My easy air fryer cornbread is super soft, perfectly moist, and uses just 3 ingredients. I think it tastes even better than baking in the oven!
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My Easy Cornbread in the Air Fryer
I remember the first time I decided to make air fryer cornbread. My extended family decided to have Thanksgiving dinner a day late, so I made a small Thanksgiving dinner to enjoy with my husband and kids.
I only needed a few slices of cornbread as a side dish, so I decided to grab my box of Jiffy from the pantry and make it in the air fryer. I mean I have to have homemade cornbread for the holidays, right?!
When I opened the basket, I found a perfectly golden top. I cut a slice, and it had the perfect soft and moist texture on the inside! My husband Ben was skeptical when I said I was ditching the classic oven method, but once he realized how delicious it was, he looked at me with a serious face and said, “We’re making it this way more often!”
And, he’s right because now that I can make it in the air fryer, I make it every few weeks, especially in the colder months. I just love it when I melt butter on top of it and eat it as is. It has that perfect buttery richness to it.
For more delicious sides that are perfect for chilly weather, try my recipes for air fryer sweet potato cubes, air fryer carrots, air fryer butternut squash, air fryer apple chips, and air fryer pumpkin seeds!
Air Fryer Corn Bread Ingredients
- Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix – the yellow cornmeal one
- Egg
- Milk – I like to use whole milk but any kind will work, including buttermilk
How to Make Air Fryer Cornbread
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Preheat the air fryer to 320 degrees F. Then, spray an air fryer baking pan with cooking spray and set it aside. I used this 7-inch round cake pan.
STEP TWO: In a large mixing bowl, add the cornbread mix, egg, and milk. Whisk until the ingredients are well combined.
STEP THREE: Pour the batter into the baking pan, then place the pan in the air fryer.
STEP FOUR: Cook at 320 degrees F for about 12 minutes.
STEP FIVE: Open the air fryer and cover the pan with aluminum foil. Continue air frying for another 4-5 minutes until the cornbread is cooked through. It will cook a total time of about 16 to 17 minutes.
Tips For the Best Jiffy Cornbread in the Air Fryer
- Spray the air fryer pan with cooking spray. This makes it way easier to get out of the pan after baking. Since I’m not spraying the actual air fryer, any kind of cooking spray will work.
- Preheat the air fryer before adding the cornbread. This is important to help the cornbread cook evenly, so I never skip this step!
- Stir the batter until just mixed. I’m careful to avoid over-mixing, which can deflate the batter. Lumps are totally fine in cornbread batter!
- Cover the cornbread with tinfoil after 12 minutes of cooking. This is my secret to cooking it all the way through without burning the top.
- Check the corn bread using a toothpick. When it comes out clean, I know it’s done!
- Let the cornbread rest for a few minutes after taking it out of the oven. I find it’s much easier to slice when I give it time to set.
Cornbread in the Air Fryer Variations and substitutions
- For a cheesy twist, add some shredded cheese to the dry ingredients. My kids go nuts for cheesy cornbread!
- Mix in chopped jalapeños for a spicy kick. This is my husband’s favorite version.
- For sweeter cornbread, I’ll add a tablespoon of honey or maple syrup to the batter.
- Toss a half cup of drained sweet corn into the dry and wet ingredients. I love how this makes it even more like traditional cornbread!
- Swap out the milk for buttermilk for a more creamy and sweet version of the recipe. I usually make it with milk just because I don’t always have buttermilk, but both versions are delicious!
What to Serve with Air Fryer Cornbread
Cornbread is one of my favorite sides, especially on a chilly fall or winter day! I love pairing it with turkey breasts in the air fryer, air fryer fried chicken, or Ninja Foodi chili.
I also think there’s something about cornbread and pork that goes so well together. Some of my favorite pork recipes are pork loin in the air fryer, boneless pork chops in the air fryer, and air fryer ham!
Air Fryer Cornbread FAQs
Can I make air fryer cornbread muffins instead
Absolutely! I love making cornbread muffins if I don’t want to have to cut the cornbread into slices. I spray some silicone muffin cups with cooking spray, fill them ¾ of the way so the batter has room to expand, then cook in the air fryer preheated to 320 degrees F.
Muffins will cook faster, so I keep an eye on them. If the tops are golden but the insides are still wet, I’ll cover them with aluminum foil, but I can usually get away with skipping this step.
How long to cook cornbread in the air fryer
I find my cornbread is usually cooked to perfection in 16-17 minutes after cooking at 320 degrees F in the air fryer.
How to store leftover cornbread
I make sure the cornbread has fully cooled, then store it in an airtight container or plastic bag. I keep it in the refrigerator for about a week or in the freezer for up to 3 months. It will also last a day or two on the counter.
Why is my Air Fryer corn bread not fluffy?
Over-mixing can deflate the batter, which leads to flat, dense cornbread. I always stir the ingredients until just mixed and don’t worry about lumps in the batter to prevent over-mixing.
Can I put a metal pan in an air fryer?
Any oven-safe pan is fine to put in the air fryer as long as it fits. I always make sure it isn’t touching the heating elements or restricting too much airflow.
More Air Fryer Side Dishes
- Air fryer hush puppies
- Air fryer asparagus
- Air fryer baked potato
- Rice in the air fryer
- Biscuits in the air fryer
- Baked sweet potato in the air fryer
- Air fryer carrots
- Air fryer brussel sprouts
- Air fryer fried okra
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Easy Air Fryer Cornbread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 8.5 oz package Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
- 1 large egg
- 1/3 cup milk or buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 320 degrees F. Then, spray an air fryer baking pan with cooking spray and set it aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the cornbread mix, egg, and milk. Mix it until the ingredients are well combined.
- Pour the batter into the baking pan, place the pan in the air fryer, then air fry for about 12 minutes.
- Open the air fryer and cover the pan with aluminum foil. Continue air frying for another 4-5 minutes until the cornbread is cooked all the way through. It will cook a total time of about 16 to 17 minutes.
Notes
- Spray the air fryer pan with cooking spray. This makes it way easier to get out of the pan after baking.
- Preheat the air fryer before adding the cornbread.
- Stir the batter until just mixed. Over-mixing will cause the batter to become dense.
- Cover the cornbread with tinfoil after 12 minutes of cooking.
- Check the corn bread using a toothpick. When it comes out clean, it’s done.
- Let the cornbread rest for a few minutes after taking it out of the oven.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container. It will keep on the counter for 1-2 days, refrigerator for about a week, and in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
Do u use the cook setting or airfryer setting ?
I use the air fry option for all recipes listed as air fryer recipes on my site.