Soups and stews · Southern · 35 min
Kidney Bean Chili with Melty Cheddar & Cornbread Topping
- 35 min
- 2–6 servings
- 699 kcal / serving
A comforting skillet chili with kidney beans and diced tomatoes, finished with a cheesy cornbread topping. The blend of veggies and spices cooks quickly, making it a satisfying weeknight meal that you can bake right in the same pan.
Free on iPhone · servings scaled, grocery list written for you.
Ingredients
- ¼ (8 oz) blockcheddar cheese
- 1 (14.5 oz) candiced tomatoes
- 1egg
- 1 clovegarlic
- 1jalapeño pepper
- 1 (15 oz) cankidney beans
- ¼ cuppolenta (cornmeal)
- 1red bell pepper
- 1 tbsptomato paste
- 2 fl ozwhole milk
- ½ mediumyellow onion
- eggs
- jalapeño peppers
- red bell peppers
- yellow onions
From the pantry: all-purpose flour, baking powder, black pepper, brown sugar, butter, unsalted, chili powder, cumin, ground, oregano, dried, salt
Cookware
can opener · chef's knife · colander · cutting board · garlic press (optional) · grater · measuring cups · measuring spoons · mixing bowls · oven mitts · spatula · stainless steel or cast iron skillet · stirring spoon · whisk or fork
Kitchen help: cups to grams · tablespoons to cups · oven temperatures · butter conversions · what each cooking tool is for · ingredient substitutes
More dinner ideas: easy dinners · dinners for two
Shopping list by aisle
Produce
- 1 clovegarlic
- 1jalapeño pepper
- 1red bell pepper
- ½ mediumyellow onion
- jalapeño peppers
- red bell peppers
- yellow onions
Dairy, eggs & chilled
- ¼ (8 oz) blockcheddar cheese
- 1egg
- 2 fl ozwhole milk
- eggs
Pantry & dry goods
- 1 (14.5 oz) candiced tomatoes
- 1 (15 oz) cankidney beans
- ¼ cuppolenta (cornmeal)
- 1 tbsptomato paste
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Ingredients for 2, 4 and 6 servings
| Ingredient | 2 servings | 4 servings | 6 servings |
|---|---|---|---|
| cheddar cheese | ¼ (8 oz) block | ½ (8 oz) block | ¾ (8 oz) block |
| diced tomatoes | 1 (14.5 oz) can | 2 (14.5 oz) cans | 3 (14.5 oz) cans |
| egg | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| garlic | 1 clove | 2 cloves | 3 cloves |
| jalapeño pepper | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| kidney beans | 1 (15 oz) can | 2 (15 oz) cans | 3 (15 oz) cans |
| polenta (cornmeal) | ¼ cup | ½ cup | ¾ cup |
| red bell pepper | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| tomato paste | 1 tbsp | 2 tbsp | 3 tbsp |
| whole milk | 2 fl oz | 4 fl oz | 6 fl oz |
| yellow onion | ½ medium | 1 medium | 1 ½ medium |
Quantities in US units. Any other household size: MealPot scales the recipe and the grocery list for you.
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and set a large ovenproof skillet on the stove to warm.
- Dice the red bell pepper into small pieces, peel and mince the garlic, and dice the yellow onion.
- Rinse the kidney beans and set them aside while you prep the peppers and onion.
- In the warm skillet, melt butter to coat the bottom, then sauté the bell pepper, onion, garlic, and jalapeño until softened, about 3–5 minutes.
- Stir in the rinsed beans, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and spices; lower the heat to simmer as you prepare the cornbread batter.
- Melt more butter and whisk it with milk and egg; combine with dry mix of cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt, then stir until just blended.
- Coarsely grate the Cheddar and sprinkle over the simmering bean mixture; pour the cornbread batter on top and smooth evenly.
- Bake in the oven until the cornbread is golden and cooked through, about 20 minutes, then slice and serve.
Two tips
- Make ahead: the chili base can be prepared and kept chilled for up to a day before baking with the cornbread topping.
- Serving idea: double the jalapeño or add a dollop of sour cream from the pantry to balance the heat.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 699 kcal
- Protein
- 27 g
- Carbs
- 86 g
- Fat
- 29 g
- Fiber
- 15 g
- Sodium
- 604 mg
Estimates from the recipe's published nutrition data; they change with the version you pick above.
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Ingredient quantities, timing and nutrition follow the original Mealime recipe ↗ (captured 2026-09-12). The photo is MealPot's AI-rendered illustration of the finished dish; the description, directions, aisle list and serving table are MealPot's.