Intro:

Tamale pie is a mouth-watering dish with layers of tender cornbread, hearty ground beef, and savory Tex-Mex spices. This flavorful meal, popular in Southwestern American cuisine, will bring families and friends together for an unforgettable dining experience. In this article, we will guide you through our best tamale pie recipe so you can make it at home.

Ingredients:

– 1 lb ground beef

– 1 cup yellow cornmeal

– 1 cup all-purpose flour

– 1 teaspoon baking powder

– 1/2 teaspoon salt

– 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

– 1 cup milk

– 2 large eggs

– 1/4 cup vegetable oil

– 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained

– 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce

– 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed

– 1 (4 oz) can diced green chilies, drained

– 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper

– 1/2 cup chopped onion

– 2 garlic cloves, minced

– 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese or Mexican blend cheese

– 2 teaspoons chili powder

– 1 teaspoon cumin

– Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Preheat oven to375°F and grease a medium-sized casserole dish.

In a large bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, and ground black pepper. In another bowl, combine milk, eggs, and vegetable oil. Gradually add the wet mixture into the dry ingredients—mix until just combined.

Pour half of the cornbread batter into the prepared casserole dish. Set aside the remaining batter.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef until cooked through, breaking it up into small pieces. Drain off any excess grease.

Add garlic, chopped onions, and red bell pepper to the skillet, cooking until the vegetables are softened.
Stir in drained tomatoes, tomato sauce, black beans, green chilies, chili powder, and cumin. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste.

Simmer for 5 minutes, then remove it from heat.

Spread a layer of about 1 cup of shredded cheese over the cornbread batter in the casserole dish.

Then evenly pour the meat mixture into a dish on top of the cheese layer.

Sprinkle another layer of shredded cheese on top of the meat mixture.

Using a spoon or your hands, drop dollops of the remaining cornbread batter on top of the casserole.

Finish the dish with a final layer of cheese over the dollops of cornbread batter.

Bake in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until cornbread is golden brown and fully cooked. Allow tamale pie to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Conclusion:

This warm and comforting tamale pie recipe is sure to become a favorite among your family and friends. Serve it alongside a fresh garden salad or with some chips and salsa for a delightful meal. Enjoy this delicious Tex-Mex inspired dish!