe gluten free, simply substitute the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free 1:1 baking flour. It works very well! You can let the batter rest in the pan for 30 minutes before baking to improve texture.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 of 9 slices, Calories: 274kcal, Carbohydrates: 40g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 0.03g, Cholesterol: 24mg, Sodium: 443mg, Potassium: 121mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 16g, Vitamin A: 74IU, Calcium: 131mg, Iron: 1mg
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Recipe Rating




1,319 Comments

  1. LaRel Alexander says:

    I need to triple the recipe (twice) for about 60 people, what size pan do you suggest? I’m thinking about a flat 2inch lasagna pan. Help please

    1. Melissa says:

      I would just double it and use 9×13 inch pans, so if you need this recipe times 6, make 3 9×13 inch pans.

  2. urbanbaker says:

    5 stars
    I 1/2 sized it and it turned out great. One addition was a tablespoon of sour cream, adds moisture and helps bind.

  3. Catherine says:

    I love the flavor but it was a little crumbly, is there any way to make it more moist and together?

    1. Melissa says:

      Add another egg!

  4. Sandy says:

    I also substituted almond milk for regular milk and it turned out good.

  5. Sandy says:

    5 stars
    This recipe turned out great! I substituted white flour for whole wheat flour (that I grind at home), olive oil for the butter, and reduced sugar to about 2Tbsp., which if you like sweet cornbread do more. But I thought with a little butter and honey they tasted good. I also baked them in a muffin tin for 15-16min for easy storage:)

  6. Jane says:

    5 stars
    I made this and it was easy to make and delicious. A keeper. Full stop.

  7. Nat says:

    5 stars
    Just made it yesterday for dinner and the family loved it. I used buttermilk in lieu of milk and I had white cornmeal on hand, which still worked out great.

  8. Sheryl says:

    Great recipe! Moist and fluffy. I opted for butter instead of oil. I like sweet cornbread which this is but my husband doesnโ€™t so next time I will cut the sugar in half.

  9. Navynursenm says:

    3 stars
    Ok I cut the sugar to 1/4 cup and that was plenty….however I think there was too much baking soda. It had a bit of an odd taste and I canโ€™t think what else in it could have caused it. Iโ€™ve never seen 3 1/2 tsp in any other corn bread recipe. I should have cut it way back like another commenter did.
    My husband found it dry but I was ok with it.

    1. Melissa says:

      You’re supposed to use BAKING POWDER, the baking soda will make it taste bitter.

  10. Liz says:

    5 stars
    3 1/2 teaspoonsย baking powder seemed like a lot to me so I used 1tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp baking soda. I also cut down sugar and used 1 heaping Tbs sugar (personal preference). It came out WONDERFULLY. Like, the whole fam was impressed. Thank you!