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!

  1. Brown Beef – Brown onion, beef, & garlic, drain fat (per recipe below).
  2. Make Sauce – Add taco seasoning & enchilada sauce. Place beef in a casserole dish.
  3. Mix Topping -Mix topping ingredients and spoon over beef mixture.
  4. 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

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

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piece of Tamale Pie on a white plate
5 from 118 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Tamale Pie

Tamale Pie is a Mexican-inspired one-pot dish full of ground beef, cornbread, and cheese!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 6
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Ingredients  

  • 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 shredded cheddar cheese divided

Topping

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

Instructions 

  • 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.

Notes

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!
5 from 118 votes

Nutrition Information

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

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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plated Tamale Pie with writing
baked Tamale Pie in a casserole dish with a portion on a plate with a title

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. This is delicious! Easy and yummy !

    1. A friend told me easiest way to drain fat is by using a turkey baster ….it works and I always have an empty glass jar on hand ….best advice ever !

    2. Per reviews I drain a small can of chopped jalapeños and add to cornbread mixture AND also put remaining cheese in cornbread mixture plus some more cheesecon top

    It’s a keeper and delicious

    Thank you for recipe :)5 stars

    1. I have never tried storing it before cooking but it should work well. Once tamale pie is cooked, it can also 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!

  2. the first time i made this was a disaster. the cornbread sank to the bottom . .what a mess. this time around i used a smaller pan, added some sugar to the cornbread mix, threw in a jalapeno and some peas and carrots and boy it turned out great.5 stars

  3. Do you put the meat mixture in the casserole dish first, then pour the topping over? Or do you mix it all together in the skillet you browned the beef in and then transfer to a casserole dish?

    1. Hi Jessica, we add the meat mixture to the casserole dish and then top with the corn muffin mixture and cheese.

  4. Yummy! Found the recipe after my husband asked if I’d make him a tamale pie. He had two servings and wants me to make it again. Followed the recipe with the exception of omitting the bell pepper and adding about 2/3c. of pinto beans.5 stars

  5. Every time I say I’m making tamale pie (with this recipe) my husband goes nuts. Absolutely delicious. Thank you!5 stars

  6. I love recipes like this, perfect as written and easy to modify to suit individual tastes or to make use of odds and ends floating around from meals made earlier that week.

    I added a half can of fire roasted diced tomatoes (drained), a diced bell pepper, and a chipotle pepper with some adobo sauce to the ground beef mixture, replaced the water with chicken stock, and added cumin, chile powder, and cayenne pepper since I was out of taco seasoning. The result was delicious.5 stars

  7. I am glad I tried this tamale pie, because it was very easy to make and above all very tasty. The next time I cook this pie, I will put the cheese in the corn mill mix instead on top of the cornbread mix. I used my own cornbread mix. Turn out great. Delicious4 stars

    1. This was surprisingly satisfying! You just can’t help but go back for seconds! The whole family enjoyed it and it was pretty quick to throw together. Will definitely be adding it to the regular rotation.5 stars