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Easy Tex Mex Casserole

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This Easy Tex Mex Casserole has turned into a favorite meal. Flavorful ground beef topped with corn bread makes an easy casserole even the kids will love!

 

main image for recipe

 

This Easy Tex Mex Casserole recipe has turned into a favorite meal at our house! Flavorful ground beef topped with cornbread makes an easy casserole even the kids will love! It’s a tasty ground beef casserole topped with a sweet cornbread and packed with veggies and salsa-y goodness. 

The best thing about casseroles — and this tex mex casserole is no exception — is how versatile and adaptable they are. If you’re missing an ingredient, chances are you have something else that will substitute just fine! 

 

ground beef, onion, bell pepper, cumin and salt added to skillet.

 

Want to add extra protein to your meal? Add some beans. Want more spice? Throw in a can of diced green chiles or a chopped jalapeno! Need it more mild? Use tomato sauce instead of salsa.

Don’t have cornbread mix? Make your own (we recommend this Homemade Cornbread recipe)! 

Casseroles mean endless possibilities, combinations, and substitutions. So don’t be afraid to try this recipe! Whether you follow my instructions or tweak it and make it your own, I’m sure you and your family will love it! 

 

ground beef cooked with salsa and corn added in skillet

 

What makes a casserole a casserole? 

Casseroles are made throughout the world and have existed in some form for millennia; though the casserole as we know it is more recently traced to the late 1800’s. 

A casserole typically contains a protein, vegetables, and a binding sauce or starch. Many tend to have cheese as well. There’s a lot of wiggle room within these parameters to make any number of unique casseroles. 

 

cooked ground beef and corn mixture added to 9x9 casserole dish.

 

What do you need to make Tex Mex Casserole?

To make this tasty ground beef cornbread casserole, you’ll need the following ingredients: 

  • Ground beef – this is the protein in your casserole. If ground beef isn’t your thing, you can substitute another protein. Black beans for a vegetarian or vegan variation, rotisserie chicken, leftover turkey meat, or pork are all great options! 
  • Onion – diced onion adds nutrition and flavor to your recipe. 
  • Green bell pepper – another vegetable component in your casserole. For more spice, you can substitute poblanos or jalapenos. Any color of bell pepper will also work great! 
  • Cumin – something I learned recently — make sure you have a decent cumin, or it can make your flavors wonky! McCormick has you covered. The $1 Great Value cumin … not so much. 
  • Salsa – you can use whatever you prefer! This is the binding sauce in the casserole recipe. Use green, red, hot, mild — make it your own! (I used a corn and black bean salsa – hence the black beans in the photos).
  • Canned corn you can also use frozen! 
  • Cornbread mix – Jiffy works, but I find that Famous Daves brand is our favorite store bought corn bread.  If you want to make your own cornbread, our homemade version is great!  

 

Cornbread mixture in a bowl, ready to be blended.

 

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How do you make Tex Mex Casserole? 

This hamburger cornbread casserole is so easy to make! That’s the nature of casseroles, right? Simplicity, great flavor, and tastes like home. 

To make this easy Tex Mex Casserole recipe you’ll need to follow 4 simple steps.

  1.  Cook your beef and vegetables 
  2. Whip up your cornbread
  3. Assemble.  Meat on the bottom of your dish and cornbread poured over the top!
  4. Bake!  Once baked, simply serve and enjoy!

 

Cornbread mixture poured over ground beef mixture in casserole dish

 

What goes with Tex Mex Casserole?

One of the many great things about casseroles is they’re pretty much an entire meal in one dish. In this Tex Mex Casserole recipe, you have your protein, vegetables, and grains all covered! But if you want to add more variety to your meal, I recommend the following recipes and ideas: 

 

single portion removed from casserole

 

Can I make Tex Mex Casserole ahead of time? 

Yes, you can make Tex Mex Casserole ahead of time! Simply prepare as directed and refrigerate for up to 12 hours if you’re planning to cook it later that day. 

Another option is to prepare the ground beef filling FAR ahead of time. You can freeze the filling for up to 3 months in a zipper freezer bag or other airtight container. DO NOT prepare and freeze the cornbread mix. 

When you’re ready to prepare your Tex Mex casserole, thaw the ground beef mixture in the fridge for 12-24 hours. If you forget to pull it out of the freezer (it happens to all of us!), run the bag under warm water until you can loosen the contents enough to remove.  

Place the filling in a 9×9 casserole dish. NOW you can prepare the cornbread mix. Top the thawed ground beef mixture with your prepared cornbread mix and cook for 20-25 minutes in the preheated oven. If your mixture is still a little frozen, you’ll probably need the full 25 minutes or perhaps even a little longer. After 25 minutes, keep an eye on the casserole so you don’t overcook the cornbread. 

 

fork holding up a single portion with plate full on plate.

 

More Ground Beef Recipes You’ll Love…

I’m certain you’ll enjoy this Easy Tex Mex Casserole. Not only for its simplicity and versatility, but above all for its fantastic flavor and crowd-pleasing taste! Casseroles are a great comfort food and easy meal to make on a busy weeknight or for friends or family needing a little extra help. Enjoy! 

 

Yield: 6 Servings

Easy Tex Mex Casserole

fork holding up a single portion with plate full on plate.

This Easy Tex Mex Casserole has turned into a favorite meal. Flavorful ground beef topped with corn bread makes an easy casserole even the kids will love!

Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup salsa (I used a corn and black bean salsa - hence the black beans in the photos)
  • 1 (15.25 ounce) can corn, drained
  • 1 (8 ounce) corn bread mix

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400*F
  2. In a skillet cook ground beef, onion, bell pepper, cumin & salt until ground beef is cooked through and onions are translucent.
  3. Add salsa & corn to ground beef mixture and cook for additional 10 minutes.
  4. Pour mixture into a 9x9 casserole dish.
  5. Prepare muffin mix according to package directions and spread on top of ground beef mixture.
  6. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until corn bread is cooked through and golden on top.
  7. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 261Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 67mgSodium: 578mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 23g

Recipe adapted from my friend Diane Millar

Originally Posted: May 24, 2016

Photos & Text Update: March 3, 2021

 

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Lisa

Saturday 23rd of September 2023

I made this again last night but changed it up by using ground chuck instead of lean ground, and added fresh salsa (instead of regular bottled variety), made my favorite cornbread recipe (we don't get box mixes in Canada anyway) and swap out cumin and salt for taco seasoning. Amazingly awesome. Husband said he was only taking 1 serving but went back for more because 'it is too da#n good '. Thanks for sharing!

Janelle

Thursday 28th of September 2023

Thanks for your kind comment Lisa! Love all your changes and I'm sure others will too! Thanks for sharing.

Pam

Wednesday 13th of September 2023

I added shredded Sharp cheddar cheese on top of burger mixture and added some corn and shredded Mexican blend to muffin mix.. delicious

Janelle

Friday 22nd of September 2023

Sounds delicious Pam! Thanks for the tip!

Alyssa

Thursday 24th of August 2023

Loved this! I added jalapeño juice minced garlic, chili powder and a little more cumin (great value 😂). I used green onion instead because that’s all I had. I also added pinto beans and used rotel for my salsa. Thank you for this recipe. It was fun to play around with and so tasty!

Janelle

Saturday 30th of September 2023

Love all your changes Alyssa! Love all the suggestions. Thanks for sharing!

Lynn

Monday 17th of July 2023

This is the second time I've made this dish and the only adjustment I made was adding about 2/3 of a 16-oz can of tomato sauce because last time it was a little dry. Delicious!

Janelle

Saturday 30th of September 2023

Great tip Lynn! Thanks for sharing!

Melissa

Sunday 25th of June 2023

Made this for dinner tonight. Busy mom of two so I cooked everything in a cast iron skillet and just put the corn bread right on top. Saves a dish to wash! Love easy and delicious meals!

Janelle

Saturday 30th of September 2023

Great idea Melissa! Thanks for sharing I'm sure others will love your tip too!

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