15 Best Southern Cornbread Recipes (No Sugar No Flour)

Cornbread is a quick bread made with cornmeal, associated with the cuisine of the Southern United States, with origins in Native American cuisine and from the British colonists as well. Cornbread started with a combination of cornmeal, water, and salt, to quickly became a famous and popular bread among all Americans with every area adding its flavors to it.

However, southern cornbread remains one of the most popular cornbreads and a staple dish in Southern houses thanks to its nice aroma as well as its soft but crumbly texture.

In comparison with northern cornbread, southern cornbread has a small amount of sugar to no sugar used in it, which gives it a nice taste that goes very well with both sweet and savory dishes.

This is why we curated for you this list of 15 best Southern cornbread recipes from baked to fried, sweet to savory, and from soft to chewy. Prepare your utensils and let’s dig in!

Southern Style Cornbread Recipe (No Sugar or Flour)

This southern-style cornbread recipe is super simple, healthy, and tasty. All you have to do is combine all the ingredients in one bowl, pour them into a greased skillet then bake your cornbread until golden brown.

It’s very basic so it makes a perfect healthy addition to your stuffing, or you can simply serve it with some stew and enjoy!

Ingredients

• 2-cup cornmeal
• 2t baking powder
• 1/2 Salt
• 2 eggs; 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 tablespoons bacon drippings; oil or butter

Get the recipe here.

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Tomunda’s Southern Cornbread Recipe

There’s nothing like a warm piece of traditional southern cornbread to eat with some hot stew, and this recipe is a great example. The cornmeal mix used in this recipe makes the cornbread come out slightly white, with a very nice yellow hue to it, which makes it both delicious and amazing to look at.

If you are looking to impress someone, or simply show your family what you are capable of, this easy cornbread recipe is the perfect way to do it. You can also surprise them by adding a small chopped jalapeno to the batter, it will elevate its taste and make it irresistible.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup almond milk

Get the recipe here.

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Easy, Homemade Classic Southern Cornbread Recipe

Easy and quick to make, this traditional Southern cornbread recipe is a delectable side dish for any meal. The cornbread has a moist and dense texture because it is made with yellow cornmeal which gives it a beautiful color as well.

My favorite way to serve cornbread is hot out of the oven with a pat of butter on top and some honey, and a cup of buttermilk. It tastes good cold right out of the fridge or reheated the following day.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cornmeal
• 3t baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 beaten eggs
• buttermilk (1 1/2 cups)
• 1/2 stick unsweetened butter
• 1/2 solid stick, melted.
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter Grease the pan.

Get the recipe here.

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Southern-Style Unsweetened Cornbread Recipe

In the southern United States, this cornbread recipe is a staple. This dish is ideal for a potluck or a casual dinner party. With a slightly crumbly texture, the cornbread is both moist and tender so it easily absorbs the flavor of whatever you are eating with it.

Golden in color and slightly toasted in flavor, it has a distinct aroma that will leave your house smelling like a cozy cottage in the middle of winter.

Ingredients

• 15oz (3 cups) cornmeal stone-ground
• kosher salt, 2 tsp
• 2t baking powder
• 3/4 tsp soda
• buttermilk 2 1/2 cups
• Eggs
• 1 1/2 sticks melted unsalted butter

Get the recipe here.

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No-flour Cornbread Recipe

You can enjoy cornbread without all the extra carbs with this no-flour recipe. This cornbread is ideal for anyone on a low-carb or gluten-free diet because it only contains a few simple ingredients. This quick and simple cornbread recipe is perfect for those times when a craving for freshly baked bread strikes.

In less than 25 minutes, you will end up with a nice and fluffy loaf of cornbread that tastes fantastic with stews, soup, and hearty dishes. Be careful though, because once you try it, this cornbread will surely become a staple in your house in no time.

Ingredients

• 2 eggs 2c cornmeal
• Buttermilk, 2 cups
• 1tsp baking powder
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate
• bacon grease (1/4 cup)
• Sodium

Get the recipe here.

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Yellow Buttermilk Cornbread Recipe (Southern-style, Unsweet)

A loaf of Southern-style yellow buttermilk cornbread is the ideal accompaniment to any meal. This recipe uses simple, readily available ingredients and comes together quickly. The result is a moist, flavorful cornbread that complements both savory and sweet dishes.

Allow the cornbread to cool slightly before slicing and serving it. What makes this cornbread recipe special is that you can enjoy it with all meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner and if you have any leftover slices which I doubt you will, freeze them, then heat them with some butter the next day and enjoy!

Ingredients

• Unsalted butter, 12 tablespoons
• Eggs
• buttermilk 2 ½ cups
• 525g all-purpose yellow corn meal
• baking powder
• ¾ tsp soda
• 2tsp salt Fine-grained sea salt is my favorite.

Get the recipe here.

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Crispy Southern Cornbread Recipe

Any southern meal wouldn’t be complete without a side of this crispy cornbread. Unlike the other recipes that yield soft and moist cornbread, this one is all about the golden brown crispy slices.

The preparation process is super simple just like the other recipes, the trick is in how you bake it in the skillet. The result is a beautiful crispy cornbread that tastes amazing with honey and butter or hearty soups. Give it a shot and thank me later!

Ingredients

• Cup cornmeal
• salt
• Baking powder 1 tbsp
• baking soda pinch
• Egg
• buttermilk (1/4 cup)
• 2 tbsp high-heat oil

Get the recipe here.

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Vegan Cornbread, Southern Style Recipe

Cornbread is a traditional southern side dish, and this vegan version is no exception. In addition to its mouth-watering moistness and flavor, this cornbread also has a light and fluffy texture.

This recipe’s secret ingredient is vegan yogurt, which imparts a rich and tangy flavor to the cornbread, all the while enabling vegans to enjoy this delicacy as well. The sugar in this recipe adds a slight sweetness that completes this bread, but you can omit it if you don’t like it.

This cornbread is extremely easy to put together. Simply combine all of the ingredients in a single bowl and bake the cornbread in a preheated oven. Even if you’re using it to make vegan fish tacos or a hearty stew, this cornbread is sure to become a staple in your household from the first time you try it!

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup stone-ground cornmeal.
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate
• 1/4-tsp salt
• 1 ½ cups “buttermilk” made from 1/4 cup vegan yogurt
• 3/4 cup water.
• half-cup aquafaba
• Skillet cooking spray

Get the recipe here.

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Ben Mims’ Perfect Cornbread Recipe

Ben Mims’ cornbread recipe strikes the ideal cornbread dish with a soft and moist texture in the middle and a nice golden brown crust at the bottom that adds a nice flavor to it.

This cornbread is super versatile, you can use serve this cornbread with some honey, jam, or chocolate sauce if you are craving something sweet, you can serve it with some stew or soup if you craving something hearty and cozy, and the best of all, you can slice it, and grill it for it will make a perfect addition to your barbecue.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cornmeal
• baking powder 1 tablespoon
• salt (1 teaspoon)
• 1/4 tsp bicarbonate
• Buttermilk, 2 cups
• 2 eggs
• half-cup butter

Get the recipe here.

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Southern Skillet Cornbread – No sugar, No flour

Without any of the unhealthy ingredients that typically make cornbread bland and lifeless, this version is hearty and filling. The eggs with buttermilk add richness and depth, while cornmeal and cornstarch produce a light, fluffy consistency.

The best part is that no flour or sugar is required! Anyone looking for a healthier alternative to a traditional recipe will love this cornbread.

You can jazz it up with some diced jalapenos or bacon bits, or you can add them both and get ready to hear some raving reviews, for this recipe is the BEST!

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 cups Anson Mill cornmeal
• 1/2-tsp baking soda
• 1/2-tsp baking powder
• 4+1 tablespoons melted fresh lard (or butter)
• beaten egg
• buttermilk (1 ½ cups)

Get the recipe here.

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Gluten-Free Cornbread Recipe (No Flour)

If you are allergic to wheat or simply don’t want to eat flour, this gluten-free cornbread recipe is for you. Instead of wheat flour, this cornbread has a moist, slightly crumbly texture because it is made with medium ground cornmeal.

My favorite part about this recipe though is that it allows you to sneak in some veggies for your kids without them noticing, like the zucchini used in this recipe, you can also add shredded carrots. The honey and vanilla hide the taste of the veggies and make it taste even more delicious and perfect to serve with some butter and extra honey, or BBQ.

Ingredients

• 2 cups ground cornmeal
• baking powder
• baking soda
• salt
• 1½ cup yogurt/sour cream (can use dairy free)
• 25% honey
• 1/4 cup melted ghee/butter/coconut oil
• 1 egg
• vanilla extract
• 1 grated zucchini

Get the recipe here.

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Southern (With a Twist) Cornbread Recipe

Recipe for Southern-style cornbread with an unexpected twist. This cornbread gets its distinct crunch from the stone-ground cornmeal in the batter, while the combination of buttermilk and butter gives it a rich, moist consistency, and honey gives it just the perfect amount of sweetness that makes it perfect to eat as a stand-alone, or with some hearty meals as well like chili, soup…

Personally, I love eating it with a chilled cup of buttermilk, it tastes fantastic.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon baking powder 2 cups stone-ground cornmeal
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate
• salt (1 teaspoon)
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups buttermilk (dairy-free option**)
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2TB coconut oil

Get the recipe here.

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Real Cornbread Recipe

Dense, moist, and just a tad crumbly, while the crust comes out golden brown and a bit crispy: that’s what true cornbread is, and that’s how this cornbread turns out.

If you are used to eating sweet cornbread, and couldn’t find a good recipe for southern bread, this recipe is IT. You will quickly find yourself whipping one batch after the other, you just have to dive in and I promise you’ll enjoy it!

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp canola
• 2 cups cornmeal
• 1tsp baking powder
• salt
• beaten egg
• 1 ½ cups nonfat milk/buttermilk

Get the recipe here.

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Keto Southern-Style Cornbread Recipe

Yes, you read right, Keto southern-style cornbread! Thanks to this recipe, you still preserve your Keto diet while enjoying this delicious Southern-Style Cornbread Recipe that is carb-free.

This comforting and soul-healing bread is moist, fluffy, and soft thanks to the blend of almond and coconut flour. It’s simple to make and requires very few ingredients.

You can serve it as a side dish, or a snack and enjoy with while it’s warm with some butter! It’s mouthwatering.

Ingredients

• Almond flour, 1 cup
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup Monkfruit Sweetener
• 20% off with code better than bread keto.
• 1/4 melted butter
• 1/4 cup cream
• baking powder
• 1/2 tsp pink Himalayan
• Optional melted butter

Get the recipe here.

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Healthy Cornbread Recipe (Vegan Option!)

Healthy, delicious, and simple to make: this cornbread recipe has it all. Both fresh and frozen corn can be used to add more texture to this bread, combine with the sweetness of honey, it’s perfect for all occasions, and will be a crowd pleaser for sure.

Another bonus for this recipe is that it provides vegan and gluten-free options that are just as delicious! So you are vegan or can eat gluten-free foods only, or someone in your family or friend is, you can easily alter the recipe to suit them and enjoy this deliciousness together without anyone feeling left out.

Ingredients

• Cup cornmeal
• 2t baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1-cup low-fat milk
• lemon juice 1 tablespoon
• 1/4 cup honey/maple syrup
• Eggs
• 25% oil

Get the recipe here.

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Conclusion

In the South, cornbread is a staple dish, and there are countless ways to make it. From the lightly sweet to the savory chili bread. All of them though are soft, moist, and slightly crumbly which is what all of these 15 recipes that we shared with you above are about.

There is something for everyone, so everyone can enjoy this delicacy during all seasons. All the recipes are super easy so there is no excuse for you not to try at least one of them unless you are afraid to fall in love!