Vintage Ground Beef & Cornbread Casserole
Railroad Pie is a hearty, old-fashioned casserole made with seasoned ground beef and vegetables, topped with a simple cornbread layer. It’s the kind of practical, filling meal that shows up in mid-century community cookbooks—budget-friendly, comforting, and built to feed a hungry crowd.
This recipe is especially popular in older church and fundraiser cookbooks, where casseroles like this were designed to stretch ingredients and still taste good.
Why It’s Called Railroad Pie
Despite the name, there’s no pastry crust involved. The “pie” comes from baking everything together in a single dish, with a cornbread topping baked right on top of the savory filling. It’s rustic, simple, and very much a product of its time.
Railroad Pie
Ingredients
Method
- Prepare the filling: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef with the chopped onion, stirring until crumbly and fully cooked. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Season and simmer: Stir in the tomato soup, green pepper, chili powder (if using), black pepper, kidney beans, corn, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Mix well and let the mixture simmer gently for about 15 minutes.
- Assemble the casserole: Spoon the meat mixture into a greased 2-quart casserole dish, spreading it evenly.
- Make the cornbread topping: In a bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, baking soda, and remaining 1 teaspoon of salt. Add the beaten egg, buttermilk, and bacon drippings. Stir just until combined.
- Top and bake: Spoon the cornbread batter evenly over the meat mixture.
- Bake: Bake at 350°F for 30–40 minutes, or until the cornbread topping is set and lightly golden.
- Rest and serve: Let the casserole rest for 5–10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- This recipe varies widely between cookbooks—beans and corn were often optional additions.
- Bacon drippings were commonly used in older cornbread recipes, but butter works just as well.
- Serve with a simple salad or cooked greens for a complete meal.
Adapted from Ground Beef Cookbook (Favorite Recipes of Home Economics Teachers), Favorite Recipes Press, 1983
Another budget friendly meal Beef Pancake