The Best Tamale Pie Recipe

When tamale season arrives, comfort food takes center stage

This Easy Tamale Pie delivers all the cozy, nostalgic flavors of traditional tamales in a simple, oven-baked dish. Made with seasoned ground meat, frozen corn, and topped with fluffy cornbread and sliced jalapeños, this recipe is perfect for busy nights, casual gatherings, or when you’re craving something warm and satisfying.

It’s hearty, flexible, and family-friendly everything we love about tamale-inspired cooking without the extra steps. It’s also a favorite dish to bring to Holiday parties.

Ingredients

Filling

• 1 lb ground meat (beef, turkey, or chicken)
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1½ cups frozen corn
• 1 (15 oz) can enchilada sauce or tomato sauce
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste

Topping

• Prepared cornbread batter (from mix or homemade)
• Sliced jalapeños (fresh or pickled)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground meat until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
• Add onion and garlic and sauté until softened.
• Stir in frozen corn, enchilada (or tomato) sauce, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper.
• Transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish.
• Pour cornbread batter evenly over the top.
• Add sliced jalapeños on top of the batter.

Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until cornbread is golden and cooked through.
Let cool slightly before serving.

Serving Suggestions
Top with sour cream, crema, or shredded cheese
Serve with a simple green salad or rice
Add hot sauce for extra heat

It’s a crowd-pleaser that fits right into Taco Tuesday comfort food season.

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