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Delicious Chili Cornbread Casserole topped with fluffy cornbread, perfect for cozy meals.

Chili Cornbread Casserole

A warm and filling one-pan dish with hearty chili topped with fluffy cornbread and melty cheese, perfect for cozy dinners.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Comfort Food
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Chili
  • 1 lb Ground beef (or ground turkey)
  • 1 small Onion, diced
  • 2 to 3 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 1 can (14-15 oz) Diced tomatoes
  • 1 can Beans, drained (kidney or black)
  • 2 to 3 tbsp Chili powder Adjust according to heat preference
  • 1 tsp Cumin
  • Salt and pepper
  • Hot sauce or sweet chili sauce (optional) For added flavor
For the Cornbread Topping
  • 1 box Cornbread mix Or homemade cornbread batter
  • Eggs and milk as required for the cornbread mix
  • 1 to 2 cups Shredded cheese (cheddar or Mexican blend)
Optional Toppings
  • Sour cream
  • Green onion
  • Cilantro
  • Jalapeno

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.
  2. In a big skillet, brown the ground beef with the diced onion. Once it is mostly cooked, add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
  3. Drain off excess grease if necessary. Then stir in tomatoes, beans, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Let it simmer for 8 to 10 minutes to thicken.
  4. Pour the chili into your baking dish and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle half the cheese over the chili.
  5. Mix the cornbread batter in a bowl. Pour it over the chili layer, spreading gently to cover most of the top.
Baking
  1. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, then sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Bake another 5 to 10 minutes until the cornbread is cooked through and the cheese is melty.
  2. Let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing for better serving.

Notes

This dish holds up well as leftovers and flavors improve with time. You can store it in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze baked portions for up to 2 months.