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.
Ingredients
Scale
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
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius), creating an ideal baking environment for the skillet pie.
- Select a 12-inch cast-iron skillet that can transition safely between stovetop and oven, heating vegetable oil over medium-high heat.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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