This Cowboy Cornbread Casserole is a hearty, one-pan dish packed with savory beans, smoky bacon, and a sweet, fluffy cornbread topping. Perfect for cozy family dinners or gatherings—easy to make, totally satisfying, and bursting with flavor!
😍Why You'll Love This Cowboy Cornbread Casserole
This cornbread casserole is everything you want in a meal—hearty, flavorful, and ridiculously easy to make. The combination of smoky bacon, savory beef, and saucy beans topped with sweet, cheesy cornbread is pure comfort in every bite. It’s a one-pan wonder that works for busy weeknights, potlucks, or anytime you want a dish that’s guaranteed to impress.
If you’re into big, bold flavors, you’ve got to check out Cowboy Butter or Cowboy Mushrooms—they’re both so good!
✅Ingredient Notes
- Ground Beef: Use lean ground beef to minimize excess grease. Drain any fat after cooking for a cleaner dish.
- Yellow Onion: Dice finely for even cooking. A medium onion gives about 1 cup diced.
- Green Bell Pepper: Adds texture and balance. You can swap with red, yellow, or orange bell pepper for variety.
- Garlic Powder & Onion Powder: Use these to season the beef. Adjust based on personal preference.
- Bacon: Cook until crispy for the best texture.
- Kidney or Pinto Beans: Drain and rinse well before using to remove excess starch or salt. Canned beans make this recipe quicker and easier.
- Rotel: If it isn’t available, you can use a can of diced tomatoes and add diced green chilies to mimic the flavor.
- Barbecue Sauce: Use your favorite brand for the best flavor. A smoky or sweet variety works well.
- Dijon Mustard: Adds depth. Regular yellow mustard can be used if Dijon isn’t available.
- Cornmeal & Flour: Use a 1:1 ratio for the perfect texture. Don’t substitute self-rising flour, as it may alter the results.
- Granulated Sugar: Adjust the amount to taste.
- Baking Powder: Make sure it’s fresh.
- Milk & Eggs: Ensure they’re at room temperature for smoother mixing and even baking.
- Butter: Melt and cool slightly before mixing it into the batter.
- Cheddar Cheese: Mild cheddar melts beautifully, but you can use sharp cheddar for a stronger flavor.
🔪How to Make Cowboy Cornbread Casserole
Cook the Beans: Brown the ground beef with the onion, bell pepper, and seasonings in an oven-safe skillet. Drain grease, then stir in the bacon, beans, barbecue sauce, and Dijon mustard.
Make the Cornbread: Whisk dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients in another.
Combine gently, then fold in the cheddar cheese.
Assemble and Bake: Spread the cornbread batter over the beans and bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes until golden and set.
🥗Serving Suggestions
- Fresh Salad: Pair it with Cucumber and Tomato Salad or coleslaw to add a refreshing balance to the hearty casserole.
- Pickled Veggies: Serve with pickled jalapeños or cucumbers for a tangy kick.
- Sour Cream: A dollop of sour cream on top adds creaminess and a touch of tang.
- Hot Sauce: Drizzle with your favorite hot sauce for extra spice.
- Corn on the Cob: A side of buttered corn on the cob complements the flavors perfectly.
- Guacamole or Avocado Slices: Add a creamy, fresh element with sliced avocado or a scoop of guacamole.
- Bread and Butter: For an extra comforting meal, serve with warm bread or rolls.
🗄️Storage and Reheating
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, cover the casserole with foil and warm it in the oven at 350°F until heated through. For a quicker option, microwave individual portions.
More Delicious Casserole Recipes
If you make this recipe be sure to leave a comment or give this recipe a rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! I will be happy to hear from you!
Cornbread Cowboy Casserole
Ingredients
Cowboy Beans
- 1.5 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion diced (approximately 1 cup)
- 1 green bell pepper diced (approximately 1 cup)
- ½ teaspoon EACH: garlic powder and onion powder
- Salt as needed
- 10 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1 can 28 ounces kidney beans or pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 10 oz. can Rotel drained
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Cornbread
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup whole milk room temperature
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 cup mild cheddar cheese shredded
- Parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F.
- Cook the Cowboy Beans: Heat a large (12-inch ) oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, diced onion, green bell pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beef is browned and fully cooked.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and drain any excess grease.
- Stir in the cooked bacon crumbles, beans, Rotel, barbecue sauce, and Dijon mustard. Mix everything until well combined.
- Make the Cornbread Topping: In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the milk, eggs, and melted butter until smooth.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
- Fold in the shredded cheddar cheese.
- Assemble and Bake: Carefully pour the cornbread batter over the bean mixture in the skillet, spreading it out evenly to cover the beans completely.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the cornbread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Serve: Garnish with chopped parsley and serve hot.
- Pro Tip: If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, transfer the bean mixture to a 9-13-inch baking dish before adding the cornbread topping.
Notes
Nutrition
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Rebecca says
I wasn't sure how the flavors would come together, but wow, this was comfort food at its finest! The cornbread topping was perfectly fluffy, and the filling underneath was hearty and packed with flavor. My whole family loved it, and it's already been requested again!
Tatiana says
I'm so happy to hear your family enjoyed it! There's nothing like a warm, comforting casserole to bring everyone to the table. Thanks for trying it out!