Chicago-Style Layered Chili with Cornbread Crust
A hearty layered chili featuring ground beef, beans, and spices topped with a golden cornbread crust, capturing the comforting soul of Chicago’s Midwest flavors. This American-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 60 minutes, pairs ground beef, yellow onion, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 medium, diced yellow onion
- 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
- 1 can (15 oz), drained and rinsed kidney beans
- 1 can (15 oz), drained and rinsed black beans
- 1 can (14.5 oz), undrained diced tomatoes
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 large egg
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Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown 1 lb ground beef with 1 diced medium yellow onion and 3 minced garlic cloves for 6-7 minutes until beef is fully cooked and onion is translucent. Drain excess fat.
- Step 2: Stir into the beef mixture 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, 1 can (15 oz) black beans, 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with juices, 2 tbsp chili powder, 1 tbsp ground cumin, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer over low heat for 15 minutes until thickened and flavors meld.
- Step 3: While chili simmers, combine 1 cup cornmeal, 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tbsp baking powder, and 2 tbsp granulated sugar in a bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk 3/4 cup milk, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, and 1 large egg until blended.
- Step 4: Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Pour the chili evenly into a 9-inch baking dish, then carefully spoon the cornbread batter over the top to form a crust.
- Step 5: Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until cornbread is golden and cooked through. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Chicago-Style Layered Chili with Cornbread Crust take to make?
Total time is about 60 minutes (15 min prep + 45 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Chicago-Style Layered Chili with Cornbread Crust?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep ground beef from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Chicago-Style Layered Chili with Cornbread Crust?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Chicago-Style Layered Chili with Cornbread Crust for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Chicago-Style Layered Chili with Cornbread Crust?
American beef like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
