Description
Cowboy Cornbread Casserole is a hearty and comforting dish featuring a flavorful ground beef and bean filling, topped with a soft, golden cornbread crust. This easy-to-make recipe is perfect for busy weeknights and a great way to feed a crowd with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Ground Beef Filling
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 (14 oz) can canned corn, drained
- 1 (14.5 oz) can kidney beans, drained
- 2 cups salsa (mild, medium, or hot)
- 1 (1 oz) packet taco seasoning
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheese (Colby Jack or cheddar)
Cornbread Topping
- 1 (8.5 oz) box Jiffy corn muffin mix
- 1 (8.25 oz) can creamed corn
- 2 tablespoons milk
- ¼ cup sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray to prevent sticking.
- Brown the beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until fully browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain any excess grease to prevent a greasy casserole.
- Prepare the filling: Stir in the drained kidney beans, corn, salsa, taco seasoning, water, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Mix well and let it simmer for a few minutes until the flavors combine and the mixture thickens slightly.
- Assemble the casserole: Pour the beef mixture into the greased baking dish, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top, ensuring it covers the entire surface.
- Make the cornbread batter: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the corn muffin mix, creamed corn, milk, and sour cream. Stir until a thick, even batter forms, being careful not to overmix.
- Add the topping: Spoon the cornbread batter over the beef and cheese layer, spreading it evenly to the edges to create a smooth layer.
- Bake the casserole: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the cornbread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool and serve: Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with toppings like sour cream, diced tomatoes, avocado, or fresh cilantro for extra flavor.
Notes
- For a spicier version, add diced jalapeños or a pinch of cayenne to the beef mixture.
- To make it vegetarian, swap the ground beef for a mix of black beans, pinto beans, and extra corn.
- If using ground turkey or chicken, add a teaspoon of olive oil to the pan to prevent dryness.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex, American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 649 kcal
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 2333mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 64g
- Fiber: 9g
- Protein: 49g
- Cholesterol: 123mg