5 Ingredient Tamale Pie Recipe (2024)

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Tamale Pie is a warm, filling casserole that makes a delicious dish for a family dinner or a potluck. Here’s how to make Tamale Pie.

Serve this tamale pie with a side of Spanish rice and tortilla chips with our favorite homemade salsaor this delicious chicken enchilada dip.

5 Ingredient Tamale Pie Recipe (1)

Easy Tamale Pie

My grandma used to make a Mexican casserole with the same flavors as this tamale pie and itwas one of my favorite childhood meals. But unlike other versions of this recipe that I have tried and made for my own family, this easy tamale pie recipe requires very little prep work.

My kids love it. My husband loves it. And I love that I found another recipe that doesn’t get moans and groans from my family when I serve it for dinner! Everyone wins!

What Is Tamale Pie?

Tamale pie is a classic casserole made with juicy ground beef, cheese, salsa, and corn. It is baked under a soft layer of cornbread and served with a dollop of sour cream. It is a delicious and hearty meal ready in under 30 minutes without any fuss!

5 Ingredient Tamale Pie Recipe (2)

How To Make Tamale Pie

INGREDIENTS –

  • ground beef
  • corn
  • Jiffy cornbread mix
  • salsa
  • shredded cheddar cheese
  • optional add-ins – black olives,onions, bell peppers, diced tomatoes, black beans, green chiles, and jalapenos

DIRECTIONS –

  1. BROWN YOUR BEEF. Brown your ground beef in a large skillet or frying pan on medium heat. Drain the excess grease and rinse.
  2. MIX + HEAT. Add the corn, cheese, and any other add-ins, and mix until combined.
  3. PREP. Pour the mixture into a casserole pan/ baking dish and then sprinkle a little more cheese over the top.
  4. MIX THE CORNBREAD BATTER. In a separate bowl, make the cornbread mix according to the package and then spread it evenly over the top of the beef mixture
  5. BAKE. Bake for 25-30 minutes in the oven or until the cornbread is a golden brown
5 Ingredient Tamale Pie Recipe (3)

Tips For Making Tamale Pie

  • If you want to add a little spice to this dish, dice a few jalapenos and mix it in with the rest of the ingredients
  • If you like sweeter cornbread, use this delicious cornbread recipe. (It’s easy to make and tastes AMAZING!)
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refridgerator for up to 1 week.

Can I Freeze Tamale Pie?

Yes! This is one of my favorite freezer meals to make and save for a crazy day. When you’re ready to use it, place it in your refrigerator over night. Don’t leave it on your counter to thaw, because bacteria can begin to grow once it gets warmer.

More Easy Mexican Recipes

If you loved this easy recipe you’ll love one of these other Mexican dinner ideas:

  • Easy Homemade Chicken Enchiladas
  • Baked Bean Burritos
  • Mexican Corn Salad Recipe
  • Albondigas Soup Recipe
  • Easy Enchilada Sauce

Best Tamale Pie Recipe

Now that you’ve seen just how simple this recipe is to make, it’s your turn! Leave us a comment below or tag us on social media to let us know how it turned out and what other ingredients you may have added. We love seeing what you’ve been up to in the kitchen!

5 Ingredient Tamale Pie Recipe (4)

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Tamale Pie Recipe

Servings: 8 people

Tamale Pie is a warm, filling casserole that makes a delicious dish for a family dinner or a potluck. Here’s how to make Tamale Pie.

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:25 minutes mins

Total Time:35 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 1 can corn, undrained (or you can use 2 cups of frozen corn and 1/4 cup of water)
  • 2 boxes corn muffin mix, + ingredients listed on the box
  • 16 oz salsa, 14-16 oz
  • 1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • *Feel free to add whatever else you like- olives, green onions, diced tomatoes etc.

Instructions

  • Heat the oven to 375°F.

  • Brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Rinse and drain.

  • Add the corn and salsa to the beef- mix until combined.

  • Pour the beef mixture into a 13 x 9 casserole pan.

  • Sprinkle with cheese.

  • In a separate bowl, mix the corn muffin mix according to the package directions. Spread the batter evenly on top of the beef mixture.

  • Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the topping is golden brown.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving · Calories: 662 kcal · Carbohydrates: 57 g · Protein: 30 g · Fat: 36 g · Saturated Fat: 14 g · Cholesterol: 97 mg · Sodium: 1056 mg · Potassium: 661 mg · Fiber: 6 g · Sugar: 17 g · Vitamin A: 618 IU · Vitamin C: 4 mg · Calcium: 175 mg · Iron: 4 mg

Other Notes

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: casserole, dinner, tamale

ENJOY!

5 Ingredient Tamale Pie Recipe (5)

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5 Ingredient Tamale Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is tamale pie made of? ›

Tamale pie is prepared with a cornmeal crust and typical tamale fillings arranged in several layers. Beef is traditionally used, but it can also be prepared using other meats such as chicken and turkey meat, and can also be prepared as a meatless dish.

What makes tamales better? ›

14 Tips You Need To Make The Best Tamales
  1. Dry your own corn husks for tamales. ...
  2. Roast your veggies before adding them to the tamales. ...
  3. Always pre-cook your meat for tamales. ...
  4. Add the cooking liquid back to your tamales to keep them moist. ...
  5. Soak your corn husks well before assembling. ...
  6. Season your masa.
Dec 5, 2023

What was in the original tamale? ›

Tamales originated from the Aztecs as the traditional food served at weddings. They were sweet and filled with coconut, wrapped in banana leaves.

What is the doughy part of a tamale made of? ›

It calls for masa harina, a commercial corn flour product that is used to make tortillas, tamales, and many other Mexican and Central American foods.

What is a common mistake when making tamales? ›

Arrange your tamales properly

Another common mistake when making tamales is arranging them in the wrong way since they must be placed horizontally so that more of them can fit into the pot and cook evenly. However, they must not be too tight, or else they will flatten.

What does baking soda do in tamales? ›

Water or broth moistens the masa harina and helps create the right dough texture. Salt is a natural flavor enhancer and boosts the corn flavor of the tamale dough. Baking powder is used in some tamale dough as a leavening agent, which helps the dough rise a bit when baking and gives it a light texture.

Can you put too much lard in tamales? ›

Use as much as you want, but at a certain point too much lard will start to make the masa dense and gooey. Make sure you are using a good stand mixer to whip the lard into the masa. Whipping air into it and getting good even distribution of the fat are just as important to the lightness of the final product.

What are Hormel tamales made of? ›

WATER, BEEF, TOMATOES (WATER, TOMATO PASTE), CORN MEAL, CORN FLOUR, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF MODIFIED CORNSTARCH (CONTAINS ERYTHORBIC ACID), MASA FLOUR (GROUND YELLOW CORN, TRACE OF LIME), SALT, CHILI POWDER (CHILI PEPPERS, FLAVORING), PAPRIKA, SPICE.

Is tamales made of pork? ›

What Are Tamales Made Of? These tamales consist of a seasoned pork filling in a masa harina dough wrapped in dried corn husks.

Why do Mexicans eat tamales? ›

It's a Time-honored Tradition

Their origins can be traced back to Mesoamerica and they were eaten during the times of the Aztecs, Mayans and Olmecs. Since tamales were portable food, they were often used to feed men when they were away for battle or on hunting trips.

What are tamales cooked inside of? ›

A tamale is stuffed masa wrapped in a corn husk and steamed before eating. Over the years many Latin cultures have adapted their own version of a tamale. Some families incorporate things into the masa, and in more tropical areas, a banana leaf is used instead of a corn husk!

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