Classic Southern Cornbread Recipe

Name: Classic Southern Cornbread Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon bacon grease drippings; 1 1/4 cups milk; 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar; 1 egg (large ); 1 1/2 cups white cornmeal; 1/2 cup all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 2 tablespoons sugar; 6 tablespoons butter (melted); 1/3 cup bacon (crumbled)

If you usually make your cornbread from a box, you’re in for a real treat. This Southern cornbread recipe is less cake-like and a bit more crumbly and less sweet than its quick cornbread counterparts in a box, and downright delicious.

This savory cornbread has a hearty flavor and texture with crispy edges and bacon crumbles on top.

Two slices of cornbread topped with bacon pieces are stacked on white plates, with more cornbread visible in a black cast iron skillet in the background, on a red and white striped cloth.

Better Than Boxed Southern Cornbread Recipe

This real Southern cornbread recipe is straight out of Grandma’s kitchen. It’s buttery and crispy, with a fluffy interior and a hearty cornbread flavor. It’s ridiculously easy to make and very beginner-friendly for those who have only used boxed cornbread mix. Ready in 35 minutes and can easily be made ahead of time, this cornbread recipe is perfect for busy days or last-minute hosting. Since cornmeal is super cheap, as well as the other basic pantry staples used, this recipe won’t even make a dent in your wallet. To make things even quicker, you can cook the bacon and save the grease in the fridge. You can also make the buttermilk mixture and store it in the fridge for several days.

Gina’s Quick Tips Before You Get Started

Important prep tips before starting the recipe:

A room temperature egg will mix more smoothly into the batter.
You can cook the bacon and store the bacon and grease in the fridge for a couple of days.
A cast-iron skillet will deliver those perfectly crispy edges.

Common Mistakes When Making This Recipe

Not using a hot enough skillet: Don’t forget to heat up your skillet and bacon grease in the oven before pouring the batter into it. This is what produces the crispy edges.

Ingredient Tips

Here’s a quick overview of the key ingredients for this recipe. For the full list of ingredients and exact measurements, be sure to check the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Nine ingredients for a recipe are arranged on a white surface, each labeled: sugar, flour, apple cider vinegar, milk, P.A.N. cornmeal, salt, baking soda, bacon grease, bacon, and an egg.

Bacon grease drippings: It wouldn’t be a Southern cornbread recipe without bacon, right? Bacon grease helps create that iconic crispy crust on the outside of the cornbread and adds a little smoky flavor. Since we’re crumbling extra bacon on top, you can use the grease from that. If you’re skipping the bacon, use any leftover bacon grease lying in your pantry; lard or even butter will work, too.
Milk and apple cider vinegar: These two ingredients create a homemade “buttermilk,” keeping the cornbread super tender! If you have regular buttermilk, you can use it. Whole milk works best, and you can swap the apple cider vinegar with plain white vinegar if needed.
White cornmeal: This gives the cornbread an iconic Southern-style texture and flavor. It’s finer ground and less sweet than yellow cornmeal, but you could use yellow if you like. Look for stone-ground cornmeal!
All-purpose flour: This recipe uses a little all-purpose flour to hold the cornbread together so it’s not so crumbly and gritty.
Baking soda: The leavening agent that provides lift when combined.
Sugar: Southern cornbread usually doesn’t use sugar or uses very little. This recipe uses just enough to intensify the flavor of the cornbread without making it sweet. You can always add more if you like your cornbread a little sweeter.
Crispy bacon crumbles: These are sprinkled on top for a little smoky flavor and crunch.

Do I have to use a cast iron skillet?

It’s not a must, but it makes a big difference. Cast iron gets super hot and gives the cornbread that crispy, golden crust. If you don’t have one, use a metal pan and heat it up with the bacon grease. Just know the crust won’t be quite as crunchy.

How To Make This Easy Southern Cornbread Recipe

Adding the Bacon Grease and Mixing Dry Ingredients

Add the bacon grease in a cast iron skillet and allow the pan to warm up in the oven. Then, prep the dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine.

A black cast iron skillet with a white and red silicone basting brush resting inside on a white background.

A white mixing bowl containing separated dry ingredients: whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, salt, and a small amount of pink salt.

Forming the Batter and Topping with Bacon

Combine the wet and dry ingredients to form a thick batter and pour it into the hot skillet. Top with the cooked bacon crumbles and bake until golden brown with crispy edges!

Unbaked biscuit dough spread evenly in a black cast iron skillet, photographed from above on a white background.

A round cast iron skillet filled with a creamy white dip topped with crumbled pieces of bacon, set against a white background.

Can I make this ahead of time?

You can bake it a few hours ahead and reheat it gently in the oven. Store it covered at room temperature if serving it on the same day. If you make it a day in advance, wrap it tightly and store it in the fridge. Reheat at 350ºF for 10-15 minutes or until warm.

Variations, Substitutions, and Recipe Tips

Flavor Enhancements: This cornbread would be delicious with some shredded cheese or some freshly cooked corn folded into the batter before baking. For a hint of sweetness, you can add a drizzle of honey to the top of the cornbread before serving.

Simple Substitutions: If you don’t want to use processed sugar, you can swap it with honey or maple syrup.

Tips For Recipe Success: Let the batter sit for at least 10 minutes so the cornmeal soaks up all the liquid before baking. This step can help the cornbread become even more tender. Try serving it with Southern Keto Collard Greens Recipe or Navy Beans In A Crock Pot Recipe.

A round skillet of golden cornbread topped with crispy bacon pieces, placed on a wooden board with a red and white striped towel partially visible in the background.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Store leftover cornbread in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days or in the fridge for 5-6. After that, it’s best to freeze it to maintain its texture. You can freeze for up to 3 months wrapped in plastic wrap and aluminum foil.
It’s best to reheat cornbread wrapped in foil in the oven to avoid drying it out. Turn on the oven to 350ºF and reheat the cornbread for 10-15 minutes. If you’re in a hurry, you can wrap the cornbread in a damp towel and reheat it in the microwave for 15-20 seconds, but you might not get those crispy edges.

Biblical Hospitality Tips

“Keep a few frozen meals or snacks on hand. Last-minute guests are a joy when you’re prepared.”
— Intentional Hospitality

This Classic Southern Cornbread recipe is a savory, comforting side dish that embodies the heart of a comfort food meal. Perfect for sharing with guests alongside chili or chicken and dumplings, it’s a delicious way to invite others to your table and show biblical hospitality through nourishment and presence. Share a warm skillet with someone who needs encouragement or simply a good home-cooked meal.

Hostessing Tips for Comfort Food Gatherings

Hospitality as Ministry: Be the first to say yes when someone hints at needing company.
Fellowship Over Perfection: Serve from the pot or pan, it makes people feel like family.
Prep-Ahead Tip: Create a hospitality shelf. I set up a dedicated section in my pantry just for casual entertaining. Everything I need is right there: paper plates, colorful cups, napkins, plastic cutlery, serving trays, straws, even mini tongs. It’s all organized in clear acrylic drawers and acrylic bins, so I can be ready in minutes when company comes by. Learn how to create a Grab-and-Go Hospitality Station, step by step.

Hospitality in Action

This week, invite a neighbor or church friend over for a humble Southern-style meal. Serve your cornbread warm with some no bean chili or collard greens, and let the simple act of breaking bread open doors to deeper fellowship.

Do you have a question about the recipe? Feel free to ask in the comments below. I’m here to help!

A sliced skillet cornbread topped with crispy bacon sits in a black cast iron pan. In the background, a plate holds extra cornbread slices, and a red-striped towel is partially visible. Text above reads, "Quick and Easy Skillet Southern Cornbread Recipe.

Classic Southern Cornbread Recipe

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Better Than Boxed Southern Cornbread Recipe

Gina’s Quick Tips Before You Get Started