Description
Texas Tamale Pie is a hearty and flavorful casserole that combines seasoned ground beef, beans, corn, and a spicy salsa base, all topped with a moist cornbread crust. This comforting dish is perfect for family dinners, offering a delicious blend of Tex-Mex flavors and easy preparation.
Ingredients
Meat Mixture
- 1 pound Ground Beef
- 1 cup Onion (diced)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1-2 Jalapeno Peppers (diced)
- 1 teaspoon Chipotle Chili Powder
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper
- 2 cups Red Salsa
- 1 10-ounce can Enchilada Sauce
- 1 15-ounce can black beans (rinsed and drained)
- 1 15-ounce can corn (drained)
Cornbread Topping
- 2 boxes Jiffy cornbread Mix
- 2 Eggs
- 2/3 cup Milk
Toppings (Optional)
- Sour Cream
- Chopped Tomatoes or pico de gallo
- Cilantro
- Guacamole
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook Meat Mixture: In a sauté pan over medium heat, cook the ground beef along with the diced onion, minced garlic, and jalapeño peppers until the beef is fully browned and no longer pink, stirring occasionally.
- Mix Cornbread Batter: While the meat is cooking, combine the Jiffy cornbread mix, eggs, and milk in a bowl. Stir just until the ingredients are blended without overmixing to ensure a tender texture.
- Season Meat: Add the chipotle chili powder, paprika, salt, cumin, and black pepper to the cooked meat mixture and stir well to incorporate all the spices evenly.
- Add Sauces and Vegetables: Stir in the red salsa, enchilada sauce, rinsed black beans, and drained corn to the spiced meat, mixing thoroughly to combine all elements.
- Assemble the Pie: Spread the meat and vegetable mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan to form the base layer.
- Add Cornbread Topping: Spoon the cornbread batter evenly over the meat layer and spread it out smoothly to cover the entire surface.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for about 30 minutes or until the cornbread topping is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Add Toppings and Serve: Remove the tamale pie from the oven and top with your choice of sour cream, chopped tomatoes or pico de gallo, cilantro, and guacamole before serving.
Notes
- For extra heat, leave the jalapeno seeds in or add more jalapenos.
- Use low-fat or fat-free sour cream to reduce calories.
- Make sure to not overmix the cornbread batter to keep it fluffy.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with a plant-based meat alternative or extra beans and vegetables.
