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This one pot Tamale Pie is easy and delicious, made with ground beef, corn, enchilada sauce, and spices, topped with a tamale inspired masa topping. It's a cozy skillet dinner my family loves.
Why is Tamale Pie SO GOOD?! This is the cozy casserole I crave.
I'm obsessed with the flavors in tamale pie, and the complete comfort-of-a-dinner that it is. Plus you know I love a recipe that cooks in one pan!
This isn't your average tamale pie (no box of jiffy mix, here!). We use the good stuff to make a legit and EASY corn topping that bakes up like a soft cornbread over the saucy beef filling. My kids love this so much they take it as leftovers in their thermos for school lunch. It's flavorful and delicious and always on my mind when the cooler weather starts rolling in.
Try more of my one pan meals, like Pad Thai, Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas, Greek Chicken and Potatoes, Slow Cooker Lasagna, and Creamy Chicken and Gnocchi!
How to make Tamale Pie:
Cook the Beef: Brown the ground beef in a deep skillet with a meat chopper, then add the diced onion and sauté a few minutes.
Make the Filling: Stir in the enchilada sauce, corn, chiles, chili powder, coriander, and cumin, and cook 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in the cheese.
Add Topping and Bake: Mix the masa topping and pour over the meat mixture, then bake at 400 degrees F for 40 minutes. Cool slightly and serve with avocado and sour cream, if desired.
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
- Filling: 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.1 ½ lbs lean ground beef, 1 yellow onion, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 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.10 oz can red enchilada sauce, 1 can creamed corn, 8 oz can diced green chiles, 1 teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon ground coriander, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, 1 ½ cups shredded 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.1 ½ cups Masa Harina, 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¾ cup low-sodium chicken broth, 1 cup milk, ½ cup melted butter, ½ cup shredded cheese
- Bake 400 degrees F for 40 min. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.
- Serve topped with avocado and sour cream, if desired.avocado, sour cream, cilantro, hot sauce
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I originally shared this recipe March 2023. Updated September 2026.
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.