Zesty Cornbread Beef Casserole

Zesty Cornbread Beef Casserole

This Zesty Cornbread Beef Casserole is a hearty and flavorful dish that combines seasoned ground beef and vegetables topped with a moist cornbread crust, perfect for a family dinner.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 1 medium diced onion
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 cans Mexican-style corn
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 can chopped green chiles
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 box cornbread mix
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup Mexican cheese blend

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to get started.
2. In a cold skillet, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil along with minced garlic; heat it over medium until it begins to sizzle and release a fragrant aroma, which should take about 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Stir in diced onion, salt, and black pepper, cooking until the onion turns translucent, around 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Add the ground beef to the skillet, stirring frequently until it's completely browned and crumbled, roughly 5 to 10 minutes.
5. Incorporate 2 cans of Mexican-style corn, salsa, tomato sauce, 1 can of chopped green chiles, and taco seasoning into the beef mixture, allowing it to come to a boil.
6. Once boiling, lower the heat, cover the skillet, and let it simmer until the sauce thickens, approximately 15 minutes. Then, transfer this savory mixture into a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
7. In a separate bowl, mix together the cornbread mix, milk, vegetable oil, and an egg. Gently fold in the drained Mexican-style corn, a Mexican cheese blend, the drained green chiles, and an additional tablespoon of olive oil.
8. Carefully spread the cornbread mixture over the beef filling in the casserole dish.
9. Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cornbread comes out clean.