The Parton Family's Skillet Cornbread Recipe Is Perfection

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Everyone needs a good cast-iron skillet. In the South, it’s not uncommon for a bride to receive one as a wedding gift—and not always a new one! One of the best traditions we enjoy is when a well-used, well-seasoned cast-iron skillet is handed down through the generations, like our Mama’s were. We both still have—and use—skillets of hers that have made cornbread more times than we’ll ever know.

Active Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
45 mins
Servings:
6

Reprinted with permission from Good Lookin’ Cookin’ Copyright © 2024 Dolly Parton and Rachel Parton George. Photographs copyright © 2024 by Aubrie Pick. Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

the ingredients to make the Skillet Cornbread

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower

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Ingredients

  • 5 tablespoons bacon grease or shortening

  • 2 cups Martha White or White Lily self-rising buttermilk-enriched white cornmeal mix

  • cups whole buttermilk, well shaken

  • 1 teaspoon salt (see Note)

  • ¼ teaspoon pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400℉. Heat the bacon grease or shortening on the stovetop in an 8-inch, well-seasoned cast-iron skillet over medium heat until smoking hot. Remove from the burner.

    a photo of a cast iron skillet with oil in the pan

    Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower

  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal mix, buttermilk, salt and pepper. Add 2 tablespoons of the hot grease or shortening into batter and mix well. Pour the batter into the hot skillet—it will sizzle a bit on the sides, but that’s good! Place the skillet in the oven and bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes.

    a photo of the ingredients sizzling in the pan

    Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower

  3. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Slice and serve.

    a photo of cornbread in a skillet with a slice removed

    Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower

Note

White Lily cornmeal mix is higher in sodium than Martha White. If you use White Lily, you may want to reduce or omit the salt.

EatingWell.com, October 2024

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

298 Calories
15g Fat
36g Carbs
7g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Serving Size 1 slice
Calories 298
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 36g 13%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 7g 13%
Total Fat 15g 19%
Saturated Fat 6g 29%
Cholesterol 19mg 6%
Vitamin A 39µg
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Vitamin D 1µg
Vitamin E 0mg 2%
Folate 15µg
Vitamin K 0µg
Sodium 525mg 23%
Calcium 121mg 9%
Iron 1mg 8%
Magnesium 62mg 15%
Potassium 262mg 6%
Zinc 1mg 11%
Vitamin B12 0µg
Omega 3 0g

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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