Tamale Pie Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Apr 09, 2024

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This tamale pie recipe is destined to become a favorite. It features a smoky, cheesy filling loaded with ground beef, corn, green chilis, and a touch of sour cream. The filling is topped off with a tamale-inspired masa crust and baked until it achieves a perfect golden brown topping.

These easy Tex-Mex casseroles are a guaranteed hit with my entire family. Whenever I need a delicious dinner, I opt for classic options like King Ranch chicken casserole, taco casserole, or my personal favorite, salsa verde chicken and rice casserole.

Overhead image of tamale pie in a skillet near jalapenos, sour cream, and cheddar cheese.

Tamales have this awesome nostalgic vibe for me. You know, that warm, meaty goodness all snuggled up in a savory, kinda sweet masa? It’s just unbeatable! Enter this tamale pie: it’s like all the cozy feels of ground beef, corn, cheddar, and veggies, all hanging out in this smoky, earthy tamale sauce. Then, it’s all about that golden, cheesy masa harina crust on top that delivers all the tamale texture and flavor without the wrap. Seriously, I can’t stop digging into it.

Why You’ll Love This Tamale Pie Recipe

Great Flavors. The combination of the smoky enchilada sauce, the savory ground beef, and the unique mild sweetness of the masa harina topping is top-notch. The flavors will warm you up from the inside out and have you coming back for your second bite real quick.
One skillet meal. Aside from the bowl you’ll need to whisk together the ingredients for the masa topping, this recipe only requires one skillet, so cleanup is incredibly easy.
Great for leftovers. I promise this tamale pie is even better the next day. The flavors get a chance to meld together and deepen. Make it ahead of time and enjoy it as the week goes on.

What You’ll Need

Grocery shopping time! Buckle up and head to your favorite market. Here are all the ingredients you will need to grab to make this easy tamale pie.

Labeled ingredients for tamale pie filling.

Labeled ingredients for tamale pie topping.

For the filling

Olive oil – Used for sauteing the veggies and beef. You can use any neutral cooking oil here.
Veggies – Onion, red bell pepper (any color will do), and garlic.
Ground beef – I prefer 80/20, but leaner beef will work as well. You can also make this recipe using ground chicken, turkey, or pork. “Beyond Meat” would be a great option for vegetarians.
Canned corn – Frozen corn will also do the trick. Just make sure to thaw the corn completely and pat it dry.
Mild enchilada sauce – If you enjoy spice, feel free to select a spicier enchilada sauce.
Canned diced green chilis – They bring a mild heat and subtle smokiness to the tamale pie without overwhelming your taste buds.
Salt and Black Pepper: To enhance the flavors of the dish.
Sour cream – The sour cream adds a lovely tangy richness to the tamale pie filling.
Shredded cheddar cheese – Pepper jack or crumbled Cojita cheese are also okay to use.

For the topping

Masa harina – This is a relatively coarse flour made from dried corn kernels.
Baking powder – The baking powder gives the perfect rise to the topping.
Seasoning – Salt, smoked paprika, and ground cumin.
Chicken broth – Vegetable or beef broth are acceptable substitutes.
Melted butter – Adds richness and moisture to the masa topping, giving it that perfect tender texture. Plus, everything’s better with butter, right?
Canned corn – Feel free to use frozen corn instead, but thaw it and pat it dry first.
Shredded cheddar cheese – Brings that gooey, cheesy goodness to the tamale pie.

How To Make Tamale Pie

My recipe for tamale pie with masa is quite simple to make. Follow this step-by-step guide, from sautéing onions and bell peppers to baking a golden cornmeal crust, to make this delicious homemade comfort dish!

Adding chopped onion and red bell pepper to a skillet. — 1. Saute the onions, bell pepper, and garlic.

Cooking ground beef in a skillet with sauteed onion, bell pepper, and garlic. — 1. Saute the onions, bell pepper, and garlic.

Adding enchilada sauce, corn, and diced green chilis to cooked ground beef and sauteed veggies. — 3. Stir in the enchilada sauce. corn, and green chilis.

Stirring cheddar cheese and sour cream into tamale pie filling. — 3. Stir in the enchilada sauce. corn, and green chilis.

Masa harina topping tamale pie in a bowl. — 5. Make the masa harina topping.

Overhead image of tamale pie in a skillet. — 5. Make the masa harina topping.

Prep. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Saute the veggies. Heat the olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and saute until the onion is translucent. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant.
Brown the beef. Add the beef to the skillet and cook until golden brown and cooked through, crumbling it as you go.
Add some flavor. Stir in the corn, enchilada sauce, and green chilis. Season with salt and pepper as desired.
Make it cheesy. Stir in the sour cream and cheese. Cook until the cheese has melted. Turn the heat off.
Make the topping. Whisk together the masa, baking powder, seasonings, chicken broth, and butter until smooth. Fold in the corn and cheddar cheese.
Assemble. Spread the topping over the contents of the oven-safe skillet.
Bake. Bake for 40 minutes.

Tamale pie in a skillet with a spoon scooping out a slice.

Recipe Tips And Variations

Select an oven-safe skillet. Because you will be baking the tamale pie in the same skillet you make the filling in, be sure to use an oven safe skillet such as a cast iron.
Don’t crowd the pan. When cooking the beef, it is important not to crowd the pan so the beef browns and does not steam. I used a 14-inch skillet, which accommodated everything perfectly.
Drain. Fully drain the corn and green chilis before adding them to the mix.
Toothpick test. Insert a toothpick into the topping of the pie to make sure it’s cooked through. Just into the topping – not the filling. If the toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs, it’s done. If the batter is clinging to it, you need to bake the pie for a bit longer.
Turn up the heat. If you like spice, I suggest selecting a medium or spicy enchilada sauce, making my enchilada sauce recipe, or sauteing a seeded and diced jalapeno with the onion and bell pepper. You could also add a bit of cayenne to the batter for the topping.
Try a different protein. You can easily substitute ground turkey or chicken for this recipe. If you don’t eat meat, try Impossible Meat.
Fun mix-ins. Consider adding 1/2 cup black beans to the filling. More sauteed veggies are great, too.
Experiment with cheese. I love the cheddar here, but pepper jack would be fun as well, as would crumbled Cotija.

Serving Suggestions

In keeping with the Mexican theme, I love serving a slice of this easy tamale pie recipe with some good ol’ fashioned rice and beans. Try my fiesta rice, coconut lime cauliflower rice, or my delicious red beans and rice.

Before you bring out the tamale pie, snack on some appetizers like wonton chips, salsa, and fresh mango guacamole. I suggest to round the meal out with a light, refreshing salad such as my Tex Mex chicken salad or this tomato avocado corn salad.

A slice of tamale pie on a plate with a dollop of sour cream on top.

Proper Storage

To store. Let the tamale pie cool completely before storing it away in an airtight container. You can keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To reheat. Transfer the leftovers to the fridge to thaw (if frozen) before arranging slices in a single layer in a baking dish. Cover and bake for 20 minutes at 350°F or until heated through. Alternatively, microwave a slice or two in 30-second intervals until warm.

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