Description
A hearty and comforting Chili-Stuffed Cornbread recipe combining a flavorful ground beef chili with a moist, cheesy cornbread baked into one delicious dish. Perfect for a satisfying meal with layers of chili, cheddar cheese, and tender cornbread.
Ingredients
Scale
Chili
- 1 tbsp. neutral oil
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 jalapeño, ribs and seeds removed, finely chopped (optional)
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 lb. ground beef
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp. chili seasoning
- 1 tsp. ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 2 tbsp. tomato paste
- 1 (15.5-oz.) can pinto beans, drained, rinsed
- 1 (10-oz.) can diced tomatoes with mild green chiles
- 1 tsp. beef stock concentrate (such as Better Than Bouillon)
Cornbread
- 1/2 c. (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 2 c. (240 g.) all-purpose flour
- 2 c. yellow cornmeal
- 2 tbsp. granulated sugar
- 4 tsp. baking powder
- 2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 4 large eggs, beaten to blend
- 3 c. buttermilk
- 2 c. shredded cheddar, divided
- Sour cream, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare chili: In a large pot over medium heat, heat neutral oil. Cook finely chopped onion and jalapeño (if using), stirring occasionally, until softened, about 7 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute more.
- Brown meat: Add ground beef to the pot; generously season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 6 minutes. Drain any excess fat if necessary.
- Season chili: Stir in chili seasoning, ground cumin, and garlic powder. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until it turns brick red in color, about 1 minute.
- Simmer chili: Add drained pinto beans, diced tomatoes with mild green chiles, and beef stock concentrate to the pot. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 8 to 10 minutes. Taste and adjust salt as needed. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Preheat oven and prepare butter: Arrange oven rack in the bottom third of the oven and preheat to 375°F (190°C). Place unsalted butter in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish and put it in the oven to melt while preheating.
- Mix dry ingredients for cornbread: In a large bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, yellow cornmeal, granulated sugar, baking powder, kosher salt, and baking soda until well combined.
- Combine wet ingredients and melted butter: Add beaten eggs and buttermilk to the dry ingredients and whisk gently to combine. It’s okay if the batter has some small lumps; avoid overmixing. Carefully pour melted butter from the warm baking dish into the batter and stir to combine.
- Assemble the dish: Pour about two-thirds of the cornbread batter evenly into the bottom of the preheated baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the batter. Evenly spread the chili on top, leaving about a 1/2-inch border around the edges. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup of cheddar over the chili. Pour the remaining cornbread batter on top and gently spread to form an even layer.
- Bake cornbread: Bake the assembled dish in the preheated oven until the top is golden brown, about 25 minutes. Then cover loosely with foil and continue baking until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 10 to 15 minutes more.
- Rest and serve: Let the chili-stuffed cornbread cool in the dish for 10 minutes before serving. Dollop with sour cream as desired and enjoy.
Notes
- Jalapeño is optional and can be omitted for less heat or added for extra spice.
- Using beef stock concentrate enhances the chili depth of flavor but can be substituted with beef broth if needed.
- Do not overmix the cornbread batter to ensure a tender crumb.
- Make sure the butter is fully melted in the baking dish before adding the batter for even distribution of fat.
- The dish can be served with extra sour cream or garnished with fresh herbs like cilantro for added freshness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Chili Stuffed Cornbread, One Dish Meal, Ground Beef Chili, Cheesy Cornbread, Comfort Food
