Cracklin’ Cornbread

It’s hard to resist cornbread fresh from the oven, especially when it’s slathered in butter or drizzled with honey. This recipe for cracklin’ cornbread builds on traditional cornbread by adding pork cracklings to the batter. The result? A delicious nugget of porky goodness in every bite. What’s not to love about that? This crackling cornbread recipe takes just 30 minutes to bake, which makes it the perfect side dish to serve alongside your favorite southern dinner or game-day chili.

What are cracklings?

Pork cracklings are pork rinds’ heartier cousin. The rinds are typically deep-fried pork skins, while pork cracklings are pieces of fried pork skin with some fat (and sometimes chunks of meat) left on them. They have a chewier and meatier texture than pork rinds, which tend to be lighter and puffier. If you’re wondering where to buy cracklings for cornbread, look for bags of cracklings at the grocery store, your local butcher, the farmers market or even your favorite barbecue restaurant (just ask). Or, as with everything else, you can also buy them online.

Cracklin’ Cornbread Ingredients

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• Yellow cornmeal: Grits, polenta and cornmeal aren’t exactly the same. While all are made from corn, cornmeal is produced by milling dried corn, which can be fine, medium or coarse. For baked recipes like this one, use fine or medium cornmeal. Yellow cornmeal gives this bread its signature color, but you can also use red or blue varieties for a colorful twist.
• Dry ingredients: We use all-purpose flour to give this cornbread its cakelike texture. A small amount of sugar adds sweetness. Baking powder reacts with the buttermilk to help the cornbread rise. A little bit of salt enhances the flavor of the cornbread.
• Buttermilk: Buttermilk is often a key component for baked goods. Thanks to its acidity, it helps break down long strands of gluten and proteins. If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can make it with regular milk and lemon juice or vinegar.
• Butter: Melted butter gives the cornbread a rich, buttery flavor. You can use salted or unsalted butter.
• Eggs: Eggs add structure to the cornbread. Room-temperature eggs will be the easiest to incorporate into the batter. If you forget to set out your eggs, you can place them in a bowl of warm water and let them sit for 15 minutes.
• Pork cracklings: Pork cracklings are the magic ingredient in this recipe. They add an unexpected savory flavor to the cornbread.

Directions

Step 1: Make the batter

Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, melted butter and eggs. Add the cornmeal mixture to the wet ingredients and stir until combined. Fold in the pork cracklings.

Step 2: Bake the cornbread

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Transfer the batter to a greased 9-inch square cake pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cornbread is just set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let it cool slightly, then slice.

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Cracklin’ Cornbread Variations

• Give it some heat: Add a seeded and chopped jalapeno to the batter for a savory cornbread with a little kick of heat.
• Add a little corn: Add 1 to 1-1/2 cups thawed frozen corn to the batter for added texture and sweet flavor.
• Bake it with bacon: If you cannot find pork cracklings, use crisp bacon. Baking bacon in the oven is the best way to get it super crispy.

How to Store Cracklin’ Cornbread

Store cracklin’ cornbread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. For long-term storage, freeze the cornbread for up to three months;

How do you freeze cracklin’ cornbread?

Cracklin’ cornbread is perfect for freezing. After allowing the cornbread to cool completely, wrap the bread tightly in a single layer. Place the wrapped bread in an airtight container or storage bag to freeze. You can easily thaw the cornbread in your microwave or oven by cooking it until heated through.

Cracklin’ Cornbread Tips

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Can you make cracklin’ cornbread in a skillet?

This cornbread can absolutely be made in a skillet. Use a 9- or 10-inch cast-iron skillet for this recipe. When making skillet cornbread, heat a small amount of oil, bacon grease or butter in a hot skillet before pouring in the batter. You can bake the cornbread in the oven or cook it on the stovetop.

What can you serve with cracklin’ cornbread?

This savory crackling cornbread recipe pairs well with so many things! Barbecue chicken, pork chops or any grilled steak recipe are great options. Try this cornbread with meaty chili or a cozy homemade soup for even heartier fare.