Description

This Homemade Cornbread Tamale Pie is a flavorful, hearty one-pan meal combining a spicy, savory ground beef and vegetable filling with a cheesy cornbread topping. It’s a comforting, easy-to-make dish inspired by traditional tamales, perfect for family dinners or entertaining guests.

Ingredients

Scale

Filling

1 lb ground beef (93% lean)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 yellow onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 ounce can green chiles, drained
15 ounce can kidney beans, drained
15 ounce can fire roasted corn, drained
15 ounce can diced tomatoes
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground Mexican oregano
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup shredded Mexican 4 cheese blend (or 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese)
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, roughly chopped

Cornbread Topping

1 cup flour
1 cup cornmeal
1 tablespoon white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon coarse salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 egg, beaten
1 ¼ cup buttermilk
2 cups shredded Mexican 4 cheese blend (or 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese and 1 cup mozzarella cheese)
Sliced green onion for garnish

Instructions

Make the Filling: Preheat your oven to 400˚F. In a large, oven-safe skillet with tall sides, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and red bell pepper and cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently until the onion softens slightly.
Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until fragrant.
Cook Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until thoroughly cooked. Drain any excess fat if needed to avoid greasiness.
Add Remaining Filling Ingredients: Stir in the drained green chiles, kidney beans, fire roasted corn, diced tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, coriander, Mexican oregano, salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to blend flavors.
Finish Filling: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in 1 cup of shredded cheese and chopped fresh cilantro. Taste and add more salt or pepper if desired.
Prepare Cornbread Topping Dry Mix: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk melted butter, beaten egg, and buttermilk until smooth.
Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the topping light.
Add Cheese to Batter: Fold in the remaining 2 cups of shredded cheese until evenly distributed.
Assemble Tamale Pie: Spread the filling evenly in the skillet. Spoon the cornbread batter over the filling in an even layer.
Bake: Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cornbread topping comes out clean and the topping is golden brown.
Rest and Garnish: Remove from oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Garnish with sliced green onions and any remaining fresh cilantro before serving.

Notes

Use a large, oven-safe skillet to cook the filling and bake the pie to minimize cleanup.
If you prefer a milder pie, reduce the amount of chili powder or omit the green chiles.
For a vegetarian version, substitute the ground beef with plant-based crumbles or additional beans and vegetables.
If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make a substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to 1 ¼ cups of milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes.
Let the tamale pie rest after baking to allow the filling to set, making it easier to serve.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Stovetop and Oven Baking
Cuisine: Mexican-American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe (about 1 cup)
Calories: 450 kcal
Sugar: 6 g
Sodium: 700 mg
Fat: 18 g
Saturated Fat: 8 g
Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
Trans Fat: 0.3 g
Carbohydrates: 38 g
Fiber: 6 g
Protein: 26 g
Cholesterol: 75 mg

Keywords: tamale pie, cornbread tamale pie, ground beef tamale pie, Mexican comfort food, cornbread topping, one-pan meal, homemade tamale pie