West Virginia Casserole–ground beef casserole with cornbread crust is an old fashioned family favorite! You can make it with your Instant Pot and air fryer lid or in the stove/oven.

West Virginia Casserole
This casserole tastes like a bowl of chili topped with sweet cornbread, it’s easy to mix together quickly, and it’s made with just a handful of simple ingredients. Greg had two huge helpings of this dish…he LOVED it!
This recipe can be made in your Instant Pot if you have an air fryer lid. If you don’t have an air fryer lid you can make it on the stovetop and in the oven. Both versions work great!
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Lean ground beef–or ground turkey
- Dehydrated onion flakes–or diced onion
- Chili powder
- Kosher salt
- Pepper
- Diced green chiles–I used mild
- Tomato sauce
- Frozen sweet white corn–or a can of corn, drained
- Cornmeal
- Flour
- Sugar
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Milk
- Egg
- Vegetable oil–or canola oil
- Cheddar cheese–or colby jack
Steps
Turn Instant Pot to saute setting (highest setting). When display says HOT add in the beef and break it up. Add in the onion. Brown the meat until no longer pink. Drain excess grease if needed. Stir in the chili powder, ½ tsp kosher salt and pepper.

Switch the Instant Pot to the lowest saute setting (sometimes it’s call “less”). Stir in the green chiles and tomato sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Stir in the sweet corn. Turn off the Instant Pot.

In a small bowl whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and ¼ tsp salt. Then stir in the milk, egg and oil.

Spoon the mixture over the top of the ground beef mixture. Spread out as much as you can.

Place air fryer lid on top. Set to bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Then turn to 300 degrees and bake for 5 more minutes. Sprinkle cheese on top, if using, and bake for 1 more minute until cheese is melted.

Scoop onto plates and serve.

Notes/Tips
- Serve with a side of coleslaw and baked beans.
- I used my Duo Crisp 6 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in an 8 quart pot.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Love beans? Try adding in a can pinto beans (rinsed and drained) when you add in the tomato sauce.
- I love using this tool* to break up ground meats.
- Recipe adapted from Big Oven.

More Chili Inspired Recipes…
Instant Pot Reese Witherspoon’s Chili Pie
Flavorful chili with beans, corn and tomatoes topped with cornbread. You can make this all in your Instant Pot if you have an air fryer lid (or you can use your oven).
Instant Pot Wendy’s Chili
An easy copycat version of Wendy’s chili that you can make in the Instant Pot or the Crockpot.
Instant Pot Hillbilly Chili
A flavorful and easy chili recipe with spaghetti noodles in it! Make it fast in your Instant Pot!
Instant Pot Dr. Pepper Chili
A slightly sweet and slightly spicy chili that comes together quickly with the help of your Instant Pot. It’s the perfect supper for a chilly evening or for watching football. Don’t forget all your favorite toppings!
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.


West Virginia Casserole
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 Tbsp dehydrated onion flakes (or 1 cup diced onion)
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles (I used mild)
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 cup frozen sweet white corn
- 6 Tbsp cornmeal
- 1/2 cup flour
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Instructions
Instant Pot with Air Fryer Lid Instructions:
- Turn Instant Pot to saute setting (highest setting). When display says HOT add in the beef and break it up. Add in the onion. Brown the meat until no longer pink. Drain excess grease if needed. Stir in the chili powder, ½ tsp kosher salt and pepper.
- Switch the Instant Pot to the lowest saute setting (sometimes it’s call “less”). Stir in the green chiles and tomato sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the sweet corn. Turn off the Instant Pot.
- In a small bowl whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and ¼ tsp salt. Then stir in the milk, egg and oil. Spoon the mixture over the top of the ground beef mixture. Spread out as much as you can.
- Place air fryer lid on top. Set to bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Then turn to 300 degrees and bake for 5 more minutes. Sprinkle cheese on top, if using, and bake for 1 more minute until cheese is melted.
- Scoop onto plates and serve.
Stove/Oven Directions
- Heat an oven safe skillet or a dutch oven over medium high heat on the stove. Add in the beef and break it up. Add in the onion. Brown the meat until no longer pink. Drain excess grease if needed. Stir in the chili powder, ½ tsp kosher salt and pepper.
- Stir in the green chiles and tomato sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the sweet corn. Turn off stove.
- Heat oven to 400 degrees. In a small bowl whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and ¼ tsp salt. Then stir in the milk, egg and oil. Spoon the mixture over the top of the ground beef mixture. Spread out as much as you can.
- Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until golden and cornbread is done in the middle. Sprinkle cheese on top, if using, and let it melt for a couple minutes in the oven. Serve and enjoy!
- Category: Beef
- Method: Instant Pot with Air Fryer Lid or Stove and Oven

*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
We loved this but my husband had such huge helpings that there just may be enough left for a lunch serving mid-week. So easy to throw together and modify. I had turkey meat on hand and I threw in frozen peas and carrots, just because. Delicious as always Karen, Thanks!!!
Forgot to add this is a Definite 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reading!!!!
★★★★★
So glad you all liked it. My husband went crazy over it too
Not sure I understand using an air fryer lid. So this does not come to pressure?
Right, this one does not come to pressure. The air fryer list is kind of like an oven for the IP. You can always make the stovetop/oven version if you like!
the instruction “spread out as much as you can” quite literally freaked me out when I contemplated trying this recipe. Can I use thinly rolled biscuits or s pie crust, maybe and get equally good results?
★★★★★
It’s not too big of a deal, you just don’t want it all dumped in the middle in one big clump. You can do it! But if you want to try the biscuits you certainly could.