Description
Cowboy cornbread casserole brings hearty southwestern comfort straight to dinner tables with ground beef, corn, and zesty seasonings. Savory layers meld together, creating a satisfying meal perfect for hungry families craving bold flavor and simple home-style cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
Canned and Dairy Ingredients:
- 1 can (15 ounces / 425 grams) corn, drained
- 1 can (15 ounces / 425 grams) black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) milk
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) sour cream
Baking and Garnish:
- 1 box (8.5 ounces / 241 grams) cornbread mix
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) green onions, chopped
Instructions
- Heat oven to 400F (200C) and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Sauté ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, breaking into small crumbles until fully browned and no pink remains.
- Stir taco seasoning into the beef, ensuring even distribution of spices throughout the meat.
- Combine beef with corn and black beans, creating a hearty base layer in the prepared baking dish.
- Distribute shredded cheddar cheese evenly across the beef and vegetable mixture.
- Prepare cornbread batter following package instructions, mixing with milk and egg until smooth.
- Carefully pour cornbread mixture over the cheese and meat layer, spreading to cover completely and evenly.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until cornbread turns golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow casserole to rest for 5 minutes after removing from oven to set and cool slightly.
- Optional: Top with dollops of sour cream and sprinkle chopped green onions before serving.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner, lighter version of the casserole.
- Add diced bell peppers or jalapeños to the beef mixture for extra color and a spicy kick.
- Customize the cornbread topping by mixing in shredded cheese or chopped herbs directly into the batter for more flavor depth.
- Make it gluten-free by using a gluten-free cornbread mix and checking that taco seasoning is certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 398 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg