Easy Recipe for Tamale Pie (2024)

30 Comments / By Lisa Leake / February 27, 2018 / Recipes

10 Reviews / 4.8 Average

This easy one-dish meal features the flavors of tamales in the simplicity of a pie. It will definitely be making another appearance at our house! Try it if you're a fan of Mexican-inspired recipes.

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Easy Recipe for Tamale Pie (1)

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We were recently planning to have friends over for dinner when I asked my husband what he thought I should cook. He randomly said, “How about tamales?!” I was like “Whaaaa?” And that’s how this easy recipe for tamale pie came to be!

One-Dish Recipe for Tamale Pie

First of all, I’ve never made tamales in my life, and I’m honestly not sure if I even like tamales all that much (I was looking for ideas from the plethora of options I have actually cooked before LOL).

Secondly, I have a hard-and-fast rule to never experiment with new recipes on dinner guests. I think it’s always best to make something you know will turn out well, and leave the possible recipe fails for your immediate family only! Anyone else with me on that?

Easy Recipe for Tamale Pie (2)

Tamales Without the Corn Husks

So, after we made homemade pizza with our friends (haha), I thought it would be nice to fulfill my husband’s desire for tamales with an Easy Tamale Pie. Since I’m not a huge fan of regular tamales myself, and I didn’t feel like hunting down corn husks to make the traditional version, this easy mash-up of cornbread, chiles, and other goodies was the best of both worlds.

By incorporating traditional tamale ingredients, you can still enjoy the authentic flavors in a one-dish meal that comes together in less than an hour!

And bonus, he loved it! So this easy one-dish meal will definitely be making an appearance again at our house. Maybe even for dinner guests. :)

Recipe for Tamale Pie With Cornbread

Not only does the cornbread in this tamale pie make it a lot quicker and easier to make than the original, it’s also completely freezer-friendly and packed with flavor! If one-dish Mexican recipes are your thing, you’ve got to give this one a try.

Easy Recipe for Tamale Pie (3)

Easy Tamale Pie

This easy one-dish meal features the flavors of tamales in the simplicity of a pie. It will definitely be making another appearance at our house! Try it if you're a fan of Mexican-inspired recipes.

10 Reviews / 4.8 Average

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 30 minutes mins

Total Time: 40 minutes mins

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Mexican

Method: Freezer Friendly

Diet: Egg Free, Gluten Free, Peanut/Tree Nut-Free

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Servings: 4 people

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Ingredients

For the meat layer

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 onion (diced)
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 bell pepper (cored, seeded and diced (any color))
  • 1/2 jalapeño (or other hot pepper, minced)
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 15-oz can diced tomatoes (fire roasted variety is a good option for this)
  • 1 cup frozen corn kernels

For the tamale topping

  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 1 cup cornmeal (finely ground)
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese (finely shredded)

Suggested accompaniments

  • sour cream
  • avocado
  • cilantro

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

  • In a cast iron skillet (or other oven-proof large skillet) heat the olive oil over medium heat. Cook the onions while stirring until they begin to soften, 2 to 3 minutes.

  • Add the ground beef to the pan and cook while breaking it up with a spatula until almost brown all the way through, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the bell and hot peppers and cook until soft, another 2 to 3 minutes.

  • Sprinkle the seasonings onto the beef mixture and stir until well combined. Add the diced tomatoes and corn kernels and bring to a light boil then turn off the heat.

  • Meanwhile, in a small pot combine the milk, cornmeal, butter, and salt. Bring to a light boil while whisking constantly. As soon as the mixture begins to thicken, only takes a minute or two, scrape out of the pot and spread on top of the meat mixture into one even layer.

  • Top with shredded cheese and bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. If preparing in advance may take longer to bake if putting it in the oven cold.

  • Garnish with sour cream, avocado and/or cilantro (if desired) and serve.

Notes

We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.

Nutrition Facts

Nutrition Facts

Easy Tamale Pie

Amount Per Serving

Calories 727Calories from Fat 441

% Daily Value*

Fat 49g75%

Saturated Fat 22g138%

Cholesterol 137mg46%

Sodium 943mg41%

Potassium 680mg19%

Carbohydrates 37g12%

Fiber 5g21%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 34g68%

Vitamin A 1925IU39%

Vitamin C 41.1mg50%

Calcium 344mg34%

Iron 3.9mg22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Easy Recipe for Tamale Pie (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 do you eat with tamale pie? ›

Serving Suggestions

I like to garnish Tamale Pie with a little cilantro for color and serve it with sour cream, hot sauce, and tortilla chips for scooping. It's a meal in itself but you can round out this dinner with a simple green salad, roasted veggies, or rice.

Can I make tamales without corn husks? ›

Like corn husks, parchment paper offers a thin, malleable material that can keep seasoned contents inside the folded envelope. Although parchment-paper-wrapped tamales may not offer the subtle flavor corn husks impart, the glossy paper can get a tamale-making task done.

What are real Mexican tamales made of? ›

Tamales are a traditional Mexican dish made with a corn based dough mixture that is filled with various meats or beans and cheese. Tamales are wrapped and cooked in corn husks or banana leaves, but they are removed from the husks before eating. Try them served with pico de gallo on top and a side of guacamole and rice.

What ethnicity eats tamales? ›

Tamales are a dish of corn masa that is sometimes filled, then wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves and steamed. Tamales are primarily associated with Mexican cuisine, but they have been incorporated into the culinary traditions of many Central and South American communities.

Are tamales healthy? ›

Tamales are rich in certain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They're generally a good source of vitamin B3 (niacin) since the nixtamalization process enhances niacin's bioavailability—the amount of niacin that can be absorbed by our bodies—, per a 2016 study.

How many tamales per person? ›

Estimate how many guests will come to your party and for the main meal, calculate between 2 and 3 tamales per person if you're serving them by themselves except for a frothy hot chocolate, champurrado or an agua fresca. For dessert, consider 1 or 2 per person.

Can I use parchment paper instead of corn husks for tamales? ›

Though wrappings of corn husks and banana leaves lend some of the dish's more recognizable traits, desperate times can call for creative culinary measures. Pieces of parchment paper can step up to the task and keep your mixture of fillings and masa dough tightly bound as the ingredients steam and solidify into shape.

Why are tamales expensive? ›

The prices for the most popular protein fillings of chicken and pork and even spices for tamale-making are up. “The majority of the spices we use to give the flavor to [tamales] come from Mexico,” said Cruz. “Exporting them here has a higher price.

Where did tamale pie originate? ›

Tamale pie has it's origins in Texas as a traditional Tex-Mex dish that combines ground beef and vegetables in a thick chili and topped with a cornbread batter and baked.

How many calories are in 2 pork tamales? ›

The caloric content of pork tamales can vary based on the size and specific ingredients. However, a standard serving typically contains about 250 calories.

What is the inside of a tamale made of? ›

The fillings range from simple to elaborate. In some countries, the masa is filled with a simple piece of chicken or pork. Most tamales have elaborate slow-cooked seasoned meat fillings (usually chicken or pork), sometimes with vegetables (potatoes, corn, peppers, or carrots), cheeses, dried fruits, and olives.

What is tamale meat made of? ›

What Are Tamales Made Of? These tamales consist of a seasoned pork filling in a masa harina dough wrapped in dried corn husks. The finished tamales are topped with a homemade chile sauce.

What are dessert tamales made of? ›

Sweet tamales are a Mexican dessert made from a sweet masa corn dough and filled with a variety of fruit, nut and sugary fillings. Common fillings include raisins, pineapples, fruit preserves, cajeta and dulce de leche.

What is tamale dough made of? ›

Cornmeal is coarsely ground hominy often used as a breading, in cornbread, and more. Masa harina is made from hominy that is treated with a lye solution and ground very fine, more like flour. It is used to make tortillas, tamale dough, and the soup dumplings chochoyotes.

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