Name: Best Chili Cornbread Casserole Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 1 tbsp Olive Oil; 12 Onion; 3 Cloves Garlic; 2 tbsp Tomato Paste; 300 g Ground Beef; 1 tbsp Chilies; 1 tsp Ground Cumin; 1 tsp Oregano; 1/3 tsp Salt; 1/2 tsp Black Pepper; 300 g Canned Beans; 300 g Chopped Tomatoes (Rotel diced tomatoes); 2 Pkt Corn Muffin Mix; 2 tbsp Corn Kernals; 2 tbsp Sour Cream; 4 tbsp Butter; 2 Eggs

Satisfy your comfort food cravings with a hearty Chili Cornbread Casserole. This mouthwatering dish combines the warmth of chili with the sweetness of cornbread, creating a flavorful and satisfying meal. Perfect for cozy dinners or potluck gatherings, this Chili Cornbread Casserole is sure to become a family favorite.

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love Cornbread Casserole

Here’s why I love this Jiffy cornbread casserole so much.

It makes for a great meal that’s wholesome, comforting and full of flavor.
It is a great main dish to make for a potluck or a summer barbeque, or serve as a weekend meal for the entire family.
It can be made ahead of time, which makes it a great choice to whip up over the weekend and serve whenever you want to.

Recipe Ingredients

To make this easy casserole recipe, you’ll need just a few simple ingredients.

Olive Oil: Used to sauté the onions and garlic, setting the aromatic base for your chili.
Onion: Add a sweet, savory depth to the chili that forms the backbone of its flavor profile.
Garlic: With its pungent aroma and taste, garlic imparts a robust flavor, enhancing the overall taste of the chili.
Tomato Paste: Adds a rich, concentrated tomato flavor and helps thicken the chili.
Ground Beef: The main protein in your chili, ground beef lends a hearty, satisfying texture and flavor.
Chilies: Add heat to the chili, which can be adjusted according to your preference.
Ground Cumin: Gives your chili an earthy, warm flavor that complements the other ingredients beautifully.
Oregano: Adds a hint of sweet, slightly bitter flavor that enhances the overall depth of the chili.
Salt & Black Pepper: Essential for seasoning, they bring out the flavors of all the other ingredients.
Canned Beans: Contribute a creamy texture to the chili and are a great source of fiber and protein.
Chopped Tomatoes (Rotel Diced Tomatoes): Provide a tangy, fresh contrast to the rich, hearty flavors in the chili.

For Cornbread:

Corn Muffin Mix: Is the base of your cornbread, providing a sweet, slightly grainy texture that pairs perfectly with the hearty chili.
Fresh Corn Kernels: Add a pop of sweet, juicy flavor and a bit of crunch to your cornbread. You can use kernel corn or canned corn.
Sour Cream: Gives your cornbread a moist, tender crumb and a slight tang that balances the sweetness of the corn.
Butter: Enriches the cornbread, giving it a rich, buttery flavor and a moist texture.
Eggs: Add moisture and help the cornbread rise as it bakes.

Best Chili Cornbread Casserole ingedients.

How to Make Chili Cornbread Casserole?

Once you have all your ingredients ready, here’s what you’ll need to do to put the casserole together.

Step One: Prepare all ingredients. Sauté the chopped onion and garlic in the oil for a few minutes over medium high heat. You can use a large cast iron skillet or a non stick pan for this.

Step Two: Add the ground beef, tomato paste and stir. Cook this for about 10 minutes. Drain the fat.

Step Three: Add all spices, beans, tomatoes, simmer for about 20 minutes. I love using Rotel diced tomatoes.

Step Four: Mix all the ingredients for the cornbread mix in a large mixing bowl. Put the ground beef mixture in an ovenproof baking dish, then pour the cornbread batter on it and spread it evenly. Cook this for about 35 minutes in an oven preheated to 190 degrees, or until the top is golden brown then serve.

Pro Tips for Nailing Cornbread Casserole

Use Cornbread Mix: While you can use any cornbread mix you can get your hands on, I would highly recommend using Jiffy corn muffin mix for best results. It has the perfect texture you’re looking for in a cornbread mix, and is perfect for this cornbread casserole recipe.

Variations

Flavor: To add some extra flavor to the corn casserole, you can add some taco seasoning into the ground beef mixture.
Add Heat: If you’re like me and like a bit of heat in your food, you can add some chopped green chilies into the mixture as well.
Add Sour Cream: To make the cornbread casserole more flavorful and delicious, you can add a layer of sour cream in between the layers of the meat and the jiffy cornbread mix, and then bake.
More Cheese: If you love cheese, you can add a layer of shredded cheese mixed with some milk in between the layers of the meat and the cornbread batter.

Substitutions

Olive Oil: To bring some extra richness and deliciousness into the casserole, you can use butter instead of the olive oil.

How to Store Chili Cornbread Casserole

Fridge: If you have any leftovers, you can refrigerate them for up to 2 days. Just remember to cover the baking dish with cling wrap to keep it fresh.
Freeze: You can prepare the cornbread casserole ahead of time and freeze it in the baking dish itself. Remember to cover the baking dish with plastic wrap before you freeze it.
Reheat: The best way to reheat the Mexican cornbread casserole is to pop it in the microwave for a few minutes. You can also add a bit of shredded cheddar cheese on the top to bring some moisture and cheesiness into it.

What to Serve With Cornbread Casserole

Zesty Guacamole: Creamy avocados, tomatoes, onions, and lime create the perfect balance for your hearty chili cornbread casserole.
Crispy Southwest Salad: Fresh lettuce, corn, black beans, and a tangy cilantro dressing add crunch and vibrancy to complement the comforting casserole.
Cheesy Jalapeño Poppers: Kick up the heat with these spicy poppers filled with gooey cheese – a fiery sidekick to your chili cornbread delight.
Mashed Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of chives make for a classic, comforting side dish.

Best Chili Cornbread Casserole Recipe

This Chili Cornbread Casserole is the perfect cozy comfort food, combining a hearty chili base with a sweet and fluffy cornbread topping.

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 35

Additional Time 20

Total Time 1 5

Serving Size Servings

Ingredients

1 tbsp Olive Oil
12 Onion
3 Cloves Garlic
2 tbsp Tomato Paste
300 g Ground Beef
1 tbsp Chilies
1 tsp Ground Cumin
1 tsp Oregano
1/3 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Black Pepper
300 g Canned Beans
300 g Chopped Tomatoes Rotel diced tomatoes
2 Pkt Corn Muffin Mix
2 tbsp Corn Kernals
2 tbsp Sour Cream
4 tbsp Butter
2 Eggs

Instructions

Prepare all ingredients. Sauté the chopped onion and garlic in the oil for a few minutes over medium high heat. You can use a large cast iron skillet or a non stick pan for this.
Add the ground beef, tomato paste and stir. Cook this for about 10 minutes. Drain the fat.
Add all spices, beans, tomatoes, simmer for about 20 minutes. I love using Rotel diced tomatoes.
Mix all the ingredients for the cornbread mix in a large mixing bowl.
Put the ground beef mixture in an ovenproof baking dish, then pour the cornbread batter on it and spread it evenly. Cook this for about 35 minutes in an oven preheated to 190 degrees, or until the top is golden brown.

Nutrition

Notes

While you can use any cornbread mix you can get your hands on, I would highly recommend using Jiffy corn muffin mix for best results. It has the perfect texture you're looking for in a cornbread mix, and is perfect for this cornbread casserole recipe.

More Casserole Recipes

If you enjoyed making and relishing this cornbread casserole, and are inspired and looking to try some more casserole recipes, here are a few good ones you can try out.