This simple Tamale Pie is a delicious and easy dinner recipe that comes together in about 15 minutes. The zesty ground beef filling is topped with a cheesy cornbread crust for a hearty casserole that's classic, old-school American comfort food!
If you're a child of the 70's or 80's, then you likely grew up feasting on Tamale Pie. It's one of those great meals that appeals to just about everyone at the table, so it has stood the test of time. My mom baked her version of the ground beef casserole with a from-scratch cornmeal crust, but today we're making it even easier by cooking everything in a cast iron skillet and finishing it off with Jiffy cornbread!
What is Tamale Pie?
This recipe is an American twist on the traditional Mesoamerican and South American dish, tamales, which are made with masa or dough, and then steamed in a corn husk or banana leaf. A Tamale Pie recipe combines some of the same ingredients used in tamales (namely, the ground beef, cheese and chilies) in a casserole, and then finishes the dish with a cornmeal or cornbread crust as a substitute for the masa.
Tamale Pie was first invented in the United States (likely originating in Texas) sometime in the early 1900s. By the mid-1910s, the dish was included in the curriculums of many high school home economics classes across the country.
Old school Tamale Pie was actually prepared with a masa crust; however, I find that those versions just don't taste as good as a pie that's topped with a sweet, cheesy and buttery cornbread topping. Whether you call it "Texas Tamale Pie" or "California Tamale Pie," one thing is clear: this Americanized version of the traditional dish is a great way to enjoy the taste and texture of classic tamales, without the time and hassle.
How to make Tamale Pie:
You will prepare the filling and bake the Tamale Pie in one dish, keeping the process as smooth as possible!
Ingredients:
- Ground beef
- Onion
- Enchilada sauce
- Diced tomatoes with green chilies (such as Rotel or Red Gold)
- Chili powder
- Kosher salt
- Cheddar cheese
- Jiffy corn muffin mix
- Milk
- Egg
Step 1: Prepare the Ground Beef Filling
Cook the beef and the onion in a cast iron skillet until the meat is no longer pink. Drain off the fat.
Stir in the enchilada sauce, diced tomatoes and green chilies, chili powder and salt. Then sprinkle half of the cheese over top.
Step 2: Make the Jiffy Cornbread Topping
Stir together a small box of Jiffy corn muffin mix, milk, egg and the remaining cheese. Pour the batter over the beef filling in the skillet.
Step 3: Bake the Tamale Pie
Bake the pie in a 400 degree F oven for about 20 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and cooked through.
What to serve with Tamale Pie:
Here are a few Mexican-inspired sides that go well with the Tamale Pie:
- A simple green salad dressed in cool, creamy Buttermilk dressing is a nice contrast to the zesty casserole;
- Black Bean and Corn Salad;
- Tortilla chips with salsa, guacamole or pico de gallo;
- Mexican rice;
- Ranch Style Pinto Beans
Preparation and Storage Tips:
- Store leftover Tamale Pie in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- How to reheat Tamale Pie: To reheat previously-baked tamale pie, warm the dish in a 325 degree F oven for about 20 minutes. Individual portions of the pie can be microwaved just until heated through (about 1-2 minutes).
- How to freeze Tamale Pie: You can freeze Tamale Pie, but it's best when frozen before baking. To do so, add the cornbread batter on top and place in the freezer (uncovered) for one hour to allow the topping to harden. Then, wrap well with plastic wrap and a layer of aluminum foil, and place back in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- How to bake the pie from frozen: When ready to enjoy, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and bake the pie straight from the freezer for 60 minutes. If the top starts to darken, lay a piece of foil loosely over the top.
Cook's Tips and Recipe Variations:
- If you don't have a cast iron (or other oven-proof skillet), or if you plan to prepare the pie in advance for freezing, you can assemble the pie in an 8-inch or 9-inch square casserole dish, or in a deep-dish pie plate.
- Use ground chicken, ground pork or ground turkey in lieu of the beef.
- If you want a more mild dish, swap out the diced tomatoes with green chilies and replace them with a 14.5-ounce can of regular petite diced tomatoes.
- Jazz up the filling with even more additions, such as sliced black olives, chopped bell pepper (add it to the skillet with the onion and meat), or canned, drained pinto beans or black beans.
- I use cheddar cheese, but you can use just about any cheese that you prefer, including Pepper Jack or a Mexican blend.
- This recipe is not gluten-free, since the cornbread mix is not gluten-free. If you can find a gluten-free mix and a gluten-free enchilada sauce, the rest of the ingredients are naturally gluten-free.
More easy Mexican-inspired ground beef casserole recipes that you might enjoy:
- Ground Beef Casserole with Cornbread Crust
- 4-Ingredient Enchilada Casserole
- Nacho Casserole
- Dump-and-Bake Chiles Rellenos Casserole
- 5-Ingredient Taco Casserole
Tamale Pie
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 cup diced onion
- ½ cup enchilada sauce
- 1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes and green chilies, drained (such as Rotel or Red Gold brands)
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ½ cups grated cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 (8.5 oz) box corn muffin mix (I use Jiffy brand)
- ½ cup milk
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a 10-inch oven-proof skillet, cook beef and onion over medium-high heat for 5 to 7 minutes, until no longer pink; drain. Stir in enchilada sauce, diced tomatoes and green chilies, chili powder and salt. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with half of the cheese.
- In a separate bowl, stir together corn muffin mix, milk, egg and remaining cheese. Pour over the beef filling in the skillet.
- Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until cornbread is golden brown.
Notes
- If you don't have a cast iron (or other oven-proof skillet), or if you plan to prepare the pie in advance for freezing, you can make the recipe in an 8-inch square casserole dish.
- You can use ground chicken, ground pork or ground turkey in lieu of the beef.
- If you want a more mild dish, swap out the diced tomatoes with green chilies and replace them with a 14.5-ounce can of regular petite diced tomatoes.
- Jazz up the filling with even more additions, such as sliced black olives, chopped bell pepper (add it to the skillet with the onion and meat), or canned, drained pinto beans or black beans.
- I use cheddar cheese, but you can use just about any cheese that you prefer, including Pepper Jack or a Mexican blend.
- Store leftover Tamale Pie in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- How to reheat Tamale Pie: To reheat previously-baked tamale pie, warm the dish in a 325 degree F oven for about 20 minutes. Individual portions of the pie can be microwaved just until heated through (about 1-2 minutes).
- How to freeze Tamale Pie: You can freeze Tamale Pie, but it's best when frozen before baking. To do so, add the cornbread batter on top and place in the freezer (uncovered) for one hour to allow the topping to harden. Then, wrap well with plastic wrap and a layer of aluminum foil, and place back in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- How to bake the pie from frozen: When ready to enjoy, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and bake the pie straight from the freezer for 60 minutes. If the top starts to darken, lay a piece of foil loosely over the top.
Daryn Boyd
I like this simple recipe but it did not specify between dry enchilada sauce packet or the liquid in a can, can you kindly reply to me so I know for the future...
Blair
Hi, Daryn! You need the can of liquid enchilada sauce, not a packet of enchilada seasoning mix. Hope that helps!
sherri
very easy to put together and tasty....thanks for the quick meal ideas!
Blair
That's wonderful, Sherri! Thanks so much for letting me know that you enjoyed it. 🙂