Easy Tamale Casserole

4.5
(105)
98 Reviews
36 Photos

This tamale casserole gives me memories of home. My mom liked to make the Hamburger Helper version of this recipe. When I moved to another state, I could not find it, so I came up with this. My hubby likes for me to spice this up sometimes, so I will add a 14-ounce can of tomatoes and green chiles or use a Mexican-style cornbread mix.

Submitted by Gwendelyn Robinson Grizzle
Updated on April 24, 2024
A serving of tamale casserole with a skillet of tamale casserole in the background
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Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
35 mins
Total Time:
55 mins
Servings:
6
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings

  • 1 pound ground beef

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

  • 1 small onion, chopped

  • 2 (15 ounce) cans pinto beans, rinsed and drained

  • 2 (15 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes

  • 1 (15 ounce) can cream-style corn

  • 1 (6 ounce) box cornbread mix

  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten

  • 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

    Ingredients to make easy tamale casserole

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes; drain and discard grease. Season beef with salt and black pepper.

    A cast iron skillet with cooked ground beef being stirred with a wooden spoon

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Stir onion into ground beef; cook and stir over medium heat for 1 minute, then immediately remove the skillet from heat. Stir in pinto beans and crushed tomatoes.

    A cast iron skillet with ground beef, chopped onion, and pinto beans bring stirred in tomato sauce

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Beat together cream-style corn, cornbread mix, and egg in a large bowl until smooth; spread over ground beef mixture in the skillet. Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese.

    A spatula spreading a cornbread-corn mixture over the skillet with ground beef

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and cornbread is set in the middle, about 25 minutes.

    A baked tamale casserole topped with melted shredded cheese

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Recipe Tip

You can use this homemade Cornbread Mix recipe if you cannot get boxed cornbread mix.

127 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

515 Calories
21g Fat
57g Carbs
28g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 515
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 21g 27%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Cholesterol 99mg 33%
Sodium 1403mg 61%
Total Carbohydrate 57g 21%
Dietary Fiber 9g 32%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 28g 56%
Vitamin C 19mg 21%
Calcium 254mg 20%
Iron 6mg 31%
Potassium 846mg 18%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.