Tamale Pie With Cheese Cornmeal Topping

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 06/11/21
Tamale Pie With Cheese Cornmeal Topping

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 40 mins
Total: 60 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings

This spicy tamale pie is a classic combination of seasoned ground beef, tomatoes, and corn with a cheesy cornmeal topping. The casserole is seasoned with onion, bell pepper, garlic, chili powder, and ripe olives.

Not only is this an easy preparation, but it's also super easy on the budget.

The casserole is big enough for six hearty servings. Add a tossed side salad, refried beans or beans for a satisfying dinner or serve it with easy Mexican rice.

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Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 large onion, chopped

  • 1 to 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper

  • 2 (14.5-ounce) cans diced tomatoes

  • 1 (11 to 15-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained

  • 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

  • 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal

  • 1 cup water

  • 1/2 cup olives, sliced

Topping:

  • 1 1/2 cups milk

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 2 tablespoons butter

  • 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal

  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat oven to 375 F.

    Tamale Pie With Cheese Cornmeal Topping ingredients

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  2. Grease a 2 1/2-quart or 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking dish.

    greased casserole dish

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, stirring, until beef is no longer pink.

    ground beef in a skillet

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  4. Add chopped onion, garlic, and bell pepper; cook for 2 minutes, or until just tender.

    ground beef, onions, peppers, and garlic in a skillet

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  5. Pour off excess fat.

    tamale mixture in a skillet

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  6. Stir tomatoes, corn, and seasonings into ground beef mixture and simmer for about 5 minutes longer.

    ground beef mixture with tomatoes, corn and spices in a skillet

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  7. Mix 1/2 cup cornmeal with 1 cup water. Stir into ground beef mixture. Cover and cook over low heat for about 10 minutes.

    add cornmeal to the tamale mixture in the skillet

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  8. Add sliced olives to beef mixture and stir to blend thoroughly.

    olives added to the tamale filling mixture in the skillet

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  9. Pour beef mixture into prepared baking dish. Set aside while you make topping.

    tamale mixture in a baking dish

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  10. In a medium saucepan, heat 1 1/2 cups milk with 1 teaspoon salt and the butter. When milk is hot but not boiling, gradually stir in 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal. Continue cooking until thickened, stirring constantly.

    cornmeal cooking in a pan

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  11. Remove from heat and stir, then add cheese and beaten eggs. Stir to blend.

    cheesy cornmeal mixture in a pan

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  12. Pour topping over ground beef mixture and spread evenly to edges of casserole.

    cornmeal mixture poured over the filling in the casserole dish

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  13. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

    Tamale Pie With Cheese Cornmeal Topping

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Tips

  • Use Mexican or fiesta-style corn with peppers in place of the whole kernel corn.
  • Instead of plain diced tomatoes, use zesty chili-style, stewed tomatoes or fire-roasted.
  • Make your own homemade chili powder seasoning blend. Combine 1 teaspoon each of garlic powder and ground cumin and 1/2 teaspoon each of cayenne pepper, dried leaf oregano, and paprika.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1015 Calories
35g Fat
144g Carbs
53g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 1015
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 35g 45%
Saturated Fat 11g 56%
Cholesterol 146mg 49%
Sodium 1360mg 59%
Total Carbohydrate 144g 52%
Dietary Fiber 18g 64%
Total Sugars 33g
Protein 53g
Vitamin C 53mg 263%
Calcium 248mg 19%
Iron 7mg 40%
Potassium 2036mg 43%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)