Chili Cornbread Pot Pies

Hearty beef chili is topped with a slightly sweet homemade cornbread mix, then baked to perfection to make individual Chili Cornbread Pot Pies. Perfect for a cold winter evening, this recipe combines two well-loved chilly weather favorites: chili and cornbread.

Overhead view of bowl of chili on top of napkin with spoon

Close up of bowls of chili on napkins with spoons

My promises to you, my dear readers, for this new year:

To create a good balance of the good-for-you and not-so-good-for-you recipes.

Not to call a not-so-good-for-you recipe “healthy.” (Please someone tell me I’m not the only one who gets annoyed when she sees a recipe for a healthy version of a dessert and clicks over to find it’s actually NOT healthy at all.)

To create some fun, new and exciting recipes.

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    To continue to tell silly stories and laugh at myself daily.

    To have a good time as I create dishes to serve and in life, and to inspire you to have a good time in your kitchen, too!

    Love chili? Here are some of our favorites: Texas ChiliChili Cheese BiscuitsShiner Bock ChiliBeef and Buffalo Chili

    Close up of cornbread sitting on top of bowl of chili

    I kiiiiiind of feel like a politician making promises in this here first recipe post of 2016, but I really wanted to get those off my chest, y’all.

    I realize not everyone thinks the same way as I do about those aforementioned bullet points, but I hope we can all agree on having enjoying ourselves in life, as well as in the kitchen.

    That’s something we should all resolve to do in 2016, right?

    Right.

    Bowl of chili cornbread pot pie with spoon

    These here individual Chili Cornbread Pot Pies… they’re on the less-than-healthy side of the spectrum, but they feature several vegetables and a tomato-based sauce, so it’s not like this recipe is akin to cake for dinner.

    They are a super comforting weeknight meal, and since you make several individual pot pies, this meal can last you a little while, assuming you aren’t feeding a family of six. Our family of three — with my husband and me eating these pot pies and our daughter staring at us in envy because we thought she was too young at the time — enjoyed these for three nights in a row.

    The chili has a little kick. The cornbread has a little sweetness. And the balance is absolutely divine, especially since I love to crumble fresh cornbread into my chili whenever given the option.

    And while these pot pies might not be the prettiest things you’ve ever seen, I promise they’re delicious. Here’s how you can make your own:

    Spoonful of chili from a bowl of chili cornbread pot pie

    Spoonful of chili from a bowl of chili cornbread pot pie
    Yield: 6 servings

    Chili Cornbread Pot Pies

    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour

    Hearty beef chili is topped with a slightly sweet homemade cornbread mix, then baked to perfection to make individual Chili Cornbread Pot Pies. Perfect for a cold winter evening, this recipe combines two well-loved chilly weather favorites: chili and cornbread.

    Ingredients

    Quick Beef Chili

    • 1 ½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • 2 large onions, chopped
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 2 heaping teaspoons chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 lb. ground beef (85% lean)
    • 12 oz. beer
    • 28 oz. whole peeled tomatoes with their juices
    • 1 cup low-sodium chicken stock
    • 15 oz. black beans, rinsed and drained

    Quick Cornbread Mix

    • ½ cup stoneground yellow cornmeal
    • ½ cup unbleached all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
    • 4 tablespoons honey
    • 1 egg
    • ½ cup milk

    Instructions

    Prepare the Chili

    1. Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
    2. Add the onion, garlic, salt, chili powder and oregano and cook, stirring frequently until softened.
    3. Stir in the tomato paste, and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
    4. Add the beef, breaking it up with a wooden spook, and cook until the meat loses its raw color.
    5. Add the beer and simmer until reduced by half.
    6. Add the tomatoes to the chili by mincing them, then adding to the juices to the Dutch oven.
    7. Add the broth and the beans to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil.
    8. Cook, uncovered, until thickened.

    Make the Cornbread Mix

    1. In a large glass bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
    2. Melt the butter in the microwave. Once melted, measure in the honey. Stir until combined.
    3. Add the egg to the mix, breaking the yolk with a fork and beating into the honey/butter combination.
    4. Measure in the milk, and stir until well combined.

    Make the pot pies

    1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place individual baking ramekins on a baking sheet.
    2. Carefully spoon the warm chili into individual baking ramekins, leaving 1" or so on top to add the cornbread mixture.
    3. When all the chili has been measured out, dollop the cornbread on top of the chili in the ramekins. Repeat until the cornbread mixture is evenly distributed.
    4. Transfer the baking sheet with the ramekins into the preheated oven.
    5. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until the cornbread has browned slightly and cooked through.
    6. Enjoy warm!

    Notes

    These individual pot pies can be made in a large baking dish, too, if you'd rather. The baking time might take a little longer since the cornbread is going to spread over a larger area, so plan to bake 25-30 minutes or a little longer.

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    Do you like chili in your cornbread?

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    About the Author:

    Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her

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    5 Comments

    1. These are so adorable and fun! I love this concept. I do the same with “pizza” and it makes eating foods so much more fun when you switch them up like this. Yum!

    2. This is such a fun idea! I absolutely love corn bread, so this is a must try for me 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

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