Not So Corny Tamale Pie Recipes

OLD-SCHOOL TAMALE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef, onion, and bell pepper in the hot skillet until beef is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease.
• Stir tomatoes, tomato sauce, corn, olives, chili powder, garlic, cumin, salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper into the skillet. Bring to a low boil, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in 1 cup Cheddar cheese and continue to simmer until melted, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish.
• Heat milk, butter, sugar, and salt for topping in a large saucepan over medium heat until butter has melted, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low and stir in cornmeal a little at a time, stirring vigorously with each addition, until smooth and thickened. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup Cheddar cheese. Drizzle in beaten eggs slowly, stirring vigorously until combined. Pour mixture over filling in the prepared dish, smoothing evenly over the surface.
• Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden brown and filling is bubbly, 30 to 40 minutes. Allow pie to rest for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

CORNBREAD TAMALE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Grease a 3-quart high-sided casserole dish with cooking spray. In a large skillet, saute the beef and onion over medium-high heat until the meat is brown and the onion translucent, about 10 minutes. Then add the beans, corn, tomato sauce, broth, bell pepper (if using), chili powder, cumin, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and teaspoon salt. In a small bowl whisk together the egg, milk and oil until combined. Whisk the milk mixture into the flour mixture until combined. Spread the meat mixture into the casserole dish and cover with the corn bread topping. The topping will disappear into the meat mixture but will rise during baking and form a layer of corn bread. Bake until the corn bread is brown, 20 to 25 minutes.

EASY TAMALE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter an 8-inch baking or casserole dish.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef and onion in the hot skillet until beef is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Mix in corn, tomatoes, oil, chili powder, and cumin. Bring to a boil; remove from heat.
• Combine milk, cornmeal, and eggs in a large bowl. Stir in meat mixture. Mix in olives. Pour into the prepared baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden and set, 50 to 60 minutes; mixture should not be mushy.

TAMALE PIE

Steps:

• With rack in center position, preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 2.5-quart baking dish (mine was 10.5- by 7.5-inches) or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
• Set a large skillet, sauté pan, pot, or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until no longer pink, breaking apart and stirring as the meat cooks. Drain grease and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Remove cooked beef to a separate plate or bowl and return the pot to the stove.
• Reduce heat to medium. Add olive oil and minced garlic; stir for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Whisk in flour and stir continuously for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in beef broth and then tomato sauce, followed by chili powder, cumin, coriander, garlic salt, onion powder, dried oregano, and chipotle chile pepper powder (if using), to taste.
• Bring the sauce to a simmer. Reduce to a low simmer, stirring occasionally, and cook for a couple minutes or until thickened. Turn off the heat.
• Stir the cooked ground beef into the sauce as well as the diced green chiles and 1 CUP of the shredded cheese. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the masa harina, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the melted butter, milk, egg, and the remaining ½-cup of shredded cheese until all ingredients are just combined. The mixture will be extremely thick.
• Dollop the masa mixture over the beef mixture in the baking dish and spread to the edges, covering completely. Bake, uncovered, for 25 to 35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and tests done with a toothpick inserted in the center. Serve immediately, plain or topped with your favorite garnishes.