What’s a better duo than chili and cornbread?! They are just natural companions, but let’s make it even easier to serve by baking them together. Yes, that’s right! I said it, let’s bake the cornbread on top of a delicious and hearty chili. Oh and while we’re at it, let’s just go for it and add cheese in the middle. I mean why not?! I know, I’m speechless too!

This is a recipe with homemade chili, but if you want to speed up the process or just don’t like cooking that much but want a WOW meal, use your favorite store bought chili! Don’t worry, I can keep your secret!! Go on and be great!

COrnbread Chili Skillet

Ingredients

• 1 ground beef

• 1 small onion, diced

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 cup bell peppers, chopped

• 1 - 15 ounce can chili beans

• 1 - 10 ounce can rotel

• 1 cup bloody Mary mix

• 3 - 8.5 ounce boxes corn muffin mix - I use Jiffy

• 1 cup milk

• 3 eggs

• 1 cup colby jack cheese, shredded

• Oil

Seasoning Mix

• 1 tbsp chili powder

• 1/2 tbsp cumin

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 1 tsp onion powder

• 1/2 tsp smokey paprika

• Salt & Pepper to taste

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375. In a 12 inch cast iron skillet over medium heat, add oil. Once oil is hot add ground beef to the pan, breaking it up as it cooks. When ground beef is cooked, add in onions, garlic, and peppers. Cook for about two minutes or until fragrant and translucent. Add in seasoning mix, stir until combined. Then pour in chili beans, rotel, and bloody mary mix. Stir together and continue to simmer for another 5 minutes

• Mix together corn muffin mix, milk and eggs until just combined. Remove chili from heat and sprinkle shredded cheese on top. Then spread corn muffin batter evenly over the top of the chili & cheese. Place in oven and bake for 30 - 35 minutes or until cornbread is cooked through. I find that the cornbread top starts to brown early, well before it is finished cooking, if this happens place a piece of aluminum foil sprayed with cooking oil over the top. Also be sure to put a baking sheet on the oven shelf below just in case of any bubbling over spills. The cast iron skillet will get full as it bakes

• Remove from oven, let set for about 10 - 15 minutes, and enjoy. Serve with sour cream, chives, and shredded cheese