Description
Texas Tamale Pie is a hearty and flavorful casserole featuring a savory blend of ground beef, black beans, and diced tomatoes with green chilies, layered with a creamy cornmeal batter and topped with cheddar cheese and optional black olives. Baked to golden perfection, this comforting dish is perfect for family dinners and serves 6 generously.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Cornmeal Batter
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup milk
- 1 large egg
Toppings
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup sliced black olives (optional)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the tamale pie.
- Cook Meat and Onion: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and chopped onion until the beef is browned and the onion becomes soft, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
- Add Beans and Seasonings: Stir in the black beans, diced tomatoes with green chilies, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Let the mixture simmer gently for 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Prepare Cornmeal Batter: In a separate bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, milk, and egg until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Assemble the Pie: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Pour half of the cornmeal batter into the dish and spread it evenly to form the base layer.
- Add Beef Layer: Spread the cooked beef mixture evenly over the cornmeal base layer.
- Top with Remaining Batter: Pour the remaining cornmeal batter over the beef layer, spreading it evenly across the top.
- Add Cheese and Olives: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese and optional sliced black olives evenly over the top layer of cornmeal batter.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and set.
- Cool and Garnish: Remove the dish from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish each serving with chopped fresh cilantro before serving.
Notes
- Optional black olives add a nice briny flavor but can be omitted for a milder taste.
- Make sure to drain excess fat from the cooked ground beef to keep the pie from being greasy.
- For a spicier version, add extra chili powder or a few dashes of hot sauce to the beef mixture.
- This dish reheats well and can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Use gluten-free cornmeal to make this recipe gluten-free.
