Ground beef casserole recipes are the ultimate comfort food! This hearty one skillet Cornbread Tamale Pie is packed with all sorts of Tex Mex flavors. The homemade cornbread topping is tender, a bit sweet and the browned butter takes it to the next level of yum! This ground beef casserole is an easy and budget friendly meal your family and friends will love.
How To Make Tamale Pie
To make the hearty and tasty Ground Beef Chili:
- Brown hamburger meat with onions, garlic and green peppers.
- Add the spices, tomatoes, salsa (store bought or homemade) and let it simmer.
- Finish it up with corn, black beans and fresh cilantro (you can skip the cilantro if you are not a fan).
To make the Brown Butter Cornbread Topping
- To make the brown butter, melt the butter in a skillet and cook, swirling the pan until the butter smells nutty and turns into a toasty golden brown color. Swirling the pan ensures even cooking. Place the butter into a glass bowl and reserve.
- In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients.
- In a separate bowl whisk the eggs, sour cream and buttermilk. Whisk in the brown butter.
- Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until well combined.
- Place dollops of brown butter cornbread mixture on top of the ground beef chili, spreading gently until the ground beef layer is covered. Don’t worry if it doesn’t look perfect. Mine didn’t either (see photo below).
- Transfer the casserole to the oven and bake until golden brown.
The flavors of the beef chili keep developing while the tamale pie bakes in the oven. The brown butter adds such a nice depths of flavor to the tender and light homemade cornbread. I mean seriously, I think brown butter makes everything better.
You can make this recipe with ground turkey, ground chicken and even ground pork. If you are a cheese lover, feel free to add some grated cheese on top of the ground beef chili before adding the cornbread layer.
Tamale pie Recipe Tips
- This is the perfect dish to serve at game night scooped into a bowl with some sour cream on the side.
- This recipe uses buttermilk. If you don’t have buttermilk at home, you can make it by adding 1/4 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar into a measuring cup. Top it with 1/4 cup milk and let it sit for 5 minutes.
- You can use homemade or store bought salsa for this recipe. Mild or medium heat work best.
- If you love spicy foods, feel free to add 1/4 + teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper or a small can of chopped green chilis to the filling!
Check Out These Other Comfort food Favorites:
Tamale Pie with Brown Butter Cornbread Topping
This Tamale Pie is loaded with tasty and hearty ground beef chili that seeps through a delicious homemade brown butter cornbread topping. This easy tamale pie recipe is cooked in one skillet and is bursting with layers of flavor!
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped finely
- 1/3 cup diced green bell pepper
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground clove
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 (15-ounces) can crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup salsa (medium or mild)
- 1 (15 ounces) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup corn kernels
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste
For the Brown Butter Cornbread Topping
- 1 cup fine yellow cornmeal
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 eggs
- 6 ounces sour cream (about 3/4 cup)
- 1/4 cup cultured buttermilk
Optional Toppings for Serving
- Sour Cream
- Chopped Cilantro
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
To Make the Brown Butter
- In a 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Continue to cook, swirling the pan occasionally to achieve even cooking. The butter will foam and then it will start to turn golden brown. Your brown butter is perfectly done when it has a nutty aroma and is toast-brown in color.
- Transfer the brown butter to a heatproof cup or bowl. Reserve until ready to use,
To Make the Filling
- Return the skillet to high heat and add the ground beef. Cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon. Cook for about 6 – 8 minutes or until browned.
- Add the onions, garlic and green peppers. Cook, stirring frequently for about 4 minutes or until the vegetables softened. Add the cumin, chili, oregano, seasoned salt, clove and black pepper. Mix well.
- Turn the heat to medium and stir in the crushed tomatoes and salsa. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Add the beans, corn and chicken stock and simmer on medium low heat, stirring occasionally while you make the topping. Stir in the fresh cilantro if using and season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat.
To Make the Cornbread Topping
- In a large bowl combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda.
- In a separate bowl combine the eggs, sour cream and buttermilk, Whisk until all combined. Whisk in the brown butter.
- Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until well combined and smooth.
The Rest
- Using a large spoon, place dollops of the cornbread batter mixture on top of the beef filling. With a spatula spread the batter into an even layer.
- Transfer the skillet into the oven and bake for about 20 minutes or until pale golden brown. You can test for doneness by inserting a skewer into the cornbread. If it comes out clean, it is ready!
- Remove from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Calories: 650 kcal, Carbohydrates: 57 g, Protein: 23 g, Fat: 37 g, Saturated Fat: 17 g, Cholesterol: 155 mg, Sodium: 850 mg, Potassium: 778 mg, Fiber: 5 g, Sugar: 13 g, Vitamin A: 1580 IU, Vitamin C: 9.6 mg, Calcium: 166 mg, Iron: 5.2 mg
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