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BBQ Ground Beef Cornbread Casserole

A ground beef casserole with a barbecue and baked bean filling, sharp cheddar cheese, and a scratch-made buttermilk cornbread crust.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 579 kcal
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces (about 8 strips) uncooked bacon, chopped
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 green bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
  • ½ of a small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced or pressed
  • 1 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1 (16 ounce) can baked beans
  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 ½ cups buttermilk, well shaken
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cups self-rising cornmeal mix, NOT plain cornmeal (I prefer White Lily brand)
  • 2 tablespoons sugar

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 2 ½ - 3-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
  2. Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 7-10 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve about 1 tablespoon of bacon drippings in the skillet; discard the rest.
  3. Using the same skillet, cook the ground beef, bell pepper, and onion in the reserved bacon drippings over medium-high heat until the meat is no longer pink. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Drain off excess grease. Stir in bbq sauce, baked beans, and cooked bacon. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until hot and bubbly, about 3-5 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, oil, and egg. Add the self-rising cornmeal mix and sugar. Stir just until combined. Spread the cornbread batter over the top of the cheese and warm beef mixture.
  5. Bake, uncovered, until the top is golden brown and cooked through, about 35-40 minutes.

Notes

  • Make sure that you’re using self-rising cornmeal mix — not plain cornmeal. The self-rising mix includes some flour, salt, and leavening agents in addition to the cornmeal.
  • Use a 10-inch cast iron skillet to cook the ground beef filling. Add the cornbread batter on top, and transfer the skillet to the oven. This gives you one less dish to wash at the end, since you don't need the casserole dish.
  • Adjust the seasoning to suit your taste preferences. For instance, you might like to add cayenne to make it spicy, or a dash of cumin for a smokier flavor.
  • Garnish the casserole with your favorite fresh toppings. Good options include fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped green onions or minced red onion, grated cheese, sour cream, diced avocado or guacamole, halved cherry tomatoes, or sliced black olives.
  • Insert a toothpick in the center of your casserole to make sure that the cornbread crust is completely cooked through before removing the dish from the oven. You shouldn’t see any wet batter on the toothpick.
  • If the top of your casserole starts to get too dark before the cornbread is cooked through, tent the top of the dish loosely with foil for the remaining baking time.
  • Cooking for a larger family? Double all of the ingredients and bake the casserole in a 9 x 13-inch dish. You’ll need to increase the total baking time by a few minutes.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1/8 of the casserole Calories 579kcal (29%) Carbohydrates 65g (22%) Protein 28g (56%) Fat 23g (35%) Saturated Fat 9g (45%) Polyunsaturated Fat 3g Monounsaturated Fat 9g Trans Fat 0.2g Cholesterol 100mg (33%) Sodium 1538mg (64%) Potassium 721mg (21%) Fiber 7g (28%) Sugar 18g (36%) Vitamin A 517IU (10%) Vitamin C 14mg (16%) Calcium 335mg (34%) Iron 5mg (28%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 579

% Daily Value*

Serving 1/8 of the casserole
Calories 579kcal 29%
Carbohydrates 65g 22%
Protein 28g 56%
Fat 23g 35%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g 18%
Monounsaturated Fat 9g 45%
Trans Fat 0.2g 10%
Cholesterol 100mg 33%
Sodium 1538mg 64%
Potassium 721mg 15%
Fiber 7g 28%
Sugar 18g 36%
Vitamin A 517IU 10%
Vitamin C 14mg 16%
Calcium 335mg 34%
Iron 5mg 28%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.