You can either use leftover chili to make this Chili Cornbread Casserole or you can quick fry up some ground beef and add beans and tomatoes to make this leftover chili cornbread casserole. It’s a warm and hearty meal.
These past couple days have been cool and rainy so I’ve been on a hearty warm soup kick. (You don’t have to twist my arm to make soup, I’ll make it just about any day that isn’t over 90 degrees.) We had some leftover chili and I threw this casserole together.
I’ve been working on perfecting this leftover chili cornbread casserole the past couple weeks. I’ve used leftover chili and I’ve also thrown together a quick chili recipe and topped with homemade cornbread. I’ve put instructions for how to use leftover chili or make your own in the recipe. Take your pick.
What to do with leftover chili
This chili cornbread casserole is quick becoming my favorite thing way to use up leftover chili. Here are some of my other favorite ways to use up a good chili. I’d love to try your favorites too! Let me know in the comments how you use it up.
- Make Chili Cheese Dogs – Serve warm over hot dogs in buns and top with cheese. This was a pregnancy craving for me.
- Serve over baked potatoes – If I have leftover sloppy joes or chili, I heat them up and serve on top of baked potatoes with cheese and sour cream.
- Use it as a nacho topping – Spread tortilla chips on a large cookie sheet, top with chili and cheese and bake until cheese is melted
- Chili Mac and Cheese – Heat the chili on the stove, throw in some cooked macaroni, add a generous helping of shredded cheese and sour cream and stir until melted. Yum!
How to make leftover chili cornbread casserole
Making chili cornbread casserole is super easy if you have leftover chili. Just heat it up in a pan and while it’s warming on the stove, throw together a simple cornbread batter. If you don’t have leftover chili, you can whip some up using the recipe below in about 25 minutes. Of course it will taste better the longer it simmers, but it will do in a pinch.
Simply brown the ground beef and onion, then add tomatoes and kidney beans. We like a full can of beans, but feel free to use less if it is too many for you. Last add some salt, spices, and beef broth. Simmer a few minutes to let the flavors blend.
The cornbread recipe is a simple one originally from Betty Crocker. Whisk the wet ingredients and gently fold in the dry ingredients. Gently spoon the cornbread batter over the warm chili in a deep casserole dish. Add cheese if desired. I didn’t add any this time, but it would be great. Bake and serve.
For more great chili-style dinner ideas, add this Hearty Taco Soup to your meal plan. The Big Picnic Taco Salad is always a hit as well.
Leftover Chili Cornbread Casserole
Ingredients
For the Chili
- Use 2 quarts leftover chili OR use the recipe below
- 3/4 pound ground beef
- 1/2 small onion diced
- 1 14 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 14 ounce can diced tomatoes
- 1 14 ounce can kidney beans, rinsed and drained. (this is a lot of kidney beans, feel free to use less or omit if desired.)
- 1-2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/2 cup beef broth
For the cornbread
- 1/4 cup butter melted
- 1 cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/4 cups cornmeal
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 ounces cheddar cheese shredded, if desired
- Sour cream for serving
Instructions
- If you are using leftover chili, warm it up in a pan on the stove until bubbly. Otherwise, brown the ground beef in a large pot with the onion. Drain grease. Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes (undrained), and kidney beans. Stir in chili powder, cumin, salt, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce and beef broth. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 mins.
- Preheat oven to 350 F. To make the cornbread. Whisk together the melted butter, milk and egg in a large bowl. Gently stir in the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt just until combined.
- Pour the warm chili into a deep 9 x 13 inch casserole dish. Top with shredded cheese, if desired. Spoon the cornbread batter over the top. Bake in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until cornbread is done and springs back when touched.
- Serve warm with sour cream if desired.
Nutrition
If you’re looking for another way to use leftovers, try my leftover beef pot roast pot pie. This cornbread with whipped maple butter is perfect to serve with chili the first time around.
Kristen Chidsey says
One of my all time favorite ways to use up leftover chili. So good!
Liz says
What a great idea to use up leftover chili! My family loves chili, but my recipe makes a lot, this is perfect!
Erica lowery says
Put American cheese on top the chili and then put the cornbread down it is great is it more flavor and we add a can of corn for chili
Sabrina says
Always great to have options for when you’ve made too much and need to switch it up!
Katerina @ diethood .com says
My family would LOVE this! Looks so hearty and delicious!!
Michael Wurm Jr says
I’m all about this recipe. Such a great idea and so delicious!
xo Michael
Thomas W Foote says
All my cornbread sunk to the bottom of the chili
Katjha says
This recipe is great – and it really is three recipes in one! Our left over chili was the perfect amount for this recipe. We enjoyed this meal on a freezing cold Michigan night, and it was simply perfect.
Emily says
My cornbread came out uncooked in the middle, so I baked it for what turned into another half hour. Now the sides are about to burn and the middle is still uncooked. Any suggestions?
Mallory says
It sounds like your oven may run a hot. Have you checked the temperature with another thermometer. Also, using a dark coated pan can contribute to the problem.
Saundra says
Make Frito Corn chip pie. Warm up chilli in a pot. Place a good amount of chips in a bowl put chilli on top. Dress it up with cheese, chopped green onions, sour cream and jalapeno peppers. Any thing you like.
Erica lowery says
I make my chili and the next day I make this cornbread chili casserole but I lay down American cheese before I put the cornbread on top and it is the bomb everybody in my family loves it
Mallory says
That sounds amazing! Thanks for the tip!