Cowboy Cornbread Casserole

5 from 5 votes

Gather up the family and serve Cowboy Cornbread Casserole for dinner tonight! It's an easy skillet meal loaded with ground beef, veggies and bold spices, then topped off with homemade buttermilk cornbread!

Prep Time20

Cook Time30

Total Time50

Course: Main Course, Skillet Meals

Cuisine: American, Casserole

Servings:

Calories: 575kcal

Author: Debi Morgan | Quiche My Grits

Equipment

cast iron skillet (large 12 inch size)

Ingredients

Chili Filling

1 pound lean ground beef
1 sweet onion (diced)
1 teaspoon minced garlic
½ teaspoon salt
10 ounce can Rotel diced tomatoes, undrained
6 ounce can tomato paste
1 packet mild chili seasoning (1.25 ounces)
15 ounce can black beans, undrained
15 ounce can sweet corn, undrained
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)

Cornbread Topping

2 cups self-rising cornmeal mix (I use Martha White)
1¾ cups buttermilk (low-fat)
¼ cup melted butter
1 large egg, beaten

Optional Garnishes

sliced jalapenos
sour cream
green onions
diced red peppers

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
In a large 12 inch cast iron skillet, brown ground beef over medium-low heat with onions and garlic until meat is no longer pink. Sprinkle salt over meat and stir.
Add Rotel tomatoes, tomato paste, and a packet of chili seasoning to skillet. Stir ingredients together over medium low heat.
Pour in cans of black beans and corn (both undrained). Stir ingredients for 10 minutes over medium-low heat until chili is thickened.
Sprinkle cheese on top of thickened chili mixture in cast iron skillet.
Mix cornbread mix with buttermilk and melted butter. Add 1 beaten egg and mix until slightly combined.
Pour cornbread mixture over the top of chili and cheese in the skillet to make the topping. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes until cornbread is golden brown and chili is bubbling underneath.
If cornbread isn't browned after 30 minutes, turn on the broiler and watch carefully until the top of cornbread is golden brown.
Let skillet cool for 15 minutes before serving.
Serve with optional garnishes like extra cheese, jalapeños, sour cream, green onions, and diced red peppers if desired.

Notes

Casserole can be transferred from a skillet to a 13x9 inch dish and baked as directed if desired.
Don't have a packet of chili seasoning? You can make your own with 1 teaspoon each of chili powder, garlic salt, onion powder, paprika and cumin.
Ground turkey can be substituted for ground beef.
Pepper jack cheese can be used instead of cheddar.
Diced tomatoes are a good substitute for Rotel if you want to tone down the spice level.
Any type of bean like pintos or northern beans can be used instead of black beans if desired.
Garnishes are totally optional but make a nice presentation.

Nutrition