Easy Tamale Pie Casserole Recipe

Tamale pie has beef in a zesty sauce topped with a simple cornbread topping and baked until fluffy and golden.

piece of Tamale Pie on a white plate

What is Tamale Pie?

A tamale is a delicious favorite, with a masa (corn) dough wrapped around meat and steamed in corn leaves until tender. This dish is definitely not a traditional tamale but plays on the corn and meat flavors.

This quick dish starts on the stovetop and is then baked to perfection with cheese.

We love tamale pie because it's easy to make, inexpensive, and ready to go in less than an hour!

ingredients to make Tamale Pie

Ingredients and Variations

PROTEIN This is a super basic recipe with ground beef and cheese. Sub any favorite cheese, and feel free to use ground turkey or chicken in place of beef.

VEGGIES This recipe has corn of course, but it also works perfectly with leftover veggies, too! Try adding shredded zucchini, frozen diced veggies, a can of diced tomatoes, jalapenos, or sliced black olives.

TOPPINGS Top with sour cream, salsa, or even guacamole!

process of layering ingredients to make a Tamale Pie

How to Make Tamale Pie

Tamale Pie is short on prep time but big on taste!

Brown Beef – Brown onion, beef, & garlic, drain fat (per recipe below).
Make Sauce – Add taco seasoning & enchilada sauce. Place beef in a casserole dish.
Mix Topping -Mix topping ingredients and spoon over beef mixture.
Bake – Top with cheese and bake.

Tamale Pie before baking in a casserole dish

Tips for Success

A great tamale pie is hearty, flavorful, and filling!

For best results, as the ground meat is cooking, use a spatula to separate it so it is finely ground.
Adding egg to the cornbread topping mixture gives it structure and extra flavor.
Once tamale pie is cooked, it can be refrigerated for up to 5 days. Reheat by placing it in a preheated oven, or microwaving a single portion. Adjust seasonings and serve it up again!
Freeze tamale pie in an airtight container and label the outside with the date on it. It stays tasty for 2 to 3 months. Let the tamale pie thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Tamale Pie in a casserole dish with a portion taken out

While the tamale pie is cooking, set out your favorite toppings including the sour cream, salsa, and guacamole!

More Ground Beef Casseroles

Stuffed Peppers
Beef Taco Pasta Skillet – ready in 30 minutes
Beef and Macaroni Soup
Unstuffed Peppers
Easy Homemade Lasagna
Shepherd's Pie Recipe

Did your family love this Tamale Pie? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!

Tamale Pie

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 55 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Servings 6

Tamale Pie is a Mexican-inspired one-pot dish full of ground beef, cornbread, and cheese!

▢ 1 pound lean ground beef
▢ 1 onion chopped
▢ 1 bell pepper diced, green or red
▢ 2 cloves garlic minced
▢ 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
▢ ¼ cup water
▢ ¾ cup enchilada sauce
▢ 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded, divided

Topping

▢ 1 box corn muffin mix 8.5 oz
▢ ½ cup sour cream
▢ ½ cup corn kernels canned, fresh, or frozen
▢ ⅓ cup milk
▢ 1 egg
▢ fresh cilantro chopped, for garnish

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Preheat oven to 350ºF.
Combine beef, onion, bell pepper, and garlic in a 10" ovenproof skillet. Cook until no pink remains. Drain any fat.
Add taco seasoning and ¼ cup water. Simmer until water evaporates. Stir in enchilada sauce. Top with 1 ½ cups of cheese.
Combine corn muffin mix, sour cream, corn, milk ,and egg. Spread over the beef mixture.
Top with remaining cheese and bake 35-40 minutes.
Garnish with cilantro and serve.

Tamale Pie can be refrigerated for up to 5 days in an airtight container.

Reheat by microwaving a single portion. Adjust seasonings and serve it up again!

Calories: 575 , Carbohydrates: 38 g , Protein: 29 g , Fat: 34 g , Saturated Fat: 16 g , Cholesterol: 130 mg , Sodium: 998 mg , Potassium: 450 mg , Fiber: 4 g , Sugar: 14 g , Vitamin A: 1508 IU , Vitamin C: 28 mg , Calcium: 353 mg , Iron: 3 mg

(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)

Course Beef, Casserole, Dinner, Entree, Main Course, Pie

Cuisine American, Mexican, Tex Mex

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Tamale Pie on a plate with writing