Skillet Tamale Pie

I really enjoy skillet meals!

Now that I use cast iron skillets, I can go directly from the stove top to the oven. No need to brown the meat in one skillet and then switch to a casserole dish. Fewer dishes to wash is always a win in my kitchen!

Recently I can across a recipe for tamale pie and knew I had to give it a try. Ever since our family was on a mission trip in Mexico where we were treated to homemade tamales, I have a soft spot for tamales.

I watched a mother and daughter spend many hours in the kitchen making hundreds of tamales for the children in the orphanage and their special guests. I can honestly say that I have never tasted anything like them.

Of course this recipe will never compare to those made at a Mexican orphanage, but my family really enjoyed this dish.

skillet Tamale Pie

Filling:

• 1lb ground beef (Sonrise Farms beef)

• 1 medium onion, chopped

• 1/2 bell pepper, chopped

• 1 (15 oz) can kidney or black beans

• 1 (15 oz) can tomatoes

• 1 cup salsa

• 1 cup sweet corn

• 1 can (3-4 oz) black olives

• 1 Tbs chili powder

• 1/4 tsp salt

Topping:

• 1/2 cup cornmeal

• 1/2 cup flour

• 2 tsp baking powder

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1 egg, beaten (Flowered Cow Dairy eggs)

• 2 Tbs fat, softened (butter, lard, tallow, oil)

• 1/2 cup milk or water

• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded (Twilight Dairy Cheese)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Brown the ground beef in a large cast iron skillet with the onions and pepper.

3. Add remaining filling ingredients and simmer for 10 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, make topping by combining cornmeal, flour, baking powder and salt then adding egg, fat, milk or water. Stirring to make a smooth batter.

5. Drop spoonfuls of batter on top of simmering filling ingredients. Sprinkle cheese over the batter.

6. Remove skillet from the stovetop and place in preheated oven for 25-30 or until cornbread tests done.

7. Serve with topped with sour cream and fresh cilantro.

Enjoy!

Of course, you will need ground beef for this recipe, and we have a great deal to help make your food budget stretch while not sacrificing quality. 

We offer 20 pounds Ground Beef Value Boxes at a discounted price over purchasing by the 1 pound packages. Each box is filled with our approximately 90% lean grass-finished ground beef.