This fluffy Keto cornbread is perfect for dunking into soup or mopping up gravy. It also works as a quick snack for when you’re on the go.

Cornbread topped with cheese in a cast iron pan.

Cornbread is one of the cornerstones of American cuisine, and I came to love it when I was living in the US as a teenager. I always preferred the savoury over the sweet version and adored its moist, crumbly butteriness.

That's why I want to share this Keto cornbread with you today. It is a "no corn cornbread" and naturally gluten-free. Basically, you're getting the cornbread texture and feel at only 1.6g net carbs per slice.

The bread is soft and fluffy, with a moist, buttery crumb.

I love a bit of Mexican flavour, so I have also added cheese, bacon and jalapeños. But the recipe works just as well without if you prefer a classic cornbread.

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Is Cornmeal Keto Friendly?
Ingredients
Instructions
Variations
Serving Suggestion
Storage
More Keto Bread Recipes
Recipe

Is Cornmeal Keto Friendly?

Unfortunately not. Cornmeal is a high carb food and will kick you out of ketosis instantly. Cornflour and cornmeal - ground dried maize - contain 79g carbohydrates per 100g and very little fibre. Add the fact that most corn is genetically modified, the thought of traditional, "real" cornbread might become a little less appealing.

Ingredients

In this recipe, we are substituting cornmeal with ground almonds. Ground almonds are equivalent to coarse almond flour in the US. Their texture is closer to the rustic feel of cornmeal than super-fine almond flour.

Here are the other ingredients I am using:

Flaxmeal, whey protein powder and coconut flour - The whey protein makes the cornbread fluffier. The flax adds to the rustic texture. Use golden flaxmeal rather than brown because it has a milder taste.
Eggs - Use large, room temperature eggs.
Butter and cream - Because cornbread needs to be rich and buttery!
Baking powder and apple cider vinegar - Both help to make the bread rise.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Instructions

It is really simple to make a low carb cornbread. Here are the basic steps. Scroll down to the recipe card for a detailed method.

All dry ingredients for Kato cornbread in a white mixing bowl

STEP 1

Combine the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

hand poring melted butter into a mixing bowl with whisked eggs

STEP 2

Whisk the eggs until they are frothy and have doubled in size. Add the cream and butter and blend briefly.

Jalapenos and grilled bacon pieces on top of the mixed batter in a glass bowl

STEP 3

Stir in the dry ingredients with a fork or spatula. The dough will thicken quickly. Last, fold in the bacon pieces and jalapeños.

A hand spreading the batter in a black cast iron skillet with a spatula

STEP 4

Spread the cornbread batter into a well-greased skillet. Top with more cheese if you wish. Then, bake in the preheated oven until golden.

Katrin's Tip

The recipe is very versatile. You can add the cheese, bacon and jalapeños on top of the cornbread instead of stirring them into the dough.

Purists can leave them out altogether and even add a tablespoon of sweetener if you're after a sweet cornbread.

a freshly baked Keto cornbread topped with melted crispy cheese in a black skillet

Variations

For more corn flavor, add a few drops of corn flavoring. It is available on Amazon.

It is possible to replace the whey protein powder with more almond flour.

Don't have a cast iron skillet? I have also made this recipe using a 9 x 5 inch pyrex casserole dish. Line the dish with parchment paper to prevent the bread from sticking.

You could even make keto cornbread muffins using a muffin pan.