Easy Tamale Pie Recipe

This best tamale pie recipe has cheesy cornbread topping plus more cheese on top of that! It’s filled with black beans, more cheese and seasoned ground beef.
You can choose to infuse with chili mix , taco seasoning or your favorite enchilada sauce.  Top it off with sour cream, jalapeno and more black beans. Perfect for busy weeknights!  Get ready to make this easy tamale pie! 

tamale pie

Did you know underneath the cheese in this tamale pie is cheesy jalapeno cornbread? Yum!  I used quick and easy jiffy cornbread mix that was thinned out with some milk. easy tamale pie

The top of this tamale pie, as you can see, has sour cream, black beans, shredded Mexican cheese and jalapeno.  Then below the the cheese is jalapeno cheese cornbread and underneath the cornbread is the seasoned ground beef  with sharp cheddar cheese infused with chili mix. Whew! Hungry yet? I sure am.  My teen loves when I make this. He is a huge fan of sour cream and usually drowns his food in it. I love to add just a dollop of sour cream on top of my tamale pie. 

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I made this tamale pie 3 times in one week for my teen.  My sister stopped by the day I made this casserole and having two servings. She did the happy dance as she finished it up.  Kid and sister tested, mother approved!  If you want to double this tamale casserole recipe,  use a 9×13 baking pan. See photo below. 

tamale pie casserole

Tamale pie may look fancy and all but it’s actually really simple to make. Check the recipe for this tamale casserole.  Ready?!

tamale pie

TAMALE PIE INGREDIENTS: 

1 lb ground beef
1 cup diced onions
1 1.25 oz chili mix or taco mix or feel free to use 1/2 cup enchilada mix.
1 6 oz can tomato paste
2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp coriander powder
1 tbs cumin
1 tsp dry parsley
15 oz can of drained black beans divided (2 cups)
1 cup of water (If you are using enchilada sauce do not add water)
salt for taste
pepper for taste

Cheddar Cornbread top
1/2 box jiffy
1 cup milk
1 egg
1/4 cup finely diced jalapeno (save additional thin slices for garnishment)
1 cup cheese
1/2 tsp sugar (optional)

tamale pie casserole

 

HOW TO MAKE TAMALE PIE 

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Add the jiffy mix, melted butter (make sure it’s cooled off), cheese, egg (beaten), jalapeno and milk and a pinch or two of salt and sugar. Set to the side.
  3. Dice the onions or I usually just add them to my food processor. Then add it to the ground beef. Add the ground beef and onions to a hot skillet over medium high heat and cook until cooked through.
  4. Remove skillet from stove-top and drain most of the fat from the meat. I usually leave about 2-3 tbsp of fat for flavor (fyi…they do this at most restaurants).
  5. Add all the ground seasonings plus the chili mix/or taco seasoning and mix well and water. If you have a favorite enchilada mix, that will work as well but do not add water. I wanted something fast so I used what I had.
  6. Add the shredded cheese and half of the drained beans to the ground beef mixture. Stir to combine. Pour the cornbread mixture over the beef mixture. Cover the skillet with foil and place the skillet in the oven and bake until the cornbread is done about 20-25 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle shredded cheese over the top of the cornbread. Set oven to broil and place the skillet back in the oven just until the cheese has melted about 3-5 minutes. Make sure to keep an eye on it.
  7. Remove the tamale casserole from the oven. Garnish with cilantro, more black beans, thinly sliced jalapeno and once cooled for 10 minutes add the sour cream on top. Enjoy!

Okay. Sounds pretty easy right? Mouth watering yet? If so, please pin this recipe to save it or share it to your FB wall!

easy tamale pie

If you loved my easy tamale pie, you may also like: Quesadillas in the oven (Sheet Pan Quesadillas), Enfrijoladas, Jamaican Beef Patties ,Chicken Tacos with Homemade Taco Seasoning and Habanero Salsa,  Easy Beef Tacos and my Homemade Taco Seasoning. 

tamale pie

Tamale Pie Recipe

April Boller Wright
This best tamale pie has cheesy cornbread topping plus more cheese on top of that! It's filled with black beans, more cheese and seasoned ground beef.You can choose to infuse with chili mix , taco seasoning or your favorite enchilada sauce.  Top it off with sour cream, jalapeno and more black beans. Perfect for busy weeknights!  I'll show you how to make easy tamale pie! 
3 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Beef
Cuisine Mexican

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 cup diced onions
  • 1 1.25 oz chili mix or taco mix or feel free to use 1/2 cup enchilada mix.
  • 1 6 oz can tomato paste
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tbs cumin
  • 1 tsp dry parsley
  • 15 oz can of drained black beans divided 2 cups
  • 1 cup of water If you are using enchilada sauce do not add water
  • salt for taste
  • pepper for taste

Cheddar Cornbread top

  • 1/2 box jiffy
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup finely diced jalapeno save additional thin slices for garnishment
  • 1 cup cheese
  • 1/2 tsp sugar optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Add the jiffy mix, melted butter (make sure it's cooled off), cheese, egg (beaten), jalapeno and milk and a pinch or two of salt and sugar. Set to the side.
  • Dice the onions or I usually just add them to my food processor. Then add it to the ground beef. Add the ground beef and onions to a hot skillet over medium high heat and cook until cooked through.
  • Remove skillet from stove-top and drain most of the fat from the meat. I usually leave about 2-3 tbsp of fat for flavor (fyi...they do this at most restaurants).
  • Add all the ground seasonings plus the chili mix/or taco seasoning and mix well and water. If you have a favorite enchilada mix, that will work as well but do not add water. I wanted something fast so I used what I had.
  • Add the shredded cheese and the drained black beans to the ground beef mixture. Stir to combine. Pour the cornbread mixture over the beef mixture. Cover the skillet with foil and place the skillet in the oven and bake until the cornbread is done about 20-25 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle shredded cheese over the top of the cornbread. Set oven to broil and place the skillet back in the oven just until the cheese has melted about 3-5 minutes. Make sure to keep an eye on it.
  • Remove from the oven. Garnish with cilantro, more black beans, thinly sliced jalapeno and once cooled for 10 minutes add the sour cream on top. Enjoy!  
Keyword classic comfort food, classic food
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tamale pie

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17 Comments

  1. Anonymous says:

    Just a heads up, you dont list how much butter to use and never incorporate the tomato paste into the instructions. Besides that, recipe was good.3 stars

  2. Anonymous says:

    What is ‘a box of jiffy’?

  3. OMG that looks absolutely magnificent! Definitely need to try this one out on a Sundayafternoon watching the game!

  4. Yum, this look so delicious. I love tamales. Making it into a pie makes it easier to make them having to roll them over one by one.

  5. So beautiful! It sounds delicious, I had to pin this for later. I love cornbread and jalapenos so this is a must try for me. YUM!

  6. That’s funny, my daughter drowns her food (especially Mexican flavors) in sour cream too. lol This sounds so yummy! And very creative. I’m definitely keeping this recipe handy. pinned.

    1. Your kid too? LOL! Kids are too funny! Thanks again Michelle!

  7. I love adding lots of cheese and jalapeño, yours looks so flavourful, pics are beautiful.

  8. Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes says:

    I am so in love with this combo of comfort-food flavors. And that there’s cheese, cheese and more cheese in it. That means it would be an instant hit in this house too! Happy dance!

    1. Gotta have cheese! What would the world be like without it lol….Thank you so much for your kind words!

  9. I have a paleo version of this I make often! Mayhaps I will do a more traditional version like this, it looks so good!

  10. mmm this looks so scrumptious! Love the bright photos, I feel like I can taste it from here! 😉