Turkey Chili Cornbread Bake

Apr 25

Apr 25 Turkey Chili Cornbread Bake

We made it to the last week of January! And that means it’s almost Superbowl Sunday! Okay, okay, I know you know I’m not a football fan. But it wouldn’t be February without the Superbowl, so of course I’m menu-planning. There’s something I find so fun about a themed meal. It’s probably the way it makes an otherwise mundane day feel celebratory, so I’ll really take any excuse. Even football. No offense to football fans, of course! It’s just not in my blood.

In any case, the one food I always associate with football is chili. I usually make a big pot and simmer it in the slow cooker the night before, then prep biscuits to bake the morning of. But that was before I started making this Turkey Chili Cornbread Bake! Full disclosure, I didn’t write this recipe; I stumbled upon it while watching the Today Show and decided to give it a try. It’s nothing fancy and it’s exactly what it sounds like—turkey chili topped with cheesy cornbread that bakes in the oven until golden brown—and I’m perfectly okay with that! Anything that helps me cut down on time in the kitchen so I can continue chasing my toddler around the house—err…watch more football—works for me.

by Francis Anthony

Serves: 4-6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

Nonstick cooking spray
2 tablespoons olive oil
1½ pounds ground lean turkey
½ cup chopped onions
Two 10-ounce cans diced tomatoes with green chilis, drained
One 15-ounce can black beans, drained
One 1¼-ounce package taco seasoning mix
1 cup corn meal, self-rising
1/8 teaspoon cumin
¾ cup milk
1 large egg
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
1 cup shredded cheese
Pickled jalapeños and sour cream for serving

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray an 8- by 8-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey onions and cook until well browned. Drain any excess fat from the skillet and add the tomatoes, beans and taco seasoning mix. Simmer for 5 minutes. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.

In a mixing bowl combine the corn meal, cumin, milk, oil, egg and cilantro, and blend well. Stir in the cheese and pour the mixture over ground turkey mixture in the baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes.