Cornbread waffles are a Southern-inspired twist that brings together comfort food and creativity in the best possible way. They combine the crispy edges and soft, fluffy texture of waffles with the sweet, savory flavor of traditional cornbread. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or even dinner, these waffles are as versatile as they are delicious.
The batter starts with the basics: cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, eggs, milk, and melted butter. You can make them sweet or savory depending on your mood. For a sweeter version, add a bit of honey or maple syrup to the mix. For something savory, throw in shredded cheese, green onions, or even bits of crispy bacon. Once the batter is ready, pour it onto a hot waffle iron and let the magic happen. In just a few minutes, you’ll have golden, perfectly crisp waffles that smell like home.
What makes cornbread waffles so fun is how many ways you can serve them. If you’re craving something hearty, top them with fried chicken and drizzle on some hot honey or maple syrup. The combination of crispy chicken and slightly sweet waffle is pure comfort food heaven. For a lighter take, serve them with scrambled eggs, sautéed greens, or avocado slices. They also pair wonderfully with chili or pulled pork for a cozy dinner idea that feels special without extra fuss.
Leftover waffles can be reheated in the toaster or oven, staying crisp on the outside and soft inside. They even freeze well, which makes them a great make-ahead option for busy mornings.
Cornbread waffles bring a bit of southern charm to any table and are guaranteed to impress both family and guests. Whether you’re planning a brunch gathering or simply want to upgrade your weeknight dinner, these waffles will hit the spot. They’re easy to make, full of flavor, and endlessly adaptable. So dust off that waffle iron and give this recipe a try, you might just find your new favorite way to enjoy cornbread.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
Instructions
- Preheat your waffle iron according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl, mix the milk, eggs, melted butter, and vegetable oil until well combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Spoon the batter onto the prepared waffle iron and cook until crisp and golden brown, approximately 4-5 minutes.
Nutrition
LOL, this was a disaster for me. Can’t even describe how they turned out!
Super easy and my kids love them! Great weekend breakfast.
For the first time ever, my waffles didn’t stick! Thanks for this recipe!
Yummm! I put syrup on mine and it was amazinggg! 👏🍯
Can you use water instead of milk? Asking for a friend.
I think using water would make them too dry and not as tasty! Milk adds flavor, you know.
Why not? Water is just fine, just less creamy! I’ve done that before and it turned out OK.
I like waffles, but this one seems strange. Corn? Really? No thanks.
Nice idea, but my grandma’s cornbread is way better. Just sayin’.
I made these but they turned out doughy. I don’t know what went wrong.
Mmm… cornmeal is yummy. But waffles should be crispy, not soggy. Huh.
These waffles are a game changer! So much flavor!
I tried these but they turned out too dry. Maybe I mixed it wrong? 🤔
I like corn muffins, but waffles? Not for me. Just stick with regular waffles.
I gotta disagree! Cornbread waffles are awesome, they have a sweet and savory thing going. Give ’em a try!
Regular waffles are fine, but corn waffles sound interesting too! How can they not be good? Maybe you’re missing out.
The taste is good but mine didn’t get really crisp. They came out kinda soft and pale. Any tips for hotter iron or thicker batter?
Hmm soft and pale usually means either the iron wasn’t hot enough or the batter sat too long. I’d crank the waffle iron to fully preheated (let it heat 5–10 min if your model runs cool). Also don’t overmix—stir just until there are no dry pockets, and cook right away after mixing.
I dunno, these waffles tasted weird. Maybe I used the wrong kind of milk?
Maybe try using buttermilk next time! It could make a difference in the flavor.
Why do people add sugar to cornbread? It should be savory! These are not real waffles.
Tried this and the taste was ok but they looked burnt. Whoops!
Ok but can u really call it a waffle if its made with cornmeal? Just saying.
This recpie is too complicated!! Just make regular waffles, it’s easier.
Cornbread waffles? What will they think of next! I love cornbread, but waffles just seems odd.
I was skeptical too, but they’re actually amazing! Give it a shot! 🧇❤️
Yum! But I added some jalapeños for a kick, and it’s now my favorite brunch dish!!
Cornbread waffles? Never thought of this! So creative! 🥰
These waffles are so fluffy and delicious! Even my kids loved them. Definitely making again!
Great recipe but I added some corn kernels for extra crunch. Yum!
Good recipe but I think it needs more sugar. Not sweet enough for my taste.
These cornbread waffles are so good! Fluffy and sweet. My kids loved them!
These are AMAZING! So fluffy and sweet, perfect for breakfast. My kids loved them!
Really easy to make! Even I could do it and I’m not the best cook!
Hmm… I think adding cheese could make this better. Anyone else tried it that way?
Waffles?! I thought this was a cornbread recipe? Confused. 🤷♂️
Waffles made from cornmeal? Seems kinda bizarre, not sure if I’d like that…
Yeah, I was confused too at first! But it’s actually cornbread waffles, which sounds really interesting!
I followed the recipe but mine turned out super dry. Maybe less flour? Not sure I’ll try again.
Just like grandma used to make! Nostalgic and delicious. Wish I could give it a 6/5!
Soo bomb!! Can’t wait to make them for my friends! 🔥🔥🔥
I tried this recipe and it was a disaster. The waffles fell apart. Maybe my iron is the issue?
I think waffles are overrated. Cornbread should just be cornbread. That said, the recipe is solid and the texture was nice.
Just wow! 👏👏
I added jalapenos for a kick! 🥵 So good! I highly recommend it. 🌶️
Sounds delicious! I love spicy food! 🌶️🔥
Wait, jalapenos in waffles? That’s kinda weird, isn’t it?
Zzzzz… didn’t even taste like cornbread. More like cake! Disappointed.
OMG! Cornbread waffles?? Genius! I’ve never thought of it. Gonna try it this weekend!
Cornbread waffles? Sounds weird. I think just regular waffles are better…
Right?! I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before! Can’t wait to try it out too!
Sounds great but where’s the creamed corn?? That’s the best part!!
Made these for breakfast today; they turned out OK, but I think it needed more sugar. 🤷♂️
I made this for my kids and they loved it! I think I’ll try some syrup next time!
Do u think these would be good with syrup or smthin? 🤔
Uh, I dunno, isn’t cornbread kinda dry for syrup? Maybe try butter instead? 🤷♂️
I think syrup would be great! Cornbread and syrup is like the perfect combo. 😋
I don’t know about this recipe, it seems like it would be dry. Cornbread is usually more… moist, right?
These cornbread waffles are AMAZING! So fluffy and delicious 😍
Not gonna lie, I burned my first one because I didn’t preheat long enough. Second batch was better. These are worth it once you get the timing right.
Made these last night—crisp outside, tender inside. The cornmeal flavor really comes through. Followed the no-overmix rule and they turned out great!
Not bad, but mine were kind of dry. I may have overcooked them (or my waffle iron runs hot). I’ll lower the time next try.
Waffles for dinner? Yes please! ☺️ Love this idea!
Honestly I messed up step 4 and overmixed a bit—still tasted good, just a bit tougher. Lesson learned: don’t bully the batter.
Cornmeal, flour, sugar… sounds simple but can I really trust it to taste good? Just felt skeptical.
I dunno… just cornmeal and flour? Sounds kinda bland, doesn’t it? Maybe add some cheese or somethin?
Trust me, they taste amazing! I was skeptical too, but they turned out great! Perfect for breakfast!
These cornbread waffles are AMAZING! I added some jalapeños for a kick, and they were a hit at breakfast!
Good! But 4-5 min? maybe for your iron… mine took more like 7. Just saying.
Pretty easy recipe. My waffle iron runs hot though, so 4-5 minutes was a little too long—next time I’ll start checking at like 3 minutes.
Totally agree—waffle irons vary a lot. If yours runs hot, checking at 3 minutes is smart. I usually go by color instead of the timer.
Mine toooo, like it burns fast 😅 4-5 minutes is like way long. I’m gonna try 2-3 min and see. Easy though!
Waffles? Sounds weird. Cornbread should be a loaf, not a waffle! 😒
I see your point, but cornbread waffles are actually super yummy! You should give it a try before knocking it! 😄
Wow, just tried this and it was super easy! Took me no time at all. Can’t wait to make it again!
Five stars!!! This is my new brunch thing. Like corn bread but faster and crunchier. A+
I loved the smell when they cooked. Sweet but not too sweet. Next time I’ll try adding a pinch of cayenne for a little kick.
I was skeptical about cornbread turning into waffles, but wow. The flavor is legit. I added a little extra sugar and it still worked.
Same here—I figured it would be a gimmick, but these are actually really good. I did go a bit lighter on the sugar though and they still crisped up nicely.
Cornbread waffles?? sounds weird but I tried it anyway. Mine stuck to the iron a little even with butter… next time I’ll oil it more. Flavor was still awesome.
Could not get them golden brown. I used a nonstick waffle iron and still stuck a bit. Maybe I didn’t grease enough?
Made these for brunch and they were *shockingly* good—crispy outside, fluffy inside. Followed the “don’t overmix” part and I think that’s why they turned out great.
The batter was a little thick—like, spoon-sticking thick. Still worked, but I had to spread it a bit with a spatula.
I used oat milk and it still worked! Could’ve been even more flavorful with a touch more salt, but overall a win.
Nice! Oat milk swaps so easily. I totally agree about the salt—cornmeal can be a little bland without it.
I tried it once and my batter was kinda thick… I think I added too much cornmeal? Still ate them though 😅 Maybe more salt next time, but not sure if oat milk changes it much.
This is a fun idea, but I’m skeptical about how cornbread becomes waffles. Turned out… okay. Texture was decent, though not as fluffy as I expected.
Super tasty with butter and honey. My kids asked for more and acted like it was store-bought. 10/10 comfort food.
Not what I expected. Thot it would be different, but they tasted fine.
I get what you mean! I thought they’d be more sweet too, but they turned out okay. Next time, maybe add some honey or fruit on top?
Followed the recipe but my waffles didn’t cook right. They stuck to the iron. What did I do wrong?
I tried it and the batter was super thick. I ended up adding a splash more milk. Not bad, just felt like the measurements could be clearer.
Thanks for sharing! Cornmeal can vary a lot by brand—if your batter was thicker than expected, a splash more milk makes perfect sense. I’m glad it still turned out good—clarifying the “just combined” stage could definitely help.
Hmm idk, thick batter is kinda normal for cornbread. But if you already added milk and it was still meh, maybe too much cornmeal? Also “approx 4-5 minutes” depends on the waffle iron—mine runs hot so I do like 3 min. Just my 2 cents.
Really solid cornbread vibe, but I think 4-5 minutes might depend on your waffle iron. Mine needed a couple extra minutes to get properly golden.
I followed it exact and mine was kinda pale at 5 min 😅 but i might of not waited for the iron to be hot hot. Next time i’ll let it go longer. still taste good tho!
Totally agree—“4-5 minutes” felt a bit optimistic on my end too. My waffle iron runs cool, so I went a few extra minutes and they finally got that properly golden crunch. Great call!