Cowboy Cornbread Casserole is an old favorite with a Tex Mex twist. It’s just like a shepherd’s pie, but with Mexican seasoning and a cornbread topping. Cowboy casserole piles this delicious filling onto a bed of melty cheddar cheese, then crowns it all with crispy sweet cornbread.
That’s the beauty of this dish – savory, comforting, and with a delightful textural contrast between the soft interior and the crunchy topping.
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Why this Cowboy Cornbread Casserole Recipe is a Keeper
This hearty cowboy cornbread casserole is topped with cornbread and features a ground beef base and a mix of vegetables and cheese. Your whole family will love this easy dinner with a cheesy cornbread topping. Here are a few reasons why this cornbread casserole is sure to become one of your new favorite recipes:
- 35 Minute Meal: Have this fluffy cornbread casserole ready in 35 minutes or less.
- Easy Ingredients: All the ingredients for this hearty meal can be found in your kitchen or local grocery store.
- Adaptable: Make this recipe with a box of cornbread mix instead of homemade cornbread to cut back on time or use taco seasoning mix for the meat. Even use different meat.
If you’re looking for more recipes like cowboy cornbread casserole, try these: Mexican Corn Cake, Mexican Corn Salad, and Cheese Corn Casserole.
What is the Difference Between Cornbread and Biscuits?
While both cornbread and biscuits are both staples of southern American cuisine, good cornbread is made of a corn-based flour, while biscuits are made of white flour, fat, and leavening agents. As a result, biscuits are light and flaky, while corn bread has a somewhat gritty texture.
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Ingredient Notes for Cornbread Cowboy Casserole Dish
- Ground Beef: If you want to make this cowboy casserole recipe ahead of time, cook the pound of ground beef 1-2 days in advance.
- Corn: This easy ground beef recipe calls for frozen corn, but you can also use canned corn or fresh corn.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions for this Cowboy Dinner Recipe
- Ranch Style Beans: There’s nothing like a can of beans in this delicious casserole recipe. Use any type of beans you’d like for this easy recipe, such as chili beans, baked beans, kidney beans, or black beans. I used black beans in this recipe, and it adds more protein to the taco cornbread casserole.
- Fire Roasted Tomatoes: If you love a good bonfire, it’s your lucky day! Roasting the tomatoes on a campfire will add a smoky flavor to this casserole. Alternatively, you can dice fresh tomatoes and sautee them in a large cast iron skillet or add a can of Rotel tomatoes to this hearty comfort food.
Pro Tip
For a spicy kick, add sliced jalapenos to the casserole, or bell peppers for a milder variant.
How to Make Easy Cowboy Cornbread Casserole
This hearty casserole is a hearty meal with a cheesy cornbread layer on top of the beef at the bottom. It doesn’t take long to prepare the dish, and it tastes delicious. Fresh cornbread is baked on top, and topped with whatever you’d like. To find out how to make this cornbread recipe, follow the steps below.
These are the basic steps for making cornbread cowboy casserole. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Prepare the Cornbread Recipe
Start by preheating the oven to 400 degrees F and prepare a baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Make Casserole Filling
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Then, add the taco seasoning, ground beef, and other filling ingredients, and cook until the juice from the tomatoes cooks off and the mixture begins to thicken. Remove from heat and drain the grease, then add ground beef mixture to the baking dish. Then, layer the Monterey or cheddar cheese on top of the meat mixture.
3. Make the Cornbread Mixture
In a medium bowl, mix cornbread batter ingredients together until fully combined. After you mix up the cornbread batter in the mixing bowl, add the cornbread batter over the top of the cheese layer and spread evenly.
4. Bake the Mexican Cornbread Casserole
Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until cornbread is golden brown and is cooked all the way through. The casserole will be done when a toothpick inserted into the center of the cornbread comes out clean. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Ground Beef and Bean Casserole FAQs
Expert Tips for Making Cornbread Cowboy Casserole
- Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix: For a short cut to this quick meal, make cowboy cornbread casserole with Jiffy cornbread mix or your favorite boxed cornbread mix, instead of making homemade. Just make the cornbread according to package directions, then pour the cornbread batter over the casserole.
- Ground Meat: You could also make this recipe using lean ground beef, ground chicken or turkey. It is such a creative main dish.
- Top of the Casserole: For more toppings on this cornbread and corn casserole, add a little fresh guacamole, green onions, pico de gallo, green chilies, shredded cheese, sour cream, or pinto beans.
What to Serve with Tex Mex Cornbread Casserole
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Cowboy Cornbread Casserole
Ingredients
Casserole Filling:
- 1 pound Ground Beef, browned
- 2 teaspoons Chopped Garlic
- 1 cup Frozen Corn
- 1 4 ounces Diced Tomatoes, 1 can
- 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Oregano
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- ¾ cup Water
Middle Layer
- 1 cup Shredded Taco Cheese, Monterey Jack/Cheddar
Cornbread topping:
- 1 ¼ cups Flour
- ¾ cup Cornmeal
- ¼ cup Sugar
- 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 Egg, beaten
- ¼ Canola Oil
- 1 cup Milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Prepare a 9×12 baking dish or similar with nonstick spray.
- Add the filling ingredients to a skillet and simmer on stovetop for 15 minutes, stirring often. The mixture will thicken as the juice from the tomatoes cooks off.
- Pour the filling into the prepared casserole dish.
- Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top of the filling.
- In a bowl, prepare the cornbread batter. Spread over the top of the casserole.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until cornbread is cooked through. Cut through to the filling to check for doneness.
Expert Tips
- Cornbread Mixture: For a short cut, make this recipe with Jiffy corn muffin mix or your favorite boxed cornbread mix, instead of making homemade.
- Ground Meat: You could also make this recipe using lean ground beef, ground chicken or turkey.
- Toppings: Some delicious toppings or sides to serve with this cowboy cornbread recipe include fresh guacamole, pico de gallo, green chilies, shredded cheese, sour cream, or pinto beans.
One of my favorite casserole recipes.