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Delicious cornbread casserole topped with cheese and served in a baking dish.

Cowboy Cornbread Casserole

A delightful dish combining the rich flavors of traditional cowboy fare with the comforting texture of cornbread, perfect for family dinners or potlucks.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Casserole, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Comfort Food
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 lb ground beef or turkey Choose between ground beef or turkey.
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 can (15 oz) sweet corn, drained
  • 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese For a different flavor, substitute with pepper jack.
Cornbread Batter
  • 1 cup milk Can substitute with vegetable broth for a vegetarian version.
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
Optional Toppings
  • to taste sour cream
  • to taste sliced jalapeños
  • to taste fresh cilantro

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef or turkey until browned and cooked through. Drain any excess fat.
  3. Stir in the black beans, sweet corn, diced tomatoes (with juice), and taco seasoning. Cook for an additional 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, and melted butter.
  5. In another larger mixing bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  6. Gradually add the milk mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring until just combined.
  7. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Pour half of the cornbread batter into the dish and spread evenly.
  8. Layer the beef and bean mixture over the cornbread batter. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the beef mixture.
  9. Top with the remaining cornbread batter, spreading it gently over the cheese layer.
  10. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  11. Once cooked, let it cool for a few minutes before serving.

Notes

Make it spicy by adding chopped green chilies or cayenne pepper. For a vegetarian version, substitute the meat with additional beans and use vegetable broth instead of milk. Leftovers can be stored for up to four days in the fridge or frozen.