This tamale pie recipe is destined to turn out to be a favourite. It includes a smoky, tacky filling loaded with floor beef, corn, inexperienced chilis, and a contact of bitter cream. The filling is topped off with a tamale-inspired masa crust and baked till it achieves an ideal golden brown topping.
These simple Tex-Mex casseroles are a assured hit with my total household. Every time I’m in want of a scrumptious dinner, I go for traditional choices like King Ranch Hen Casserole, Taco Casserole, or my private favourite, Salsa Verde Hen and Rice Casserole.
Tamales have this superior nostalgic vibe for me. You realize, that heat, meaty goodness all snuggled up in a savory, kinda candy masa? It’s simply unbeatable! Enter this tamale pie: it’s like all the comfy feels of floor beef, corn, cheddar, and veggies, all hanging out on this smoky, earthy tamale sauce. Then, it’s all about that golden, tacky masa harina crust on high that delivers all of the tamale texture and taste with out the wrap. Severely, I can’t cease digging into it.
Why You’ll Love This Tamale Pie Recipe
- Nice Flavors. The mix of the smoky enchilada sauce, the savory floor beef, and the distinctive gentle sweetness of the masa harina topping is top-notch. The flavors will heat you up from the within out and have you ever coming again in your second chew actual fast.
- One skillet meal. Other than the bowl you’ll have to whisk collectively the elements for the masa topping, this recipe solely requires one skillet, so cleanup is extremely simple.
- Nice for leftovers. I promise this tamale pie is even higher the subsequent day. The flavors get an opportunity to meld collectively and deepen. Make it forward of time and revel in it because the week goes on.
What You’ll Want
Grocery buying time! Buckle up and head to your favourite market. Listed below are all of the elements you have to to seize to make this simple tamale pie.
For the filling
- Olive oil – Used for sauteing the veggies and beef. You should utilize any impartial cooking oil right here.
- Veggies – Onion, crimson bell pepper (any coloration will do), and garlic.
- Floor beef – I desire 80/20, however leaner beef will work as effectively. You may also make this recipe utilizing floor rooster, turkey, or pork. “Past Meat” could be an amazing choice for vegetarians.
- Canned corn – Frozen corn will even do the trick. Simply ensure that to thaw the corn utterly and pat it dry.
- Gentle enchilada sauce – For those who take pleasure in spice, be happy to pick out a spicier enchilada sauce.
- Canned diced inexperienced chilis
- Salt and Black Pepper: To reinforce the flavors of the dish.
- Bitter cream – The bitter cream provides a stunning tangy richness to the filling.
- Shredded cheddar cheese – Pepper jack or crumbled Cojita cheese are additionally okay to make use of.
For the topping
- Masa harina – It is a comparatively coarse flour made out of dried corn kernels.
- Baking powder – The baking powder provides the proper rise to the topping.
- Seasoning – Salt, smoked paprika, and floor cumin.
- Hen broth – Vegetable or beef broth are acceptable substitutes.
- Melted butter
- Canned corn – Be happy to make use of frozen corn as an alternative, however thaw it and pat it dry first.
- Shredded cheddar cheese
How To Make Tamale Pie
My recipe for tamale pie with masa is sort of easy to make. Comply with this step-by-step information, from sautéing onions and bell peppers to baking a golden cornmeal crust, to make this scrumptious home made consolation dish!
- Prep. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Saute the veggies. Warmth the olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high warmth. Add the onion and bell pepper and saute till the onion is translucent. Add the garlic and saute till aromatic.
- Brown the meat. Add the meat to the skillet and prepare dinner till golden brown and cooked by way of, crumbling it as you go.
- Add some taste. Stir within the corn, enchilada sauce, and inexperienced chilis. Season with salt and pepper as desired.
- Make it tacky. Stir within the bitter cream and cheese. Cook dinner till the cheese has melted. Flip the warmth off.
- Make the topping. Whisk collectively the masa, baking powder, seasonings, rooster broth, and butter till clean. Fold within the corn and cheddar cheese.
- Assemble. Unfold the topping over the contents of the oven-safe skillet.
- Bake. Bake for 40 minutes.
Recipe Suggestions and Variations
- Choose an oven-safe skillet. As a result of you may be baking the tamale pie in the identical skillet you make the filling in, make sure to use an oven secure skillet similar to a forged iron.
- Don’t crowd the pan. When cooking the meat, it is necessary to not crowd the pan so the meat browns and never steams. I used a 14-inch skillet, which accommodated every thing completely.
- Drain. Absolutely drain the corn and inexperienced chilis earlier than including them to the combo.
- Toothpick take a look at. Insert a toothpick into the topping of the pie to verify it’s cooked by way of. Simply into the topping – not the filling. If the toothpick comes out with only a few crumbs, it’s carried out. If the batter is clinging to it, you must bake the pie for a bit longer.
- Flip up the warmth. For those who like spice, I recommend deciding on a medium or spicy enchilada sauce and/or sauteing a seeded and diced jalapeno together with the onion and bell pepper. You could possibly additionally add a little bit of cayenne to the batter for the topping.
- Strive a unique protein. You possibly can simply substitute floor turkey or rooster for this recipe. For those who don’t eat meat, strive Inconceivable Meat.
- Enjoyable mix-ins. Think about including 1/2 cup black beans to the filling. Extra sauteed veggies are nice, too.
- Experiment with cheese. I really like the cheddar right here however pepper jack could be enjoyable as effectively. So would crumbled Cojita.
Serving Options
In line with the Mexican theme, I really like serving a slice of tamale pie with some good ol’ usual rice and beans.
Correct Storage
- To retailer. Let the tamale pie cool utterly earlier than storing it away in an hermetic container. You possibly can hold it within the fridge for as much as 4 days or within the freezer for as much as 3 months.
- To reheat. Switch the leftovers to the fridge to thaw (if frozen) earlier than arranging slices in a single layer in a baking dish. Cowl and bake for 20 minutes at 350°F or till heated by way of. Alternatively, microwave a slice or two in 30-second intervals till heat.
Extra Mexican-Impressed Dinner Concepts
Prep. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Saute the veggies. Warmth the olive oil over medium-high warmth in a 14-inch oven-safe, heavy-bottomed skillet. Add the onion and bell pepper to the pan. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes or till the onion is translucent. Add the garlic and saute till aromatic.
Brown the meat. Add the bottom beef to the skillet and prepare dinner till browned and cooked by way of, breaking it aside with a picket spoon as you go.
Add some taste. Stir in half of the corn, enchilada sauce, and inexperienced chilis. Give it a style and season with salt and pepper as wanted.
Make it tacky. Stir within the bitter cream and 1 cup cheddar cheese and prepare dinner till the cheddar has melted. Flip the warmth off and put aside.
Make the topping. In a big bowl, whisk collectively the masa, baking powder, salt, smoked paprika, cumin, rooster broth, and melted butter till clean. Fold within the remaining corn and cheddar cheese.
Assemble. Unfold the masa topping over the contents within the skillet.
Bake. Pop the tamale pie within the oven and bake for 40 minutes or till a toothpick inserted into the masa topping comes out principally clear.
Serve. Take away it from the oven and let the pie relaxation for 8 to 10 minutes earlier than serving.
Serving: 10 ounces | Energy: 415 kcal | Carbohydrates: 31 g | Protein: 25 g | Fats: 22 g | Saturated Fats: 11 g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2 g | Monounsaturated Fats: 7 g | Trans Fats: 1 g | Ldl cholesterol: 87 mg | Sodium: 843 mg | Potassium: 590 mg | Fiber: 4 g | Sugar: 6 g | Vitamin A: 1241 IU | Vitamin C: 20 mg | Calcium: 195 mg | Iron: 4 mg
Dietary data is an estimate and offered as courtesy. Values could range based on the elements and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
