Air Fryer Cornbread
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This Air Fryer Cornbread comes out perfectly tender and moist — no box mix needed! It’s an incredible side dish to any meal, a favorite at potlucks, and an even better snack with some butter or honey. Make cornbread in an air fryer in under 30 minutes!
Air Fryer Cornbread
The more I experiment, the more I realize that you can make just about anything in an air fryer — side dishes, main courses, and even desserts!
So I was wondering… Can you make cornbread in an air fryer? And it turns out, many of you were wondering too.
The answer is yes! It’s just as easy to make cornbread in an air fryer as it is in the oven, and it’s a great option when you don’t want to heat the whole house or your oven is otherwise occupied.
Even better, you can make the batter entirely from scratch using one bowl and just 8 ingredients. Talk about easy!
Don’t have an air fryer? You’ll love this skillet recipe!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Cornmeal – Slightly sweet and nutty, this is where the unique texture and corn flavor come from!
Make sure the package says cornmeal, not corn flour, or the recipe won’t turn out right. - Flour – Add regular all-purpose flour to the cornmeal to create a fluffy texture.
- Baking Powder – This creates gas bubbles twice — when mixed with the liquid in the batter, and again when exposed to heat in the oven.
Do not try to substitute baking soda as it will react will the acidic buttermilk before it can cause cornbread in the air fryer to rise. - Sugar – Feel free to adjust the amount to your taste. Increase the amount to ¾ cup for a sweeter air fryer cornbread, or reduce to ¼ cup to make it less sweet.
- Buttermilk – If you don’t have any buttermilk, you can make an easy substitute!
Stir 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice into 1 cup of regular milk, then let it sit for a few minutes. Or, just use regular milk or a non-dairy milk. - Eggs – If you can, take these out of the refrigerator about 30 minutes before getting started. They’ll blend easier into the batter if they are room temp.
- Butter – Unsalted is best, since there’s already salt in the batter. If using salted butter, you can reduce the added salt by half.
Tips and Tricks to Make Perfect Cornbread in the Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer first.
For the most even cook, you want the air fryer basket hot and ready when you add the pan — just like how you’d preheat the oven if you were baking it there!
- Use room temperature ingredients if possible.
That means allowing the buttermilk and eggs to warm on the counter for about 30 minutes before getting started.
If you don’t have time, at least be sure the melted butter has cooled first.
The batter will be a bit chunky if you try to whisk together hot and cold ingredients… and you might risk scrambling the eggs. Yikes!
- Gently mix ingredients until just combined.
No need for lots of muscle here. The whisk will do the job of breaking up large clumps of flour while you mix.
Stop when everything is just combined — it’s ok if there are still a few lumps.
Overmixing will cause your cornbread to become dense and a bit dry instead of the moist, tender results you’re looking for!
- Don’t overfill the pan.
The sides need to be low enough to fit the cornbread in the air fryer, but high enough that the batter doesn’t fill it more than halfway.
That batter needs room to rise without overflowing.
Prep Ahead
- Bring eggs to room temp
- Melt butter
- Grease baking dish
- Preheat air fryer
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Air Fryer – Different brands and sizes may require different cooking times, so be familiar with your model and make adjustments as needed.
- Small Baking Dish – Use any oven-safe dish that will fit in your air fryer. Just be sure the sides aren’t too tall or the air won’t circulate properly.
- Mixing Bowl – I like to have a variety of sizes on hand, and this set has them all.
- Whisk – These have held up for over 10 years and are still as good as the day I bought them.
Serving Suggestions
There are so many ways to serve air fryer cornbread, whether it’s for a quick snack or as a side dish. Try it in place of the usual rolls or breadsticks for a sweet and savory twist.
It’s delicious warm from the pan, especially with some butter or honey on top. For an extra sweet snack, try cinnamon butter instead!
As far as food pairings go, it’s always popular at BBQs or with a bowl of chili. And don’t forget Southern staples like fried chicken, red beans and rice, or a seafood boil!
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Leftover cornbread will keep for 2 days at room temperature when kept in an airtight container. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to a week or freeze for up to 3 months.
You can enjoy slices at room temperature or warm them back up in the microwave. It’s best to cover your slice with a damp paper towel to restore some of the moisture!
Cornbread in Air Fryer FAQ
This recipe is proof, isn’t it? Because an air fryer is basically a convection oven, it’s easy to transfer oven recipes to this handy appliance! The general rule is to reduce the temperature by about 25 degrees.
The only thing extra you need to make cornbread in an air fryer is a baking pan that will fit and isn’t too tall.
A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs and it should be lightly browned around the edges — just like a cake!
If it’s starting to get dark but the center is still wet, go ahead and air fry for an extra 5-10 minutes. You’ll just want to cover it with foil so the outside doesn’t burn.
You bet! I usually add some corn kernels for texture or shredded cheese to make it extra savory. And you know I’m always going to suggest adding bacon — cook and crumble it before stirring it in.
For a spicy kick, you can also add diced jalapenos to the batter or scatter pickled jalapeno slices on top before placing cornbread in the air fryer!
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Air Fryer Cornbread
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup whole buttermilk
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 2 large eggs
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Grease an air fryer-safe baking dish and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Then whisk in the buttermilk, melted butter, and eggs until just combined.
- Pour the batter into the greased baking dish. Place the dish in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cornbread cool slightly before serving.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published November 2024
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