This easy Skillet Tamale Pie Recipe is warm and comforting and super easy. And it’s a bonus that it’s all made in one skillet!
If you love one skillet meals, you should definitely try these Skillet Shrimp Fajitas, this One Skillet Lasagna or my favorite One Pot Ground Beef Stroganoff.
Lately, it’s all about easy for me. If dinner is too complicated, or if it’s going to take over an hour to make – from start to table – it’s probably not going to happen. So I have been turning to one of my favorite things lately – one skillet meals.
Not only are they typically easy, and fast, but cleanup is so much easier. There is nothing worse than making a whole meal and sitting down to the table with the dinner prep mess all over the kitchen. But with a one skillet meal, like this Skillet Tamale Pie, you only have the one skillet plus the prep dishes to clean up. And you have time to take care of all of the prep dishes while the tamale pie is in the oven. It’s a win for dinnertime and a win for cleanup!
And let’s not forget that this recipe is completely delicious to top it all off. It actually took me quite a few tries to get this just right. They were too dry or didn’t have enough flavor. But I hit the nail on the head with this one! An easy ground beef mixture, seasoned with taco seasoning and enchilada sauce, is topped with a delicious and moist cornbread topping. Then each person can add their desired toppings, which also makes dinner fun!
Don’t be surprised if I start taking over the recipe world with one skillet meals. When they are this easy and taste this good, there’s no reason not to!
How to Make Skillet Tamale Pie
- Start by placing an oven-safe skillet on the stove over medium heat. I prefer my 10-inch cast iron skillet to the 12-inch, but both will work!
- Add the ground beef to the skillet and break it up as it cooks. When it’s almost done, add the onions, taco seasoning, and garlic powder.
- Pour in the enchilada sauce, reduce the heat to a simmer, and simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes.
- While the beef is cooking, make the topping by combining the flour, cornmeal, taco seasoning, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the center and add the egg. Lightly beat the egg with a fork. Add the buttermilk, sour cream,melted butter and honey. Stir to combine. Stir in the cheese.
- When the beef is finished, sprinkle the remaining cheese over the beef mixture. Dollop the topping over the top, then gently spread into an even layer.
- Bake the tamale pie until it is finished and the topping is set.
- Let the pie sit for 10 minutes before cutting into wedges to serve.
- Top with desired toppings.
More Can’t Miss Tex-Mex Recipes
Crispy Shrimp Taco Recipe
Tex-Mex Bacon Cheeseburgers
Enchilada Sloppy Joe Recipe
Taco Casserole
White Chicken Enchiladas
Tools Used to Make this Tamale Pie
A cast iron pan in my favorite to use for this recipe. You can use a 12-inch cast iron skillet, but I prefer a 10-inch for this recipe.
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Skillet Tamale Pie
Ingredients
Filling
- 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 2 teaspoons Taco Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 (10 oz) can Mild Enchilada Sauce
Topping
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
- 2 teaspoons Taco Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese for topping
- desired toppings jalapeños, avocados, tomatoes, cilantro, sour cream, etc.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
- Place an oven-safe skillet over medium heat*. Add the ground beef and start to brown, breaking it up as it cooks. When it is almost cooked through, add the onions, taco seasoning and garlic powder and continue to cook until the beef is completely browned and cooked. Pour in the enchilada sauce, the reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.1 1/2 lbs ground beef, 1/2 cup chopped onion, 2 teaspoons Taco Seasoning, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 (10 oz) can Mild Enchilada Sauce
- While the beef simmers, prepare the cornbread topping. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, cornmeal, taco seasoning, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the center and add the egg and lightly beat it with a fork to break it up. Add the buttermilk, sour cream, melted butter and honey and stir just until combined. Stir in 1 cup of the cheese.1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal, 2 teaspoons Taco Seasoning, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 egg, 1/2 cup buttermilk, 1/3 cup sour cream, 2 tablespoons melted butter, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- When the beef is finished, sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheese over the top. Dollop the cornbread topping over the top, then gently spread into an even layer.1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Bake the pie in the oven until the topping is set, 20-25 minutes.
- Let the tamale pie sit for about 10 minutes before cutting into wedges to serve. Top with desired toppings.desired toppings
Scarlet says
This sounds delicious. Thanks for the fresh new weeknight dinner recipe! I will Yum it to store it for referring back to again.
TahoeMama says
Thanks for the great recipe! It was fairly quick and easy to make. I didn’t use any Old Paso products, but I found items that I had on-hand, plus just made my own taco seasoning. I also made the corn bread topping by using the recipe on the box of corn meal that I use (made mini corn muffins with the extra batter). This would also make a great camping recipe by using a dutch oven to bake it on hot coals.