Chili cornbread casserole is a cheap and family friendly. Use canned or our homemade 5 ingredient chili with Jiffy cornbread or make from scratch. With ground beef or sausage it is a feel good comfort food everyone loves year round.
Cornbread casserole with chili is an easy meal we love. A layered meal with your main dish and side dish all baked together in a baking dish. You can make a bit spicy if you’d like or keep it mild for little ones. A great leftover chili recipe the day after too.
Ok so there are tons of variations as far as this one goes. You can make super easy with canned beans and meat from Hormel with boxed mix for the top like our Cowboy Cornbread Casserole. Still delicious and for super busy days when you are stressed out, a great option for times like that.
If you don’t want to use the stove you can make a quick batch of our 5 Ingredient Instant Pot Chili first. Then just pour that on the bottom and make the batter for the top as you like. As I said, lots of options as far as leaving the meat out entirely to make it vegetarian or going all out. You could double it too and bake in a 9×13″ pan.
Made with Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
If you use a boxed mix you would then follow their directions for ingredients on the back. Still pour the batter over the top but for larger boxes (like Krusteauz) you may be able to only use half to prevent it from overflowing. Jiffy is about the right amount. You can tweak it too like we did with our Jiffy Mexican Cornbread batter too.
Best Meat to Use
Yes this is an amazing Hamburger HotDish but you could use spicy Jimmy Dean sausage for all of the protein or half and half. For leaner meats, go for ground turkey or chicken instead.
This is a little like our Taco Cornbread Casserole which is yet another tweak you can do with the same steps, just a different bottom layer. Have your own favorite way of making this popular Mexican dish, go for it!
Should you add beans?
Yes, it makes this a heartier dish for sure. You can of course drain canned legumes or if you want to start from scratch we show you how to cook kidney beans too here. You really could use any variety you prefer though.
What Vegetables to Add
I like to include sweet corn kernels, drained into the mix for some more texture and flavor as well as 1/2 cup of diced tomatoes, canned and I like the petite versions of those.
To thicken the sauce some tomato paste works well for that bottom layer so it is not as runny so you can serve it up better but know either way it will be a bit messy…but worth it.
How to Make Spicy
If you want to add some heat which is recommended there are a few options. You can make our jalapeno powder recipe which would be the hottest, followed by the option of some Chili powder or red pepper flakes for heat.
If you want to start from scratch as far as the topping goes, we have the ingredients necessary below. I have done it both ways with this and our sloppy joe cornbread casserole too.
Can you make this creamy?
You could by folding in 1/2-3/4 of a cup of sour cream into the meat mixture before spreading it into the pan. This will bring a whole new flavor profile to the dish which is super yummy. If you choose to do so it wouldn’t change the bake time.
To start on our Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix Recipe get out a skillet over medium high heat to precook the homemade chili. While it is bubbling you can make the cornbread topping in a bowl. When all prepped just layer the meat on the bottom and spread the cornbread batter on to the top.
How Long to Bake Jiffy Chili Cornbread Casserole
You are going to need to start this journey by cooking the meat for about 10 minutes on medium low heat while combining all other bottom layer ingredients. Then it will be baked for about 25 minutes or until the top is golden brown so pretty fast for a casserole type dish.
This works well with our shipwreck casserole too which is layered and served together. If you want to sprinkle shredded cheese onto the top you can then bake for another 5 minutes to melt and become perfectly golden brown.
Chili Cornbread Casserole Recipe
Equipment
- 1 8×8 pan or 7×9 was used
- 1 pan
- 1 Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef, or half spicy sausage half ground beef
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 cup corn, kernels, drained, optional
- 1/2 cup kidney beans, canned, drained
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/3 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/3 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 3/4 cup cheese, shredded, optional
- 1 box Jiffy corn muffin mix, plus ingredients to make the batter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 F. Add onions in olive oil for 3 minutes, stirring. Then add ground meat, garlic, stir and cook for another 4 minutes all together until meat no longer has any pink. Drain excess grease.
- Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, spices and broth (any). Cook covered for another 10 minutes on low heat.
- Add beans, corn, stir, wait another 2 minutes and remove the pan from heat. In another bowl, mix Jiffy and necessary ingredients on back of box to make the batter.
- Pour the meat mixture in a 7×9 or 8×8 inch pan and smooth it out. Pour cornbread dough on top. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake 25 – 30 minutes or until top is lightly golden brown and cracking.
- Sprinkle grated cheddar onto hot cornbread. Place the chili casserole dish in the oven and wait another 5 minutes for the cheese to melt and get golden brown. Remove once cornbread is browned and cooked all the way thru.
Video
Notes
Homemade Cornbread Option
- 1 egg
- 4 tbsp cornmeal
- 4 tbsp all purpose flour
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 c milk
- 1 tsp brown sugar
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to save leftovers
If you do have leftovers, save it in an airtight container. Remember that the top texture will change when reheated because it will soften. Microwave for about 1 minute though and enjoy again for lunch the next day. Jump to recipe below and get started.
