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A delicious Texas Tamale Pie, fresh from the oven, served on a rustic dish

Classic Texas Tamale Pie

This Classic Texas Tamale Pie features a savory ground beef filling with diced tomatoes, green chiles, and corn, topped with a fluffy cornbread crust and melted cheddar cheese. It's a comforting and easy-to-make dish perfect for a family meal.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 6 people
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Baking Dish (9x13 inch)
  • Large Skillet or Dutch Oven
  • Whisk
  • Large Bowl
  • Separate Bowl

Ingredients
  

Filling

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 ½ pounds ground beef (or ground turkey)
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 can (14.5 ounce) diced tomatoes undrained
  • 1 can (8 ounce) tomato sauce
  • 1 can (4 ounce) chopped green chiles undrained
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Cornbread Topping

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup yellow cornmeal
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup milk
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil (or melted butter)
  • 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese (or a Tex-Mex blend)

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook ground beef until no longer pink, then drain any excess fat.
  • Add chopped onion to the skillet and cook for about 5 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.

Assemble and Bake

  • Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, green chiles, frozen corn, chili powder, cumin, and oregano. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat, cover, and cook for 10-15 minutes to meld flavors, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
  • While the filling simmers, whisk together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt in one bowl. In another bowl, whisk egg, milk, and vegetable oil, then combine wet and dry ingredients.

Bake and Serve

  • Pour the beef mixture into the baking dish, spreading evenly. Sprinkle half of the cheddar cheese over the meat, then spoon the cornbread batter on top, spreading gently.
  • Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese over the cornbread batter. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the cornbread topping is golden brown and a wooden skewer comes out clean.
  • Let the tamale pie rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

For a spicier pie, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the beef filling. If you're short on time, you can use a pre-made cornbread mix for the topping. This dish reheats well, making it a great option for meal prep. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.