Cowboy Cornbread

This cowboy cornbread takes southern comfort food to a whole new level of awesomeness!

The dish features juicy ground beef and cheese topped with crumbly cornbread. It’s so hearty and filling you don’t even need sides. 

Cowboy Cornbread

Cowboy cornbread casserole is a classic southern dish that’s hearty and family-friendly.

It has a savory filling of beef, creamed corn, and tender onions. All this goodness gets sprinkled with cheddar cheese and topped with cornbread. 

Think of it as a cheeseburger with cornbread for its bun. How fantastic is that?

Plus, it serves a crowd. You know what that means, right? There’s enough for seconds!

Ingredients

Thanks to boxed cornbread mix, you can make this casserole with less than 10 ingredients.

Here’s what you need:

• Ground Beef – The meat component of the dish. Other types of meat could work, too. I have several suggestions below.

• Onion – It’s optional, but I love the flavor it adds to the beef. 

• Cornbread Mix – There’s no need to make cornbread from scratch! You’ll use a trusty boxed mix for this recipe. This recipe calls for yellow cornbread mix, but corn muffin mix works, too. 

• Milk – Because every boxed mix needs a type of liquid.

• Eggs – To bind the cornbread mix and give it structure.

• Creamed Corn – You’re making cornbread, after all! Use canned cream corn for extra moisture.

• Cheddar Cheese – For a rich and cheesy casserole. Beef, cheese, and cornbread make the most drool-worthy combo!

• Butter – It’s also optional, but highly recommended. There’s nothing like freshly-baked cornbread slathered with butter!

Tips for the Best Dish

Here are some tips to make the best cowboy cornbread casserole ever!

• Customize the sweetness. For a sweeter cornbread, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of sugar to the mix.

• Make the crust thick or thin. Adjust the size of the casserole depending on how thin or thick you want the cornbread crust. For a thinner crust, use a 7×11-inch dish. For a thicker crust, use an 8×8-inch dish.

• Cover with foil. Is the cornbread starting to brown before the baking time is up? Just loosely cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.

• Make it extra cheesy. There is no such thing as too much cheese! Add shredded cheese to the cornbread mixture for a richer casserole.

• Let the casserole rest. Give the casserole 5 minutes post-baking before digging in. I know it’s hard, but it’s worth the wait!

What to Serve with Cowboy Cornbread

It’s is a complete and scrumptious meal in and of itself. But if you want to make your feast even more memorable, serve it with these sides.

• Salad – Something light to dial down the richness of the dish.

• Roasted Broccoli -The crunch complements the tenderness of the cornbread.

• Green Beans – It’s also a light and crunchy side dish that adds a pop of color to your meal.

• Fries – This dish is essentially a cheeseburger casserole, and what pairs better with a burger than some good old French fries?

Variations

Want to customize this cowboy cornbread casserole recipe? Try one of these scrumptious variations:

• Add toppings. Want to make your cowboy cornbread even more impressive? Finish it off with toppings. Jalapenos, bacon, sour cream, or extra cheese, you can’t go wrong. 

• Give it a pop of color. Not everyone is a fan of cilantro. But if you are, by all means, add it to the dish! This herb adds a wonderful freshness and color.

• Create a Tex-Mex filling. Sure, ground beef is already tasty enough, but I love giving it a Tex-Mex flair. Just add corn kernels, carrots, and beans to the meat filling. It makes the dish extra delicious!

• Drizzle BBQ sauce on top. You know what tastes amazing with cornbread? Barbecue! Add a smoky contrast to the sweet cornbread by drizzling barbecue sauce over the casserole. Delish!

• Use a different type of meat. Who says you have to use only beef? Ground pork, turkey, and chicken all make great alternatives. Or make it vegetarian-friendly with plant-based meat crumbles.

How to Store

Leftover cowboy cornbread makes for a cozy lunch and quick dinner. You can also freeze it to have on hand for busy week nights.

Want to make it ahead of time? You can do that too!

To Store: For leftovers, cover the cooled casserole with plastic wrap and refrigerate. For make-ahead casserole, prepare the meat mixture and add it to the baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. When ready to bake, let the filling sit at room temp for 30 minutes. Add the cheese and cornbread layers, then bake. Enjoy within 3 to 4 days.

To Freeze: Double wrap the casserole with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Label and freeze for up to 3 months. 

To Reheat: Reheat leftovers in the microwave or the oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit until thoroughly heated.