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Skillet Chili with Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread Crust — serving inspiration
Illustrative serving idea.

Kitchen notes · a little help before you start

Skillet Chili with Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread Crust

A golden cornbread crust gives this skillet chili a very inviting lid to break through. There's cheddar and jalapeno in the topping, with savory chili waiting underneath. Scoop down through both layers so each spoonful gets some of the soft crust and saucy filling.

Prep
20 min
Cook
60 min
Total
80 min
Original yield
Serves 6
Ingredients
23 listed

Make it part of your week

Estimating…
BeefMain coursePrep: 16–30 minutesTotal: over 60 minutesBakingBaked & roasted
Recipe categories & planning details
Meal type
Main course
Primary protein
Beef
Cooking method
Baking · Baked & roasted
Preparation & total time
Prep: 16–30 minutes · Total: over 60 minutes

A few quick notes

1. Use an oven-safe skillet

Make the chili in the specified oven-safe skillet so it can go into the oven under its cornbread topping.

2. Watch for drying chili

During the covered simmer, add the small water allowance if the chili begins drying out too much.

3. Spread the topping evenly

Drop the cornbread mixture in dollops over the finished chili, then spread it across the whole skillet.

Get to know the ingredients

Ground meat choices

Beef, ground chicken thighs or turkey are listed for browning before the vegetables join the skillet.

Prepared jalapenos

Deseed and dice the jalapenos, keeping the chili portion separate from the pepper used in the cornbread mixture.

Melted butter

Melt the butter for the cornbread mixture before combining it with the mix and other topping ingredients.

Let’s make it

Choose your servings, then check things off as you go.

MAKE IT YOURS

Ingredients

Original recipe: Serves 6. Original quantities shown.

Estimating…

Check ingredients as you prepare them. These checks stay on this page.

How to make it

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Make room for Skillet Chili with Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread Crust

Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.

The last little job

Bake the crust golden

Set the skillet on a large baking sheet to catch overflow, then bake until the cornbread crust is golden brown.

A little more help as you go

Prepare topping during the simmer

Use the chili's simmering time to combine the cornbread ingredients, ready for spreading once the skillet comes off heat.

Chili can be made ahead

Prepare the chili mixture up to two days ahead and refrigerate until ready to use.

A few questions you might have

Can I add beans?

For a bean variation, use less beef and a drained, rinsed can of beans; black beans are suggested.

How can I make the chili milder?

Try replacing the chili's jalapenos with the listed green bell pepper portion for less heat.

Does the cornbread go on while the chili is cooking?

Finish the chili's simmer and remove the skillet from heat before dolloping and spreading the topping over it.

Can I use milk in the cornbread?

Water or milk are both listed for combining with the other cornbread topping ingredients in the large bowl.

How much fat stays after browning?

Drain excess grease from the browned meat, leaving the tablespoon specified in the skillet before adding vegetables.

Any more cooking tips?

If you would like to use beans in your chili recipe, reduce the ground beef to ¾ pound and use 1 (15-ounce) can of beans that are drained and rinsed. I highly suggest using black beans! Replace the jalepeños in the skillet chili with green bell peppers (about ½ a pepper in the chili) to make this milder! To make this even quicker on a weeknight. Prepare the chili mixture over the weekend and refrigerate until ready to use (chili mixture can be made up to two days in advance).

Storage & reheating safety

For cooked, perishable leftovers, refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), using shallow containers for prompt cooling. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below, use refrigerated leftovers within 3–4 days, and reheat hot leftovers to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer. Follow any shorter package limit.

These are general safety limits, not a tested storage or freezing recommendation for this particular dish. USDA leftovers guidance · Safe cooking temperatures

Recipe source: littlespicejar.com. Ingredient names and quantities may be adapted for the pantry.

Preparation notes follow the recipe shown here.

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