Southwest Cornbread Beef Casserole

Name: Southwest Cornbread Beef Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Tex-Mex, Mexican
Ingredients: 0.5 tsp Baking Soda; 0.25 tsp Cayenne Pepper; 1 tsp Chili Powder; 0.5 cup Corn; 1 cup Cornmeal; 2 whole Eggs; 1 lb Ground Beef; 1 cup Milk; 1 tsp Minced Garlic; 1 tbsp Olive Oil; 0.5 whole Red Bell Pepper; 1 cup Salsa; 0.75 tsp Salt; 1 dash Salt & Pepper; 1 cup Shredded Cheese Blend; 1 whole Yellow Onion

Side Dish 🥗Dinner 🍽️Lunch 🥪 Tex-Mex 🇺🇸🇲🇽Mexican High-Protein 💪Low-Carb Low-Sodium Sugar-Free Gluten-Free Halal 🕌Kosher ✡️Comfort-Food

Southwest Cornbread Beef Casserole layers spiced ground beef, sweet corn, and salsa beneath a tender, cheesy cornbread crust. The balance of mild heat, savory beef, and creamy melted cheese makes it cozy and satisfying, perfect for casual weeknight dinners or potlucks where you want something hearty and family-friendly.

Prep15 mins
Cook40 mins
Serves8
DifficultyEasy

1

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and red bell pepper; cook until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the ground beef, garlic, chili powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Cook, stirring, until the beef is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes.
3

Stir the corn into the beef mixture and toss to defrost, about 3 minutes. Drain and discard the fat. Add about 1/4 of the shredded Mexican cheese blend and mix well. Pour the meat sauce into a 9x13-inch casserole dish. Spread a thin layer of salsa over the meat.
4

In a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, salt, and baking soda. Add the milk and eggs; stir until well blended. Pour the cornmeal mixture over the salsa layer and top with the remaining shredded Mexican cheese blend.
5

Bake in the preheated oven until the top is browned, about 30 minutes.