This traditional Southern cornbread recipe is simply the BEST! It’s the perfect pairing for just about any dinner, from rice and beans to gumbo, smothered chicken, and many other Southern dishes.
Hey friends! Today, I’m sharing a recipe that true Southerners know by heart: a traditional Southern-style cornbread. I love cornbread. I love sweet cornbread, savory cornbread, round cornbread, and cornbread dressing. But this recipe has got to be my favorite.
My mom served this cornbread with 80% of our meals growing up. If we had beans and rice, there was cornbread. Pork chops and gravy… cornbread. Greens on the table? Cornbread was right there too! Still to this very day, I can’t get enough of cornbread (and that’s exactly why I have so many cornbread recipes!).
This is a savory cornbread with the smallest hint of sweetness. It has a perfectly crisp crust on top, but a nice and moist center with that trademark crumbly texture. Served piping hot with a pat of butter, you simply won’t be able to resist eating half the pan!
How to Make Classic Southern Cornbread
Ingredients
Once you know the ingredients for this cornbread recipe, you’ll never buy the pre-mixed boxed stuff again! You only need a few simple ingredients to make real Southern cornbread at home. You’ll find the ingredient measurements in the full printable recipe card at the end of this post. Here’s what you need:
- Yellow Cornmeal: the base of the recipe. I always use a fine-grained cornmeal for smoother batter.
- Self-Rising Flour: this is just flour that already has a rising agent (like baking powder) mixed in. If you only have all-purpose flour, that’s fine! Just add 1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder and ¼ teaspoon of salt in with the dry ingredients.
- Sugar: yes, this Southern cornbread recipe does have sugar in it. No, it doesn’t make it too sweet!
- Eggs: to give the cornbread structure
- Buttermilk & Vegetable Oil: for moisture.
- Butter: some melted butter makes this cornbread melt-in-your-mouth good.
- Bacon Drippings: my secret weapon! You get just a hint of savory, salty bacon flavor.
What’s the difference between white cornmeal and yellow cornmeal?
The main difference is the type of corn kernel used to make the cornmeal. White cornmeal is made from white corn, and yellow cornmeal is made from (you guessed it…) yellow corn. Yellow cornmeal has a more corn-forward flavor, and white cornmeal is a bit more mild. In most cornbread recipes, it’s interchangeable – you can use one or the other, or a mix of both!
Can I use regular milk instead of buttermilk?
Honey, don’t even think about replacing the buttermilk with regular milk. It’s what makes this classic cornbread recipe so moist, fluffy, and just so darn flavorful!
Instructions
This classic Southern cornbread recipe couldn’t be easier to make! It’s quick to mix together and cooks quickly in the oven, which is why it’s the perfect side dish to accompany almost any dinner. Here’s how to make my traditional Southern cornbread recipe.
- In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients – cornmeal, flour, and sugar. Sift the ingredients to remove any lumps.
- Next, add the wet ingredients – buttermilk, vegetable oil, melted bacon fat, and eggs. Mix everything until well combined.
- Grease an 8 x 8 baking dish with butter or nonstick spray, then pour in the cornbread batter.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
- Once out of the oven, brush melted butter over the top of the cornbread. Serve warm and enjoy!
This delicious homemade cornbread is a true hallmark of Southern cooking. It’s simple, savory, buttery, and perfect paired with endless dishes. If you’re searching for your next favorite cornbread recipe, the search stops right here, fam!
Tips for Making Savory Southern Cornbread
I want to share some tips and answers to common questions I get from y’all about this cornbread recipe. If you have something you’d like to ask, drop a comment down below!
- Some people like to save their bacon grease for cooking in other recipes. If you’re not one of those people and you make bacon specifically for this recipe, chop some of that bacon up and toss it into your cornbread batter!
- You can make this a skillet cornbread recipe by preheating a large cast-iron skillet in the oven. Dump the batter into the hot skillet, and when it’s done, you’ll have a nice crispy crust on the bottom.
- You can easily double this recipe and bake it in a 9 x 13 baking dish.
- If you don’t like bacon or don’t eat pork, swap the bacon drippings out for melted butter.
- I promise y’all, the sugar does not make this sweet cornbread! I highly recommend including the 1/4th cup of sugar for the best results.
Which cornbread recipe should I use for cornbread dressing?
THIS IS THE ONE!! If you want to make any of my cornbread dressing recipes, this Southern cornbread is perfect for dressing. Make a double batch, leave it out on the counter overnight, and make your dressing recipe the next day. Here are some of my favorite cornbread dressing recipes:
- Southern Cornbread Dressing
- Soul Food Cornbread Dressing Recipe
- Down Home Cornbread Dressing
- Italian Sausage Cornbread Dressing
Best Southern Dishes to Serve with Cornbread
I wasn’t kidding when I called this my “all-purpose” cornbread recipe… It’s really because I serve it with everything! If you’re wondering what cornbread pairs best with, here are some of my favorite options.
- Slow Cooker Beef Brisket Chili
- Smoked Turkey Gumbo
- Gumbo Greens Recipe
- Southern Slow Cooker Smothered Oxtails
- Southern Smothered Chicken Recipe
- Skillet Smothered Pork Chops & Gravy
- Smothered Okra with Chicken and Sausage
Don’t forget to tag and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, subscribe to I Heart Recipes on YouTube, and check out I Heart Soul Food, Super Soul Food with Cousin Rosie, and A Cousin Rosie Holiday with many recipes you can’t find anywhere else.
Southern Cornbread
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1 1/4 cup self rising flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 3 tbsp bacon drippings
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 tsp salted butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 F.
- In a large bowl, sift the flour, cornmeal and sugar together and mix to combine.3/4 cup yellow cornmeal, 1 1/4 cup self rising flour, 1/4 cup sugar
- Next, add the buttermilk, vegetable oil, bacon drippings, and eggs.2 large eggs, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 3 tbsp bacon drippings, 1 cup buttermilk
- Mix the cornbread batter until all the ingredients are well combined.
- Grease a 8×8 bake dish with butter or nonstick baking spray, then pour in the cornbread batter.
- Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, and brush on 2 tbsp of salted butter on the top of the cornbread.2 tsp salted butter
- Let cool.
- Serve & enjoy!
Everyone needs a good buttermilk cornbread recipe…..this one is great! Pinned. Thanks Rosie for sharing. Have a great week.
I so agree Mary! Thanks for pinning.
Sorry to post under cornbread, can you show a way to cook crispy fried wings in oven. I usually clip wing from drumstick
Thank you in advance
Janis
Hi there! Try this recipe!
I love cornbread and this is a very good recipe
Thank you!
I saw your recipe for chitterlings and thought I would give it a try.
Thank you,
Wow, this cornbread looks so good right now! I love that you added bacon drippings to it. My mom, or dad, always baked cornbread while I was growing up.
Yes! My mom made cornbread ALL the time. It goes with almost everything! 🙂
Do you use ready made self-rising flour, or do you make your own?
I use ready made self rising flour.
This is a good cornbread recipe. I added just a little more sugar. I only use Raw Brown sugar. I had green lima beans, crispy turkey wings with the drumsticks, fried southern style corn, slice tomatoes,and lemon pound for dessert with whip cream on top. Pound cake made from scratch honey.
Hi Lorraine! Thanks for trying me recipe!
Rosie, would this Cornbread recipe be good for cooking in a cast iron skillet after getting oil hot enough that cornbread batter sizzles when pouring into the skillet????? I have had success with some batter in doing it this way and some it does not work well. We like a crunchy crust on our bread. Thanks!
Hi Delia! Absolutely 🙂
Hi, I’m just curious to why you gave her a one star Delia? I think you should correct that it may make people think you did not like the recipe and hurt her ratings.
Thank you for sharing. This brings bk great
memories of my grandmother cooking . She
always made cornbread. Miss her so much n her
cooking.
Hi Bernadine! I hope that you give my recipe a try! XOXO
Hi, Rosie,
I love this cornbread recipe; however, I can never get my cornbread to brown on top. Any suggestions?
I’ve tried leaving it in the oven longer and I also tried butter and then putting it back in the oven.
Hi Jameelah. Once the cornbread is done, you can try setting the oven on broil for a minute or two, or just until it browns.
I always use a cast iron skillet when cooking my cornbread. So to get it brown on both sides when it’s just about brown enough on top I take it out of the oven and using a plate as large as the skillet I carefully flip it onto the plate. Then just as carefully put it back into the skillet (upside down) so it browns on the other side. It just needs a few minutes more. This is the way my grandmothers always did it! Love those crispy tops and bottoms!
And Rosie, I love everything you make! I’m constantly online looking up how you cook!
I love cooking and baking with cast irons as well! OXOX
I like sweet cornbread, only used jiffy mix and adds lots of sugar and butter! Will this recipe make the cornbread sweet or do I need to add more sugar!
Hi Shawn. No, this recipe is not a sweet cornbread.
This recipe for cornbread sounds delicious, but i was wondering if you had an alternate for people who don’t eat pork?
Hi Sabrina! I have several other cornbread recipes available 🙂
HI ROSIE does u have a recipe 4 bbq sauce without all that sugar like we know Rays.I like your cornbread recipe without all that sugar like the jiffy. U have the great recipes.KEEP THEM COMING BLESSINGS.
Hi Nickie! I only have a sweet BBQ recipe posted at this time.
I love your cornbread recipe, will be using in my cornbread dressing.
Thanks Rosie
Thanks Marjorie!
Hey Rosie I can’t wait to try your cornbread recipe for thanksgiving. I make your old fashion dressing last thanksgiving and Christmas . I saw you have down home dressing and you use your recipe for cornbread. I am still debating if I am using old fashion recipe or downhome recipe either way I know it is going be good.
Hi Miss V! The old fashioned dressing, and the southern dressing are really similar. The down home cornbread dressing has gizzards, and stuff in it. It just depends on what you like 😀
Hey Rosie with down home cornbread on list of ingredients I didn’t see where you had gizzards in recipe. I saw where you had chicken but not gizzards. Do I just add it when I add the chicken .I saw it when you reply to me.
Hi Miss V, the chicken gizzards are listed within the ingredients 😀
Hey Rosie iam try make cornbread from strsch . when I made old fashion cornbread dressing last year I used two boxed if jiffy. I want made it with homemade cornbread recipe. I ll let you know how it comes out.
Alright, keep me posted 🙂
Do you think using powdered buttermilk will be ok?
I think you’ll be okay 🙂
I use the bacon drippings to get my skillet hot and ready for the batter. I also use honey instead of sugar.
Love cornbread with soup or chili. Thanks for your version! Can’t wait to try it.
Thanks for coming by Vickie!
I will be making the Southern Cornbread and the Southern Cornbread dressing for Thanksgiving this year but we don’t eat pork. For the Southern Cornbread, if I leave out the bacon drippings and follow the rest of the instructions exactly will it still taste just as good? Or, since we don’t eat pork, is there another cornbread recipe I should follow instead to use in the Southern Cornbread dressing?
Use butter instead of the bacon drippings.
Have you ever wanted to cry when the recipe you’ve followed came out so good! That is how I felt with this recipe as well! This cornbread is so amazing and I’m the type to make jiffy because I’ve never made cornbread before! I added an extra 1/4 cup of sugar and my wife thought it was jiffy before telling her where the recipe is from! Your recipes have saved me from looking everywhere else! Talk about soul food? I am now becoming soul food king through these recipes! Thank you for sharing!
Yes I know once I start eating omg I have to make my self stop best cornbread ever
I’m making cornbread for my office since I decided to bring collard greens. I do not have buttermilk, so if I use skim milk will cornbread still taste good
You can try it 🙂
Omg Mzz Rosie this cornbread is so freaking delicious thank you so much for sharing the recipe forget 5 stars it’s a perfect 10
Thanks for trying Pamela!
Today I made Coconut Curry Fried Chicken and Southern Cornbread using Your recipes. They went perfectly with My Collard Greens and Rice. This is the BEST Cornbread recipe that I’ve come across. NO MORE JIFFY FOR ME!
Thank You, Rosie,You made Me shine today!
Thanks for trying Cheri!
Hey Rosie,
I recently subscribed and am glad to have found your blog!!! Oh my goodness I made this cornbread along with your greens, oxtails and Mac and cheese and it was delicious!! The greens were the best I’ve ever made and my son and I ate them like we were never going to have greens again!!! It was so good. Thanks for the delicious recipes.
Thanks so much for trying my recipe!! I’m working on a ton more so stay tuned. XOXO
Loved this cornbread recipe. So easy and just right. Making today with taco soup.
Rosie I really enjoyed this recipe. It was delicious. Thank you for all your videos!
I like this recipe a lot, BUT I omit the 1/4 sugar. I was raised on my mother’s Georgia cornbread and it was never sweet. It has always baffled me that people think cornbread should be sweet. It’s not a corn muffin. It’s not breakfast food. If I am going to put cornbread in my turkey dressing, you can bet I don’t want it sweetened. Try it without the sugar. You might be surprised.
Hi Rosie! For the ingredients you state that there is 2 tsp of butter needed along with more for greasing but you don’t state when to use it. Is the 2tsp of butter being mixed in with the cornbread batter? Or are we using it to butter the cornbread when it’s done baking ?
You grease the pans before adding in the batter 🙂
This cornbread recipe is by far the best I have ever made, and I grew up eating a ton of cornbread! I followed the instructions to the letter, and it is absolutely perfect. I’ll never make any other recipe!!! Thank you for sharing this.
This is not a sweet cornbread…the sugar just adds a little something. Try it exactly how it’s written and YOU might be surprised. -_-
Fantastic recipe. Perfect flavor and texture. Not cakey and not crumbly. Not sweet but not plain either, the sugar gives it something special. I’d say less than semi sweet. Thank you for yet another perfect recipe. Happy holidays 🙂
I grew up on jiffy and only saw homemade cornbread for dressin. After finding your blog
“I’m now the cornbread Goat” in the family.
You keep the recipes so simple.
I want to make cornbread dressing but I dont want to use sweet cornbread. Is your cornbread recipe sweet?
Thank you so much for this cornbread recipe! I made cornbread the other day and it didn’t turn out so good. . Can’t wait to try this one!
I struggle with making good cornbread from scratch. I made this for Christmas 2022. It is fantastic. It will be my Go to from now on.
Seems like my fathers cornbread, THANKS for bring it back
Is this plain or self rising corn meal
This recipe call for plain yellow cornmeal. XOXO
Hello everybody! I wonder if anybody made this without bacon drippings. If so, how did it turned out? I’m allergic to pork. Thank you for your response.
If you’re allergic, you can certainly skip the bacon drippings.
Gorgeous food and supple. Thank you
I use this recipe every year for my southern dressing…it is always a hit. Thanks, Rosie!!
Thanks for using my recipe, and leaving a comment Cherissa! XOXO
He said this wasn’t cornbread it was cake . Absolutely delicious. Making again tonight . B blessed
First time making cornbread (I grew up on Jiffy). This recipe will be my go to for all occasions. I made a honey butter mixture and put in on the cornbread as soon as it came out of the oven. Sheer perfection, if I say so myself.
I make your cornbread recipe all the time, made it today alone with a big pot of vegetable soup. It’s raining here today.
Looks tasty, will make it. I am a country
Girl and I love my cornbread!
Hi Rosie! Girl you know you can cook!! Love it! Question. I’m wanting to make your Southern Dressing for Xmas. And you mentioned to use this particular cornbread recipe with the Bacon drippings. Well my husband is Muslim so no pork. Is there any other dripping I can use? Or any other cornbread recipe without having to use bacon drippings?
Hey darling! Use vegetable oil.
Love to use this recipe when making dressing.
Hey Rosie! It’s that time of the year again and WE are back in the kitchen Thank you for this recipe!
I’ve used this a couple of times for cornbread dressing and it’s a great recipe. My household is lactose intolerant so I used a 2% lactaid milk. I used half the amount of sugar, olive oil, and omitted the bacon grease.