Cheesy Pioneer Woman Mexican Cornbread Casserole Recipe

Mexican cornbread casserole transforms ordinary ingredients into a vibrant feast that dances with southwestern flavors.

Rich layers of comfort emerge from simple pantry staples blending seamlessly in one delightful dish.

Hearty ground beef mingles with sweet corn and zesty peppers, creating a symphony of taste sensations.

Melted cheese weaves through each bite, promising warmth and satisfaction for hungry families.

Southern-inspired comfort meets spicy excitement in this crowd-pleasing meal that feels like a warm hug.

Weeknight dinners gain new excitement with this one-pan wonder that requires minimal preparation.

Let’s make some; come hungry and leave happy.

Why Mexican Cornbread Casserole Is a Zesty Favorite

• Savor Hearty Southwestern Comfort: This casserole blends rich ground beef, spicy Rotel tomatoes, and creamy corn with a golden cornbread topping, delivering a satisfying one-dish meal that hugs your taste buds with warm, bold flavors.
• Whip Up Effortless Crowd-Pleaser: Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe requires minimal prep work, uses convenient ingredients like Jiffy mix and canned vegetables, and comes together in under an hour, making it ideal for family dinners or casual gatherings.
• Enjoy Mouthwatering Cheese-Loaded Goodness: Double cheese layers create a gooey, melty experience that elevates the entire dish, with Mexican cheese blend providing a tangy, creamy texture that complements the savory beef and sweet cornbread base.
• Master Simple Cooking Technique: The step-by-step method allows even novice cooks to create a restaurant-quality meal, with foolproof instructions that ensure a perfectly cooked casserole with a golden, fluffy cornbread top every single time.

All the Goodness Inside Mexican Cornbread Casserole

• Lean Ground Beef: A hearty protein base that provides rich flavor and substance to the casserole.
• Eggs: Binding agent for the cornbread topping, adding structure and richness.

• Mexican Cheese Blend: Creamy, melty cheese that adds a tangy flavor and gooey texture to the dish.
• Milk: Helps create a smooth, moist cornbread topping with the right consistency.

• Cream-Style Corn, Canned Corn: Adds sweetness, moisture, and a classic corn flavor to the base mixture.
• Rotel Tomatoes: Brings a zesty, slightly spicy kick with diced tomatoes and green chilies.

• Taco Seasoning: Provides a classic Mexican-inspired flavor profile with warm, spicy notes.
• Onion Powder: Adds depth and subtle onion flavor without chunks of raw onion.
• Salt and Pepper: Essential seasonings to enhance and balance the overall taste.
• Jiffy Cornbread Mix: Quick and convenient base for a fluffy, golden cornbread topping.

How to Bake a Bold Mexican Cornbread Casserole

Step 1: Fire Up The Oven

Crank your oven to a toasty 400°F (200°C) and get ready for a flavor explosion.

Step 2: Brown The Beef

Toss lean ground beef into a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Break down the meat into tiny crumbles using a spatula until fully cooked.

Step 3: Drain And Build Flavor

• Cream-style corn
• Undrained canned corn
• Undrained Rotel tomatoes

Step 4: Spice It Up

• Taco seasoning
• Salt
• Pepper
• Onion powder

Stir everything until ingredients dance together perfectly.

Step 5: Let Flavors Mingle

Allow mixture to simmer for 5 minutes, letting all tastes blend and thicken.

Step 6: Cheese Please

Stir in of shredded Mexican cheese blend until melted and incorporated.

Step 7: Prepare The Canvas

Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread beef mixture evenly across the bottom.

Step 8: Create Cornbread Magic

• Jiffy cornbread mix
• Eggs
• Milk

Blend until silky smooth with zero lumps.

Step 9: Layer The Topping

Pour cornbread batter over beef mixture, spreading gently to create a complete cover.

Step 10: First Bake Session

Slide dish into preheated oven. Bake 17-20 minutes until cornbread turns golden and a toothpick comes out clean.

Step 11: Cheese Round Two

Sprinkle remaining of cheese over the top. Return to oven for 4-5 minutes until cheese melts and bubbles.

Step 12: Rest And Serve

Let casserole sit for a few minutes. This helps everything set, making cutting and serving a breeze.

Easy Tips to Boost Cornbread Casserole Flavor

• Boost Spice Levels: Customize heat by adding jalapeños or chili powder to match your preferred spiciness. Fresh peppers provide more vibrant flavor than dried versions.
• Layer Smartly: Spread ingredients evenly to guarantee each bite contains a perfect mix of beef, cheese, and cornbread. Uneven distribution can create bland sections.
• Control Moisture: Drain ground beef thoroughly to prevent soggy casserole bottoms. Excess liquid can make the cornbread soggy and compromise overall texture.
• Enhance Flavor Depth: Mix in diced onions and garlic for complex, rich undertones that complement the main ingredients. These aromatics transform a basic dish into something memorable.
• Serve Temperature Matters: Let casserole rest for 10 minutes after baking to help it set and make cutting easier. Resting allows ingredients to stabilize and flavors to meld together.

Best Way to Store Mexican Cornbread Casserole

• Refrigerate Smart: Preserve every mouthwatering bite by transferring the casserole into a sturdy, leak-proof glass container with a tight-sealing lid. Cool the dish completely at room temperature first to prevent moisture buildup, which could make your cornbread soggy. Slide the container into the coldest part of your refrigerator, typically the back shelf, where temperature remains most consistent.
• Portion Protection: Before storing, divide the casserole into individual serving sizes using meal prep containers. This strategy makes reheating faster and prevents repeatedly warming the entire dish, which can degrade texture and flavor. Label each container with the date to track freshness and ensure you consume within three days for optimal taste.
• Moisture Management: Place a paper towel loosely over the casserole before sealing the container to absorb excess condensation.

Tasty Variations on Cornbread Casserole Night

• Spicy Southwest Spin: Replace taco seasoning with homemade chili powder blend, adding diced jalapeños and green chiles for extra heat. Add fresh cilantro and a splash of lime juice for bright, zesty flavors.
• Green Chile Chicken Edition: Swap ground beef with shredded rotisserie chicken, incorporate roasted green chiles, and use pepper jack cheese for a southwestern kick. Season with cumin and garlic powder for deeper complexity.
• Vegetarian Black Bean Remix: Substitute ground beef with black beans and diced bell peppers. Include vegetable broth for moisture, add roasted corn kernels, and top with queso fresco for a lighter, plant-based alternative.
• Tex-Mex Breakfast Transformation: Layer crispy bacon bits into the beef mixture, top with scrambled eggs before adding cornbread batter. Serve with fresh salsa and sour cream for a hearty morning meal that brings brunch vibes to this classic casserole.

A Comforting Wrap-Up to Cornbread Casserole

Mexican Cornbread Casserole emerges as hearty comfort cuisine bridging Southern and Southwestern culinary traditions.

Layers of savory ground beef, melted cheese, and signature cornbread create rich flavor profiles that invite communal dining experiences.

Complex spices mingle with sweet corn undertones, producing harmonious taste sensations.

Culinary enthusiasts discover exceptional meal solutions through this straightforward recipe.

Family gatherings benefit from such accessible yet satisfying dinner choices.

Final touches of melted cheese elevate this casserole from ordinary to extraordinary – you’ll crave seconds, share the recipe with friends, and bookmark this mouthwatering masterpiece for future weekend meals.

Pioneer Woman Mexican Cornbread Casserole Recipe

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4.5 from 17 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Mexican Cornbread Casserole brings Southwestern comfort to dinner tables with hearty layers of ground beef, corn, and zesty seasonings. Rich cornbread topping creates a perfect golden crust that will make you crave seconds on this Texas-inspired classic meal.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 1 lb (454 g) lean ground beef
• 3 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
• 17 oz (482 g) Jiffy cornbread mix (2 boxes)

Canned Ingredients:

• 14.75 oz (418 g) cream style corn
• 8.75 oz (248 g) canned corn
• 10 oz (283 g) Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies

Additional Ingredients:

• 1 oz (28 g) taco seasoning
• 2 large eggs
• ⅔ cup (158 ml) milk
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper

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Instructions

1. Warm the oven to 400°F (200°C), preparing it for the upcoming casserole creation.
2. In a large skillet, brown the lean ground beef over medium-high heat, methodically breaking it into fine, uniform crumbles using a spatula.
3. Once the meat is fully cooked and no pink remains, eliminate excess grease from the pan. Reduce heat to medium and introduce cream-style corn, whole kernel corn, and Rotel tomatoes without draining.
4. Generously sprinkle taco seasoning, salt, ground black pepper, and onion powder across the mixture. Thoroughly stir to ensure even distribution of seasonings throughout the beef and corn combination.
5. Allow the mixture to simmer for 5 minutes, enabling flavors to meld and the consistency to slightly thicken. Remove from heat source.
6. Incorporate 2 cups of shredded Mexican cheese blend, stirring until completely melted and integrated into the beef mixture.
7. Prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish by lightly greasing its surface. Carefully transfer the beef mixture, spreading it into an even, smooth layer.
8. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together Jiffy cornbread mix, large eggs, and whole milk until the batter achieves a silky, lump-free consistency.
9. Gently cascade the cornbread batter over the beef layer, ensuring complete and uniform coverage across the entire dish.
10. Transfer the casserole to the preheated oven. Bake for 17 to 20 minutes, watching for a golden-brown cornbread top and checking with a toothpick for doneness.
11. Extract the casserole and crown it with the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese. Return to the oven for an additional 4 to 5 minutes until the cheese becomes gloriously melted and bubbly.
12. Allow the casserole to rest for several minutes after removing from the oven. This brief cooling period helps the layers set, facilitating cleaner, more precise serving.

Notes

• Leftovers taste even better the next day, making meal prep a breeze for busy families.
• Budget-conscious cooks will love how this dish stretches affordable ingredients into a crowd-pleasing feast.
• Game day gatherings and potlucks become instantly exciting with this hearty, flavor-packed casserole.
• Jiffy cornbread mix guarantees a foolproof golden topping that’s fluffy and delicious every single time.
• Customizable with fun toppings like tangy sour cream, spicy jalapeños, or fresh cilantro to suit every taste preference.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 646 kcal
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 1090 mg
• Fat: 38 g
• Saturated Fat: 20 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 49 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 30 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg