Description
Cornbread Tamale Pie delivers a hearty Mexican-inspired comfort classic with layers of spicy ground beef, zesty tomatoes, and rich cornmeal topping. Southern cuisine meets southwestern flavors in this satisfying one-pan meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup rinsed and drained canned black beans
- 1 cup corn, drained, canned, or frozen (thawed if frozen)
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- ½ cup diced green bell pepper, optional
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon chile powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste
- 1 cup beef or chicken broth
Cornbread Topping Ingredients:
- ¾ cup cornmeal
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 egg
- ⅓ cup milk
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (218 degrees Celsius). Prepare a 3-quart (2.8-liter) casserole dish by lightly coating the interior with cooking spray.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, thoroughly brown the ground meat and sauté the diced onions until they become translucent and soft, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Add corn kernels, black beans, tomato sauce, chicken or beef broth, diced bell peppers, chili powder, ground cumin, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper to the meat mixture. Simmer the ingredients together, stirring occasionally, for 12-15 minutes to meld the flavors.
- In a separate medium mixing bowl, whisk together cornmeal, all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and an additional teaspoon of salt until well combined.
- In a smaller bowl, whisk the egg, whole milk, and vegetable oil until smooth and fully integrated.
- Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry cornmeal mixture, stirring gently until a uniform batter forms without overmixing.
- Transfer the meat and vegetable mixture to the prepared casserole dish, spreading it evenly across the bottom. Carefully pour the cornmeal batter over the meat, creating a complete top layer.
- Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 22-27 minutes, or until the cornbread topping turns golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Notes
- Customize heat by adding or reducing spicy ingredients to match your personal comfort zone.
- Elevate flavors with zesty jalapeños or melty cheese crumbles for a more complex taste profile.
- Streamline dinner prep by cooking meat mixture earlier and quickly assembling before baking.
- Maximize meal planning by doubling the recipe, ensuring delicious leftovers and easy feeding for larger groups.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 338 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 706 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 49 mg