Old-Fashioned Cornbread (Just Like Grandma Made)

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Golden old-fashioned Southern cornbread baked in a cast iron skillet with one slice cut out and a pat of butter melting on top in a bright farmhouse kitchen.
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🧈 Old-Fashioned Cornbread (Just Like Grandma Made)

 

If there’s one thing that belongs on every Southern table, it’s a pan of warm, golden old-fashioned cornbread. Whether it’s served alongside a pot of beans, a bowl of chili, or a Sunday roast, this classic recipe has been passed down for generations — and for good reason.

This old-fashioned cornbread recipe is simple, rustic, and made with pantry staples. No sugar, no cake-like texture — just that rich corn flavor, crispy edges, and tender crumb that melts in your mouth.

If your grandma baked cornbread in a cast iron skillet, this recipe will take you straight back to her kitchen.

🌽 Why You’ll Love This Old-Fashioned Cornbread

  • Crispy golden crust from a hot skillet

  • Tender, moist center

  • Not sweet — just like true Southern cornbread

  • Ready in under 30 minutes

  • Perfect for soups, beans, and hearty dinners

This old-fashioned cornbread is everything cornbread should be — rustic, buttery, and comforting.

🛒 Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups yellow cornmeal

  • ½ cup all-purpose flour

  • 1 tablespoon baking powder

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1 ¼ cups buttermilk

  • ¼ cup melted butter

  • 2 tablespoons bacon grease or vegetable oil (for the skillet)

🍳 Equipment You’ll Need

  • 9-inch cast iron skillet

  • Mixing bowl

  • Whisk

  • Measuring cups and spoons

  • Oven mitts

👩‍🍳 How to Make Old-Fashioned Cornbread

1️⃣ Preheat & Heat the Skillet

Preheat your oven to 425°F. Place the cast iron skillet in the oven while it heats. Add the bacon grease or oil to the skillet so it gets hot and sizzling.

Cast iron skillet with melted bacon grease heating inside a warm oven, preparing the pan for old-fashioned Southern cornbread.
Preheating the cast iron skillet with bacon grease creates that signature crispy crust that makes old-fashioned cornbread so irresistible.

2️⃣ Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt.

White mixing bowl filled with cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt being whisked together to make old-fashioned cornbread batter.
Whisking the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt together creates the base for a tender, classic old-fashioned cornbread.

3️⃣ Add the Wet Ingredients

Stir in the eggs, buttermilk, and melted butter until just combined. The batter will be slightly thick.

White mixing bowl with cornmeal mixture as eggs, buttermilk, and melted butter are added to make thick old-fashioned cornbread batter.
Eggs, buttermilk, and melted butter are stirred into the dry ingredients to create a thick, rich batter for classic old-fashioned cornbread.

4️⃣ Pour into the Hot Skillet

Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven and swirl the grease to coat the bottom. Pour the batter into the skillet — it should sizzle immediately.

Thick cornbread batter being poured from a white bowl into a hot cast iron skillet to begin baking old-fashioned Southern cornbread.
Pouring the thick batter into a hot, greased skillet creates that signature sizzle and crispy crust that makes old-fashioned cornbread so delicious.

5️⃣ Bake

Return the skillet to the oven and bake for 18–22 minutes, until the top is golden and a toothpick comes out clean.

Old-fashioned cornbread baking in a cast iron skillet inside the oven, with a golden top and lightly crisp edges.
The cornbread bakes in a hot cast iron skillet until the top turns golden and the center sets, creating that classic tender crumb and crispy edge.

6️⃣ Slice & Serve

Let cool slightly, then slice and serve warm with butter, beans, or your favorite Southern dinner.

🍽 What to Serve with Old-Fashioned Cornbread

Southern comfort food spread with bowls of pinto beans, collard greens, and slices of cornbread on a farmhouse kitchen table
A warm Southern comfort food scene showing pinto beans, collard greens, and cornbread on a farmhouse table, ideal for a “what to serve with” recipe pairing.

This old-fashioned cornbread pairs beautifully with:

  • Pinto beans or black-eyed peas

  • Chili

  • Collard greens

  • Fried chicken

  • Pot roast

  • Beef stew

It’s also amazing crumbled into a glass of cold buttermilk — a true Southern classic.

👩‍🍳 Expert Tips

  • Always heat your skillet before adding the batter for crispy edges

  • Use stone-ground cornmeal for deeper corn flavor

  • Don’t overmix — a few lumps are okay

  • Bacon grease adds unbeatable flavor, but oil works too

❓ FAQs

Can I make this without a cast iron skillet?
Yes, but the crust won’t be as crispy. Use a greased 9-inch baking dish if needed.

Can I add sugar?
Traditional old-fashioned cornbread is not sweet, but you can add 1–2 tablespoons if you prefer.

Can I add mix-ins?
Absolutely! Try diced jalapeños, shredded cheese, or corn kernels.

🧊 Storage & Reheating

Store leftover old-fashioned cornbread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the fridge for 5 days.

Reheat in the oven at 300°F for 10 minutes or warm slices in a skillet for best texture.

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Golden old-fashioned Southern cornbread baked in a cast iron skillet with one slice cut out and a pat of butter melting on top in a bright farmhouse kitchen.

🧈 Old-Fashioned Cornbread (Just Like Grandma Made)

This old-fashioned Southern cornbread is everything a classic should be — golden on the outside, soft and tender on the inside, and baked in a hot cast iron skillet for that signature crispy edge. Made with simple pantry staples and no added sugar, it delivers rich corn flavor and a rustic, homemade texture just like Grandma used to make. Perfect alongside beans, chili, greens, or any hearty Southern meal, this comforting skillet cornbread is easy to prepare and ready in under 30 minutes.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 28 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American, Southern Cooking
Servings 8
Calories 230 kcal

Equipment

  • 9-inch cast iron skillet
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Whisk
  • measuring cups and spoons
  • oven mitts

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ cups yellow cornmeal
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 ¼ cups buttermilk
  • ¼ cup melted butter
  • 2 tablespoons bacon grease or vegetable oil for the skillet

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 425°F. Place the cast iron skillet in the oven while it heats. Add the bacon grease or oil to the skillet so it gets hot and sizzling.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt.
  • Stir in the eggs, buttermilk, and melted butter until just combined. The batter will be slightly thick.
  • Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven and swirl the grease to coat the bottom. Pour the batter into the skillet — it should sizzle immediately.
  • Return the skillet to the oven and bake for 18–22 minutes, until the top is golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Let cool slightly, then slice and serve warm with butter, beans, or your favorite Southern dinner.

Notes

Nutritional values provided are estimates only and are calculated based on general nutritional data for the listed ingredients. Actual values may vary depending on the specific brands, measurements, and preparation methods used. For precise dietary information, please consult a registered dietitian or use a verified nutrition calculator with the exact ingredients you use.

Nutrition

Calories: 230kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 6gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3.5gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 360mgPotassium: 190mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 220IUCalcium: 95mgIron: 2mg
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