Hot Water Cornbread

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This Hot Water Cornbread makes a delicious and easy side dish with just a few ingredients! You’ll love how the cornbread cooks up crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

hand holding Hot Water Cornbread with bite in it

Hot Water Cornbread In A Skillet

This recipe is so easy, you’ll make it over and over again! Just stir up boiling water, cornbread, salt, and sugar; then drop batter rounds into a shallow pan of oil. No need to deep fry… these cornbread biscuits come out perfectly cooked in just enough oil to cover the bottom of a nonstick pan.

Hot Water Cornbread on a plate

Once you’ve mastered the basic recipe, feel free to add toppings or sauces. Try serving this cornbread with fresh, chopped herbs or shredded cheese sprinkled on top. The cheese will melt with the heat of the freshly made cornbread. Or serve this side dish with hot sauce, honey butter, or even a simple dressing drizzled on top. The flavor options are limitless!

Love easy side dishes? We’ve got some others that you’ll want to try, like Carrot Soufflé, Sautéed Portobello Mushrooms, or Sautéed Radishes. All are healthy recipes and delicious!

skillet of Hot Water Cornbread

How To Make Hot Water Cornbread

Start by heating a cup and a half of water to boiling. The easiest way to do this is by microwaving it for 2 1/2 minutes.

Then coat the bottom of a nonstick skillet with vegetable oil. Heat to medium high.

close-up of Hot Water Cornbread cooking on the stovetop

Mix together water, sugar, salt, and cornmeal in a medium-sized mixing bowl.

Wait for the oil to start sizzling (about 3 minutes), then you are ready to cook the cornbread. The batter will be a bit thicker at this point.

serving plate of Hot Water Cornbread

Use a spoon to drop about 1/4 cup of batter into small pancake shapes in the skillet. This recipe will make about 6 pieces of cornbread.

Cook until bottom is golden brown (about 5 minutes), then flip the cornbread to the other side. Cook for another 4-5 minutes or until both sides are lightly browned.

Turn off the heat and carefully remove the cornbread from the frying pan. Place on a serving plate and allow to cool for 5 minutes before enjoying.

Hot Water Cornbread sizzling in a skillet

Cooking Tips

  • No need to deep fry this Hot Water Cornbread. Just pour enough vegetable oil to cover the bottom of the pan (about 1 tsp)
  • Keep an eye on cornbread while it’s cooking. Turn down the heat if the outside starts to burn before the inside is cooked
  • Carefully flip the cornbread in the skillet, so as not to splash the cooking oil

Hot Water Cornbread cooking in oil

What To Serve With Hot Water Cornbread

This traditional side goes with other BBQ dishes like Instant Pot Potato Salad Recipe, Instant Pot Great Northern Beans, and Popcorn Salad Recipe.

hand holding golden brown Hot Water Cornbread

We also love to break up the cornbread and add it as a crunchy, tasty topping to dishes like Filipino Chicken Adobo (Classic & Crockpot Recipe Versions), Best Easy Slow Cooker Beef Chili Recipe, or Easy Lentil Spinach Soup.

crispy Hot Water Cornbread

More Easy Side Dishes To Try

Yellow Summer Squash In The Air Fryer

Frozen Okra In The Instant Pot

How To Saute Broccoli

Steamed Spinach In The Instant Pot

Arugula Salad With Figs

Cornbread Muffins

Cornbread In Instant Pot

Cornbread Stuffing

Baked Cornbread From Scratch

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Hot Water Cornbread

This Hot Water Cornbread makes a delicious and easy side dish with just a few ingredients! You'll love how the cornbread cooks up crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time13 minutes
cooling time5 minutes
Total Time23 minutes
Course: Bread, Side Dish
Keyword: Hot Water Cornbread
Cooking Method: Stovetop
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 116kcal

Recipe Video

Ingredients

  • 1 tsp vegetable oil
  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/4 cup water heated to boiling in microwave

Instructions

  • Start by heating a cup and a half of water to boiling. The easiest way to do this is by microwaving it for 2 1/2 minutes.
  • Then coat the bottom of a nonstick skillet with vegetable oil. Heat to medium high.
  • Mix together water, sugar, salt, and cornmeal in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
  • Wait for the oil to start sizzling (about 3 minutes), then you are ready to cook the cornbread. The batter will be a bit thicker at this point.
  • Use a spoon to drop about 1/4 cup of batter into small pancake shapes in the skillet. This recipe will make about 6 pieces of cornbread.
  • Cook until bottom is golden brown (about 5 minutes), then flip the cornbread to the other side. Cook for another 4-5 minutes or until both sides are lightly browned.
  • Turn off the heat and carefully remove the cornbread from the frying pan.
  • Place on a serving plate and allow to cool for 5 minutes before enjoying.

Notes

  • No need to deep fry this Hot Water Cornbread. Just pour enough vegetable oil to cover the bottom of the pan (about 1 tsp)
  • Keep an eye on cornbread while it's cooking. Turn down the heat if the outside starts to burn before the inside is cooked
  • Carefully flip the cornbread in the skillet, so as not to splash the cooking oil
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Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 116kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 197mg | Potassium: 85mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg
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