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Texas Tamale Pie Casserole

Texas Tamale Pie Casserole - featured image
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A comforting and hearty casserole combining seasoned ground beef with a homemade cornbread topping, perfect for family dinners and potlucks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
  • 1 cup yellow cornmeal (120 g)
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour (60 g)
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 cup milk (240 ml, whole or 2%; almond milk for dairy-free)
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 4 tablespoons butter (60 g), melted
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup tomato sauce (240 ml)
  • 1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies (10 oz / 280 g)
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (100 g) (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown 1 lb (450 g) of ground beef until no pink remains, about 6-8 minutes. Drain any excess fat if needed.
  3. Add the finely chopped onion and minced garlic to the beef. Sauté until translucent and fragrant, about 4 minutes.
  4. Stir in 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook for another minute to toast the spices.
  5. Pour in 1 cup (240 ml) tomato sauce and one 10 oz (280 g) can diced tomatoes with green chilies. Stir to combine and let simmer gently for 5 minutes to meld flavors.
  6. In a mixing bowl, whisk together 1 cup (120 g) yellow cornmeal, ½ cup (60 g) all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons sugar.
  7. In a separate bowl, beat 1 large egg with 1 cup (240 ml) milk and 4 tablespoons (60 g) melted butter. Slowly add to the dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened. Do not overmix; lumps are okay.
  8. Pour the beef mixture evenly into a greased 9×13 inch (23×33 cm) casserole dish. Dollop the cornbread batter over the top and spread gently into an even layer.
  9. If desired, sprinkle 1 cup (100 g) shredded cheddar cheese over the top.
  10. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the cornbread topping is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  11. Let the casserole cool for about 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

If the cornbread topping browns too quickly, loosely cover with foil halfway through baking. You can prepare the beef filling a day ahead to save time. For gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour with almond or oat flour and ensure baking powder is gluten-free. Ground turkey or chicken can be used instead of beef for a lighter option.

Nutrition

Keywords: Texas Tamale Pie, casserole, ground beef, cornbread topping, family dinner, Tex-Mex, easy recipe, comfort food

Find it online: https://cooltastes.com/texas-tamale-pie-casserole-recipe-easy-perfect-family-dinner-idea/