Tamale pie is delightful comforting. I enjoy it hot and bubbly from the oven, with melted cheese and a layer of golden cornbread. To be honest, I made this for dinner more than once on a crazy weekday night. This dish was born when my children protested against the boring tacos. I combined the things I had on hand to create the cheesy tamale pie people loved. I am always happy to make cheesy tamale pie which now gets requested by my kids regularly. It’s a one-pot recipe that is a hug in a meal!

 

If you ever wanted tamales but did not have the time (or the patience) to put them together, then you might find this to give you that same hearty savory satisfaction. Beneath a light and fluffy cornbread crust that is strong enough to absorb all the flavors is spiced ground beef, tender black beans, sweet corn, and melted cheese. Bonus? You can cook it in less than an hour using mostly pantry ingredients that you already have on hand.

 

Ingredients:

8.5-ounce package of corn muffin mix

½ cup milk.

1 large egg.

Vegetable oil, 2 tablespoons, divided.

One lb. of burger meat.

½ Cup finely chopped onion.

A taco seasoning packet weighing 1 oz.

A can of diced tomatoes (14.5 ounces) in puree.

A can of chopped green chiles (4.5 oz) without juice.

One can of 14.5 ounces black beans that have been drained.

1 cup frozen corn.

A blend of 4 cheeses used in the dish is great to use; one that is used for tacos would be a good option too.

Finely chop 2 tablespoons of parsley to use for additional seasoning.

 

 

Equipment:

Pan with a diameter of 12-inch.

Mixing bowl.

Use a medium skillet to boil the beef and onion.

Aluminum foil.

Wooden spoon or spatula.

 

 

Instructions:

Preheat the Oven.

First, preheat oven to 400° F.

Prepare the Cornbread Base.

Combine the corn muffin mixture with milk and egg. Stir until mixture is just combined, and the batter will still be slightly lumpy. Grease the interior of the cast iron skillet with one tablespoon of vegetable oil. Place the cornbread batter in the skillet and smoothen it out. Set aside.

 

Make The Meat Mixture First

Add one more tablespoon of oil in a medium skillet and turn on the heat.  Put in the ground beef and let it cook until no more pink color is showing and  break apart. Spoon the meat out onto a plate that has paper towel on it to absorb the grease.

 

Sauté and Season.

Put the onions in the same pan and let them cook for three minutes or until soft. Place the cooked ground beef back into the pan, then add the packet of taco seasoning. Let’s cook for another minute to bloom the spices.

 

Add the Veggies.

Throw in the diced tomatoes (with juice), green chilies (drained), black beans and frozen corn. Let the mixture cook again for 2 to 3 minutes.

 

 

Assemble the Pie.

Carefully spoon the beef mixture on top of the cornbread batter in the cast iron pan. Just spread it out and do not stir.

 

 

Add the Cheese.

Spread the shredded cheese evenly over the top of the tamale pie. Cover the pan using aluminium foil.

 

 

Bake and Broil.

Bake for 25 minutes. After taking off the foil, place in the broiler for 3-5 more minutes until cheese bubbles gold.  Watch closely to avoid burning.

 

 

Garnish and Serve.

Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.

 

 

Tips for Success.

Don’t over-stir the batter: Stirring the cornbread batter too much can result in a dense bread. Just mix these until combined, not more!

Make it spicy according to your preference. Add hot green chilies or dash of cayenne in the beef mixture.

Mind not eating meat? You can use a veggie alternative instead of beef or double the beans for a meatless version.

If you cannot find a Mexican cheese blend, Shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack works great.

 

Serving Suggestions.

To serve your cheesy tamale pie, top it with some sour cream and then add a side of guacamole or a basic garden salad. It’s also amazing alongside tortilla chips for scooping up the extras.

 

 

FAQs:

1. Can you make this dish in advance?

Absolutely! Prepare the ground beef and veggie mixture a day in advance and refrigerate it until you’re ready to use. When you’re ready to bake, simply assemble the pie and carry on your way.

 

2. Can you freeze tamale pie?

Yes! Once you’ve baked and cooled the pie, just cover it with foil and freeze it for 3 months. To heat it up, take it out of the freezer and put it in the fridge overnight to thaw.  Then put it in the oven set at 350 degrees F until the center is hot.

 

3. Can I use fresh vegetables instead of canned ones?

Of course! You can use fresh corn in season, that is de-cobbed of course. You can also use fresh diced tomatoes, about 1 and 1/2 cups, in place of the canned diced tomatoes.

 

4. You can also use a quality heavy oven-safe skillet.

Any pan that can be used in an oven will do. If you are going to use a baking dish, grease it lightly before.

 

 

This easy cheesy tamale pie is a dinner hero, packing powerful, satisfying flavours without a lot of work. This dish will fill your belly and warm your tummy any night. It is great for dinner on a weeknight or at a party.  Once you take a mouthful of that cheesy savory goodness, this recipe will become family favorite too!