Compliment a variety of dishes with this quick and easy, gluten-free Low FODMAP Cornbread! Flavorful, moist, and not too crumbly, this low FODMAP cornbread recipe baked in a cast iron skillet turns out a savory cornbread with a perfectly caramelized crust. Serve it alongside low FODMAP chili, meatloaf, pot roast, beef stew, BBQ ribs, pulled pork, and more, for a deliciously well-rounded, robust meal. In addition to being low FODMAP, this cornbread recipe is also gluten-free and refined sugar-free.
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Low FODMAP Cornbread: Where have you been all my life?!?
Had I realized how quickly cornbread can be thrown together and baked, I would have been making it regularly all these years as a side dish. Made with a few simple ingredients, this low FODMAP cornbread made from scratch in a cast iron skillet can come together in just 40 minutes!
My family's favorite thing to eat this low FODMAP cornbread with is my Low FODMAP Instant Pot Chili con Canada; however, this low FODMAP cornbread would go well with a lot of recipes which I'll list and link at the bottom of this post.
What is cornbread?
Cornbread is a side dish popular in primarily the Southern United States with its roots in Native American cuisine. It's made in a variety of ways throughout North America today, with southern corn bread using less sweetener and more cornmeal versus flour (or just cornmeal with no additional flour).
This low FODMAP cornbread is baked in a cast iron skillet and uses a combination of cornmeal and flour but very little sweetener. While not reflecting an authentic southern cornbread, it's so good and goes great with chili and other dishes.
Is cornmeal low FODMAP?
As I discuss in my post on low FODMAP polenta, which also contains cornmeal, cornmeal is low in FODMAPs due to the type of corn that's used being lower in FODMAPs and higher in starch than sweet corn. Sweet corn is higher in FODMAPs but is still consumable in smaller quantities according to Monash University's Low FODMAP Diet App.
Necessary Equipment
The equipment I use to make this low FODMAP cornbread includes:
- Gas or electric oven (I use convection)
- 10.25-inch cast iron skillet
- Microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup
- Measuring cups and spoons
- 2 large bowls
- Whisk
- Oven mitt
- Spatula
- Toothpick
- Knife
- Pie spatula
Low FODMAP Cornbread: Ingredients & Success Tips
Prepare Ingredients for Room Temperature
This low FODMAP cornbread recipe bakes the best and most evenly when all of the ingredients are at room temperature. What I typically do is set out all of the things that need to warm up - the milk, lemon juice, and milk - before I start cooking the main course (typically Low FODMAP Instant Pot Chili con Canada).
Then, while I'm getting the chili in the pot, the low FODMAP cornbread ingredients are warming up and are ready by the time I'm done with the chili. While chili is cooking in the Instant Pot, I'm mixing together and baking the cornbread. Both are done at pretty much the same time, just like they were meant to be made together.
The ghee or butter should be melted in the microwave in a microwave safe bowl or measuring cup and cooled to just above room temperature. At room temperature, it will resolidify.
Make Low FODMAP, Lactose-Free "Buttermilk"
I love the flavor of buttermilk in recipes, but I hate buying a half gallon just for one recipe. Thus, I always make my own buttermilk by whisking together my milk of choice with lemon juice or vinegar. If you require lactose-free, use a lactose-free milk, and you then have lactose-free "buttermilk."
For this low FODMAP cornbread recipe, I combine milk with lemon juice in a measuring cup and let it sit for 5 minutes. The milk will curdle during that time, and that's normal. Don't freak out when you see a few chunks when you pour it into the batter. 😉
If you don't have issues with lactose and prefer to use actual buttermilk, add 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon of whole buttermilk instead of the milk and lemon juice.
Preheat Oven + Grease Skillet
While my "buttermilk" is sitting, I lightly grease my 10.25-inch cast iron skillet with ghee or butter. Then, I preheat my oven (I use convection) to 400°F and place the greased skillet on the center oven rack to heat up while the oven preheats. This contributes to the cornbread crust getting a beautiful caramelization.
Mix Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, I whisk together the following dry ingredients:
- Stone-ground cornmeal / polenta (not instant / quick cook) - I use Bob's Red Mill Organic Corn Grits / Polenta, but this particular one is not made in a gluten-free facility. If you require 100% gluten-free, be sure to get the gluten-free version.
- Gluten-free all-purpose flour (that includes xanthan gum) - I use Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free 1:1 Baking Flour, which includes xanthan gum. Xanthan gum helps hold the cornbread together in the absence of gluten.
- Maple sugar - or, if you don't require refined sugar-free, feel free to use refined brown or white sugar.
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
Mix Wet Ingredients
Then, in a separate large bowl, I whisk together the following wet ingredients:
- The "buttermilk" mixture
- Eggs, at room temperature
- Ghee or butter, melted and cooled to just above room temperature
Make sure to add the ghee or butter last and whisk quickly after it is added. The ghee will want to resolidify, so the wet ingredients need to be mixed together and then mixed with the dry ingredients quickly before it has a chance to.
Mix Wet + Dry Ingredients, Pour in Skillet
I promptly pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and whisk until just combined.
Then, using an oven mitt and great care from this point forward not to touch the handle of the skillet barehanded, I remove the skillet from the oven. I pour the cornbread batter into the skillet, relishing in that satisfying sizzle as it pours in.
Bake
I bake the low FODMAP cornbread at 400°F for 18-20 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool & Serve
I allow the cornbread to cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing into 8 slices and serving. Top with additional ghee or butter or maple syrup, or just eat it plain. I find it delicious without any additional topping. The cornbread can also be topped with up to 1 teaspoon of honey per serving; however, be mindful of what you're eating with this cornbread containing the FODMAP fructose to avoid FODMAP stacking.
Store
This low FODMAP cornbread can be stored in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Cornbread leftovers make a great low FODMAP breakfast option.
What do I eat this Low FODMAP Cornbread with?
The sky is the limit when it comes to what cornbread goes well with; however, these low FODMAP recipes currently on the blog I consider most ideal to eat with this low FODMAP cornbread:
- Instant Pot Chili con Canada
- Buffalo Chicken Chili (Instant Pot / Slow Cooker)
- Instant Pot BBQ Pork Ribs
- Instant Pot Meatloaf & Mashed Potatoes
- Beef Stew (Instant Pot / Slow Cooker)
- Instant Pot Pulled Pork
- Instant Pot Pot Roast
Low FODMAP Cornbread (Gluten-Free)
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Flavorful, moist, and not too crumbly, this gluten-free Low FODMAP Cornbread bakes quickly in a cast iron skillet and turns out a savory cornbread with a perfectly caramelized crust. Serve it as a side dish alongside low FODMAP chili, BBQ ribs, pulled pork, and more for a deliciously robust meal. In addition to being low FODMAP, this cornbread is gluten-free, and refined sugar-free.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 ¼ cups stone-ground cornmeal / polenta (not instant or quick cook*)
- ¾ cup gluten-free all-purpose flour (that includes xanthan gum)
- 2 tablespoons maple sugar*
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup milk (lactose-free if needed), at room temperature*
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, at room temperature*
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- ½ cup ghee or butter, melted and cooled to just above room temperature, plus more for greasing the skillet
Instructions
- Prepare ingredients for room temperature: see my tips in the post above for the most time-efficient way to do this.
- Prepare "buttermilk:" In a measuring cup, whisk the milk and lemon juice together and let sit for 5 minutes. This is your “buttermilk.”
- Preheat + grease: Grease a 10.25-inch cast iron skillet with ghee or butter. Set your oven to preheat to 400°F (I use convection) and place your greased cast iron skillet on the center rack to heat up while the oven is preheating.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients: cornmeal, gluten-free all-purpose flour, maple sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set bowl aside.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a separate large bowl, whisk together wet ingredients: the “buttermilk” mixture, eggs, and ghee or butter, adding the ghee or butter last and waiting until the oven is fully preheated before adding, and whisking quickly to combine.
- Mix dry + wet ingredients: Promptly pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and whisk until just combined.
- Pour batter into skillet: Using an oven mitt and great care from this point forward not to touch the handle of the skillet with your bare hands, remove the skillet from the oven. Pour cornbread batter into the skillet, which will deliciously sizzle while being poured into the skillet. If needed, use a spatula to spread the batter evenly in the skillet (it should naturally just even out).
- Bake: Bake at 400°F for 18-20 minutes or until the cornbread starts to become golden brown around the edges and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool: Allow cornbread to cool for 10 minutes before slicing into 8 triangular slices and serving.
- Serve: Serve plain or top with additional ghee or butter and/or maple syrup (or up to 1 teaspoon of honey per serving for Low FODMAP; however, be mindful of what you're eating that also contains the FODMAP fructose to prevent FODMAP stacking). Serve as a side dish with Low FODMAP Chili con Canada, Low FODMAP Instant Pot Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes, Low FODMAP Instant Pot BBQ Ribs, and more (see post above for a full list).
- Store: Store leftovers in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Cornbread leftovers make a delicious and easy low FODMAP breakfast option.
Notes
- Cornmeal / polenta: I use Bob's Red Mill Organic Corn Grits / Polenta, but this particular one is not made in a gluten-free facility. If you require 100% gluten-free, be sure to get the gluten-free version.
- Maple sugar: If you don't care to purchase an entire bag of maple sugar for just one tablespoon and don't require refined sugar-free, feel free to use either brown sugar or refined white sugar instead. However, you can also use maple sugar in the following recipes (with many more to come): Low FODMAP Instant Pot BBQ Ribs, Low FODMAP Pumpkin Zucchini Muffins, Low FODMAP Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Low FODMAP Instant Pot Pulled Pork, and Easy Tigernut Flour Pancakes.
- Milk and lemon juice: if you can tolerate lactose and prefer to use actual buttermilk, add 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon of whole buttermilk instead of the milk and lemon juice.
- Ghee or Butter: does not contain FODMAPs; however, butter and ghee are high in fat. According to Monash University, “fat affects gut motility, and when consumed in excess, can be an additional symptom trigger.”
- Tip: Once the butter is added to the wet ingredients, it will start to harden. If you don't whisk it together and get the batter in the skillet quickly enough, the batter may become lumpy. This is why I wait until the oven is fully preheated before adding the butter to the wet ingredients, whisk them together and get the batter in the heated skillet quickly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: gluten-free, low fodmap cornbread, skillet recipes
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