Classic Pioneer Woman Tamale Pie Recipe

Tamale pie bursts with vibrant Southwestern flavors that dance across your palate like a festive culinary celebration.

Hearty ingredients merge into a comforting casserole that transforms ordinary weeknight dinners into something extraordinary.

Each forkful promises a harmonious blend of robust meats, zesty seasonings, and soft cornbread topping.

Home cooks appreciate its straightforward preparation and crowd-pleasing reputation among family members.

Generations of kitchen enthusiasts have embraced this one-pan wonder that simplifies mealtime without sacrificing taste.

The dish represents more than just sustenance; it embodies warmth, tradition, and shared moments around the dinner table.

Easy Tips for a Flavorful Tamale Pie

• Select Lean Protein: Ground beef should be trimmed of excess fat to prevent a greasy casserole and maintain a perfect pie consistency.
• Spice Up Strategically: Experiment with adobo sauce levels, starting conservatively and adding more for those craving extra heat.
• Toothpick Test Triumph: Poke the cornbread topping at 15-minute mark to ensure complete baking; a clean pick signals readiness.
• Kitchen Prep Mastery: Gather and measure ingredients beforehand, creating a smooth cooking workflow and minimizing kitchen chaos.
• Slice with Patience: Let the tamale pie rest briefly after baking, allowing layers to settle and ensuring clean, beautiful servings.

How to Store Tamale Pie for Later Meals

• Vacuum Seal: Lock in the pie's deliciousness by using a vacuum sealer. Remove excess air that might cause freezer burn or compromise taste. Seal individual portions or the entire dish for maximum freshness and convenience.
• Glass Container Method: Transfer the cooled tamale pie into a sturdy, clear glass container with an airtight lid. Glass prevents odor absorption and allows you to see the layers of your delectable creation. Prevents moisture buildup and maintains the pie's original texture.
• Temperature Zone Strategy: Position the tamale pie in the middle shelf of your refrigerator, away from raw meats and strong-smelling foods. Keeps the dish at a consistent 40°F, preserving its flavor and preventing potential bacterial growth. Creates a safe storage environment that extends the pie's edible lifespan.

Creative Takes on Classic Tamale Pie

• Spicy Southwest Kick: Replace chorizo with spicy Italian sausage and add diced green chilies for an extra heat punch. Swap pepper jack cheese with a chipotle cheddar to amplify the southwestern flavor profile.
• Vegetarian Comfort Bowl: Substitute ground meats with black beans, plant-based crumbles, and roasted sweet potatoes. Include corn kernels and use a blend of monterey jack and queso fresco for creamy texture.
• Mediterranean Fusion: Trade kidney beans for chickpeas and add kalamata olives. Season with oregano and za'atar spice blend. Top the cornbread with crumbled feta cheese instead of pepper jack for a Mediterranean-inspired variation.
• Lean Green Protein Pie: Use ground turkey instead of beef, incorporate chopped spinach and zucchini into the filling. Add fresh herbs like cilantro and parsley for brightness. Top with a lighter cheese like part-skim mozzarella for a healthier version.

A Bold Finish for Tamale Pie Night

Perfect Pioneer Woman Tamale Pie captures southwestern comfort with bold flavors and hearty ingredients.

Spicy chorizo and ground beef create a robust base complemented by sweet corn muffin topping.

Pepper jack cheese melts into golden perfection, promising delightful texture in every forkful.

Complex layers blend Mexican-inspired elements with classic American casserole techniques.

Regional culinary traditions shine through this single-skillet masterpiece that feeds hungry families effortlessly.

Dig into this crowd-pleasing dish that sparks conversation, invites seconds, and leaves palates craving more – you’ll want to share this recipe, snap a picture, and spread delicious joy with friends who appreciate exceptional home cooking.

Why Tamale Pie Is Always a Family Favorite

• Flavor Explosion: Combines rich ground beef, spicy chorizo, and pepper jack cheese for a mouthwatering taste that dances with bold, zesty southwestern flavors.
• One-Pan Wonder: Seamlessly transitions from stovetop to oven, minimizing dirty dishes and making cleanup a breeze while creating a complete meal in a single cast-iron skillet.
• Comfort Food Reinvented: Transforms traditional tamale ingredients into a hearty pie with a crispy cornbread topping, delivering a satisfying meal that feels both familiar and exciting.
• Quick and Effortless Cooking: Comes together in less than two hours with simple preparation steps, making it perfect for busy weeknight dinners or casual gatherings with friends and family.

Everything You Need for a Hearty Tamale Pie

• Ground Beef: Hearty meat base with rich flavor and protein, choose lean cut for less grease.
• Chorizo: Spicy sausage that adds deep, smoky taste and extra complexity to the dish.

• Onion: Provides sweet, foundational flavor and aromatic base for the dish.
• Red Bell Pepper: Adds bright color and mild sweet crunch to the filling.
• Garlic: Brings intense, sharp flavor that enhances overall taste profile.

• Chopped Tomatoes: Adds moisture and tangy base for the sauce, fresh or canned work well.
• Kidney Beans: Provides protein, texture, and earthy flavor to the filling.
• Adobo Sauce: Delivers smoky, spicy undertone that deepens the dish's complexity.

• Corn Muffin Mix: Quick and easy base for the pie's golden, fluffy topping.
• Pepper Jack Cheese: Melts beautifully and adds spicy, creamy element to the dish.

• Vegetable Oil: Helps prevent sticking and enables even cooking in the skillet.
• Salt and Pepper: Essential seasonings to enhance and balance overall flavor.

How to Bake Tamale Pie Step by Step

Step 1: Fire Up The Oven

Crank your oven to a toasty 400°F (204°C), getting it ready for a delicious meal.

Step 2: Prepare The Cooking Surface

Grab a 12-inch cast-iron skillet and splash in vegetable oil over medium-high heat.

Step 3: Brown The Meat Mixture

• Ground beef
• Chorizo

Crumble the meats with a wooden spoon, season with salt and pepper. Cook 4-6 minutes until perfectly browned.

Step 4: Sauté The Veggie Blend

• Onion
• Red bell pepper

Cook 3 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook 1 more minute.

Step 5: Build The Flavor Base

• Chopped tomatoes
• Drained kidney beans
• Adobo sauce

Simmer on low heat for 5 minutes, letting flavors mingle and dance.

Step 6: Create The Cornbread Topping

Prepare corn muffin mix following package directions. Fold in of grated pepper jack cheese into the batter.

Step 7: Layer The Pie

Remove skillet from heat. Spread cornbread batter over meat mixture, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges.

Step 8: Cheese And Bake

Sprinkle remaining of cheese over the cornbread batter. Slide skillet into the oven and bake 15-20 minutes until golden and bubbly.

Step 9: Rest And Serve

Let the pie rest for a few minutes after baking. This helps the layers settle, making slicing a breeze.

Pioneer Woman Tamale Pie Recipe

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• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Pioneer Woman Tamale Pie combines hearty ground beef, zesty spices, and cornbread in a cast-iron skillet, creating a southwestern comfort classic. Layers of rich flavors and textures merge into one satisfying dish that will transport your taste buds to culinary bliss.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Meats:

• 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
• ½ pound (227 grams) fresh chorizo, casings removed

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (14.5 ounces or 410 grams) chopped tomatoes

Additional Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon (5 grams) kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon (2.5 grams) black pepper
• 1 can (19 ounces or 540 grams) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) adobo sauce, from a can of chipotle chiles
• 2 boxes (8.5 ounces or 241 grams each) corn muffin mix (e.g., Jiffy), plus ingredients listed on the package to prepare the mix
• 3 cups (about 8 ounces or 227 grams) grated pepper jack cheese, divided

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius), creating an ideal baking environment for the skillet pie.
2. Select a 12-inch cast-iron skillet that can transition safely between stovetop and oven, heating vegetable oil over medium-high heat.
3. Introduce ground beef and chorizo to the hot skillet, methodically crumbling the meats with a wooden spoon while seasoning with salt and black pepper. Cook thoroughly until deep brown, approximately 4-6 minutes, continuously stirring to ensure uniform cooking.
4. Incorporate finely chopped onions and vibrant red bell peppers, sautéing for roughly 3 minutes until vegetables soften. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute to release aromatic flavors.
5. Blend chopped tomatoes, drained kidney beans, and rich adobo sauce into the meat mixture. Reduce heat to low, allowing ingredients to simmer and intermingle for about 5 minutes.
6. Prepare corn muffin mix according to package directions, then fold 2 cups of grated pepper jack cheese into the batter, creating a creamy, textured topping.
7. Remove skillet from heat and carefully distribute the cheese-infused corn muffin batter across the meat mixture, maintaining a 1/2-inch border to prevent potential overflow.
8. Generously sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheese over the cornbread layer. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until the topping achieves a golden-brown hue and cheese becomes delightfully bubbly.
9. Allow the skillet pie to rest for several minutes after baking, enabling the layers to settle and facilitating easier, cleaner slicing when serving.

Notes

• Resting the pie for 10-15 minutes after baking allows ingredients to set, creating cleaner, more stable slices that hold together beautifully.
• One-pan magic means less cleanup and more time enjoying your delicious meal with family and friends.
• Customize this dish by swapping meats, adding extra veggies, or adjusting spice levels to match your taste preferences.
• Pepper jack cheese melts into irresistible gooey pockets, delivering extra kick and creamy texture throughout the pie.
• Adobo sauce adds a smoky, tangy depth that transforms this skillet meal from good to absolutely crave-worthy.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 550 kcal
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Fiber: 10 g
• Protein: 30 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg