Cornbread Taco Bake

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound lean ground beef
1 small onion, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (15 ounces) corn, drained
1 packet taco seasoning mix
1 cup salsa
1 box (8.5 ounces) cornbread mix, prepared according to package instructions
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Optional toppings: sliced jalapeños, diced tomatoes, sour cream, chopped cilantro, avocado slices

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Drain any excess fat.

Add the diced onion and bell pepper to the skillet with the ground beef. Cook until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the black beans, corn, taco seasoning mix, and salsa. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, until heated through and well combined.

Transfer the taco filling to the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly.

Prepare the cornbread mix according to package instructions. Pour the prepared cornbread batter over the taco filling, spreading it out evenly to cover.

Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the cornbread batter …