Cornbread
In Appalachian and Southern cooking, "cornbread" is bread made from cornmeal, usually skillet-baked and served with everyday meals. Traditionally savory and crumbly, it’s a staple with beans, greens, or fried foods. Outside the South, cornbread is often sweeter and eaten on special occasions like Thanksgiving.
'Cornbread' needs a little 'soup beans to soften it up. It was always savory growin' up, but some folks'll make it a little sweeter these days. 'Cornbread' needs a little 'soup beans to soften it up. It was always savory growin' up, but some folks'll make it a little sweeter these days. Pronunciation
Meaning & Usage
- A bread made from cornmeal (noun)
Pass the cornbread - I need somethin’ to sop up these beans.- A staple Appalachian & Southern side dish (noun)
We had soup beans, fried okry, and cornbread for supper.Origin and Etymology
Cornbread came from Native American foodways, where cornmeal breads were staples. European settlers in Appalachia and the South adopted and adapted it, making it central to farm and mountain cooking.
Usage Notes
In Appalachia and the South, cornbread was everyday bread - eaten with nearly every supper. Outside the region, it’s more of a holiday or special dish, often sweetened. Variations like pone bread, hoecakes, and hot-water cornbread all reflect local traditions.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "corn-bred."