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A round baked tamale pie casserole featuring a layer of green chile cornbread on top, covered with melted cheese and a drizzle of sour cream. The dish is garnished with diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, and cilantro, served in a black-handled pot on a striped cloth.
5 from 3 votes
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Yield: 6 servings

Tamale Pie

This hearty and easy Jiffy Tamale Pie recipe is packed with seasoned ground beef, pinto beans, and a cheesy green chile cornbread topping. It's a one-skillet dinner that always satisfies!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time50 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef, or ground turkey
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 jalapeños, diced (seeds removed for mild heat)
  • 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
  • 1 (10 oz) can red enchilada sauce
  • 1 (15 oz) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
  • 2 cups Mexican shredded cheese, divided
  • 1 (8.5 oz) box Jiffy corn muffin mix
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • cup whole milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles

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Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  • In a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef with the onion and jalapeños for 5 minutes. Using a spoon to break up and crumble the meat as it cooks. If using regular ground beef, we recommend draining any excess fat before the next steps.
  • Add the taco seasoning and enchilada sauce. Stir and simmer, cooking for 10 minutes more, to slightly thicken the filling and develop the flavors. 
  • While the meat is cooking, in a medium size bowl, combine the cornbread mix and chili powder. Then add the milk, egg, and green chiles, stir just until blended. Fold in 1 cup of the shredded cheese and set aside. Do not over mix the cornbread or it will not rise correctly.
  • Once the meat is done simmering, use a spoon to scoop up some of the cornbread batter and add it to the top of the meat mixture. You want to make a circle with the cornbread, building the circle out, leaving the edges of the ground meat mixture exposed.
  • Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until the edges are bubbling and the cornbread mixture is golden brown and cooked through. Let the tamale pie rest 10 minutes before serving, this will help it to firm up. Garnish with more cheese, diced tomatoes, cilantro and sour cream or crema, if desired.

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Notes

  • Store: Transfer any leftover Tamale Pie to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
  • Reheat: For the best texture, warm leftovers in a 350°F oven for about 15 minutes. If you’re in a hurry, microwave individual portions for 1-2 minutes until heated through.
  • Freeze: Leftovers freeze decently, but the cornbread filling does become a little soggy. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating for best results. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving, Calories: 650kcal, Carbohydrates: 55g, Protein: 34g, Fat: 32g, Saturated Fat: 14g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 13g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 123mg, Sodium: 1181mg, Potassium: 694mg, Fiber: 11g, Sugar: 14g, Vitamin A: 951IU, Vitamin C: 18mg, Calcium: 349mg, Iron: 5mg