Texas Tamale Pie Casserole – Hearty, Cheesy & Full of Southwestern Flavor

🎉 Introduction

This Texas Tamale Pie Casserole is a nostalgic, stick-to-your-ribs dish that brings together seasoned ground beef, colorful veggies, a savory cornbread topping, and plenty of melted cheese. It’s the ultimate comfort food for busy weeknights, cozy weekends, or potluck gatherings—bold, hearty, and ready in under an hour! 🇨🇱✨

🧰 Equipment Needed

• Large skillet
• 9×13-inch baking dish
• Mixing bowls
• Measuring cups & spoons
• Wooden spoon or spatula

🛒 Ingredients

🍖 Meat & Veggies

• 1½ lbs ground beef or turkey
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 jalapeño, diced (optional for heat)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (15 oz) corn, drained
• 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed

🌶 Seasonings

• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper

🧀 Cornbread Topping

• 1 box (8.5 oz) cornbread mix
• Ingredients required by cornbread mix box (usually egg and milk)

🧀 Cheese

• 2 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese

🌿 Optional Garnish

• Chopped cilantro
• Sliced green onions
• Sour cream

👩‍🍳 Directions

Step 1: Cook the Meat & Veggies

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef, breaking it up as it browns. Drain excess fat.
Add onion, bell pepper, jalapeño (if using), and garlic; cook 4–5 minutes until softened.

Step 2: Build the Filling

Stir in corn, diced tomatoes with green chilies, black beans, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
Simmer for 5 minutes until thickened and flavors combine.

Step 3: Assemble the Casserole

Spread beef mixture evenly in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
Sprinkle 1 cup shredded cheese over the filling.

Prepare cornbread mix according to box instructions in a bowl.
Pour batter evenly over the beef and cheese layer, spreading gently to cover.

Step 4: Bake

Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, until cornbread is golden and cooked through (test with toothpick).

Remove from oven; sprinkle remaining cheese on top.
Let rest 5 minutes to set.

Step 5: Serve

Garnish with chopped cilantro, sliced green onions, and a dollop of sour cream if desired.
Serve hot and enjoy the comforting Southwestern flavors!

🍽️ Servings & Timing

Servings: 6–8
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: ~55 minutes

🥄 Variations

• Extra Heat: Add hot sauce or extra jalapeños to beef mixture.
• Vegetarian: Replace meat with crumbled tempeh or more beans.
• Cheesy Twist: Stir ½ cup shredded cheese into cornbread batter.
• Tex-Mex: Add taco seasoning instead of individual spices.

🧊 Storage & Reheating

Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container up to 4 days.
Reheat: Warm in oven at 350°F or microwave until hot.
Freezer: Freeze cooked casserole tightly wrapped up to 2 months; thaw overnight before reheating.

❓ 10 FAQs

Can I make it ahead?
Yes—assemble casserole up to 24 hours ahead; refrigerate and bake when ready.

What cornbread mix works best?
Any boxed mix, or your favorite homemade cornbread batter.

Can I add cheese inside the cornbread?
Yes—fold shredded cheese into batter for extra gooeyness.

What’s the best beef to use?
85–90% lean ground beef for flavor without excess grease.

Can I use frozen corn?
Yes—thaw before adding.

Is it gluten-free?
Use a gluten-free cornbread mix and check canned ingredients.

Can I skip beans?
Absolutely—just add more veggies or meat.

Can I make it dairy-free?
Use dairy-free cheese and cornbread mix alternatives.

Does it reheat well?
Yes—great for meal prep!

Can kids eat it?
Yes—reduce or omit jalapeños for a milder version.

📝 Conclusion

This Texas Tamale Pie Casserole is cheesy, hearty, and packed with bold Southwestern flavors—perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner or a fun weekend gathering. It’s easy to make, customizable, and always a hit! 🌽🧀

Adam

Texas Tamale Pie Casserole – Hearty, Cheesy & Full of Southwestern Flavor

This Texas Tamale Pie Casserole is a nostalgic, stick-to-your-ribs dish that brings together seasoned ground beef, colorful veggies, a savory cornbread topping, and plenty of melted cheese. It’s the ultimate comfort food for busy weeknights, cozy weekends, or potluck gatherings—bold, hearty, and ready in under an hour! 🇨🇱✨

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

🍖 Meat & Veggies

• 1½ lbs ground beef or turkey
• 1 medium onion diced
• 1 red bell pepper diced
• 1 jalapeño diced (optional for heat)
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 can 15 oz corn, drained
• 1 can 15 oz diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 1 can 15 oz black beans, drained and rinsed

🌶 Seasonings

• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper

🧀 Cornbread Topping

• 1 box 8.5 oz cornbread mix
• Ingredients required by cornbread mix box usually egg and milk

🧀 Cheese

• 2 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese

🌿 Optional Garnish

• Chopped cilantro
• Sliced green onions
• Sour cream

Equipment

• Large skillet
• 9×13-inch baking dish
• Mixing bowls
• Measuring cups & spoons
• Wooden spoon or spatula

Method

 

Step 1: Cook the Meat & Veggies

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef, breaking it up as it browns. Drain excess fat.
3. Add onion, bell pepper, jalapeño (if using), and garlic; cook 4–5 minutes until softened.

Step 2: Build the Filling

1. Stir in corn, diced tomatoes with green chilies, black beans, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
2. Simmer for 5 minutes until thickened and flavors combine.

Step 3: Assemble the Casserole

1. Spread beef mixture evenly in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Sprinkle 1 cup shredded cheese over the filling.
3. Prepare cornbread mix according to box instructions in a bowl.
4. Pour batter evenly over the beef and cheese layer, spreading gently to cover.

Step 4: Bake

1. Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, until cornbread is golden and cooked through (test with toothpick).
2. Remove from oven; sprinkle remaining cheese on top.
3. Let rest 5 minutes to set.

Step 5: Serve

1. Garnish with chopped cilantro, sliced green onions, and a dollop of sour cream if desired.
2. Serve hot and enjoy the comforting Southwestern flavors!

Notes

🥄 Variations
Extra Heat: Add hot sauce or extra jalapeños to beef mixture.

Vegetarian: Replace meat with crumbled tempeh or more beans.

Cheesy Twist: Stir ½ cup shredded cheese into cornbread batter.

Tex-Mex: Add taco seasoning instead of individual spices.

🧊 Storage & Reheating
Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container up to 4 days.
Reheat: Warm in oven at 350°F or microwave until hot.
Freezer: Freeze cooked casserole tightly wrapped up to 2 months; thaw overnight before reheating.

❓ 10 FAQs
Can I make it ahead?
Yes—assemble casserole up to 24 hours ahead; refrigerate and bake when ready.

What cornbread mix works best?
Any boxed mix, or your favorite homemade cornbread batter.

Can I add cheese inside the cornbread?
Yes—fold shredded cheese into batter for extra gooeyness.

What’s the best beef to use?
85–90% lean ground beef for flavor without excess grease.

Can I use frozen corn?
Yes—thaw before adding.

Is it gluten-free?
Use a gluten-free cornbread mix and check canned ingredients.

Can I skip beans?
Absolutely—just add more veggies or meat.

Can I make it dairy-free?
Use dairy-free cheese and cornbread mix alternatives.

Does it reheat well?
Yes—great for meal prep!

Can kids eat it?
Yes—reduce or omit jalapeños for a milder version.

📝 Conclusion
This Texas Tamale Pie Casserole is cheesy, hearty, and packed with bold Southwestern flavors—perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner or a fun weekend gathering. It’s easy to make, customizable, and always a hit! 🌽🧀