This Easy Tamale Bake is definitely one of those quick, throw it together meals and can be made all in one pan, the type of dinner, or lunch for that matter, that satisfies.
What I love about this is that it’s very flavorful, very filling and the contrast in textures are quite appealing. The baked, cornbread topping adds that “tamale” feel to it and the ground beef, corn and other seasonings, vegetables and beans make this so hearty.
So let’s start off by preheating that oven to 375° F. Cook the ground beef, onion, garlic and bell pepper in a large skillet until meat is lightly browned. Drain excess oil if needed. Stir in tomato sauce, beans, corn, salt, chili powder, cumin, chipotle powder and black pepper. Simmer 10 minutes or until thick. Pour all of this into a greased 9×9” baking dish and then top with cheddar cheese.
I use Jiffy cornbread mix here, but feel free to use your favorite or give it a try. Mix the cornbread mix, egg and milk in a small bowl. Pour this over meat mixture and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly, serve warm and top with cilantro (optional). Enjoy!
This recipe first appeared on Kevin Is Cooking on August 2015 and has been updated with a new video.
Easy Tamale Bake - a quick and easy meal made from ground beef, spices, corn and beans all topped with a cornbread batter that's baked and ready in minutes.
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 onion , chopped
- 1 garlic clove , minced
- 1 bell pepper , chopped small
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 8- oz can tomato sauce
- 1 cup corn (fresh or frozen)
- 1 8- oz can kidney or black beans
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder
- 1/2 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 Jiffy Cornbread mix (8.5 oz.)
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup milk
- Preheat oven to 375° F.
- Brown the ground beef, onion, garlic and bell pepper in a large skillet until meat is lightly browned. Drain excess oil if needed. Stir in tomato sauce, corn, beans, salt, chili powder, cumin, chipotle powder and black pepper.
- Simmer 10 minutes or until thick. Pour into a greased 9x9” baking dish, top with cheese.
- Mix the cornbread mix, egg an milk in a small bowl. Pour over meat mixture and bake for 20 minutes.
Is there a recipe for the cornbread topping?
Jacquie I always use Jiffy brand cornbread mix. I did find this Jiffy Cornbread copycat recipe if you’d like to make your own from scratch. I haven’t ever used this though. Let me know how it turns out. 🙂
Love this one Kevin! Sounds so flavorful and so easy too. Bet my husband would totally love it too!
Definitely one of the go to recipes when time is crunched usually because it’s one where all the ingredients are typically on hand! Thanks Mary Ann, hope you guys are enjoying a wonderful Summer. 🙂
This does indeed sound super comforting! Love that cornbread topping.
Thanks Brian, I make it with chicken or ground turkey too. Check it out here for any of your carnivore guests. Easy Chicken Tamale Pie! I love to drizzle honey right as the cornbread comes out of the oven, too.
I used to get so excited when I was little and my mom was making tamale pie. Why oh why don’t I ever make it myself. Now I must!! Thank you for the inspiration, my friend.
LOVE the cornbread topping myself! 😉
Delicious! What I love is this is a dish you can make during the week. Love it. Thank you.
Velva
Hi Velva! YES, it’s a great one to make when time is crunched and packs a lot of flavor too!
Hey Kevin, I made this today. Very good! Thanks for the recipe. I increased the yeild so that I could bake it in a 10-inch, cast-iron skillet, and it came out great. I also agree with you in that it’s very much a comfort food.
Love getting comments like this! That’s awesome, so glad you liked it Jeff. Pretty easy, right?
Omg Kevinnnn!! I love Tamales! Only I’ve never ever seen them in pie form! Genius!
I’m making this very soon. And pinning it! Thank you for this. I’m so excited to try it!
So maybe their not really tamales per se in the traditional sense, but it’s just about one! 😉
These are super easy and tasty. Thanks so much Karina! Appreciate your Pinning as well. 🙂
Hey Kevin! This was way beyond good! It has all the flavors I love! I think next time I’ll use your chorizo (from the quinoa stuffed peppers)! I agree Jiffy is my favorite, although around here most folks like white cornbread which is not sweet. I make a corn casserole that has a box of Jiffy in it – I like the texture it adds. Once again Thank You! 🙂
Oh thank you Dorothy for the feedback! So glad it hit th espot! I might have to try it with the white cornbread sometime just to see. 😉
Oh, looks delicious Kevin – never made a tamale bake but will be soon – thanks!
Give it a go Rachel, it’s definitely a quick to assemble meal that delivers on flavor and texture!
Jiffy is indeed the best cornbread 🙂
Agreed Chrissy, so good! I love to drizzle honey on top as soon as it comes out of the oven, too. It melts in and is so darn good!
Indeed, this does look insanely simple AND delicious! I love all of those fresh ingredients and delicious spices! Pinning! 😀
Thank you Kennedy. So glad I found your blog too BTW. 🙂
Kevin. Don’t take this the wrong way. But I think I love you.
OMG. This. Is. Genius. Never made anything like it before. I intend to change that asap. 🙂
Love makes the world go round, never taken the wrong way! It’s one of those – it’s so darn simple to make meals. I love cracking through the cornbread topping to the rich and savory filling. 🙂
Hey Kevin! Now this is my kind of dish! I love tamales! Well, actually all Mexican food! I always have a couple of boxes of Jiffy mix in the pantry. Dinner is decided! 🙂
Gotta love Jiffy, I swear it’s the best cornbread mix. Hope it turned out for you. We had no leftovers… Ha!
Please thank Tracy for me! This looks amazing and with everything going on these days…this one pan meal could not have come at a better time! Thanks friend!
You bet Annie, have a great day.
Hey, stranger things have happened on this little thing we call the interweb. But I’m glad you rescued this one from the lost corner of the web. It looks amazing! Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner. Hope you guys had an awesome weekend! #WolfpackInternetMysteries
Love your WolfPack tags David… too funny. This is definitely a quick, down and dirty, easy peasy mid-week meal. Pure comfort food 101. Good thing Tracy emailed me, I’d never have checked! 🙂