Easy Air Fryer Jiffy Cornbread Recipe Without a Pan

I cook a ton of things in my air fryer, but many things like cakes and casseroles require you to have a pan. When it came to making some cornbread, I decided to step out of the box and accept the challenge of not using one. Thus, this recipe for air fryer cornbread without a pan was created.

air fryer cornbread without a pan recipe dinners done quick

Why You Need This Recipe

This cornbread recipe is made perfectly in your air fryer without a pan! Of course, if you do happen to have a pan or some muffin liners you can cook it that way as well. I really wanted to find a solution that made it easy if you don’t have those available, though.

Starting with Jiffy cornbread mix gives you a great base to work with, and you can add in your favorite seasonings and flavors to make the bread your own. I like to add some green chiles for heat and honey for sweetness, but it’s very adjustable!

You’re also going to need some foil!  While we’re not using a pan, we are still going to need some way to contain the batter in its liquid state. I recommend nonstick foil, but you can also spray regular foil with a nonstick spray instead.

closeup of a piece of air fryer cornbread

I tested a lot of different methods and this was hands down the best way to make air fryer cornbread without a pan.

What You’ll Need: Ingredients

ingredients to make air fryer cornbread without a pan
  • 8.5 ounce box Jiffy corn muffin mix (any flavor)
  • 1 large egg
  • ⅓ cup milk
  • ⅓ cup creamed corn
  • 2 Tbsp honey
  • 2 ounces diced green chiles, drained

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

  • You can use Jiffy honey cornbread mix and omit the additional honey, or use the jalapeno mix and omit additional peppers if you like
  • Creamed corn may be swapped for corn kernels, but you’ll want to add some sour cream or similar in there to replace the creaminess and moisture
  • The honey and chiles are entirely optional and based on your personal taste preferences. Other great additions are cooked bacon, diced jalapeno, maple syrup, cheddar cheese, or fresh berries

How to Cook Cornbread in the Air Fryer Without a Pan

  1. Cut a piece of foil that will fit in your air fryer basket, with at least an inch of excess (more is fine too)
cut a piece of foil to fit air fryer basket
  1. Roll or fold the excess over to create sides to your square or circle of foil, making sure to end up with a smaller vessel than the actual size of the air fryer basket once you’re done. You should have at least 1” of air space around the foil in the basket, as otherwise you’ll block air flow and it won’t cook
place foil tray in air fryer basket
  1. Preheat your air fryer to 310°F (or the closest setting your air fryer has – 315°F is also fine)
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients and stir to incorporate, making sure all lumps are dissolved but not overmixing
mix all ingredients in a bowl and remove lumps
  1. Pour the batter into the foil basin in the air fryer basket
pour cornbread batter in foil basin
  1. Cook on the air fry setting for 25-35 minutes at 310°F, or until a toothpick or butter knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cooking times will vary based on the size and shape of your foil and air fryer’s basket
  2. Lift the foil out by the edges to bring the cornbread with it, or slide a spatula underneath it
lift cornbread out of air fryer basket and let cool
  1. Cut into wedges or squares, top with butter, and serve!
overhead view of air fryer cornbread on a plate with butter

What to Serve With Cornbread

  • Chili
  • Meatloaf
  • Barbecue
  • Smoked sausage
  • Fried chicken
  • Ribs
  • Bacon
  • Hot dogs
  • Soup or stew
  • Deviled eggs
  • Fried apples
  • Collard greens
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Sliced jalapenos
  • Caramelized onions
  • Cheddar cheese
  • Butter 
  • Honey butter
  • Jam
  • Honey

There are so many great things to serve or on with your cornbread!

Try your air fryer cornbread with my easy recipe for Air Fryer Kielbasa, crispy Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts with Bacon, delicious Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs, or with some beautifully browned Caramelized Onions in the Air Fryer.

Recipe FAQs

Can I Make Jiffy Mix in the Air Fryer?

Yes, you can make Jiffy mix in the air fryer. It cooks much the same as a traditional convection oven, but in less overall time.

Just like the standard preparation, you can make both a full pan or muffins with the mix.

Can You Make Cornbread in an Air Fryer?

Yes, you can make cornbread in an air fryer. Your air fryer will cook the bread and give it a nice, golden crust just like the oven.

While traditionally cooked in a pan or muffin cups, you can also cook it directly in the base of the air fryer with a solid basket model.

How Long to Cook Cornbread in an Air Fryer?

On average, it takes between 20-30 minutes to cook cornbread in an air fryer. It largely depends on the size of your pan and your air fryer’s power level.

For muffins, the average time is around 10-15 minutes due to the smaller size.

What Temperature Do You Cook Cornbread in an Air Fryer?

Typically, cornbread is cooked at a temperature between 310°F – 350°F depending on your air fryer’s settings. Higher temperatures cook faster, but create a more brown top. For a blonder crust, use a lower temperature for longer.

Make sure not to overcook your cornbread either, as it can dry out.

What is the Secret to Moist Cornbread?

The secret to moist cornbread is sufficient liquids and fats. Ingredients like milk, buttermilk, eggs, sour cream, oil, and butter are common ingredients used for these purposes.

You’ll also want to avoid overbaking it, removing your cornbread when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Can I Put Wet Batter in the Bottom of My Air Fryer?

While you can technically put wet batter in the bottom of the air fryer from a safety perspective, you do not want to. Without the ability for air to flow underneath it, the batter will not cook on the bottom.

You’ll end up with a burned top and raw bottom on your baked items, and a big mess to clean up.

Recipe Pro Tips

  • If you’re wondering why you can’t just pour the batter in the bottom of the basket, the answer is simply that it won’t cook – I tried it so you don’t have to. Since the air fryer uses hot air circulation to cook, when something is in the base there’s no circulation under it, so you get a cooked top and raw bottom
  • This is the same concept behind why you don’t want your foil to cover the entire grate in the basket: you need air to be able to get underneath and circulate or your cornbread won’t cook. The alternative would be to somehow flip the bread over during cooking, but that just isn’t feasible with the liquid batter
  • Foil is the choice here because it holds shape so you can both contain the batter and mold it to fit your air fryer basket, whereas something like parchment isn’t rigid enough to work. The edges won’t be “perfect” like a pan, but who cares as long as it tastes good?
  • Make sure to seal the corners of the foil to prevent batter leaking out. I bring the sides to a point together, then fold them over the side and top to secure, but you can also roll and crimp them
  • Smooth the interior edges before adding the batter to get a more even edge on your cooked cornbread
  • This amount of batter was perfect for my foil vessel that was about 7” long x 5” wide x 2” tall which fit in one basket of my Ninja Dual Zone air fryer. Feel free to double the recipe if you have a bigger basket and want to make more
three slices of air fryer cornbread on a plate with honey drizzle

Storage and Reheating

  • Cool leftover cornbread completely, then wrap in foil, plastic wrap, or an airtight container for storage up to 1 week in the refrigerator. It may also be frozen for 2-3 months
  • Reheat leftover cornbread in the microwave wrapped in a damp paper towel for 30-60 seconds on high. The air fryer may also be used for about 5 minutes at 350°F, but will dry out the cornbread more

Other Corn Based Air Fryer Recipes to Try

Final Thoughts

This air fryer Jiffy cornbread is so simple to make, even without a pan! I love using the air fryer to make cornbread as it doesn’t heat up the whole house like turning on the oven.

Even when it’s chilly outside, it still frees up my oven for a larger dish, allowing me to cook my sides simply and easily. It’s really no more prep work than the traditional preparation and equally delicious!

You can make it as basic as following the 3-ingredient recipe on the box, or get a little fancier with the addition of creamed corn, honey, chiles, and whatever you like. This is my favorite combination for moist, flavorful cornbread!

air fryer cornbread without a pan recipe dinners done quick featured image

Air Fryer Jiffy Cornbread Without a Pan

Jiffy mix serves as the base for this easy air fryer cornbread with honey and chiles. By using foil you can skip the pan, making this recipe work for nearly any air fryer.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 8 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 38 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 218 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 8.5 Ounce box Jiffy corn muffin mix
  • 1 Large egg
  • Cup milk
  • Cup creamed corn
  • 2 Tbsp honey
  • 2 Ounces diced green chiles (drained)

Instructions
 

  • Cut a piece of foil that will fit in your air fryer basket, with at least an inch of excess (more is fine too)
  • Roll or fold the excess over to create sides to your square or circle of foil, making sure to end up with a smaller vessel than the actual size of the air fryer basket once you’re done. You should have at least 1” of air space around the foil in the basket, as otherwise you’ll block air flow and it won’t cook
  • Preheat your air fryer to 310°F (or the closest setting your air fryer has – 315°F is also fine)
  • In a mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients and stir to incorporate, making sure all lumps are dissolved but not overmixing
    8.5 Ounce box Jiffy corn muffin mix, 1 Large egg, ⅓ Cup milk, ⅓ Cup creamed corn, 2 Tbsp honey, 2 Ounces diced green chiles
  • Pour the batter into the foil basin in the air fryer basket
  • Cook on the air fry setting for 25-35 minutes at 310°F, or until a toothpick or butter knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cooking times will vary based on the size and shape of your foil and air fryer’s basket
  • Lift the foil out by the edges to bring the cornbread with it, or slide a spatula underneath it
  • Cut into wedges or squares, top with butter, and serve!

Notes

  • You can use Jiffy honey cornbread mix and omit the additional honey, or use the jalapeno mix and omit additional peppers if you like
  • Creamed corn may be swapped for corn kernels, but you’ll want to add some sour cream or similar in there to replace the creaminess and moisture
  • The honey and chiles are entirely optional and based on your personal taste preferences. Other great additions are cooked bacon, diced jalapeno, maple syrup, cheddar cheese, or fresh berries
  • If you’re wondering why you can’t just pour the batter in the bottom of the basket, the answer is simply that it won’t cook. I’ve tried it and it does not work. Since the air fryer uses hot air circulation to cook, when something is in the base there’s no circulation under it, so you get a cooked top and raw bottom
  • This is the same reason you don’t want your foil to cover the entire grate in the basket: you need air to be able to get underneath and circulate or your cornbread won’t cook. The alternative would be to somehow flip the bread over during cooking, but that just isn’t feasible with the liquid batter
  • Foil is the choice here because it holds shape so you can both contain the batter and mold it to fit your air fryer basket, whereas something like parchment isn’t rigid enough to work. The edges won’t be as perfect as a pan, but it gets the job done
  • Make sure to seal the corners of the foil to prevent batter leaking out. I bring the sides to a point together, then fold them over the side and top to secure, but you can also roll and crimp them
  • Smooth the interior edges before adding the batter to get a more even edge on your cooked cornbread
  • This amount of batter was perfect for my foil vessel that was about 7” long x 5” wide x 2” tall in my Ninja Dual Zone air fryer. Feel free to double the recipe if you have a bigger basket and want to make more
  • Cool leftover cornbread completely, then wrap in foil, plastic wrap, or an airtight container for storage up to 1 week in the refrigerator. It may also be frozen for 2-3 months
  • Reheat leftover cornbread in the microwave wrapped in a damp paper towel for 30-60 seconds on high. The air fryer may also be used for about 5 minutes at 350°F, but will dry out the cornbread more
  • Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, any substitutions, additions, or toppings, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
 

Nutrition

Serving: 92gCalories: 218kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 3.8gFat: 5.5gSaturated Fat: 2.3gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 439mgPotassium: 88mgFiber: 1.2gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 30.4IUVitamin C: 0.6mgCalcium: 83mgIron: 1.2mg
Keyword air fryer cornbread, air fryer cornbread jiffy, air fryer cornbread no buttermilk, air fryer cornbread recipe, air fryer cornbread without a pan, cornbread, cornbread in air fryer, ninja air fryer cornbread
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Katie Vine