This tamale pie is a Tex-Mex family-friendly comfort food recipe made with a seasoned beef mixture, green chiles, and cheddar cheese topped with cornbread!

Tamale pie in a iron skillet.

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Easy Skillet Tamale Pie with Cornbread Crust

Tamale pie is a one pot meal made with familiar flavors of a traditional tamale but in a comforting casserole. Similar to chili and cornbread skillet, ground beef, enchilada sauce and green chiles are topped with a layer of melty cheese and fluffy cornbread.

It goes from the stovetop to the oven and is baked until golden on top! Serve it with a side salad and you’ve got a wholesome, hearty, and flavorful dinner idea in under an hour.

Why I Love This Recipe

  • It’s a quick and easy way to get a family dinner on the table.
  • The juicy beef mixture pairs perfectly with the cornbread topping!

Ingredient Notes

Tamale pie ingredients on the counter.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Ground beef: I used lean ground beef but this could be a vegetarian dish by using two cans of black beans or pinto beans.
  • Chiles: For additional heat, try diced canned jalapenos.
  • Enchilada sauce: I prefer my red enchilada sauce recipe but store brand works.
  • Cornbread: I used box mix cornbread but my homemade sweet cornbread with honey would be delicious!

How to Make Tamale Pie

Cook the ground beef, onions, and bell peppers in a large skillet over medium high heat until the meat is no longer pink. Break apart the meat as it cooks and then drain any excess fat.

Showing how to make tamale pie.

Sprinkle the meat mixture with seasoning and pour in the enchilada sauce, chiles, and add the grated sharp cheddar cheese. Bring it to a simmer and add a splash of water, if needed, to thin it out.

Showing how to make tamale pie.

In a separate bowl, prepare the cornbread batter as per instructions on the box. Sprinkle remaining cheese over the beef and top that with the cornbread mixture. Use a rubber spatula to spread it across in an even layer.

Tamale pie.

Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 25-30 minutes until the cornbread is golden brown. Enjoy!

Tamale pie skillet.

Love classic recipes that are considered vintage? Try this salisbury steak recipe and homemade hamburger helper!

More Mexican Inspired Recipes

Tamale pie in a skillet.

Tamale Pie

5 from 4 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 6
This tamale pie is a Tex-Mex family-friendly comfort food recipe made with a seasoned beef mixture, green chiles, and cheddar cheese topped with golden fluffy cornbread!
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Ingredients 

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 onion , chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper , chopped
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 2-3 teaspoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 cup red enchilada sauce
  • 1 can green chiles , (4 ounces)
  • 1-2 cups cheddar cheese , grated
  • 1 package cornbread mix (10 ounces) (Plus ingredients listed on the cornbread package)

Instructions

  • Preheat: Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Brown ground beef, onion, pepper and spices: In a large 10-inch cast iron skillet, add 1 pound ground beef, chopped onion and chopped red bell pepper. Cook over medium-high heat until the ground beef is browned. Drain excess fat.
  • Mix in seasonings vegetables: Sprinkle 3/4 teaspoon salt, 2-3 teaspoons chili powder and 2 teaspoons cumin over top. Then add 1 cup enchilada sauce, 1 can chiles and 1/2 cup grated cheese. Bring to a simmer and add in a little water if needed to thin.
  • Prepare cornbread batter: Prepare the cornbread batter in a separate bowl, as instructed on the box. Sprinkle remaining cup of cheese over the hamburger and then spread batter over the top.
  • Bake: Bake at 375°F for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes clean.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 395kcal, Carbohydrates: 39g, Protein: 25g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 67mg, Sodium: 1319mg, Potassium: 415mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 14g, Vitamin A: 1329IU, Vitamin C: 34mg, Calcium: 177mg, Iron: 4mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Recipe Tips and Variations

  • Place a sheet pan under the cast iron skillet while it’s in the oven. This catches any small amount of overflow as it bakes up bubbly around the edges.
  • Corn and tomatoes would be great add-ins to the recipe. You could also add a sprinkle of cayenne pepper for heat.
  • Make this recipe for tamale pie with ground turkey or ground chicken instead.
  • I use a 10-inch skillet for this recipe, but if your skillet isn’t oven-proof, you can transfer the mixture to a 9×13 baking dish or even a 9×9 square dish if you prefer.
  • Garnish with fresh cilantro, black olives, or pickled jalapeno peppers.
  • I love to serve this with sour cream, pico de gallo, or crispy tortilla chips for scooping.

Storage

  • Make ahead: Assemble and bake the tamale pie and allow it to cool completely. Either bake it in a disposable aluminum foil dish or transfer it to a freezer-safe pan. Then, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and a layer of foil and keep it frozen for up to 3 months.
  • Storage: Keep leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days. It also freezes beautifully for up to 3 months. Remove it from the freezer to thaw first in the fridge before reheating.
  • Reheating: You can warm it up in the oven or the microwave.