Texas Tamale Pie [Recipe]
Craving something familiar yet unexpectedly delicious? I’m here to introduce you to Texas Tamale Pie: a recipe combining classic tamale flavors with traditional pie.
This hearty meal is one of those dishes that hits all the marks: it’s super filling, can be put together quickly and easily, and feels like something special (even though it’s effortless!). And the best part? Everyone loves it. Whether you’re cooking for a family gathering, having friends over for dinner, or just wanting something warm and comforting on your plate, Texas Tamale Pie is always the answer.
What Makes Texas Tamale Pie Special?
No matter your level of cooking experience, the Texas Tamale Pie is an excellent recipe to add to your repertoire. With a few simple ingredients and a short amount of time, you can make a delicious meal that’s sure to please everyone.
And with the leftovers, you can easily store, freeze, and reheat them for a quick and easy future meal.
My Texas Tamale Pie recipe isn’t just your average, everyday dish. It’s a delicious blend of Mexican-style tamales, hearty cornbread batter, and flavorful spices. All these elements come together to create the perfect balance of flavor and texture in every bite.
You can make the filling by combining ground beef, chiles, pinto beans, and spices that really bring the flavor home. The cornbread topping adds just the right amount of crunch to complement the soft, savory filling underneath.
What really sets my Texas Tamale Pie apart is its unique combination of southwestern ingredients and flavors that’s sure to be a hit with family and friends alike. If you’re looking for an easy way to enjoy all the best flavors of Tex-Mex cuisine in a single dish, you can’t go wrong with this one!
How to Make Texas Tamale Pie?
Making Texas Tamale Pie is surprisingly simple. But, before you start the preparation, you will need to gather all the necessary ingredients. Let’s start with the ones required for the meat sauce:
- 18 oz ground beef (500 g/1.1 pounds) – Of course, you can always change the meat, and instead of using ground beef, try using shredded chicken or pork. You can also mix different kinds of meаt together, like ground beef and chorizo сhоrizo tо crеate ɑ unіquе flavоr cоmbination.
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 onion and 1 red pepper
- 1 can pinto beans or kidney beans (net wt. 15 oz (425 g)
- 1 can chopped tomatoes (net wt. 14.5 oz or 410 g) plus 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1/2 can sweet corn (4.3 oz or 120 g)
- 1/2 tbsp chili powder – Add some spicy salsa to the recipe for extra flavor and heat. Or even try adding jalapenos for an extra kick.
- Spices – 1 tsp salt, pepper to taste, a dash of cayenne pepper
- 1 tbsp tabasco sauce
Now, for the cornbread topping, you’ll need the following:
- 1 cup milk (250 mL)
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil (60 mL)
- 1 egg
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (120 g)
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal (160 g)
- 1 tbsp sugar and 1 tsp salt
And lastly, let’s not forget 2 cups of grated cheddar cheese for the topping! Now, let’s get cooking!
Step 1: Preparing the Sauce
Start by heating the oil on medium-high heat and chopping the veggies.
First, stew the onion for several minutes, then add red pepper and stew for additional 3 minutes. After that, add the spices and cook for 5 minutes while constantly stirring.
Add chopped tomatoes and tomato sauce and cook for 10 minutes more at lower heat. Once you add tabasco, add corn and beans you have previously drained, and let it cook for 2 minutes before you turn the heat off.
Step 2: Preparing the Cornbread
Preheat the oven to 350 F (180 C). Start by mixing the liquid ingredients, then add an egg, and then mix everything together. Add spices and then all the dry ingredients and combine everything together nicely.
Take a casserole dish, and put the meat sauce inside. Pour the cornbread batter over it, then put the casserole into the oven for 35 minutes. Once it’s done, sprinkle the grated cheddar cheese on top and leave it in the oven for 10 minutes more.
Serving Suggestions for Texas Tamale Pie
Now that you’ve got your Texas Tamale Pie all cooked and ready to go, let’s get to the fun part – serving it up! Here are three delicious serving suggestions for your Tamale Pie.
- A dollop of cold, creamy sour cream perfectly complements this spicy, savory dish. The combination of rich flavors creates an unforgettable taste, with everyone asking for seconds.
- Give your Texas Tamale Pie a generous sprinkle of feta cheese if you want to kick it up a notch. The tangy flavor and crunchy texture add complexity to the dish and make it even more irresistible!
- Smooth out the earthiness and spiciness of the pie with a light side salad. Something like a colorful combination of lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, bell peppers, and olives will balance out the bold flavors of the meal while adding some freshness and crunch.
It really doesn’t matter how you serve up your Texas Tamale Pie – any way you choose will be sure to satisfy!
How to Store Leftover Texas Tamale Pie?
If you want to store any leftover Texas Tamale Pie for later, you can take a couple of simple steps. First, let the pie cool completely in the baking pan (or another storage container) for about an hour. Then cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.
When you’re ready to eat, simply reheat the pie without removing it from the pan by placing it in a preheated 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes until heated. You can also remove slices of Texas Tamale Pie and warm them individually in the microwave.
![Texas Tamale Pie [Recipe]](https://juliescafebakery.com/wp-content/uploads/Texas-Tamale-Pie-Recipe-300x300.png)
Texas Tamale Pie Recipe
Equipment
- 1 casserole dish
Ingredients
For the meat sauce
- 18 oz ground beef (500 g/1.1 pounds)
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 onion
- 1 red pepper
- 1 can pinto beans (net wt. 15 oz (425 g) (you can also use kidney beans)
- 1 can chopped tomatoes (net wt. 14.5 oz or 410 g)
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- ½ can sweet corn (4.3 oz or 120 g)
- ½ tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp salt
- pepper to taste, or a dash of cayenne pepper
- 1 tbsp tabasco sauce
For the cornbread topping
- 1 cup milk (250 mL)
- ¼ cup vegetable oil (60 mL)
- 1 egg
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (120 g)
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal (160 g)
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
For the topping
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
Instructions
Preparing the Sauce
- Heat the oil on medium-high heat and chop up the veggies.
- Stew the onion for several minutes, then add red pepper and stew for 3 minutes.
- Add in the spices and cook for 5 minutes with constant stirring.
- Add in the chopped tomatoes and tomato sauce and cook for 10 minutes more on low-to-medium heat.
- Add tabasco, corn, and the beans you have previously drained, and let it cook for 2 minutes before you turn the heat off.
Preparing the Cornbread
- Preheat the oven to 350 °F (180 °C).
- Mix all the liquid ingredients, add an egg, and then mix everything together.
- Add spices and all the dry ingredients and combine everything together nicely.
- Put the meat sauce into the casserole dish.
- Pour the cornbread batter over the sauce, then put the casserole into the oven for 35 minutes.
- Once it’s done, sprinkle the grated cheddar cheese on top and leave it in the oven for 10 minutes more.
