Best Crusty Cornbread Recipes

GINA'S CRUSTY CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Put a 10-inch cast iron skillet in the oven and heat it for at least 30 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the batter.
• Whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs and melted butter.
• Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the wet mixture into the well. Use a fork or spatula to stir the batter until evenly combined.
• Remove the hot skillet from the oven, add the fat and swirl to coat the bottom. Pour the batter into the skillet and, using a spatula, spread the batter evenly across the pan. Bake until lightly golden brown, firm and springy to the touch, about 25 to 30 minutes (see Cook's Note). Remove from the oven and serve directly from the skillet, if desired.

CRUSTY PORTUGUESE-AMERICAN YEASTED CORNBREAD (NO KNEAD)

Steps:

• First Rise: In a medium bowl, gradually stir the boiling water into the cornmeal until smoothly incorporated. Let cool thoroughly. In a large bowl, thoroughly stir together the flour, salt, and yeast. Gradually but vigorously stir the ice water into the cooled cornmeal until very smoothly blended. Then vigorously stir the cornmeal mixture into the bowl with the flour, scraping down the sides until the ingredients are thoroughly blended. If too dry to mix completely, a bit at a time, stir in just enough more ice water to blend the ingredients; don't over-moisten, as the dough should be stiff. If the dough is soft, vigorously stir in enough more flour to stiffen it. Brush or spray the top with vegetable oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. If desired, for best flavor or for convenience, you can refrigerate the dough for 3 to 10 hours. Then let rise at cool room temperature for 12 to 18 hours.
• Second Rise: Vigorously stir the dough, adding more flour if needed to yield a hard-to-stir dough. Using an oiled rubber spatula, fold the dough in towards the center all the way around. Brush or spray the top with oil. Re-cover with nonstick spray-coated plastic wrap.
• Let Rise Using Any of These Methods: For a 1-1/2- to 2-1/2-hour regular rise, let stand at warm room temperature; for a 1- to 2-hour accelerated rise, let stand in a turned-off microwave along with 1 cup of boiling-hot water; or for an extended rise, refrigerate, covered, for 4 to 12 hours, then set out at room temperature. Continue the rise until the dough doubles from the deflated size, removing the plastic if the dough nears it.
• Baking Preliminaries: 20 minutes before baking time, put a rack in the lower third of the oven; preheat to 450°F Heat a 3-1/2- to 4-quart (or larger) heavy metal pot in the oven until sizzling hot (check with a few drops of water), then remove it, using heavy mitts. Taking care not to deflate the dough, loosen it from the bowl sides with an oiled rubber spatula and gently invert it into the pot. Don't worry if it's lopsided and raggedlooking; it will even out during baking. Generously spray or brush the top with water, then sprinkle over a tablespoon of cornmeal. Immediately top with the lid. Shake the pot back and forth to center the dough.
• Baking: Reduce the heat to 425°F Bake on the lower rack for 50 minutes. Remove the lid. Reduce the heat to 400°F Bake for 15 to 25 minutes longer, until the top is well browned and a skewer inserted in the thickest part comes out with just a few crumbs on the tip (or until the center registers 210°F to 212°F on an instant-read thermometer). Then bake for 5 minutes longer to ensure the center is baked through. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the loaf to the rack. Cool thoroughly.
• Serving and Storing: This tastes good warm but will cut better when cool. Cool completely before storing. To maintain the crisp crust, store in a large bowl draped with a clean tea towel or in a heavy paper bag. Or store airtight in a plastic bag or foil: The crust will soften, but can be crisped by heating the loaf, uncovered, in a 400°F oven for a few minutes. The bread will keep at room temperature for 3 days, and may be frozen, airtight, for up to 2 months.

GINA'S CRUSTY CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400. Place a 10-inch cast iron skillet in oven for 30 minutes.
• In large bowl combine flour, cornmeal, salt, baking powder and sugar. Make a well in the center and add milk, eggs and melted butter. Stir just until moistened.
• Remove skillet from oven and add bacon fat to skillet. Swirl around to coat bottom and sides, then pour in cornbread mixture. Smooth the top with a spatula, then place in oven and bake about 25 minutes, or until brown.
• If you like, you can spread 2 tablespoons of butter on top of hot cornbread to melt.

CRUNCHY CRUSTY CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Combine the cornmeal and milk in a large bowl and let soak for at least 15 minutes, stirring a few times. While it's soaking, whisk together the dry ingredients and melt the butter. Take a 9" cast iron skillet and heat it over medium-high heat on the stove top. Once the cornmeal is done soaking, whisk in the eggs, oil, and butter, and then stir in the dry ingredients, taking care not to over-stir (some lumps are fine). Add a knob of shortening or lard to the heating skillet, let it melt, and swirl it around in the pan (use hot pads!). Carefully pour the batter into the skillet of hot fat, and then transfer the skillet to the oven. Bake for about 40 minutes, until nicely browned & a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

CRUSTY CORNBREAD CHILI RECIPE - (4.4/5)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Sauté the onions, peppers, garlic, and ground beef in the 10'' skillet over medium-high heat until the beef has browned and is no longer pink. Add corn, tomatoes, beans, and spices to the beef mixture and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat. In a separate bowl, combine the cornbread mix, egg, and milk. Stir until smooth and fold in the cheddar cheese. Use a tablespoon to drop heaping dollops of the cornbread mixture on top of the chili. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the chili is bubbly and the cornbread has browned.

CRUSTY CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select cycle; press Start.

CRUSTY CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425. Put iron skillet with oil in oven to warm. Combine dry ingredients in bowl. Cut in shortening. Beat eggs lightly with fork. Add milk. Pour into dry ingredients. Stir until just combined. Pour into hot skillet. Bake for 20-25 minutes.