Mexican Cornbread Casserole - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

Home » Casserole Recipes » Mexican Cornbread Casserole

by Stephanie Manley, Last Updated 167 Comments

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

Mexican Cornbread Casserole is a filling meal. This south-of-the-border-inspired casserole is a great way to feed a family. Boxed Jiffy cornbread mix, ground beef, corn, and a few additional ingredients make for a hearty dinner, and best of all, this dish reheats very well.

Mexican Cornbread Casserole - CopyKat Recipes (1)

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Table of Contents

What makes Mexican Cornbread Casserole with ground beef so good?

Mexican Cornbread casserole has been one of my favorite weeknight meals to make. I love how simple this casserole is to put together. With some taco-seasoned ground beef and a few extra ingredients, you can turn this recipe into something your family will love.

Why you should try this easy Mexican cornbread casserole tonight!

This is an easy Mexican cornbread casserole recipe to prepare. You don’t need a wide variety of ingredients. This has been served at my house for over 40 years. I remember my Grandmother making this recipe and serving it with a salad topped with Dorothy Lynch salad dressing. It was a meal she would quickly put together after coming home from work. I still enjoy this casserole, it always reminds me of eating it at my grandparent’s house.

Mexican Cornbread with Meat

Casseroles are an excellent dish to make for a meal during the week. This Jiffy Mexican cornbread bake is very easy to put together. I like keeping a couple of boxes of Jiffy cornbread mix on hand for recipes like this one.

You can be flexible in this recipe—using any sausage instead of the hamburger meat. If you have a few extra leftover vegetables in the refrigerator, green beans and carrots are just as tasty in here as the corn.

What Makes Mexican Cornbread Casserole the Perfect Weeknight Meal?

Weekday meals must be easy to get on the table, clean up, and most importantly, something everyone in your family loves. Mexican Cornbread Casserole with ground beef fits this definition to a “T.”

It stores well in the fridge and wonderfully in the freezer. You can get away with serving it as a one-dish meal, and it also goes with a ton of sides.

And, happily, no one in your family will ever complain that it is Mexican Cornbread with meat night!

Mexican Corn Bread Casserole Recipe Ingredients

  • Ground beef – I like to use ground chuck. You could swap this out for sausage, ground chicken, or ground turkey if you desire
  • Taco seasoning mix – you can use one package or 2 tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning
  • 2 boxes of Jiffy Mix cornbread. If you don’t like Jiffy Mix, use 2 packages that total up to a dry weight of 17 ounces
  • 1 can of cream-style corn
  • 1 can of corn kernels
  • Shredded Cheddar cheese, Colby Jack, Mexican cheese blend, or Monterey Jack would also work well
  • 1 small can of green chilies
Mexican Cornbread Casserole - CopyKat Recipes (2)

How to Make Mexican Cornbread Casserole

Here are the simple recipe steps:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray a baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the taco seasoning according to the package directions. Set the meat mixture aside.
Mexican Cornbread Casserole - CopyKat Recipes (3)
  1. In a large mixing bowl combine two boxes of jiffy cornbread mix according to the package directions. Stir in half of the cream corn and half of the canned corn.
  2. Pour half of the jiffy corn muffin mix into the baking pan. Top with seasoned ground beef mixture.
Mexican Cornbread Casserole - CopyKat Recipes (4)
  1. Then, top the seasoned meat with the remaining corn kernels and creamed corn.
  2. Sprinkle with half of the shredded cheese and then the remaining cornbread batter, and top with the remaining cheese.
Mexican Cornbread Casserole - CopyKat Recipes (5)
  1. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes.
  2. Remove from the oven, and serve.
Mexican Cornbread Casserole - CopyKat Recipes (6)

Customize Mexican Cornbread Casserole with Fun Toppings

Make your casserole fun with these exciting toppings. There is no reason why any night of the week can’t be fun. This Mexican cornbread casserole is one of those easy recipes you are going to want to keep on hand.

  • A drizzle of your favorite taco sauce
  • Fresh jalapeno peppers or pickled jalapeno peppers if you like a little less heat
  • Shredded lettuce
  • Chopped tomatoes
  • Sour cream
  • Guacamole
  • Additional shredded cheese if desired
  • Sliced green onions
  • Sliced black olives
Mexican Cornbread Casserole - CopyKat Recipes (7)

How To Serve Mexican Cornbread Casserole With Meat

When the casserole comes out of the oven, let it cool for about five minutes. Then run the tip of a sharp knife along the inside edge of the casserole dish.

Cut the Mexican Cornbread into squares and transfer each portion to a plate using a spatula. Top with your choice of sour cream, green onions, drained canned beans, cheese, or salsa.

What To Serve With Mexican Cornbread Casserole

Although Mexican Cornbread with ground beef makes a great meal, adding a flavorful dish on the side will make it more filling. Here are just a few suggestions:

  • Beans.Baked beans and cornbread is a classic combination, butTexas Chili Beansgo better with this recipe. You may also want to try a traditionalThree Bean Salad.
  • Grilled vegetables.Brush your favorite veggies with oil, season wells, and grill over medium heat until nicely charred. No grill? Try theseRoasted Brussels Sproutsinstead.
  • Green salad.A simple salad with a little balsamic vinegarette orItalian dressingadds a lot of crunch and some tang to the meal.

How To Store Cornbread Mexican Casserole

Go ahead and make this dish ahead of time. Please keep it in the casserole dish, cover the top with aluminum foil, and the casserole will stay fresh for three days in the fridge. You can also keep servings in individual airtight containers. It freezes wonderfully for longer storage.

To freeze:

  1. Let the Mexican Cornbread cool to room temperature.
  2. Transfer each slice to a freezer-safe container with a tight-fitting lid.
  3. Freeze for up to two months.

To reheat.

  1. Thaw in the fridge overnight if frozen.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  3. Place Mexican Cornbread slices in a casserole dish or an oven-safe cast iron pot. Leave some space between each piece.
  4. Spray the top of the cornbread with a little water to keep it from drying out.
  5. Cover tightly with aluminum foil or a lid.
  6. Reheat in the oven for about 20 to 25 minutes or until warm.

For reheating quickly, place a serving on a microwave-safe plate and microwave it in 30-second increments until warmed.

Mexican Cornbread Casserole - CopyKat Recipes (8)

Do you love casseroles? Try these recipes!

  • Mexican Beef Casserole
  • Chili Relleno Casserole with Ground Beef
  • Spaghetti Bake Casserole
  • Stuffed Cabbage Casserole
  • Sour Cream Noodle Casserole
  • Cracker Barrel Casserole
  • Baked Potato Casserole Dickeys
  • Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef
  • Hamburger and Bean Casserole
  • Easy to Make Chicken Casserole

More Mexican Food Recipes

  • Duros
  • Taco Bell Tacos
  • Beans a la Charra

Be sure to take a look at more of my main dish casserole recipes and easy to make Mexican food.

Mexican Cornbread Casserole

You can make amazing Mexican Cornbread Casserole. It reheats so well.

4.58 from 59 votes

Print Pin Rate Add to Collection

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: Cornbread Casserole, Mexican Cornbread Casserole

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes minutes

Servings: 12

Calories: 384kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

  • non-stick cooking spray
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1.25 ounces taco seasoning mix
  • 17 ounces corn muffin mix 2 boxes, Jiffy is recommended
  • 14 ounces canned cream-style corn
  • 14 ounces canned corn
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 4 ounces canned green chilies

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F, and lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.

  • In a large skillet, cook the beef over medium-high heat until it browns.

  • Drain the beef, and add the taco seasoning per package directions.

  • In a large bowl, prepare the corn muffin batter per package directions (but do not bake it yet). Stir in half of the cream-style corn and half of the regular corn.

  • Spread half of the cornbread batter in the prepared baking pan and top with taco meat.

  • Mix together the remaining cream-style corn and corn kernels and spread that over the meat.

  • Sprinkle with half of the grated cheese and all of the green chilies.

  • Spread the remaining cornbread mixture on top.

  • Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.

  • Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the cornbread is baked through.

  • Let it sit for about 5 minutes. Then cut into squares to serve with any toppings you desire.

Video

Notes

Variations

  • Swap half of the Cheddar cheese for grated Monterey Jack cheese
  • Add 1/2 teaspoon of chipotle into the taco seasoning mix

You can freeze the leftovers for about 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 384kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 805mg | Potassium: 277mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 575IU | Vitamin C: 5.8mg | Calcium: 134mg | Iron: 2.3mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

REVEALED: Copycat Secrets for 2023

free email bonus

Yes, you CAN make it at home!I'll show you how.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Previous Post: « Katsu Sauce

Next Post: Copycat Benihana Fried Rice »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nicole

    Definitely sprinkle cheese after it comes out the oven or the last 5 or 10 minutes. My cheese is ummmm. A little crispy on top. I also added black beans and diced southwest style diced tomatoes. Came out delicious.

    Reply

  2. Reilly

    Mexican Cornbread Casserole - CopyKat Recipes (12)
    Super easy and delicious meal! For the middle layer I just dumped all the meat, cheese, green chiles and corn in a bowl and mixed it all together since that was a little faster and easier and it came out great!

    Reply

  3. Jessica

    I would like to make this for a friend. Can this be prepared and put in the fridge to bake later?

    Reply

    • Stephanie Manley

      I don’t know that the corn bread mix would hold up well in the refrigerator. I would bake it first, then reheat it when you need it.

      Reply

« Older Comments

Leave a Reply

Mexican Cornbread Casserole - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How do you make cornbread not fall apart? ›

Avoid over-mixing the batter.

Cornbread batter should still be lumpy when you put it in the oven. If you are mixing it until it's smooth like cake batter, that could be the cause of your crumbly cornbread! Stop blending as soon as all the ingredients are mixed together.

Will an extra egg make cornbread less crumbly? ›

The extra egg which is increased protein and binder makes the cornbread denser and heavier in texture. Can I add flour to Jiffy cornbread to make more batter?

Why does my Jiffy cornbread fall apart? ›

Cornbread normally cracks on top, but if it is too extreme and falling apart there are a few options. Do not over mix ingredients. Stir until they are just moistened. Add an extra egg yolk, even if the recipe doesn't call for an egg.

Why is my corn bread so dry? ›

Don't overcook it. Over-cooking cornbread is possibly the number one reason why your cornbread is dry. Any type of bread, just like a good steak, should be taken out just before it is done and allowed to rest. Any type of food that is in the process of cooking, will continue to cook as it is cooling off.

What can I add to cornbread mix to make it better? ›

corn kernels (canned or frozen) chopped jalapeños and or canned mild green chilies, and cheddar cheese all make great additions to cornbread. You can use butter to give the cornbread a special kick to make it taste better. I have used butter to give the cornbread more flavor.

Should you let cornbread batter rest? ›

1Heat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Note: We recommend allowing cornbread batter to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before baking, so if you prefer, you can delay heating the oven until you make the batter. 2Melt the butter, and then set aside to cool slightly.

Can I use half and half in my cornbread instead of milk? ›

Cornbread FAQ

Yes, you can, but it may result in a less rich flavor. If you're out of milk, try using cream or half-and-half, evaporated or powdered milk, or even plain yogurt. If you have dietary restrictions, try soy milk or oat milk.

Can you put too many eggs in cornbread? ›

Eggs are responsible for giving baked goods structure, which means the amount you use directly affects the resulting texture. Using too few eggs will make your desserts dense, but using too many will make them rubbery. The explanation for this lies in the fact that eggs are made up of protein.

What are the black specks in Jiffy cornbread mix? ›

The black specks are simply naturally dark pieces of the pericarp (skin) of the corn, where the tip of the kernel attaches to the cob. The color of the specks will vary by crop and year. They are the same as those commonly seen in hard taco shells, corn or tortilla chips, cornmeal, and natural whole corn products.

Why wont my cornbread stay together? ›

generally speaking, cornbread is crumbly if there is too high a proportion of cornmeal to flour. you need the gluten in the flour to hold it together and also enough moisture. if it is too high in fat it will also be too tender and crumbly.

What does it mean when cornbread sinks in the middle? ›

While not a professional chef, my experience with corn bread, be it packaged or made from scratch is if you over mix it, it's gonna fall! Also, let it sit for 4-5 minutes after gently scraping it into the pan and let the ingredients start their magic reactions. No peeking while baking!! That can make it fall too.

What ingredients keep cornbread from being dry? ›

Now, if you want to get fancy, add buttermilk, sour cream, creamed corn, sour cream, add a liquid like oil, butter, corn syrup. (not all at once, mind, just enough to keep it moist.)

What is the best cornmeal for cornbread? ›

As for the best cornmeal for cornbread, either fine- or medium-grind cornmeal is a great choice. Medium-grind cornmeal will bring slightly more texture and grittiness to the batter, which you may or may not want (it's up to you!). You can use fine or medium cornmeal in these extra corny muffins.

How to make Jiffy cornbread that doesn t crumble? ›

  1. 1Put in an extra egg yolk. ...
  2. 2Cut back on fat or grease by one third. ...
  3. 3Replace white sugar with a moist sweetener. ...
  4. 4Add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) more butter or oil. ...
  5. 5Replace milk or water with creamed corn. ...
  6. 6Add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of sour cream.
Oct 29, 2021

Why did my cornbread split? ›

Unlike the dextrin starch in wheat, which has a more flexible chain structure, corn starch has a branching structure like a tree which is far less flexible. First the top sets then the expansion during the rise stretches it and it cracks. A little cracking in cornbread is just a fact of life.

Why did my cornbread collapse? ›

While not a professional chef, my experience with corn bread, be it packaged or made from scratch is if you over mix it, it's gonna fall! Also, let it sit for 4-5 minutes after gently scraping it into the pan and let the ingredients start their magic reactions. No peeking while baking!! That can make it fall too.

Should you soak cornmeal before making cornbread? ›

Soaking the cornmeal in buttermilk for a few hours, or even overnight, tenderizes the large grains of cornmeal, making the bread more moist and tender. This step is optional, however, and the bread is still delicious without the soaking step.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Sen. Emmett Berge

Last Updated:

Views: 5966

Rating: 5 / 5 (80 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Sen. Emmett Berge

Birthday: 1993-06-17

Address: 787 Elvis Divide, Port Brice, OH 24507-6802

Phone: +9779049645255

Job: Senior Healthcare Specialist

Hobby: Cycling, Model building, Kitesurfing, Origami, Lapidary, Dance, Basketball

Introduction: My name is Sen. Emmett Berge, I am a funny, vast, charming, courageous, enthusiastic, jolly, famous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.