Easy Southern Cornbread with Buttermilk

Date: Sep 20, 2022 · Updated: Sep 21, 2022 Author: Sharon Rigsby

Easy Southern Cornbread with Buttermilk is full of rich corn flavor and texture, with a deliciously crunchy crust. Made with stone-ground cornmeal, this moist, savory cornbread is a true reflection of southern goodness!

Baked in a ten-inch cast-iron skillet, this simple, homemade cornbread is versatile and easy to prepare. If you have been searching for the best southern cornbread recipe, this is it! I have made it so many times I can make it in my sleep. It is hands-down my favorite recipe, the epitome of southern comfort food, and exactly what a great cornbread should be.

A slice of southern cornbread on a plate topped with butter.

This classic quickbread is amazing straight out of the oven, pairs beautifully with almost any entree, and in the South, is considered a delicacy when crumbled in a glass of ice-cold buttermilk.

Southern-style cornbread also makes the perfect base for my Traditional Southern Cornbread Dressing, Cornbread Dressing with Sausage and Pecans, and Cornbread Salad. It also can be made ahead of time and frozen until you are ready to use it.

If you need a gluten-free option, check out my recipe for the Best Old-Fashioned Cornbread, which is a tasty denser bread made without flour.

Ingredients – here’s what’s in it:

Ingredients for cornbread including cornmeal, flour and buttermilk.

Stone-ground cornmeal – is the guest of honor at this party and brings its signature sweet corn flavor and texture to the bread.
All-purpose flour – lightens up the cornbread and keeps it from being too dense or crumbly.
Baking powder and baking soda – are leavening agents, which work with the buttermilk and salt to lighten the cornbread’s texture and help it rise.
Kosher salt – enhances the flavor of the other ingredients.
Buttermilk – adds its characteristic tang and works with the baking powder and soda to lighten the texture of the bread.
Eggs – add structure, moisture, and flavor.
Peanut oil – adds moisture, texture, and flavor. If you have it, melted bacon grease may be substituted and, as you might imagine, adds wonderful flavor.

For the best results, you will also need a well-seasoned 10-inch cast-iron skillet.

Directions – here’s how to make it:

Preheat your oven to 450 °F.
Add one tablespoon of oil to a 10-inch cast-iron skillet or metal cake pan and place in the oven to heat for five to ten minutes.
While the skillet is heating, add the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to a large bowl and whisk together. Set aside.

Cornmeal, flour, and baking powder in a clear glass bowl.

Mix the eggs, buttermilk, and peanut oil in a smaller bowl.

Buttermilk, eggs, and oil in a clear glass bowl.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir with a spoon to combine. Only mix until the batter is moistened. It’s okay if there are a few dry spots or lumps. Do not overmix.

Carefully remove the heated skillet from the oven. Tilt the pan slightly in a circle and swirl the oil around to ensure it coats the bottom and halfway up the sides of the skillet. Add the batter.

Cornbread batter in a cast iron skillet.

Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until the top of the cornbread is golden brown and the bread starts pulling away from the sides of the pan. The center should also spring back when pressed, and a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean. Place the skillet on a baking rack for five minutes to cool.

To remove the cornbread from the skillet, place a plate that is a few inches wider than the skillet over the top of the pan. Use hot pads and hold on to both the skillet and the plate; carefully flip the skillet and dish over at the same time and remove the skillet. If you prefer, you can cut the cornbread into wedges and serve straight from the skillet.

A plate fitted over a skillet which will be flipped over.

Serve immediately while it’s still hot with plenty of butter.

Frequently asked questions:

Do you need baking powder for cornbread?

The quick answer is yes, you do need baking powder for the cornbread to rise and have the proper consistency. Cornbread baked without baking powder is dense. However, in a pinch, if you don’t have baking powder and you are using buttermilk, you can increase the amount of baking soda called for by a quarter of a teaspoon.

Are cornmeal and corn flour the same thing?

No, they are not the same thing. They are both made from corn, but corn flour (two words) refers to finely ground corn that has more of a delicate texture, is more like flour, and is smooth. I use corn flour in the breading for my Fried Crab Claws.

Cornmeal, on the other hand, is made with a coarser grind and is gritty. It also has more texture and a stronger corn taste. Cornmeal is used in the breading for my Southern Fried Oysters and Fried Grouper.

In the UK, the term cornflour (one word) refers to cornstarch which is usually used as a thickening agent in gravies and sauces.

What’s the difference between northern and southern cornbread?

The simple answer here is sugar, it’s the great divider! Generally, although not always, what most folks consider Northern cornbread is a little cakier and is definitely sweeter.

Traditionally, most cooks in the South do not put sugar in their cornbread, including me. However, that said, I love any type of cornbread, and I will happily eat a slice of sweet cornbread any day.

There are no hard and fast rules, and the lines are blurred. No matter where you live, everyone has a favorite recipe or way they like their cornbread made, and it usually has to do with what kind you ate growing up.

What to serve with this recipe?

Southern cornbread is frequently served as a side dish with Hoppin’ John, Black-Eyed Peas, Southern Peas, Fried Fish, and cooked greens such as Collards or turnip greens.

My favorite summer meal is a slice of hot baked cornbread with Purple Hull Peas or Field Peas, Creamed Corn, and fresh sliced tomatoes.

In cooler weather, it’s wonderful paired with Chicken Chili with a Twist or a soup such as Creamy Roasted Tomato Soup, Black-Eyed
Pea Soup, or Easy Creamy Southern Sweet Potato Soup.

Leftovers and storage?

Leftovers are delicious when split in half, topped with butter, and toasted under a broiler. They also make great cornbread croutons, simply cut into small cubes and toast on a baking sheet.

Cornbread should be covered and stored at room temperature. It will be good for up to four days. If you want to store it longer than that, wrap it securely and freeze it for up to 30 days. It can be reheated in the oven or in an air-fryer. I do not recommend heating it up in the microwave.

Sharon’s tips:

This cornbread is best when served piping hot right out of the oven, topped with a pat of butter or melted butter.
While it’s best not to make it ahead if you are eating it with a meal, you can prep the ingredients by getting everything ready and separately mixing the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients. Don’t mix the two together, however, until right before you are ready to pour the batter into the skillet.
You can make this recipe ahead to use in dressing and stuffing. For best results, let it cool completely and wrap tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. You can freeze it for up to 30 days.
A cast-iron skillet works best for baking traditional southern cornbread. Please don’t skip the step of preheating the skillet before you add the batter. Adding the batter to a hot skillet is what makes the crust crispy.
If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own by mixing two cups of whole milk minus two tablespoons with either two tablespoons of lemon juice or white vinegar. Let this mixture sit for five minutes, and voila, buttermilk. It’s probably not something you would want to drink, but it works perfectly in this recipe.
The type of cornmeal you use has a direct impact on your finished product. I like and use either locally grown and produced Bradley’s Stone Ground Cornmeal or Bumpy Road Farm Cornmeal. I don’t have any relationship with either one of these brands, but think they provide the best results.
By the way, you should always store cornmeal in your refrigerator or freezer.