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Easy homemade Texas tamale pie – hearty, cheesy, comforting
Maria Canilssom

Texas Tamale Pie

This Texas Tamale Pie is the ultimate easy comfort food! A savory, spiced ground beef and black bean filling gets topped with a golden, cheesy cornbread crust and baked to perfection—all in one dish. For another family-friendly casserole, try our Cheeseburger French Fry Casserole.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Tex-Mex
Calories: 380
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies (like Rotel)
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • Sliced black olives and chopped cilantro for garnish (optional)

Equipment

  • Large Ovenproof Skillet or 9x13 inch Baking Dish For cooking and baking all in one (or easy transfer).
  • mixing bowls For preparing the cornbread batter.

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large ovenproof skillet or separate pan, cook ground beef and onion until beef is browned. Drain fat.
  2. Stir in black beans, diced tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes. If not using an ovenproof skillet, transfer to a greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, milk, and egg until smooth to make the cornbread topping.
  4. Pour half of the cornmeal batter over the beef mixture (or spread in the bottom of the baking dish first). Sprinkle 1 cup of cheese over the layer.
  5. Carefully pour the remaining cornmeal batter over the top, spreading to cover. Sprinkle with remaining ½ cup cheese (and olives, if using).
  6. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the cornbread topping is golden brown, set, and a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool for 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with cilantro.

Notes

Pro Tips: For the best results and clean slices, let the pie rest for a full 10 minutes after baking. This allows the layers to set. You can easily make this in a large cast iron skillet for a true one-pan meal. For a flavor boost, add ½ cup of frozen corn or a diced bell pepper to the beef filling. If you're short on time, use an 8.5 oz box of cornbread mix prepared according to package directions for the topping.