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This ground beef cornbread casserole boasts a barbecue and baked bean filling, sharp cheddar cheese, and a scratch-made buttermilk cornbread crust. Serve it with a simple green salad for an easy, affordable, family-friendly dinner.
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If you’re looking for even more cornbread casserole recipes be sure to try this wildly popular Jiffy corn casserole, our favorite farmhouse chicken cornbread casserole, this pulled pork casserole with cornbread topping, a Jiffy cornbread taco bake, and this ground beef casserole with cornbread, too!
Easy ground beef recipes top the list of some of our favorite weeknight dinners. From this taco-inspired 4-ingredient ground beef casserole with crescent rolls, to an easy ground beef noodle casserole, one-skillet ground beef stir-fry, or my mother-in-law’s homemade lasagna, there’s a dish for any mood or occasion. Today’s bbq cornbread casserole with ground beef is just the latest in our line-up, and I know that you’ll love it as much as we do!
A Cowboy Dinner
We might not be cowboys here, but I have 4 hungry guys to feed each night, and this flavorful recipe certainly qualifies as a cowboy dinner in my book! In general, a cowboy dinner is a hearty casserole of flavorful beef, veggies, and beans topped with a layer of cheese and finished with a fluffy buttermilk cornbread topping. It’s classic, stick-to-your-ribs comfort food that keeps hardworking cowboys — and other hungry folks — satisfied and nourished.
Which type of ground beef is best for casseroles?
You can use any type of ground beef that you prefer in a casserole. I typically use 85% lean beef (or “ground round”). If you like a leaner meat for a healthier dish, that’s fine. If you like a less-expensive ground beef with a higher fat content, that will work, too — just strain off any extra grease from the pan.
Why precook ground beef for casserole?
Cooking the beef in a skillet before adding it to the casserole dish serves two main purposes. First, it ensures that the meat is cooked through by the time the topping is done. Second, precooking the meat allows you to drain off the fat from the pan so that your casserole filling isn’t too greasy.
Ingredients
This is just a quick overview of the ingredients that you’ll need for a bbq cornbread hamburger pie. As always, specific measurements and step-by-step cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
- Bacon: creates a smoky flavor for the casserole filling.
- Ground beef: the base of the filling.
- Green bell pepper, onion, and garlic: for fresh, savory flavor.
- Barbecue sauce: use a store-bought sauce for convenience, or make your own bbq sauce at home. I use this brand in this recipe.
- Baked beans: a can of baked beans adds filling bulk and flavor to the dish. The sauce in the beans helps bind the casserole together, too.
- Cheddar cheese: every good casserole needs cheese! I like sharp cheddar here, but you can use any good melting variety that you prefer, including Pepper Jack, Monterey Jack, Colby, Colby Jack, mozzarella, or American cheese.
- Buttermilk: use whole buttermilk for the best flavor and texture. The buttermilk adds moisture to the cornbread, yields a softer crumb, and provides a slightly tangy flavor and richness. The acid in the buttermilk also activates the leavening agents to help the cornbread rise and have a fluffy texture.
- Vegetable oil: keeps the cornbread moist.
- Egg: gives the cornbread structure and lift.
- Self-rising cornmeal mix: use either white or yellow self-rising cornmeal mix. I prefer White Lily brand. This is not plain yellow cornmeal! Instead, self-rising cornmeal mix is a convenient blend of cornmeal, all purpose flour, leavening agents (like baking soda), and salt.
- Sugar: an optional ingredient, which adds just a hint of sweetness to the topping. A traditional Southern cornbread recipe does not include any sugar, so feel free to leave this ingredient out if you like a more savory cornbread on top of your casserole.
How to Make Cornbread Casserole with Ground Beef
This ground beef cornbread casserole recipe comes together easily with just a handful of basic kitchen staples. I’ve included the detailed directions in the recipe card below, but here’s the quick version:
- Cook the ground beef filling in a skillet on the stovetop.
- Transfer the filling to a baking dish.
- Top with shredded cheese.
- Stir together the cornbread batter in a large mixing bowl.
- Pour the cornbread batter on top of the ground beef mixture.
- Bake until golden brown.
Serving Suggestions
Pair the cornbread ground beef casserole with any of these easy sides:
- Southern Buttermilk Biscuits, Flaky Biscuits, 3-Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits, Sweet Potato Biscuits, Cheese Biscuits, Easy Drop Biscuits
- Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin Muffins, Cranberry Muffins, or Apple Muffins
- House Salad with Candied Pecans, Green Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette, a Classic Caesar Salad, Mixed Greens with Dijon Vinaigrette, Southern Caesar Salad, or a Wedge Salad
- Coleslaw or Vinegar Coleslaw
- Cucumber Radish Salad
- Southern Collard Greens or Sweet and Spicy Collard Greens with Bacon
- Fried Corn
- Southern Fried Apples, Baked Apple Slices, or Applesauce
- Roasted Broccoli
- Fried Cabbage with Apples and Onion or Braised Red Cabbage
- Sauteed Kale with Bacon or Sauteed Spinach with Garlic
- Amish Green Beans with Brown Butter, Arkansas Green Beans, or Southern-Style Green Beans
Preparation and Storage Tips
- Make Ahead: You can prepare the filling in advance, and keep it covered in the refrigerator until ready to bake. Do not put the cornbread batter on top of a cold filling. Instead, warm the filling on the stovetop until hot and bubbly, and then proceed with the recipe directions.
- Storage: A casserole with ground beef will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. The casserole can be frozen after baking. Wrap any leftovers in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
- How to Reheat: Thaw frozen casserole in the refrigerator overnight. Place the casserole in a 325°F oven and heat just until warm — about 20 minutes. If the topping starts to get too brown before the filling is heated through, cover loosely with foil. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave.
Cowboy Casserole with Cornbread Recipe Variations
- Substitute ground turkey, ground pork, or ground chicken for the ground beef called for in this recipe.
- To make the cornbread crust with a box of Jiffy corn muffin mix, see this recipe.
- Swap out the green bell pepper for red bell pepper or canned, fresh, or frozen corn.
- Omit the baked beans and add a can of corn instead. Since you won’t have the sauce from the beans, you’ll need to add extra bbq sauce to reach the desired consistency. You could also use a different type of canned beans, such as drained and rinsed black beans, pinto beans, pink beans, or kidney beans. Chili beans or ranch-style beans would also work for a different flavor profile.
- Jazz up the cornbread by stirring extra shredded cheddar cheese, green chilies, or sliced jalapenos into the batter.
- Add extra spices to the filling, such as chili powder, taco seasoning, or cayenne pepper.
- Don’t have bacon? No problem. Just omit that ingredient. The casserole won’t have quite the same rich, smoky flavor, but it will still be tasty! Alternatively, you could sub with some browned sausage for another smoky option. Smoked sausage, andouille sausage, kielbasa, or even diced hotdogs would work!
Tips for the Best Cornbread Ground Beef Casserole
- Make sure that you’re using self-rising cornmeal mix — not plain cornmeal. The self-rising mix includes some flour, salt, and leavening agents in addition to the cornmeal.
- Use a 10-inch cast iron skillet to cook the ground beef filling. Add the cornbread batter on top, and transfer the skillet to the oven. This gives you one less dish to wash at the end, since you don’t need the casserole dish.
- Adjust the seasoning to suit your taste preferences. For instance, you might like to add cayenne to make it spicy, or a dash of cumin for a smokier flavor.
- Garnish the casserole with your favorite fresh toppings. Good options include fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped green onions or minced red onion, grated cheese, sour cream, diced avocado or guacamole, halved cherry tomatoes, or sliced black olives.
- Insert a toothpick in the center of your casserole to make sure that the cornbread crust is completely cooked through before removing the dish from the oven. You shouldn’t see any wet batter on the toothpick.
- If the top of your casserole starts to get too dark before the cornbread is cooked through, tent the top of the dish loosely with foil for the remaining baking time.
- Cooking for a larger family? Double all of the ingredients and bake the casserole in a 9 x 13-inch dish. You’ll need to increase the total baking time by a few minutes.
More Ground Beef Casserole Recipes to Try
4-Ingredient Ground Beef Casserole
35 minutes mins
Frito Pie
35 minutes mins
Shipwreck Casserole
1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
For even more inspiration, check out this collection of more than 20 of the best ground beef casserole recipes!
BBQ Ground Beef Cornbread Casserole
Ingredients
- 8 ounces (about 8 strips) uncooked bacon, chopped
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 green bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
- ½ of a small onion, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced or pressed
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 (16 ounce) can baked beans
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
- 1 ½ cups buttermilk, well shaken
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups self-rising cornmeal mix, NOT plain cornmeal (I prefer White Lily brand)
- 2 tablespoons sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 2 ½ – 3-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
- Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 7-10 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve about 1 tablespoon of bacon drippings in the skillet; discard the rest.
- Using the same skillet, cook the ground beef, bell pepper, and onion in the reserved bacon drippings over medium-high heat until the meat is no longer pink. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Drain off excess grease. Stir in bbq sauce, baked beans, and cooked bacon. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until hot and bubbly, about 3-5 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, oil, and egg. Add the self-rising cornmeal mix and sugar. Stir just until combined. Spread the cornbread batter over the top of the cheese and warm beef mixture.
- Bake, uncovered, until the top is golden brown and cooked through, about 35-40 minutes.
Notes
- Make sure that you’re using self-rising cornmeal mix — not plain cornmeal. The self-rising mix includes some flour, salt, and leavening agents in addition to the cornmeal.
- Use a 10-inch cast iron skillet to cook the ground beef filling. Add the cornbread batter on top, and transfer the skillet to the oven. This gives you one less dish to wash at the end, since you don’t need the casserole dish.
- Adjust the seasoning to suit your taste preferences. For instance, you might like to add cayenne to make it spicy, or a dash of cumin for a smokier flavor.
- Garnish the casserole with your favorite fresh toppings. Good options include fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped green onions or minced red onion, grated cheese, sour cream, diced avocado or guacamole, halved cherry tomatoes, or sliced black olives.
- Insert a toothpick in the center of your casserole to make sure that the cornbread crust is completely cooked through before removing the dish from the oven. You shouldn’t see any wet batter on the toothpick.
- If the top of your casserole starts to get too dark before the cornbread is cooked through, tent the top of the dish loosely with foil for the remaining baking time.
- Cooking for a larger family? Double all of the ingredients and bake the casserole in a 9 x 13-inch dish. You’ll need to increase the total baking time by a few minutes.
Made this tonight… Used bison burger… had some leftover frozen corn and peas so tossed those in and used Jiffy mix cornbread. This was nice, great flavors! Will make again
Thank you, Scott! We’re glad you enjoyed it!