This Mexican Tamale Pie recipe is a delicious one-pot meal made with ground beef, corn, enchilada sauce and spices, topped with a tamale inspired masa topping.
Looking for more Mexican-inspired recipes? Try my Birria Ramen, Chilaquiles, or Tres Leches Cake!
Why I love this recipe:
- One-Pot Meal: Easy prep and even easier clean up! I love hearty meals that don’t make my kitchen a mess, and this is one that your family is sure to love!
- Basic ingredients: this dinner is a go-to when I need to use ingredients I already have on hand to make something warm and comforting for my family.
How to make Tamale Pie:
Brown Beef: Cook ground beef in a deep skillet or cast iron pan, crumbling it into small pieces as it cooks, until browned. Add diced onion, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for 3 minutes.
Add Flavor: Add enchilada sauce, corn, chiles, chili powder, coriander, and cumin and cook for 5-10 minutes. Taste and add additional spices (chili powder, cumin, salt or pepper), as desired. Stir in cheese.
Make Topping: Mix the corn flour, baking powder and salt together. Stir in the chicken broth, milk, butter and cheese. Pour topping mixture evenly over the top of the meat mixture.
Bake at 400 degrees for 40 min. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.
Serve: Top this old school tamale pie with avocado and sour cream, if desired.
Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:
To Make Ahead: The beef mixture can be made ahead of time and kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days. Warm in a pan before adding the tamale topping.
To Freeze: To freeze baked tamale pie, the easy Tamale Pie recipe and allow to cool. Cover well and and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before baking. May also freeze after baking. The beef mixture may also be frozen separately in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Recipe Variations:
- Pan Size: I like to bake the tamale pie right in the skillet I’m cooking in but if you don’t have the right size or oven proof pan, you can bake it in a 9×9 inch or similar size pan.
- Vegetarian: Swap the meat for two cans of pinto or black beans.
- Box Mix Cornbread Topping (Jiffy or Bobs Red Mill): Prepare according to package instructions. Pour over meat mixture and bake.
- Chiles: Try using diced jalapeños or a chipotle chili in adobo sauce.
- More Veggies: Add a chopped bell pepper, grated carrot, olives, peas or whatever you like.
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Recipe
Tamale Pie
Equipment
Ingredients
Meat Filling:
- 1 ½ lbs lean ground beef
- 1 yellow onion , finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 10 oz can red enchilada sauce , or homemade
- 1 can creamed corn
- 8 oz can diced green chiles
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese
Masa Topping:
- 1 1/2 cups Masa Harina (corn flour)
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese
Optional Topping Ideas:
- avocado, sour cream, cilantro, hot sauce
Instructions
- Cook ground beef in a deep 12-inch skillet* or cast iron pan, crumbling it into small pieces as it cooks, until browned. Add diced onion, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for 3 minutes.
- Add enchilada sauce, corn, chiles, chili powder, coriander, and cumin and cook for 5-10 minutes. Taste and add additional spices (chili powder, cumin, salt or pepper), as desired. Stir in cheese.
- Make Topping: Mix the corn flour, baking powder and salt together. Stir in the chicken broth, milk, butter and cheese. Pour evenly over the top of meat mixture.
- Bake 400 degrees for 40 min. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.
- Top with avocado and sour cream, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
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I’ve tried a lot of Tamale Pie recipes over the years, and this one is hands-down the best!
If you use the box jiffy cornbread do you still add the milk butter and cheese before pouring on top of the meat mixture?
I made this as directed with the addition of sliced olives, and served it as a one-dish meal. My husband commented, “That was so yummy! I would really like to have some more, but I’m just to full!” I will definitely make this again!
What ? He was full but wanted more 🧐😁
Kids wouldn’t try it but they are in a very picky phase. The adults loved it though. And I think the kids will in a couple of years.
Oh, sweet HEAVENS, this is good!! I think next time I’ll try for a bit of spice (like the tamales I grew up eating), but this had excellent flavor and is an every-person-in-the-fam pleaser!
Since this recipe was launched I made it already 3 times. My kids and husband ask for it. I add a little more veggies like shredded carrots and some beans and it is always a winner. Thank you for sharing this!
This has become an instant family favorite and we’re having it again this week because we can’t get enough! I used the Jiffy topping for simplicity sake and it came together so quickly and easily. Every kid has seconds which is a major win!
Ah now come on Jiffy !!!!
I tried this recipe last night and it was delicious! Not often do all four kids and both parents love a new dish! My son just had his braces tightened and thankfully this was soft enough not to hurt his teeth. I added a can of beans to make it stretch a little more but there was plenty for my big eaters. I loved trying a recipe that was unique. The flavors were wonderful, especially with your homemade enchilada sauce (I halved it for this recipe). I’ll definitely make this again. Thank you!
Also added a bell pepper
this was amazing!! I def gotta keep this one!!
Definitely satisfied my tamale craving with such a simple recipe. I made it twice this month! The first time I followed the recipe as written except I didn’t have coriander. The second time I tried vegetarian style with 2 cans black beans and bell pepper. I also cut the butter in half for the masa topping. It wasn’t as rich, but we still liked it enough that I will cut it in half next time too. Adding this one to my recipe collection!!
I liked it more than my husband. I used the masa flour topping. We thought it was a little too thick. We also topped it with fresh grilled jalapeños, sour cream and Avacados. The ground beef mixture was good. I’d like to try it again adding black beans. I’m addition I’d like to use chipotle chili in adobo sauce to give it a zing.
So delicious! My only problem was that I realized after starting to make it that my cast iron pan is a 10 inch, not a 12 inch. Unfortunately that meant that it bubbled over in the oven and made a bit of a mess. But it was delicious! I would definitely make it again once I get a bigger pan!
Delicious and easy! A keeper, will definitely make again. Worth the hunt to find some of the ingredients locally! It overflowed my 9×9 pan, so next time, will either split with a loaf pan again or add more veggies to scale up to 9×13.
I thought this recipe was flavorful, and easy for a one pot dinner. I would include draining the beef after cooking in the instructions, because personally I don’t like dishes to be too greasy. I did like the option of using cornbread for a topping which is what I did. My husband liked it as well.
Easy to make. Delicious. My kids even ate it. Had to substitute corn meal and that worked out just fine.
My family really enjoyed this, the little kids took out tortilla chips and ate it as a dip. I don’t have social media, so can’t post a picture.
This was a fun recipe to try. I thought I had masa but I was out so I had to use a cornbread mix. It was good but I’d love to try out again with the masa!
Made this for Pi day and it was a winner!
Wow! It was so simple to make and full of flavor!! I love one pot meal recipes. The ingredients were so easy to throw together! We topped ours with sliced avocado, sour cream and pickled jalapeños for a little more heat. Definitely making this again and maybe meal prepping as a freezer meal!
We had this for dinner tonight. I left out the corn and made my own enchilada sauce and it was delicious! Definitely making this again!
Super easy and delicious! My family loved this recipe. It really is like a tamale without all of the work.
Made this for supper tonight! My picked eaters even like it! Thanks!
I will be adding this one to my recipe file. It was easy to follow and turned out very tasty. My husband complemented me on it, so when that happens I know that I need to make it again.
Amazing dish all around packed with flavor. The cornbread topping goes so well with this dish. The heat from the meat and the sweetness of the cornbread merry so well. The first words from my husband was “Save This Recipe”. We used our cast-iron pan and it turned out great. I was able to put this together within minutes. We love dishes that you are able to put together easily with ingredients in your local stores. My Husband loves to spice his food up and topped his with a homemade Chipotle sour cream sauce. 😋 I tried to add a pic of the final results but the option was not available.
Great to hear that you enjoyed our tamale pie recipe and that your husband loved it too! We’re thrilled to know that you were able to put it together quickly with ingredients from your local store. It’s always wonderful to hear that our recipe was able to make someone’s day better.
We would love to see the photo of your final results on Facebook or Instagram! Please feel free to tag us so that we can see how it turned out. Thanks for sharing your experience with our recipe!
The finished product is delicious. I will be adding it to my recipe book. When I finished making this recipe I said never again. I felt like it took me a long time. I did make my own Enchilada sauce (your recipe) so that added to my time.
I tried to add my picture but couldn’t figure out how.
I love this recipe. I didn’t have a couple items so I had to make a couple small substitutions.
Drained, home canned sweet corn instead of creamed corn.
Fresh poblano chile, chopped and cooked with ground beef and onions instead of canned chiles.
I used a half recipe of unsweetened scratch cornbread because I didn’t have masa harina.
We will definitely be having this again! Easy, tasty, filling and had leftovers for another meal. So good!
I took a pic but don’t see how to add it.
My husband of 40 years said,
“oh now this looks good”. After tasting he exclaimed, “ oh man! This is really good! It’s a keeper!!”
This recipe is delicious and easy (I used canned enchilada sauce)! Even my 7 year old asked for multiple servings. Next time I make it, I will include some beans. I had previously made a similar dish using a boxed muffin mix, but the homemade topping is much better!
most excellent flavor; I even utilized your red enchilada sauce recipe. this came out very well, only drawback was I had to put it in my large glass rectangular casserole dish (probably my fault) but it satisfied an army and everyone enjoyed it.
Oh my goodness. So good full of yummy flavor !! My family LOVED it. They said it’s there new favorite thing I have made !! I didn’t have any hamburger meat so I substituted chorizo!! Definitely made it taste like tamales 🫔 😋 Thank you for all your recipes and meal plans with shopping list!! You have made my life so much easier! ❤️
This recipe was easy and quick to put together I like that there are no special ingredients A delicious and comforting meal.
Great cold weather meal! My husband even told me to write it down to make it again! I made mine in a Dutch oven with the lid off 😊
Just ate this for dinner!! A quicker version of homemade tamales 🙂
My family loved this recipe. My husband took the left overs to work instead of the kids. everyone loved it. I think we are going to make it again tonight. The flavors are Soo good and the texture of the masa reminded us of tamales.
Was a big hit! This is going on the rotating menu!
Wow! This is good. Fairly easy to make, delicious and nutritious! Will be adding to my regular recipes.
Note: I used about 3/4 of the masa topping and it turned out perfect. So crispy.
Made this tonight in my cast iron skillet. I did use a can of pinto beans and 1 pound of beef. Also added some diced red peppers to the onion sauté. I used a boxed cornbread mix for the top and it turned out great! I would definitely make this again!
My daughter and I enjoyed making this together. I used regular corn flour though (without realizing masa harina is not the same) so it was very runny and did not create a nice topping. The flavours were still good and we ate it anyway, but I am sharing my experience so others don’t make the same mistake we did. I’m sure it would be much better with the intended topping.
Delicious and a great alternative to taco night. The filling is full of flavor. I did make homemade enchilada sauce which took a bit of extra time but not too much. I couldn’t find corn flour so I had to use corn meal so the texture was a little more dense but still very delicious. My family loved it.
This recipe was a tasty, fairly easy dinner. I only had corn meal so I added a little flour to get a better texture for the topping. I’m sure it would be better if I had followed the recipe. My husband thought there was too much topping, so I would just cut that in half next time.
Made this tonight and we absolutely loved it. In fact, my husband had seconds. Great dish and we are already planning on making it when we have guest over. Thank you.
Tamale Pie was delicious. It took me twice as long as the estimated recipe time, but it was the first run through of the recipe. Next time I will have the enchillada sauce prepared ahead of time. I don’t have facebook or instagram, could send a picture of the tamale pie if you give me an email address.
I’m thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the Tamale Pie recipe! It’s completely normal for the first time making a recipe to take a bit longer than expected, and it’s great that you’re already planning ahead for next time. I would love to see a picture of your Tamale Pie creation, please feel free to send it to this email address stacy@tastesbetterfromscratch.com. Thanks for sharing your experience with us and happy cooking! 😊👨🍳👍
Happy you posted this recipe. It was easy and delicious definitely putting this on one of my go to.
This was delicious! Being a NC transplant from TX, we struggle to find good Mexican food and this hit the spot. This will be on repeat in our house.
So fun to make! Absolutely delicious and the one pot situation is amazing.
I’ve never tried tamales before, so this was a new experience for me, but in a good way!
Even though I goofed on the recipe, by adding a 15 oz can of Enchilada sauce, the hubs and I both like it. I did double the spices after tasting and before putting on the topping. That was the only deliberate change, lol. I will definitely be making this again.
I’m glad to hear that you and your husband enjoyed the tamale pie even with the unintentional addition of enchilada sauce! Sometimes accidents can lead to delicious discoveries. Doubling the spices is a great idea and it’s always good to make a recipe your own. I hope you make it again soon!
We absolutely loved this recipe! I added a can of black beans (drained) and used my own corn bread recipe (I didn’t have masa harina on hand). Also added 1 t garlic powder and upped the chili powder and cumin to 2t (we like things spicy!) This is a keeper and the filling is so smooth because of the cheese. Thanks so much for giving me a new recipe!
Thank you for trying out the tamale pie recipe! I’m so glad to hear that you and your family enjoyed it. The addition of black beans and garlic powder sounds delicious, and it’s great to know that your own cornbread recipe worked well as a substitute. Experimenting with spices is always a fun way to make a recipe your own. Thank you for sharing your experience and I’m thrilled to hear that this recipe is now a keeper in your household!
Really liked the recipe. We had homemade enchilada sauce that we added along with a can of black beans and green onions. The topping was more savory than boxed cornbread and also added some more green onions to the topping before baking. Garnished with sour cream, pickled jalapenos and cilantro.
Thanks for sharing your experience with the recipe! It’s great to hear that you enjoyed it and also added your own personal touch by using homemade enchilada sauce and adding black beans and green onions. Your toppings of sour cream, pickled jalapenos, and cilantro sound like a delicious addition as well. It’s always wonderful to see people take a recipe and make it their own. Thank you for trying it out and sharing your feedback!
Made this for dinner last night and we both loved it. Easy to make and such good flavor! Thanks! A fun recipe we can make together again.
I made the enchilada sauce from scratch and this was delicious. Thanks for the recipe!
So glad you took a few extra minutes to make the enchilada sauce from scratch!! I absolutely LOVE TBFS homemade enchilada sauce and will never go back to canned sauce again. Thanks for coming back to comment!
It was excellent
I absolutely love this recipe, and so does my husband. So quick, easy, and delivery!
I did use packages cornmeal mix, And will try it with Mexican Cornbread mix next time. Thanks for this amazing, tasty recipe.
Oh I do love your recipes – especially from scratch!! Going to try this as a substitution for the real tamales, which we do not get in Germany! No masa either!
This looks very good. I love seeing your recipes.