Instant Pot Cornbread Recipe

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 05/24/22
instant pot cornbread with slices on parchment paper

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 35 mins
Pressure Build/Release: 20 mins
Total: 65 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Yield: 1 cornbread
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
250 Calories
14g Fat
27g Carbs
5g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 250
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14g 18%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Cholesterol 78mg 26%
Sodium 556mg 24%
Total Carbohydrate 27g 10%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 0mg 2%
Calcium 150mg 12%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 141mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Cornbread cooked in the Instant Pot is surprisingly tasty and has a wonderful firm texture. When the oven is not an option, the pressure cooker is an excellent alternative. Even if the oven is available, there are a few more reasons you might choose to use your Instant Pot—it uses far less energy and doesn't heat up the kitchen.

This version is a typical Southern cornbread, made with little or no sugar and some optional add-ins. If you prefer sweet cornbread, feel free to increase the sugar to about 1/3 to 1/4 cup.

Whether you like it savory or somewhat sweet, cornbread is fabulous with bean dishes, Southern-style greens, chili, and barbecue. Some people like to crumble it in milk or drizzle it with honey. If you happen to have leftovers, make cornbread salad or use it as a base in a breakfast casserole.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups cornmeal

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1 tablespoon baking powder

  • 1 tablespoon sugar, or to taste

  • 3/4 teaspoon salt

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1 cup buttermilk, well-shaken

  • 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted

  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions, optional

  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, optional

  • 1/2 cup corn kernels, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    ingredients for instant pot cornbread
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  2. Spray a 7 x 3-inch push pan or springform pan with nonstick cooking spray. 

    greased push pan
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  3. In a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Stir or whisk to blend the dry ingredients thoroughly.

    dry ingredients in a bowl
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  4. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs with the buttermilk. 

    Milk and eggs combined
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  5. Add the egg and buttermilk mixture to the dry ingredients along with the melted butter. Stir just until moistened, then fold in the green onions, cheese, and corn, if using.

    cornbread batter in the bowl
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  6. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. 

    batter spread in pan
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  7. Pour 1 1/2 cups of water into the inner pot of the Instant Pot. Cover the pan of cornbread tightly with foil and place it on the trivet. Lower the trivet with the cornbread into the pot.

    cornbread in the instant pot
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  8. Lock the lid in place and move the steam release vent to the sealing position. Select pressure cook or manual (high pressure) and set the timer for 35 minutes. When the time is up, let the pressure come down naturally for 10 minutes, then carefully move the steam release valve to the venting position to release the remaining pressure.

    venting position
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  9. Transfer the cornbread to a rack and remove the foil. Let it cool for 10 minutes.

    instant pot cornbread in the pan
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  10. Remove the sides of the pan.

    instant pot cornbread
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  11. Slice the cornbread and enjoy it plain or with butter or honey. 

    instant pot cornbread slice on a plate with honey
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Recipe Variations

  • Mexican Cornbread: Fold in 1 (4-ounce) can of well-drained chopped green chiles along with the corn and shredded cheese.
  • Bacon Cheddar Cornbread: Fold a few tablespoons of diced cooked bacon into the batter along with the cheddar cheese. If desired, add the corn and green onions.