Skillet Cornbread
This vegetarian builds yellow cornmeal, all-purpose flour and baking powder into a fuss-free meal you can have ready in about 60 minutes. Below: the ingredients split into pantry staples and a quick shopping list, a built-in serving scaler, and the method in 7 steps.
You'll mainly reach for oven and frying pan / skillet. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (1)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: vegetarian — no meat or fish, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: Gluten Dairy Egg
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page — how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Place a 9- or 10-inch cast-iron skillet in the oven and preheat to 220 C (425 F) so the pan gets thoroughly hot.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar and salt until evenly blended.
- In a separate bowl, beat the egg, then whisk in the buttermilk and 2 tablespoons of the melted butter.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir just until combined, leaving a few lumps; do not overmix or the cornbread will toughen.
- Carefully remove the hot skillet, swirl in the remaining 1 tablespoon of melted butter to coat the bottom and sides, then pour in the batter; it should sizzle.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the cornbread rest in the pan for 5 minutes, then cut into wedges and serve warm.
You'll use: Oven · Frying pan / skillet · Pan · Blender · Whisk
Ingredient substitutions
- Butter
- olive oil (¾ the amount) · coconut oil · margarine
Tips & common questions
How long does Skillet Cornbread take to make?
About 60 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 7 steps and 8 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of butter?
Try olive oil (¾ the amount). See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Skillet Cornbread vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat, fish or shellfish, so it is suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheese for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Adapted recipe — rewritten in our own wording from an open-licensed community cookbook, not yet independently kitchen-tested by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Skillet Cornbread is adapted by Consomee from the Wikibooks Cookbook, rewritten in our own wording and used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo: Skillet cornbread (cropped).jpg by Zankopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.