Cornbread Casserole

This recipe is an oldie but goodie from Stephanie.

Preheat oven to 400.

1 lb ground beef (I use ground turkey)
1 pkg taco seasoning
1/2 cup water
1 can corn - drained (I use frozen)
1/2 c green pepper - chopped (I often use the frozen red/yellow/orange bell pepper mix from Trader Joe's, chopped in my Ninja)
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1 8.5 oz. pkg corn bread mix (and ingredients to make it)
1 2.8 oz French fried onions (if I don't have these, I just add some dried minced onion)
cheddar cheese

Brown meat, and add everything else - except the cornbread, cheese, and 1/2 of the onions.

Put mixture in casserole dish.

Spoon cornbread mix* on top.

Bake uncovered 20 minutes.

Top with cheese and remaining onions.

Bake until cheese melts.


*I have struggled to get the cornbread to cook through, even after baking for 1 hour.  Any tips?  Maybe just cook them separately but serve them together?  The flavor of this dish is great - it's just better with cooked cornbread :).