Description
Mexican-inspired Taco Cornbread Casserole brings together layers of zesty ground beef, sweet cornbread, and melted cheese in one seriously satisfying dinner your whole family will devour. Hearty, comforting, and packed with bold southwestern flavors, this casserole comes together quickly and disappears even faster at your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 (10 oz / 283 g) can diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained
- 1 (15 oz / 425 g) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup corn (canned or frozen)
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or 2 tablespoons homemade)
- 1 (8.5 oz / 241 g) box cornbread mix
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
Finishing Ingredients:
- ⅓ cup milk
- 1 large egg
- Optional: chopped green onions
- Optional: avocado
- Optional: salsa
- Optional: jalapenos
- Optional: sour cream
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Sauté 1 pound lean ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, thoroughly draining excess fat after browning.
- Incorporate 2 tablespoons taco seasoning and ¼ cup water into the beef, allowing the mixture to simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Mix in 10 ounces diced tomatoes with green chiles, 15 ounces black beans, and 1 cup corn, ensuring everything is well combined and heated.
- Transfer the beef mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly and topping with 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese.
- Whisk 1 large egg and ⅓ cup milk into the cornbread mix until just blended, avoiding overmixing.
- Carefully pour the cornbread batter over the beef mixture, smoothing it to create a complete coverage.
- Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup cheese across the top of the cornbread layer.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until the cornbread turns golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Allow the casserole to rest 5-10 minutes before serving, garnishing with optional toppings like green onions or avocado.
Notes
- Save time by using pre-made taco seasoning or create your own blend with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and oregano.
- For a lighter version, swap ground beef with ground turkey or a plant-based meat alternative to reduce fat content.
- Customize the toppings with fresh cilantro, sour cream, diced green onions, or sliced jalapeños for extra flavor and texture.
- Ensure the cornbread topping doesn’t get soggy by draining canned vegetables thoroughly before adding to the meat mixture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 48 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 423 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg