The Easiest Jiffy Mexican Cornbread Casserole

Are you looking for the ultimate easy, cheesy, and satisfying one-pan dinner that the whole family will love? Then you absolutely have to try this Mexican Cornbread Casserole.

This recipe is a classic for a reason—it’s incredibly simple to make, uses budget-friendly pantry staples, and tastes amazing.

This dish is the perfect marriage of savory and sweet. We’ll start by creating a quick and flavorful taco-seasoned ground beef and bean filling.

Then, for the ultimate easy shortcut, we’ll top it with a simple batter made from a box of Jiffy cornbread mix.

As it bakes, the filling gets hot and bubbly, while the Jiffy mix bakes into a tender, sweet, and golden-brown cornbread topping. It’s a complete and hearty meal all in one dish.

This is a true weeknight hero that delivers big on comfort food flavor with minimal effort. Let’s get baking!

Essential Tools

• 10-inch Oven-Safe Skillet (Cast-Iron is perfect) or an 8×8 inch Baking Dish
• Large Skillet (if not using an oven-safe one)
• Medium Mixing Bowl
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula
• Whisk

Quick Recipe Snapshot

Here’s a quick look at the timeline for this incredibly easy and crowd-pleasing one-pan meal.

Ingredients

This simple recipe uses a box of Jiffy mix as a fantastic shortcut for a delicious and easy meal.

For the Savory Beef Filling:

• Lean Ground Beef: 1 lb.
• Onion: 1, chopped.
• Taco Seasoning: 1 (1 oz) packet.
• Diced Tomatoes with Green Chiles: 1 (10 oz) can, undrained (like Ro-Tel).
• Black or Pinto Beans: 1 (15 oz) can, rinsed and drained.
• Corn: 1 (15 oz) can, drained.
• Shredded Cheddar or Mexican Blend Cheese: 1 cup.

For the Jiffy Cornbread Topping:

• Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix: 1 (8.5 oz) box.
• Egg: 1.
• Milk: ⅓ cup.

The Flavor Architects A Look at the Ingredients

• Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix: This is the ultimate shortcut and the star of the topping. This classic mix provides the perfect balance of cornmeal, flour, leavening, and sweetness, guaranteeing a tender, golden, and slightly sweet cornbread topping every time.
• Ground Beef & Taco Seasoning: The ground beef provides a hearty, savory base, while the taco seasoning is a fantastic shortcut that instantly infuses the filling with a warm and familiar blend of chili powder, cumin, and other spices.
• Tomatoes with Green Chiles: Using a can of tomatoes with green chiles is a great trick. It provides the liquid for the filling, a tangy tomato flavor, and a mild, zesty heat all in one easy ingredient.
• Cheddar Cheese: Stirred directly into the filling, the cheese melts as the casserole bakes, making the savory layer wonderfully gooey and rich, which is a perfect contrast to the sweet cornbread on top.

Cooking Instructions

This crowd-pleasing dinner is a simple two-part process: make the filling on the stove, top it with the Jiffy batter, and bake it all in one pan.

Step 1: Create the Savory Filling

First, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). In a large, 10-inch oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef with the chopped onion, breaking the meat apart with a spoon.

Once the beef is browned and the onion is soft, it is very important to drain all of the excess grease from the skillet. Return the skillet to the heat and stir in the taco seasoning packet until the meat is well coated.

Step 2: Simmer the Filling

To the skillet with the seasoned beef, stir in the rinsed and drained beans, the drained corn, and the entire can of diced tomatoes with green chiles. Let the mixture come to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring, until everything is heated through.

Turn off the heat and stir in the 1 cup of shredded cheese until it’s melted and combined. If you are not using an oven-safe skillet, you can transfer this filling to a greased 8×8 inch baking dish at this stage.

Step 3: Prepare and Add the Jiffy Topping

In a medium mixing bowl, prepare your simple cornbread topping. Whisk together the egg and the milk. Add the entire box of Jiffy corn muffin mix to the wet ingredients.

Stir with a spoon just until the mixture is moistened. It is very important not to overmix the batter; a few lumps are perfectly okay and are the secret to a tender cornbread.

Step 4: Bake to Golden Perfection

Carefully pour the Jiffy cornbread batter evenly over the top of the hot beef filling in your skillet or baking dish. Use a spatula to gently spread it out to the edges.

Place the skillet or baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. The casserole is done when the cornbread topping is a deep golden-brown and a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the cornbread center comes out clean.

Let the casserole cool for 5-10 minutes before scooping and serving.

Recipe Variations

This versatile casserole is a perfect template for your own favorite flavors.

• Make it Spicy: For a spicier version, use a “hot” taco seasoning, add a finely diced jalapeño to the beef and onion mixture, or stir a can of hot green chiles into the cornbread batter.
• Different Proteins: This recipe works wonderfully with a pound of ground turkey or even shredded rotisserie chicken instead of the ground beef.
• Cheesy Cornbread: For an extra cheesy casserole, you can stir ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese directly into the Jiffy cornbread batter before pouring it over the filling.

Serving Suggestions

This is a hearty all-in-one meal that is perfect served in a bowl on its own.

• Classic Toppings: The best way to serve this is with a generous dollop of cool sour cream and a sprinkle of fresh chopped cilantro or sliced scallions on top.
• Fresh Side: While it’s very hearty, a simple side of sliced avocado or a quick green salad with a lime vinaigrette can add a nice, fresh contrast.
• Salsa: A little of your favorite salsa on the side is always a good idea for extra flavor.

Storage & Reheating Tips

Leftovers of this casserole are fantastic, and the cornbread topping stays surprisingly moist.

• Storage: Let the casserole cool completely. Cover the skillet or baking dish tightly with foil or transfer leftovers to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Reheating: Reheat individual portions in the microwave until hot. The cornbread topping will soften upon reheating but will still be delicious and moist.

Common Mistakes & Fixes

FAQs

Can I assemble this casserole ahead of time?

It is not recommended to fully assemble this casserole ahead of time, as the raw cornbread batter will not sit well on top of the filling for an extended period and may not rise properly.

However, you can prepare the entire beef filling a day in advance and store it in the fridge. Then, just before baking, reheat the filling, mix your Jiffy batter, and assemble.

Can I make this a vegetarian casserole?

Yes, this is very easy to make vegetarian. Simply omit the ground beef and add an extra can of beans (like pinto beans) to the filling.

You could also add a cup of sautéed mushrooms for an extra “meaty” texture.

I don’t have an oven-safe skillet. What should I use?

If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, you can simply prepare the beef filling in a regular skillet on the stovetop.

Then, transfer the hot filling to a greased 8×8 inch or 9×9 inch square baking dish, top with the Jiffy batter, and bake as directed.

Enjoy Your Ultimate Comfort Food Casserole!

You are now ready to make a delicious Mexican cornbread casserole with Jiffy that is sure to become a family favorite.

It’s the perfect one-pan solution for a hearty, comforting, and incredibly flavorful weeknight dinner. I hope you love every single scoop of this savory, cheesy, and sweet dish!