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Cornbread Crusted Beef Pie

Featured in: Cozy Weeknight Meals

This dish offers a rich blend of ground beef, vegetables, and herbs simmered to perfection, all covered with a tender cornbread crust. The crust adds a subtle sweetness and a golden finish, complementing the savory filling beneath. It’s an ideal cozy meal for family dinners, balancing texture and flavor with simple, wholesome ingredients.

Preparation begins by sautéing onions and carrots, browning the beef, then infusing it with garlic, tomato paste, and broth before simmering with peas and corn. The cornbread topping is a moist blend of cornmeal, flour, eggs, and butter, poured over the meat mixture and baked until golden brown. A satisfying comfort classic that’s both filling and flavorful.

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Updated on Sat, 15 Nov 2025 10:01:00 GMT
Golden, crispy cornbread crust topping a savory beef and vegetable filling in this Cornbread Crusted Beef Pie. Save
Golden, crispy cornbread crust topping a savory beef and vegetable filling in this Cornbread Crusted Beef Pie. | crumbnest.com

A hearty, comforting pie featuring savory beef and vegetables beneath a golden, slightly sweet cornbread crust—perfect for a cozy family dinner.

The first time I made this cornbread crusted beef pie, my kids were skeptical about the cornbread topping but now they ask for seconds every time. It’s become our favorite go-to for chilly weekends, and I love how easily the meal comes together using pantry staples.

Ingredients

  • Ground beef: 1 lb (450 g), 80/20 blend recommended
  • Yellow onion: 1 medium, finely chopped
  • Garlic: 2 cloves, minced
  • Carrot: 1 medium, diced
  • Frozen peas: 1/2 cup
  • Frozen corn kernels: 1/2 cup
  • Tomato paste: 1/4 cup
  • Beef broth: 1 cup
  • Worcestershire sauce: 1 tbsp
  • Dried thyme: 1 tsp
  • Smoked paprika: 1/2 tsp
  • Salt: 1/2 tsp
  • Black pepper: 1/2 tsp
  • Olive oil: 2 tbsp
  • Yellow cornmeal: 1 cup (120 g)
  • All-purpose flour: 1 cup (125 g)
  • Granulated sugar: 1 tbsp
  • Baking powder: 1 tbsp
  • Salt: 1/2 tsp
  • Whole milk: 1 cup (240 ml)
  • Eggs: 2 large
  • Unsalted butter: 1/4 cup (60 g), melted

Instructions

Preheat oven:
Set oven to 400°F (200°C).
Sauté vegetables:
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and carrot, stirring for 3 to 4 minutes until softened.
Brown beef:
Add ground beef. Cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
Flavor base:
Stir in garlic, tomato paste, thyme, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute.
Simmer filling:
Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, peas, and corn. Simmer 5 to 7 minutes until mixture is slightly thickened. Remove from heat and transfer to a 9-inch (23 cm) deep-dish pie pan or baking dish.
Mix dry ingredients:
In a mixing bowl, whisk cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
Combine wet ingredients:
In another bowl, whisk milk, eggs, and melted butter until combined. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir gently—do not overmix.
Assemble pie:
Pour cornbread batter over beef filling and spread to cover completely.
Bake:
Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until cornbread is golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Rest:
Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
This hearty Cornbread Crusted Beef Pie showcases a bubbling beef filling beneath a perfectly baked cornbread topping. Save
This hearty Cornbread Crusted Beef Pie showcases a bubbling beef filling beneath a perfectly baked cornbread topping. | crumbnest.com

The best part is when we gather around the dinner table, everyone gets a big scoop and the cornbread stays deliciously fluffy on top of the savory beef. Even picky eaters clean their plates!

Required Tools

Large skillet, mixing bowls, whisk, 9-inch deep-dish pie pan or baking dish, measuring cups and spoons, spatula or wooden spoon

Allergen Information

Contains wheat (gluten), milk, and eggs. May contain traces of soy if using certain broths or cornmeal brands. Always check ingredient labels if you have allergies.

Nutritional Information

Each serving provides about 420 calories, 19 g total fat, 39 g carbohydrates, and 22 g protein.

Slice into the warm Cornbread Crusted Beef Pie to reveal tender beef and vegetables with its golden crust. Save
Slice into the warm Cornbread Crusted Beef Pie to reveal tender beef and vegetables with its golden crust. | crumbnest.com

This dish is especially comforting on cold nights and reheats well for lunch the next day. Enjoy with your favorite sides!

Cornbread Crusted Beef Pie

A comforting dish of beef and vegetables with a golden, slightly sweet cornbread crust.

Prep duration
25 min
Cook duration
45 min
Complete duration
70 min
Created by Chloe Martin


Skill Level Medium

Heritage American

Output 6 Portions

Dietary considerations None specified

Components

Beef Filling

01 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend)
02 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 1 medium carrot, diced
05 1/2 cup frozen peas
06 1/2 cup frozen corn kernels
07 1/4 cup tomato paste
08 1 cup beef broth
09 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
10 1 tsp dried thyme
11 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
12 1/2 tsp salt
13 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
14 2 tbsp olive oil

Cornbread Crust

01 1 cup yellow cornmeal
02 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 1 tbsp granulated sugar
04 1 tbsp baking powder
05 1/2 tsp salt
06 1 cup whole milk
07 2 large eggs
08 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

Directions

Phase 01

Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Phase 02

Sauté Vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and carrot; sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until softened.

Phase 03

Brown Ground Beef: Add ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain excess fat if necessary.

Phase 04

Add Seasonings: Stir in garlic, tomato paste, dried thyme, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute to develop flavors.

Phase 05

Simmer Filling: Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, peas, and corn kernels. Simmer the mixture for 5 to 7 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and transfer to a 9-inch deep-dish pie pan.

Phase 06

Combine Dry Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, whisk together cornmeal, all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Phase 07

Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk milk, eggs, and melted butter until fully combined.

Phase 08

Make Cornbread Batter: Add wet ingredients to dry and stir gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing to ensure a tender crust.

Phase 09

Assemble and Bake: Pour the cornbread batter evenly over the beef filling, spreading to cover fully. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until the cornbread is golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Phase 10

Rest Before Serving: Allow the pie to rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Tools needed

  • Large skillet
  • Mixing bowls
  • Whisk
  • 9-inch deep-dish pie pan
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Spatula or wooden spoon

Allergy details

Review each component for potential allergens and seek medical guidance if you're uncertain about ingredients.
  • Contains wheat (gluten), milk, and eggs. May contain traces of soy depending on ingredient brands.

Nutritional information (each portion)

These values are approximate guides only and shouldn't replace professional medical consultation.
  • Energy: 420
  • Fats: 19 g
  • Carbohydrates: 39 g
  • Proteins: 22 g