Craving a comforting and hearty meal? This Chicken Tamale Pie Recipe is just what you need! It’s a delicious combination of tender chicken, savory tamale crust, and flavorful spices, all baked to perfection. Perfect for a family dinner or a cozy night in, this Mexican tamale pie is sure to satisfy your taste buds. Let’s dive into this mouthwatering and easy-to-make recipe!
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Why This Recipe Works
Chicken Tamale Pie combines the comforting flavors of tamales with the convenience of a casserole. It layers tender shredded chicken, savory enchilada sauce, and creamy cornbread topping for a hearty and satisfying meal that's easy to prepare. This Chicken Tamale Pie dish is perfect for family dinners or gatherings, offering a delicious twist on traditional tamale flavors without the lengthy preparation time of making individual tamales.
🥘 Ingredients
- Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix: Provides the base for the cornbread layer of the pie, offering a sweet and savory flavor that complements the spicy and tangy components of the dish.
- Sour Cream: Adds moisture and a creamy texture to the cornbread, enhancing its richness and balancing the sweetness of the mix.
- Egg: Acts as a binder for the cornbread mix, helping it hold together once baked and contributing to its fluffiness.
- Corn Kernels: Provide a sweet pop of flavor and texture in the cornbread layer, echoing traditional elements of a tamale.
- Melted Butter: Adds richness and flavor to the cornbread, helping it brown and develop a delicious crust during baking.
- Onion: Adds a foundational savory flavor to the filling, with its natural sweetness enhancing the overall taste profile.
- Garlic: Infuses the dish with a deep, aromatic flavor, pairing well with the spices and savory elements.
- Taco Seasoning: Provides a blend of spices that instantly adds depth and Mexican-inspired flavors to the chicken filling.
- Shredded Chicken: The main protein of the dish, offering a hearty and satisfying texture and a perfect canvas for the taco seasoning and enchilada sauce.
- Enchilada Sauce: Adds a rich, tangy, and slightly spicy flavor to the filling, moistening the chicken and infusing it with traditional Mexican flavors.
- Shredded Colby Jack Cheese: Melts into a gooey, cheesy layer that tops the pie, providing a creamy contrast to the savory and spicy elements underneath.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
📖 Substitutions & Variations
- Veggie lovers, this one's for you! Swap the chicken for black or pinto beans and load it up with sautéed bell peppers, onions, and corn for a hearty, flavor-packed bite.
- Brighten it up! A sprinkle of fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime add that fresh, zesty kick.
- Go full Tex-Mex! Layer in some Mexican rice or cilantro lime rice, and don’t forget the guac, salsa, and sour cream on the side!
🔪How To Make Tamale Pie With Chicken
Step One: Preheat the oven to 400° and spray a 9-inch pie dish with non-stick cooking spray. In a medium-sized bowl add the corn muffin mix, sour cream, egg, corn, and the melted butter.
Step Two: Stir until everything is mixed together. Pour into the prepared dish and bake for 15 minutes or until golden.
Step Three: In a medium sized bowl add the onion, garlic, taco seasoning, chicken and ½ cup of enchilada sauce and stir until mixed together, set aside.
Step Four: Once you take the dish out the oven, using the end of a small round wooden spoon poke holes all over the cornbread.
Step Five: Pour the remaining ¼ cup of enchilada sauce all over and spread to make sure it gets in the holes. Add the chicken mixture all over top and spread around as well.
Step Six: Top the chicken tamale pie with cheese.
Step Seven: Bake the tamale pie again for 20 minutes. Once done slice and serve your Mexican tamale pie!
Step Eight: Top with extra sour cream, parsley and a side of corn.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
If you're going to make this tamale pie chicken recipe, make sure to follow these top tips!
- Rotisserie chicken = major time saver! Just shred and toss it in for easy, flavorful goodness.
- Let it rest for 10-15 minutes before digging in—trust me, it slices way easier and tastes even better.
- A good enchilada sauce makes all the difference! Store-bought or homemade, go with what you love.
💭 FAQs
Yes, you can prepare the Chicken Tamale Pie ahead of time. Assemble the pie, cover it, and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When you're ready to serve, simply bake it as directed. You can also freeze it for longer storage, but make sure to let it cool completely before freezing.
Absolutely! While the recipe calls for chicken, you can swap it out for other proteins like shredded beef, turkey, or even a plant-based protein for a vegetarian option. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time if using different meats.
Leftovers of Chicken Tamale Pie can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven until it's heated through. For longer storage, you can freeze individual portions for up to 3 months.
Yes, you can use a pre-made cornbread mix for the topping, but for a more homemade touch, consider making your own cornbread from scratch. Both options will work, but the flavor and texture may vary slightly.
🧂Serving Suggestions
Wondering what to serve with this tamale pie recipe? Here are some of our top suggestions:
- Avocado Salad: A refreshing salad featuring ripe avocado slices, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and a tangy lime-cilantro dressing adds creamy texture and freshness.
- Black Bean and Corn Salsa: A flavorful salsa made with black beans, roasted corn, diced tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro, dressed with lime juice and a hint of cumin.
- Air Fryer Corn on the Cob: Tender corn on the cob cooked to perfection in the air fryer, brushed with butter and seasoned with salt and pepper.
- Lemon Orzo Asparagus Salad: A refreshing salad featuring orzo pasta, tender asparagus spears, cherry tomatoes, and a tangy lemon dressing with fresh herbs.
- Honey Butter Skillet Corn: Sweet and savory, this corn dish glazed with honey butter complements the tamale pie with its rich flavors.
🍽 Related Recipes
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Chicken Tamale Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 8 oz box of jiffy corn muffin mix
- ½ cup of sour cream
- 1 egg
- ½ cup corn kernels frozen or canned
- 2 tablespoon melted butter
- 1 large onion diced frozen or raw
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 2 cups shredded chicken cooked
- ¾ cup enchilada sauce divided
- 2 cups of shredded Colby jack cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400° and spray a 9 inch pie dish with non stick cooking spray. In a medium sized bowl add the corn muffin mix, sour cream, egg, corn and the melted butter and stir until everything is mixed together. Pour into the prepared dish and bake for 15 minutes or until golden.
- 2. In a medium sized bowl add the onion, garlic, taco seasoning, chicken and ½ cup of enchilada sauce and stir until mixed together, set aside. Once you take the dish out the oven, using the end of a small round wooden spoon poke holes all over the cornbread.
- 3. Pour the remaining ¼ cup of enchilada sauce all over and spread to make sure it gets in the holes. Add the chicken mixture all over top and spread around as well. Top with the cheese and bake again for 20 minutes.
- 4. Once done slice and serve! Top with extra sour cream and parsley!
