Tamale Pie (Casserole)

Tamale Pie Ingredients

You’ll rely on some grocery staples to help skip to the good part and get a Mexican tamale casserole on the table faster than you ever thought possible.

The original tamale pie recipe involves a lot more from-scratch cooking—one Oaxacan-style recipe contains more than 120 steps. Who has the time? Lucky for you, each of the ingredients you’ll use here brings a complete flavor all its own and makes the experience a whole lot faster and easier.

Old El Paso™ Enchilada Sauce and Chopped Green Chiles will bring a whole lot of Mexican spice to the table, and since the prep is all done for you, it’s a great shortcut that doesn’t skimp on taste.

The corn muffin mix creates a delicious, golden brown crust over the ground beef, so every forkful blends together to effortlessly create the iconic flavor combination that’s made tamale pie a household classic for generations.

How to Make Easy Tamale Pie

The full directions of this easy recipe for tamale pie are below, but here are a couple tips to help you make it amazing.

Cook the ground beef fully and drain the grease. That’s how you’ll get the meat to have that perfectly done texture and ensure the pan doesn’t get too greasy. Then, stir in the enchilada sauce and green chilis all at once.

The corn muffin mix can be prepared as directed on the box, but then you can spice it up with a second can of green chiles and a 1/2 cup of cheese. As it bakes, those flavors will infuse the bread, so every single bite will be bursting with tamale pie taste.

Then it’s as easy as cutting it like a pie and serving up a slice! Alternatively, you can cut the cornbread topping into chunks and mix it into the meat for a dish that’s closer to tamale casserole. Top with crumbled cotija cheese or roughly chopped cilantro.

Tamale Pie Toppings

Toppings are a great way to make this Easy Tamale Pie recipe your own! Just about anything that tastes good on tacos goes great with tamale pie.

Guacamole: A spoonful of guacamole or a few slices of fresh avocado add a whole lot of extra flavor while introducing a welcome new texture to the dish.

Spices: Spice up the dish with red or green salsa. Or if you’re looking for a little more heat, mix in some cayenne pepper with the ground beef.

Dairy: Once you plate a helping of tamale pie, top it with some cotija cheese and let it melt into the meat. Or top it with a creamy dollop of sour cream.

Herbs: Use fresh-chopped cilantro for an extra rush of flavor, and a splash of color on the plate for a Mexican Bistro feel.

Better yet? Create a self-serve station with some or all of these toppings and let everybody in your family build their perfect plate of tamale casserole!

Storing and Reheating Tamale Pie

Once covered, a tamale pie can be frozen or refrigerated right in its baking dish. In an airtight container, it can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for 2 to 3 months.

When it’s time to reheat, just set your oven to 350°F and bake the leftovers until they’re warmed through. The exact time will vary by how much you’re reheating at once, so keep an eye on it.

Turn on the broiler for a few minutes to re-crisp the corn muffin top, because nobody wants soggy leftovers!