Tamale Pie Recipe

 This recipe is a combination of three different recipes tweaked to our family's tastes so if you use this feel free to reduce spices or add ingredients and make it your own. I like it spicy so I always adjust to more according to taste. Be careful with Chile powder start with minimum and taste and add more if you like. Again we are heavy handed on the spice.

Filling:

1 # ground beef

1 onion chopped

1 garlic clove minced (you can delete this if you use garlic powder)

1 bell pepper chopped small (I used trader joe frozen mixed peppers)

1 Tblsp. olive oil 

1 8 oz. can tomatoe sauce (some prefer chopped canned tomatoes drained

1 8 oz. can kidney beans (or pinto as you like)

1 tsp. kosher salt

1 tsp. cumin (I used 2 tsp)

1 Tablespoon each onion and garlic powder

1 1/2 teaspoons Chile powder (I used 2 Tablespoons so there's the difference. Also depends on the kind of chile powder you buy. 

1 cup grated cheddar (or any cheese you like or combo of cheeses)

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1 8 oz. can pitted black olives (optional)

1/2 c. raisins (optional I did not add)

Cornbread topping:

1 box jiffy cornbread mix

1 egg

1 8 oz. can creamed corn

1 jalapeno pepper seeded chopped fine

1/2 c. grated cheddar cheese

Directions:

oil lightly 8X12 pan

Heat oven to 375

Filling :  Brown the ground beef, onion and garlic, bell pepper in large skillet until meat is lightly browned. Drain excess oil. Stir in tomatoe sauce, beans, spices (salt, cumin,onion and garlic powders, chile powder and black pepper. ) Simmer 10 minutes until well combined. Pour into baking dish and top with  1 cup cheddar cheese.

Topping: Mix cornbread mix with egg, creamed corn, 1/2 cup cheddar cheese and chopped jalapeno. Pour over meat mixture. 

Note: if you want to have a plain cornbread topping follow the directions on the box and then pour on top of meat mixture.

Bake 30-45 minutes until top is not runny and slightly browned.  Some recipes say 25 minutes so be careful to peek at your casserole at 25. Depends on your oven. 

Here's one that's super easy from my sister in law Barb: