Greg's Favorite Tamale Casserole

Dive into pure comfort with Greg's Favorite Tamale Casserole—a hearty, crowd-pleasing dish that brings bold Tex-Mex flavors to your table in just one pan. Layers of seasoned ground beef, savory black beans, sweet corn, and zesty enchilada sauce are topped with a golden, cheesy cornbread layer for the ultimate casserole experience. Perfectly spiced with chili powder and cumin, this casserole combines the ease of a baked meal with the vibrant taste of tamales without the hassle of wrapping or steaming. Ready in under an hour, this easy-to-make casserole is ideal for busy weeknight dinners or casual gatherings. Serve it warm and garnish with fresh cilantro for a pop of freshness that complements every savory bite.

Nutriscore Rating: 74/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:40 mins

Total Time:60 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 pound Ground beef
• 1 medium Onion, diced
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 10 ounces Canned diced tomatoes with green chilies (e.g., Rotel)
• 10 ounces Canned enchilada sauce
• 15 ounces Canned black beans, drained and rinsed
• 15 ounces Canned corn, drained
• 1 teaspoon Chili powder
• 1 teaspoon Cumin
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 1 cup Cornmeal
• 0.5 cup All-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon Baking powder
• 1 cup Milk
• 1 large Egg
• 8 ounces Shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 tablespoons Chopped fresh cilantro (optional, for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish and set aside.

Step 2

In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked. Use a wooden spoon to break it into crumbles as it cooks.

Step 3

Add the diced onion and garlic to the skillet. Cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion becomes translucent and fragrant.

Step 4

Stir in the canned diced tomatoes with green chilies, enchilada sauce, black beans, corn, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Cook for an additional 5 minutes to combine flavors.

Step 5

Pour the meat mixture into the prepared casserole dish, spreading it into an even layer.

Step 6

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, milk, and egg until a smooth batter forms.

Step 7

Pour the cornmeal batter evenly over the meat mixture in the casserole dish, spreading it to cover the surface.

Step 8

Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the cornmeal batter.

Step 9

Bake in the preheated oven for 30–35 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden and the cornbread topping is fully cooked.

Step 10

Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

Step 11

Optionally, garnish each serving with freshly chopped cilantro for a burst of freshness.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2778.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	4019.4

Total Fat 183.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 87.7g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.1g
Cholesterol 785.5mg	0%
Sodium 8213.4mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 419.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 59.6g	0%
Total Sugars 45.8g
Protein 210.4g	0%

Vitamin D 161.1IU	0%
Calcium 2310.9mg	0%
Iron 30.4mg	0%
Potassium 4636.1mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 39.5%

Protein: 20.2%

Carbs: 40.3%