Taco Corn Pudding Casserole is the ultimate comfort food mashup—hearty taco filling on the bottom, and a rich, creamy cornbread topping on top. It’s a crowd-pleasing, all-in-one casserole that’s perfect for cozy weeknights, game day, or potlucks.

You’ll Love This Recipe Because…

It’s a full meal in one dish—protein, veggies, and cornbread!
The creamy corn pudding topping adds irresistible texture.
Pimento cheese gives it a rich, cheesy Southern twist.
It’s incredibly easy to customize based on what you have on hand.
You can make it ahead and reheat beautifully!
Top it with your favorite taco toppings for a meal your whole family will ask to be added to the menu rotation!

What Is Taco Corn Pudding Casserole?

Think of it as a Tex-Mex shepherd’s pie—but with seasoned taco beef on the bottom and fluffy, flavorful corn pudding baked on top. It’s everything you love about taco night, wrapped up in a cozy casserole you can scoop and serve.

If you’ve had taco cornbread casserole, it’s extremely similar! Just with a hot honey twist! A taco flavored ground beef mixture is topped with a cornbread layer, then baked to golden brown perfection!

It’s a simple casserole that is a great quick dinner idea when you want to change up Taco Tuesday!

This cornbread batter uses the southern cornbread pudding recipe of adding a dollop of sour cream, canned cream of corn, and other simple ingredients to make a family favorite!

Ingredients

Taco Mixture:

1 lb. Ground beef
1 (10 oz.) can Rotel Tomatoes & Green Chilis
1 packet Taco Seasoning
½ cup water
(Optional: 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained)

Cornbread Topping:

2 boxes Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
1 can Creamed Corn
1 can Corn Kernels (drained)
1 cup Sour Cream
1 cup Pimento Cheese (homemade or store-bought)
Optional: Hot Honey drizzled into the cornbread topping! Yum.

Instructions

Cook the Meat Mixture
In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat until fully cooked. Drain any excess grease. Add Rotel, taco seasoning, and ½ cup water. Stir and simmer for 5 minutes.
Make the Cornbread Topping
In a large bowl, mix the Jiffy mix, creamed corn, corn kernels, sour cream, and pimento cheese. Use a hand mixer or sturdy spoon until evenly combined.
Assemble the Casserole
Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread the taco mixture evenly across the bottom. Then, carefully spoon the cornbread mixture over the top and smooth it out.
Bake
Bake in a 350˚F oven for 35–45 minutes, or until the cornbread topping is set and slightly golden brown. A gentle jiggle test should show it’s no longer liquid in the center.
Cool & Serve
Let the casserole rest for 10–15 minutes before serving. This helps the layers set up just right.

taco cornbread casserole with pimento cheese

Tips & Tricks

Use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef for a lighter option.
Add a drained can of black beans or corn to the taco mixture for extra bulk.
Don’t skip the rest time—it helps everything hold together when slicing!
Make it spicy by adding chopped jalapeños to the cornbread mix.
Want to prep ahead? Assemble up to the baking step, cover, and refrigerate overnight.

What to Serve With Taco Corn Pudding Casserole

This casserole is a meal on its own, but a side salad or bowl of Mexican Street Corn Dip would be a chef’s kiss.

If I were serving this for a dinner party, here’s the menu I’d curate:

Appetizer: Mexican Layered Dip — this also doubles as a topping for the casserole!

Salad Idea: Dippy Salad — everyone loves this salad idea when it makes an appearance on the table at parties! Plus, it’s so easy, everything can be assembled and held in the fridge the day before! Yay.

Dessert: Peach Pie Cobbler — this is one of my favorite sweet treat recipes to serve my people!

(Looking for more cozy casseroles? Try my Creamed Chipped Beef or Sweet Potato Casserole.)

Taco Casserole Topping Ideas:

Green Chiles
Green Onions
Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Pepper Jack Cheese
Black Olives
Salsa
Sour Cream
Guacamole
Lettuce
Chopped Bell Peppers
Fresh Cilantro
Taco Sauce

Tools & Equipment

Large skillet
9×13 baking dish
Mixing bowls
Hand mixer (optional, but helpful!)

(Find my favorite tools here)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes! Assemble everything, cover, and refrigerate. When ready to bake, add a few extra minutes to the bake time.

Can I freeze it?
Yes, it freezes well after baking. Let it cool, wrap tightly, and freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven until warmed through.

What if I don’t have pimento cheese?

You can swap it with shredded cheddar or pepper jack. But the pimento cheese adds an extra creamy kick!

I can’t wait for you to try this easy casserole dish! Family dinner is just the place to share this cornbread taco casserole!