Description
Hearty pioneer woman tamale pie brings Tex-Mex comfort to dinner tables with layers of spicy ground beef, cornbread topping, and melted cheese. Families will savor this rustic skillet meal that delivers bold southwestern flavors in one satisfying dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- ½ lb (227 g) fresh chorizo, casings removed
- 1 can (19 oz or 540 g) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 3 cups (8 oz or 227 g) grated pepper jack cheese, divided
- 2 boxes (8.5 oz or 241 g each) corn muffin mix (e.g., Jiffy), plus ingredients listed on the package to prepare the mix
- 1 can (14.5 oz or 410 g) chopped tomatoes
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) vegetable oil
- 1 tsp (5 g) kosher salt
- ½ tsp (2.5 g) black pepper
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) adobo sauce, from a can of chipotle chiles
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Brown ground beef and chorizo in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, seasoning with salt and pepper. Crumble meats thoroughly while cooking for 4-6 minutes until deep brown.
- Vegetable Integration: Add onions, red bell peppers, and garlic to the meat mixture. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until vegetables soften and release aromatic flavors.
- Sauce and Bean Incorporation: Stir in chopped tomatoes, kidney beans, and adobo sauce. Simmer the mixture on low heat for 5 minutes, allowing ingredients to meld together.
- Cornbread Topping Creation: Prepare corn muffin mix according to package instructions, folding in 2 cups of pepper jack cheese to create a rich, textured batter.
- Assembly and Baking: Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C). Spread cheese-infused cornbread batter evenly over meat mixture, leaving a small border. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.
- Final Cooking and Resting: Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until cornbread turns golden and cheese becomes bubbly. Let the skillet pie rest for a few minutes before serving to allow layers to set.
Notes
- Skillet Selection: Use a 12-inch cast-iron skillet for optimal heat distribution and seamless stovetop-to-oven transition.
- Meat Browning Technique: Thoroughly crumble and brown ground beef and chorizo to develop deep, rich flavor profiles and prevent meat clumping.
- Cheese Integration: Fold cheese directly into corn muffin batter for enhanced flavor and smoother texture throughout the topping.
- Resting Period: Allow tamale pie to rest 5-10 minutes after baking to help layers set and make cutting and serving easier without falling apart.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg