Ground Beef Casserole with Cornbread Crust

4.80 from 5 votes

An old-fashioned ground beef casserole with cornbread crust is an easy dinner that everyone at the table can agree on!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword easy ground beef casseroles, easy ground beef recipe, ground beef casserole, ground beef cornbread casserole

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 18

Resting Time 10

Total Time 58

Servings - 6 people

Calories 602kcal

Author Blair Lonergan

1 (8.5 ounce) box Jiffy corn muffin mix
1 egg
⅓ cup milk
Optional garnish: grated cheddar cheese, sour cream, parsley or cilantro, chopped red onion, sliced green onion

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef and onion until the meat is no longer pink and the onions are translucent (about 7-10 minutes). Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds longer. Drain off the fat.
Stir in the corn, tomato soup, water, chili powder and salt. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes.
Transfer the beef mixture to the prepared baking dish.

In a medium bowl, stir together the cornbread mix, egg, and milk. Spread batter over the beef mixture.

Bake at 425°F for 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown and topping is cooked through. Let stand for about 5-10 minutes before serving.

To prepare a made-from-scratch cornbread topping, stir together the following ingredients:
- ¾ cup cornmeal
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tablespoon canola oil (or other mild oil of choice)
- 1 teaspoon sugar (optional, if you like a slightly sweet cornbread crust)

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 smoky 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, 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.