Description
Cowboy Cornbread Casserole brings hearty southwestern comfort straight to your dinner table with layers of savory ground beef, sweet corn, and fluffy cornbread topping. Grab your skillet and get ready for a classic one-pan meal that’ll have your family asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 lb ground beef
Vegetables and Beans:
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can corn, drained
- 1 can diced tomatoes, with juices
- 1 cup bell peppers, diced
- 1 medium onion, diced
Dry Ingredients and Toppings:
- 1 package cornbread mix
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat at 350°F. Sauté 1 diced medium onion and 1 cup diced bell peppers for exactly 5 minutes until softened.
- Add 1 lb ground beef to the skillet. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, salt, and pepper. Cook meat until completely browned, approximately 8 minutes.
- Drain excess fat from the beef mixture. Transfer the cooked meat to a greased 9×9 inch baking dish.
- Add 1 can drained black beans, 1 can drained corn, and 1 can diced tomatoes to the meat. Mix thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
- Prepare 1 package of cornbread mix according to package directions in a separate mixing bowl.
- Pour the prepared cornbread batter evenly over the meat and vegetable mixture, ensuring complete coverage.
- Sprinkle 1 cup shredded cheese across the top of the cornbread layer.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 400°F for 25-30 minutes, watching for golden brown cornbread top.
- Remove casserole from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with optional sour cream, chopped green onions, or fresh cilantro if desired.
Notes
- Check ground beef browning carefully to develop deep flavor without burning the meat.
- Use fresh spices for maximum taste impact and ensure even distribution while cooking.
- For gluten-free adaptation, select a gluten-free cornbread mix or make cornbread from scratch using alternative flour.
- Consider swapping ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles to modify protein source and reduce calories.
- Prep Time: 12-15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 388 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg