Made with a seasoned beef mixture and topped with homemade cornbread, this super easy recipe for Tamale Casserole delivers all the flavors of tamales minus the work!
Looking for additional easy, family-favorite casserole recipes? You must try Tater Tot Casserole and Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole!
I adore authentic tamales. But I do NOT have the patience or time to make tamales on a busy weeknight.
But what I DO have time for is an easy casserole that tastes like tamales.
This recipe for Tamale Casserole, AKA Tamale Pie, features all the flavors you love about tamales, from the richly seasoned meat to the creamy cornbread, with less than 20 minutes of hands-on work.
Why You'll Love Tamale Casserole
- Easy. This recipe comes together with minimal effort to create a quick and easy family dinner.
- Affordable. The most expensive ingredient in this recipe is ground beef. The rest of the ingredients are likely things you already have on hand. Purchase ground beef (or ground turkey) when on sale and you can enjoy a hearty, filling family meal for less than the cost of one large pizza.
- Filling. This Tamale Pie is an all-in-one meal that is filled with protein and carbs to fill your family up.
- Family-Favorite. Tamale Pie is a flavorful, kid-friendly dinner that will have your family licking their plates clean!
Notes on Ingredients
- Ground Beef: While I love the flavor of lean ground beef in the tamale pie, you can opt to use ground turkey or chicken if that is what you have on hand or prefer.
- Onions, Peppers, and Garlic: The combination of diced onions, bell pepper, and garlic is the building block to developing incredible flavor to the base of this casserole.
- Jalapeno: If you want to add a bit of heat to the meat mixture, a bit of finely minced jalapeno goes a long way to really waking up your palate. For those sensitive to heat, I recommend omitting the jalapeno completely.
- Diced Green Chiles: A small can of diced green chiles adds the perfect subtle kick of heat and a lot of flavors to the tamale casserole base.
- Corn: I love adding frozen corn to the beef mixture as it pairs beautifully with the cornbread topping and adds a nice bit of natural sweetness to contrast with the heat of the chiles and jalapeno. However, this addition is completely optional.
- Tomato Sauce: Canned tomato sauce gives the tamale pie base moisture and a rich flavor, often traditional in tamale filling.
- Seasonings: I use my blend of homemade taco seasoning which is a combination of cumin, paprika, and chili powder.
- Lime Juice: Fresh lime juice will really wake up the flavors in the filling. It is a simple chef's tip that really takes this dish over the top!
- Cheese: If you love cheese in your tamales, don't forget to add a layer of shredded cheddar or Monterey jack cheese to this casserole.
- Cornbread: Use your favorite boxed cornbread or easily prepare homemade cornbread using my recipe that combines, flour, cornmeal, baking powder, milk, honey, egg, and oil.
∗Speed It Up Using Leftovers ∗
While this Tamale Pie is already a quick and easy casserole recipe, you can make it EVEN faster by swapping out the Tex-Mex beef mixture with 3-4 cups of your favorite leftover chili, like Instant Pot Beef Chili or Chicken Chili, and then top with the cornbread mixture and bake as directed. It is a great way to transform leftover chili into something new and delicious.
Make-Ahead Instructions
You can assemble the entire tamale casserole up to 24 hours prior to baking. Once assembled, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. When ready to bake, let the casserole sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes, remove the plastic wrap, and bake for 40-45 minutes.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
- Refrigerate: Store the cooled casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: Transfer the cooled tamale casserole to a freezer-safe container and freeze the leftovers for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
- Reheat: Cover the pan with foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until warmed through. Alternatively, reheat individual servings in the microwave on a microwave-safe plate and microwave in 30-second intervals until warmed through.
More Family-Friendly Casserole Recipes
- Buffalo Chicken Casserole
- Creamy Parmesan Chicken Casserole
- Creamy and Cheesy Chicken and Rice
- The Best Chicken Pot Pie
- Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
- Mexican Lasagna
Need more inspiration for planning meals that your family will love? Sign up for my FREE Meal Plans and each week you will get a meal plan with a shopping list.
If you tried this Tamale Casserole a try, I would love for you to leave a comment or review.
Easy Tamale Casserole with Ground Beef
Ingredients
For the Tamale Casserole Base
- 2 teaspoons canola oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 small onion finely minced
- 1 small red or yellow bell pepper seeded and minced
- 1 jalapeno seeded, and finely minced
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon Taco Seasoning see note
- 4 ounces diced green chiles
- 16 oz tomato sauce
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 small lime juiced
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
For the Cornbread Topping
- 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup cornmeal
- 1 tablespoon aluminum-free baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- â…“ cup honey
- ¾ cup milk or buttermilk
- 4 tablespoons canola oil or melted, cooled butter
- 2 eggs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 ℉.
- Over medium-high heat, heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add in ground beef, onion, pepper, and jalapeno and saute, breaking up the meat as it cooks, until the meat is fully browned and the onions and peppers are softened.
- If needed, drain off any excess grease and return the skillet to the heat. Add in the taco seasoning, tomato sauce, green chiles, and corn. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat and then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until thickened and warmed through, about 5-8 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the lime juice.
- Prepare the cornbread topping by whisking together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt together. Add the milk, honey, whisked eggs, and oil/butter, and mix until the flour is fully moistened and everything is nice and combined.
- Spread out the meat mixture in a 9x13 pan and top with shredded cheese if using. Dollop the cornbread batter over the top of the casserole and spread to cover.
- Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, or until the cornbread topping is golden and set.
Equipment Needed
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in 2018 but has been updated in 2022 with new photos and tips.
Margy
I like the way you left the meat shredded in larger chunks. I am cooking for a family, and the son always says "where's the meat" if he can't find a big bite. This would work well. - Margy
Kristen Chidsey
Margy--your son will be able to find the meat in this dish for sure! And yet, it still stretches your dollar by using one large cut of meat into a few meals. Enjoy!
Joy @ Joy Love Food
This sounds delicious! I love tamales and like that this is an easy version. Visiting from Foodie Fridays 😉
Kristen Chidsey
So easy Joy!
Katherines Corner
This yumminess is now on my must try list. I invite you to share at my blog hop( you can link up through Sat) Hugs!
Kristen Chidsey
I hope you enjoy it and thanks for sharing he invite to the party.
Katherine G
Oh my goodness! This looks so delicious! I am adding this to my list of meals to try.
Kristen Chidsey
Awesome! Enjoy!
Kiano
I love tamales, but I never wanted to put forth the effort to make them. This pie idea is so perfect!
Kristen Chidsey
Kiano, I am with you on the effort thing! It is a lot of work. The pie is a great alternative! Enjoy!
Medha @ Whisk & Shout
My aunt used to make a similar dish but she used corn tortillas rather than cornbread... the idea of cornbread mix sounds AMAZING! Love this 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
HA! My mom used to make a dish with corn tortillas as well, but I have to say I enjoy the cornbread much more. But I am a lover of carbs!!
Catherine
Once again you have tempted my taste buds! I will be serving this tonight!! Bring on the Mexican food
Kristen Chidsey
Awesome! I hope you all enjoy it!
Mariel Collins
This looks absolutely delicious! I could probably eat the whole thing I love tamales so much:)
Kristen Chidsey
Mariel, I could eat the whole dish as well--BUT my family loves it so much they will fight me for it 🙂
Linda Omura
This looks delicious! I pinned to my Mexican or Cinco De Mayo Board.
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Linda! This would be a great dish for Cinco!
Valerie
Anything Mexican, sign me up! I have loved tamales ever since I lived in Texas 25 years ago. Can't wait to try this recipe 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
I love Mexican too. Let me know how you like it!
aimee fauci
Whole White Wheat Flour? Can I just use regular flour? I really want to make this but I didn't know if this was a special flour.
Kristen Chidsey
Of course you can use regular flour! It will work perfectly. I use the whole white wheat to get a few more nutrients in 🙂 Enjoy and let me know how you like it!
Christine from Cook the Story
Quick and easy recipes like this are perfect for weeknight dinners!
Kristen Chidsey
You know it!
Neva Hurlbut
Looks like a great dish to make on a cold evening!
Kristen Chidsey
Yes, this will warm you up for sure!
Jameson Fink
I could eat this for Sunday brunch. Just pass the hot sauce!
Kristen Chidsey
Great Idea! My son loads up on hot sauce too!
Christie
Love finding quick and easier ways to enjoy some of my favorite food. Perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Kristen Chidsey
Exactly!
Shirley Wood
Looks delicious and right up our alley. My Hubs would love this! Pinned to my Good Eats board. I hope you will share with us at Merry Monday!
Kristen Chidsey
Awesome! Thanks for pinning and I will visit the party!