Easy-to-Follow Southern Skillet Cornbread Recipe for Home Cooking

The savory, hot, and crispy cornbread made in an iron skillet is a Southern recipe. Most southern people have their unique skillet cornbread recipes. These recipes are not only different; they can be contradictory at times.

Still, skillet cornbread made with browned butter is always a popular choice for meals and snacks. From kids to adults, everyone loves them. So, if you want to enhance your cooking skills with delicious recipes, you will love this.

The secret behind this recipe is bacon drips. This delicious side dish recipe is super easy and takes 30-45 minutes to prepare with 10 minutes of hands-on prep. Also, it is easy to cook and requires minimal supplies. We guarantee you a quick and easy homemade Skillet cornbread recipe that will bring joy to your dining table.

So, without wasting any time, let us begin.

Requirements for the Recipe of Cornbread

Tools Required

Essential Ingredients

Making Time of Southern Skillet Cornbread Recipe

The skillet cornbread recipe is simple and easy to follow. The delicious side dish takes less than an hour to prepare and complete the cooking. You need 10 minutes of hands-on prep time. The bread takes 30 minutes to get ready.

So, you can wrap up the super yummy cornbread within 30-45 minutes. Also, remember the cooking and prep time can vary slightly depending on the quantity of your skillet cornbread.

Southern Skillet Cornbread Recipe: A Step-By-Step Guide

The Southern Skillet cornbread recipe is ideal for quick meal/snack options. This side dish takes around 30-45 minutes to prepare. You can serve it with soups, stews, or other main dish. Here is a step-by-step guide to southern cornbread in an iron skillet. Follow the steps of a smooth and hassle-free cooking experience-

Step 1: Preheat the Skillet

Your first step to making southern skillet cornbread is to preheat the iron cast skillet in the oven. Place your iron cast skillet over the oven and preheat it to 400° F – 450° F. If you do not have the skillet, you can use an open Dutch baking pan for your cornbread.

Step 2: Season Your Skillet

Next, season your iron skillet with the bacon drippings and butter. Pour the bacon drip and butter (6 tsp unsalted) into the skillet. Leave it in the oven without reducing the heat. Leave it aside until the butter completely melts with the bacon drip.

Step 3: Prepare the Batter

Take a large mixing bowl and pour cornmeal (yellow), flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk them all together and keep the bowl aside. Now, take a small bowl and pour your eggs and buttermilk. Beat the mix until the eggs and buttermilk blend smoothly. Stir in melted butter and mix them well. Now, pour the mixture into the large mixing bowl (with dry ingredients) and whisk them well until the batter is smooth.

Step 4: Pour the Batter onto the Skillet and Bake

Take out the heated skillet from the oven. Use a hand towel or baking glove to hold the handle of your skillet. Now, pour the mixture of your cornbread into the hot skillet. Use a spoon to spread the batter evenly on the skillet. Place the skillet back in the oven and cook the cornbread for 20 minutes on the skillet at 400° F.

Step 5: Check Your Southern Skillet Cornbread

After 20 minutes of cooking, check the edges of your bread. If they turn brown and crispy, your bread is ready. You can also insert a toothpick and pull it out to test your bread. If the toothpick comes out clean, it is a green signal to take out your skillet cornbread.

Step 6: Rest Your Skillet Cornbread

Do not try to remove the bread immediately from the skillet. Rest the bread on the skillet for 10-30 minutes to let your cornbread settle down. After re-stating the bread, remove it from the skillet, slice it into several pieces, and serve it with other meals.

Additional Tips for the Success Cornbread Recipe

The Southern skillet cornbread recipe is an ideal option for meals and snacks. It can be a delicious side dish with warm stews or soups. Follow the tips we have shared below to make your southern cornbread recipe a success –

• Never over-mix your cornbread batter: Overmixing the batter can lead to flat and hard cornbread. So, lumps are okay! Just beat the mix until everything is combined.
• Take a right-sized skillet: Always take the right iron cast (size) for the bread. A 9 to 10-inch iron cast skillet is ideal for making southern skillet cornbread. But you can change the size to smaller or bigger ones according to how much bread you are baking.
• Use home temperature ingredients: You must use room temperature ingredients for the recipe. Cold ingredients do not mix well and can ruin the texture of your. Also, using room-temperature ingredients results in fluffier bread.
• Use fat-buttermilk instead of fat-free: Using fat-buttermilk instead of fat-free ones. The fat of your buttermilk is combined with the batter. It will help to keep the bread soft and moist from the inside.
• Use all-purpose flour and yellow cornmeal: Many use self-raising cornmeal mix and flour for their homemade southern skillet cornbread recipe. But we recommend you use only multi-purpose flour and yellow cornmeal for this recipe.
• Use butter and bacon drip just enough to cover the skillet: Only use the right amount of butter/drip/ oil to cover the skillet. Not more or less.
• Never overcook your cornbread: For the best outcomes, never overcook your southern cornbread. If the bread needs 2-3 minutes of cooking, remove it from the stovetop and place it in the oven.
• Use fresh baking soda and powder: Ensure the baking soda and powder you use for your cornbread are fresh. It will help you get well-baked and fluffy bread.

With or Without Sugar: What is the Debate?

Whenever there is talk about cornbread, it never fails to stir controversy. And the most popular one is with or without sugar skillet cornbread. Cornbread recipes are popular throughout the US but with different varieties. Most southern people will love their skillet cornbread, salty and crispy and not sweet, but if you know any northern or Middle Eastern people, you will know how determined they are about adding sweetener to the bread.

So, it is more of a cultural difference that resulted in the debate. And both are good in their way. If you like your cornbreads sweet, add sweeteners like powdered sugar or honey. Sugar helps to create a crispy brown layer with the caramelized top.

Honey is the preferred sweetener if you want to prevent your sugar intake. But if you prefer salty and crispy, you must avoid the sweetener. Using bacon drippings will also help you get crisp brown edges of the bread.

Variations of Southern Skillet Cornbread Recipe

Southern skillet cornbread recipe is known for its crispy texture and savory bacon flavors. But the dish has several variations. And every southern home has its unique skillet cornbread recipe. Below, we will discuss some top Southern skillet cornbread recipes that you can try-

• Bacon: It is one of the popular skillet cornbread recipes. If you love bacon, you will love this variation. Add cooked and crumbled bacon to the batter. Also, substitute butter or oil with bacon drippings or grease for a complete bacon flavor.
• Jalapenos: Jalapeno skillet cornbreads are also popular among southern skillet recipe variations. You can try this to add a little more spice to your cornbread. Chop some fresh jalapenos and saute in oil. Add them to your batter and follow the rest of the Southern skillet cornbread recipe. If you want your bread to be too spicy, leave the seeds in it.
• Cheese: Cheese makes almost everything taste good. If you are a cheese fan, you must try this variation. You can use any harder cheese such as mozzarella, Gouda, cheddar, Havarti, Parmesan, or Jack variations for the cornbread.
• Green onions: Add 2-3 finely chopped green onions to your bread batter for a little bit more zing into your skillet cornbread.
• Herbs: Herbs are also a go-to ingredient for cornbreads. You can use rosemary, thyme, parsley, and chives. Adding 1-2 tsp freshly chopped herbs can give a beautiful look and taste. If you do not have fresh herbs in your hand, you can also use ground or dried leaves of the herb.
• Corn: For an extra corny texture, you can add fresh or canned corn into your batter. If you are using canned corn, try to use unsalted corn. Also, rinse the pat dry before adding it to the skillet cornbread batter.

Storage and Reheating of Your Cornbread

Southern skillet cornbreads are easy to make and store for future use. Wrap your leftover Southern skillet cornbreads with thin plastic wrap. Store them in an airtight container. You can keep them for 2-3 days at room temperature. After 2-3 days, it will start to detaste. So, if you want to use cornbread for a long time, you must store it in the refrigerator. You can use Southern skillet cornbreads stored in the fridge for 2-3 months without compromising taste. Use the same method to store your cornbreads as you do to keep them at room temperature. Just place the container inside the freezer instead of your countertop.

Also, reheating your skillet cornbreads is pretty easy. You only need to wrap the bread in a dump tissue and place it inside the microwave or oven. Heat for 2-3 minutes at medium temperature and serve hot. You can use vegetable oil or butter to dampen the tissue. Use a food brush to spread the butter or oil on the tissue.

Serving Pattern

The southern skillet cornbread recipe we have discussed here is enough for 6-8 people. And the amount of ingredients is also per serving measurements. You can increase or reduce the quantity of your ingredients according to the number of people you are cooking for.

Also, homemade Southern skillet cornbread is a rich side dish. The standard serving measurement per person is 60 grams. But it would be wise to make some extra as people love them with warm stews and soups. Also, you can store the leftovers for future use.

Nutritional Value

Southern skillet cornbread recipes include nutritious ingredients like corn meal, butter, buttermilk, herbs, etc. This side dish is also high in calories and other nutrients. Below, we have shared the nutrition value chat for standard homemade southern skillet cornbreads –

Southern Skillet Cornbreads: Takeaway

Southern skillet cornbreads are a staple American side dish popular across the country. The savory, crispy, and spicy southern cornbread is a hit among the Southerners. But sweet cornbreads are also popular among many.

This simple side dish goes well with warm soups, stews, ground beef chili, meatloaf, etc. Also, you can make this delicious bread within 30-45 minutes (including 10 mins of hands-on prep).

It is an ideal option for meals as well as snacks. You can serve fresh and store the leftovers for 2 to 3 days at room temperature or 2-3 months in the freezer. So, what are you waiting for? Get your ingredients and try this fantastic Southern skillet cornbread recipe today. Also, in the comment section, let us know about your experience with this cornbread.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Type of Cornmeal is Required for the Southern Cornbread Recipe?

Southern skillet cornbreads usually do not contain sugar or any other sweeteners. So, the recipe requires yellow cornmeal. Use market-available multi-purpose cornmeal (yellow) to prepare southern skillet cornbread.

Is a Cast Iron Skillet Necessary for this Recipe?

A cast iron skillet is recommended for southern skillet cornbreads. But if you do not have a cast iron skillet, you can use a Dutch baking pan or an 8-in non-stick baking pan for the recipe.

Can You Freeze Southern Cornbread?

Yes, you can freeze Southern skillet cornbread for future use. You can freeze Southern skillet cornbread for 2-3 months. Just wrap them in plastic wrap and place them inside the airtight container.