Lunch Lady Homemade Cornbread – ditch the Jiffy Mix and whip up this easy from scratch cornbread. Flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt, eggs, milk, and oil. Super easy to make and even easier to eat! This is quickly becoming our go-to cornbread recipe! Great with grilled meats, BBQ, soups, chilis, and stews. Also makes a great base for our favorite Southern Cornbread Dressing at the holidays. Give this a try ASAP.

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Easy Homemade Cornbread Recipe

This Lunch Lady Cornbread is a weeknight favorite at our house. I came across this recipe in my government school cafeteria cookbook and couldn’t resist trying it. It is super easy to make from scratch and has great flavor with just a hint of sweetness! I am pretty sure my lunchroom never served something so yummy! This goes with everything – grilled meats, barbecue, casseroles, soups, stews, and chili. It is a MUST for your holiday meals! One bite and you will never use a box mix again!

How to Make Homemade Cornbread

This recipe is super easy to make with only a few simple ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, yellow cornmeal, white sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add eggs, milk, and vegetable oil to the dry ingredients. Mix on low speed of an electric mixer for 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes. Pour batter into a half-sheet pan that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake in a preheated oven until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. Cool and cut into squares.

Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions

• The original recipe included two optional ingredients. 
  • 3½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup diced green chiles
  • Add these ingredients to the batter when you add the wet ingredients.
• Sometimes I add some corn kernels to the batter. It gives the bread a nice texture.
• This makes a lot of cornbread. You can cut the recipe in half and bake in a 9×13-inch baking dish or 12-inch cast iron skillet.
  • Can use the batter to make cornbread muffins.
• Can Cornbread be made in advance? Yes. You can make the cornbread ahead of time and store in an airtight container for 2 to 3 days.
• Can Cornbread be frozen? Yes. Bake the bread and cool completely. Wrap in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze. The cornbread will keep for 3 to 4 months in the freezer.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature.

What to Serve with the Best Cornbread Recipe

This is our go-to side dish for chili, soups, and stews. We love it slathered with melted butter or a drizzle of honey. It also makes a great base for our favorite Southern Cornbread Dressing at the holidays. Give this a try ASAP. It is sure to become a family favorite.

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Lunch Lady Cornbread

Yield: 16 people

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 40 mins

Lunch Lady Homemade Cornbread – ditch the Jiffy Mix and whip up this easy from scratch cornbread. Flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt, eggs, milk, and oil. Super easy to make and even easier to eat! This is quickly becoming our go-to cornbread recipe! Great with grilled meats, BBQ, soups, chilis, and stews. Also makes a great base for our favorite Southern Cornbread Dressing at the holidays. Give this a try ASAP.

• 3½ cups all-purpose flour
• 3 cups cornmeal
• ¾ cups sugar
• 8 tsp baking powder
• 1¼ tsp salt
• 3 large eggs
• 3¼ cups milk
• ½ cup vegetable oil

• Preheat oven to 400ºF. Lightly spray a half sheet pan with non-stick cooking spray.

• In a large bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, yellow cornmeal, white sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add eggs, milk, and vegetable oil to the dry ingredients.

• Mix on low speed of an electric mixer for 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium and mix for 2 to 3 minutes.

• Pour batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake in

• a preheated oven until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. Cool and cut into squares.

• The original recipe included two optional ingredients. 
  • 3 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup diced green chiles
  • Add these ingredients to the batter when you add the wet ingredients.
• Sometimes I add some corn kernels to the batter. It gives the bread a nice texture.
• This makes a lot of cornbread. You can cut the recipe in half and bake in a 9×13-inch baking dish or 12-inch cast iron skillet.
  • Can use the batter to make cornbread muffins.
• Can Cornbread be made in advance?
• Can Cornbread be frozen? Yes. Bake the bread and cool completely. Wrap in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze. The cornbread will keep 3 to 4 months in the freezer.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature.

Steph